The Camel Festival, one of the world’s most celebrated winter events, brings life to the sweeping deserts of Mongolia’s Umnugovi (South Gobi) Province each year. Organized by a local organization dedicated to preserving the dwindling population of Bactrian camels, the festival is both a thrilling cultural celebration and a powerful effort to safeguard this unique species.
Home to the world’s largest Bactrian camel population, Southgobi province hosts thousands of nomads who arrive in traditional dress, riding their finest camels to showcase the importance of camel culture in Mongolia. Highlights include the record-breaking “Mongolian Camel-999” race, where Mongolia earned a Guinness World Record with 1,108 camels finishing a 15-km course—surpassing China’s previous record of 555 camels.
The festival opens with a grand camel parade, followed by exciting competitions such as camel races, camel polo tournaments, and beauty contests, where camels are judged for their size, fur quality, and overall appearance. Folk performances by local musicians and dancers bring even more vibrancy to the event, while the birth of a baby camel at one recent festival was taken as a joyful omen for the species’ future.
Attending the Camel Festival offers a rare glimpse into the nomadic lifestyle, prehistoric sites, and local traditions of the Gobi Desert. Not only does it provide a unique and immersive experience, but it also supports local communities and helps preserve the heritage and future of the Mongolian Bactrian camel.
