Riding Mongolia Camels & Holding Vultures

Last updated on 22 June 2026

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Mongolia is the land of camels and vultures.

Of course, it’s a lot more than that, but when you come from a country with neither of those creatures, then they really stand out. During our time in Mongolia, we spent about 4 days in the capital of Ulaanbaatar, and then the rest of the time we were out in the countryside.

The drive took around an hour from the city, and on the way there are a few places where people have parked themselves for tourists to pull over and get up close and personal with some of these incredible animals.

Holding a Lammergeier Vulture

On our first trip out to the countryside, we stopped, and I held a Lammergeier Vulture (also known as the bearded vulture). There were three big birds: a golden eagle, the Lammergeier and a Black Vulture.

The Black Vulture was nearing 20kg, and the Lammergeier only 8kg (apparently; I’m slightly dubious and wonder if the numbers got lost in translation), so I went for the slightly smaller option.

It’s not that hard to hold a vulture, it turns out.

You put on this huge oven-mitt-like padded glove, the bird climbs on, and the trainer gives a little tug on their cord, and they extend their wings in full force (I think over a metre in length), and you snap a few pictures.

Turns out I’m stronger than I thought I was too, though I suspect anything longer than a minute or two and I would have been struggling.

Riding a Mongolian Camel

The second time we went out to the countryside, we were travelling with different people, and they wanted to stop and hold a bird. So while they were doing that, I jumped on a camel.

We had limited time, so I didn’t reeaaaally do the ride-around-the-field that I could have done, but rather just went a few steps around the site, mostly for photos’ sake.

I think I’d been on a camel before, though I was young, so I don’t really remember.

But man, camels are funny. Just look at their faces. They’re both bored out of their minds and taking nobody’s crap, all at the same time. They have a resting grumpy face and might spit at you at any moment. Thankfully, that didn’t happen.

Camels in Mongolia have 2 humps – they’re Bactrian Camels –  making them super easy to sit on, and I feel like you’re less likely to fall off because you have a back rest and a front barrier. These camels had blankets on them in the middle to make it a little more comfortable, but I can imagine you’d get rather sore after a while riding these chappies.

So those were my animal adventures in Mongolia!

If you happen to be heading to Ulaanbaatar Mongolia, or anywhere in Mongolia, firstly, let me know, and secondly, make sure you do these two things if that appeals!

It’s really cheap (the places we stopped were charging 5000T, which is about $3 New Zealand Dollars), and so much fun. It also makes for great photos.

Have you ridden a camel? Held a large bird? Do share!