Saudi Arabia plans to open the first region of its Neom megacity by the end of the year.
16.04.2024 - 15:51 / forbes.com
I consider myself an adventurous person. I’ve overlanded through Russia. Traveled solo in Egypt. Followed the Dakar Rally through Saudi Arabia. But it was my recent experience getting to the Dukha people, Mongolia’s reindeer-riding tribe, that I consider one of the most adventurous experiences to date. Not just because of how remote the tribe is, but because we were also contenting with -30C temperatures, unusually heavy snowfall, and incredibly hard to navigate terrain.
Getting to the taiga, Mongolia’s northern boreal forest in Khuvsgul Province is a trip that shouldn’t be underestimated. In summer, most of this region is only accessible by horseback and in winter, deep snow and ice don’t make reaching this remote area any easier. Because of this, very few people make the trip to this area during the year.
It’s also why companies like Nomadic Off-Road, a company who specializes in enduro motorcycle tours to Mongolia’s remotest corners, have started to do winter expeditions (by car) to the tribe.
Getting to the tribe in winter requires skilled driving in extreme winter conditions and properly equipped cars. Getting stuck in snow banks, waking up to a frozen clutch line, and navigating Mongolia without cellular data isn’t for the faint of heart.
Who are the Dukha people?
Also known as the Tsaatan, which simply means ‘people with reindeer’ in the Mongolian language, the Dhuka people are the last tribe to ride reindeer in the world. There are only a few hundred people left in the community, and while it’s estimated there are less than 50 families who live this way, there’s no official count.
Families are split between the West Taiga (Baruun Taiga) and East Taiga (Zuun Taiga). The East Taiga is accessible from a town called Ulaan-Uul and the West Taiga from Mongolia’s northernmost town, Tsagaannuur.
The tribe relies on their reindeer herds for everything from milk to meat and use their fur, hide, and antlers for just about anything you can think of, including the most epic fur boots you’ll find anywhere.
Most families sleep in traditional ortz, triangular tents resembling a teepee. It’s inside an ortz where tea is warmly served to guests, stories about life in this remote region are told, reindeer cheese hangs to dry, and daily life takes place.
Outside the ortz, neighbors pile firewood for their wood-burning stoves, their only source of heat in the winter. You can also hear neighbors stopping in to greet one another and curious children riding by on their reindeer, curious to greet the guests who have traveled so far to see their way of life.
In the evening, the men go looking for their herds that have wandered off in the nearby forests before sitting around a meal with us, telling stories from their
Saudi Arabia plans to open the first region of its Neom megacity by the end of the year.
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