The Main Objectives
Volunteers ensure the continued success of the (1) horse breeding / repatriation to the wild and the (2) protection of the biological diversity of the Mongolian steppe.

The Work
Several harems of horses were released in the reserve after being kept under semi wild conditions. We ride or trek over the steppe to monitor the horses to make sure they are adjusting to their new environment and to gain a better insight into their behaviour.

You need to be able to work without assistance in tracking down the harems by hiking/ trekking / horse-back riding and compiling data on their whereabouts and behaviour. You will need to help us encourage conservation awareness in the local communities. The majority of the field word is done on foot, hiking over the steppe. Following the horses on horseback is done for about 2 hours 2 maybe 3 times a week. You will be asked to work for about 6 hours a day, the rest of the day is free time. All week-end and Wednesdays are free time. If there are horses available you can ride in your free time.

Background Information - The Horses
The Przewalski horse (Equus przewalskii Poliakov) or Takhi as the Mongolians call them are rather small, sturdy animals with a short, strong neck. They are sand-coloured all over except for a dark stripe running along the spine into the dark coloured tail, covered by light dockhairs. The nose is cream-coloured and the legs show zebra stripes. Their erect manes and tail are dark brown. The species was named after the man who rediscovered it in 1878, Colonel Nicolai Przewalski. Prehistoric drawings in caves in France and Spain show that these horses were hunted by primitive humans over 20,000 years ago. The earliest written reports of Przewalski horses date from the ninth century and in 1226 a herd of Przewalski horses is said to have caused Genghis Khan to fall off his horse.

Click on image to enlarge

The increasing human population drove the Przewalski horse to remote areas and eventually they where forced off the steppe into the Gobi Desert. The harsh living conditions in the desert reduced their chances of survival and when the desert became inhabited by nomads with their domesticated horses, camels, and sheep, the number of Przewalski horses decreased dramatically. The intensive hunting of Przewalski horses by the Kazachs was the final blow. The last Takhi to be seen in the wild was in 1969 near Gun Tamga.

Background Information - The Environment
The steppe originally made up over a quarter of all natural vegetation on earth. But now only a few areas remain, most of it was cultivated for agricultural use. The Steppe is drought resistant, treeless, grassy vegetation in semi-arid areas with low precipitation. In Mongolia grass species belonging to festuca and stipa are dominant. In the spring beautiful flowers like iris, crocus and tulips flower, but this beauty dries out quickly in the dry warm conditions.

The Hustain Nuruu Reserve (hustai is Mongolian for birch and nuruu means mountains) measures about 57,000 hectares and is located about 100 km west from Ulaanbaatar.

During the research you can enjoy the beautiful natural Mongolian steppe. You will be surprised how much you learn about nature by observation and also from your hosts.

Climate
The Mongolian climate has wide temperature differentials, long and cold winters, low humidity, little precipitation, and many hours of sunshine a year. The mean climatic values of the Hustain Nuruu Reserve are: 2,700 hours of sun, mean temperature of 20C, mean maximum temperature of 25C, mean minimum temperature of -28C, and mean precipitation of 152.2 mm a year. The long winter starts quite abruptly in September and lasts until May when temperatures start to rise as fast as they dropped. In October the first night frost occurs and this lasts until April. The frost reaches a depth of 3.5 metres underground. In shady places on northern facing slopes the ground below surface (1-7 metres deep) stays frozen during the summer (permafrost). More Detail.

Dates
The best time to visit the project is in the Summer Season - June, July, August and September. You can also volunteer during late March, April, May, October and early November. There are no fixed dates, you choose the dates you want and we check availability. Please note there are limited places available - 8 maximum at any one time. You should indicate your preferred dates of arrival and departure and allow for a minimum period of participation of three weeks. Book early (maybe 6 to 9 months prior) if want to volunteer over the summer months of July and August.

The table below gives a guide to availability, but this is not guaranteed to be up to date as the position is changing constantly.  If possible please fit in with the number of days / dates as below, to avoid leaving us with odd days, but if your holiday period is not flexible choose any period (10 days is the minimum), as required.

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General

Visa Rules - If you are planning to stay in Mongolia for more than 30 days you must register (and de-register) with the Foreign Citizens Registration Office – the cost of this is negligible, but you may need to allow extra time for the two visits to the registration office.  Please note that volunteers with Muir's Tours will be spared the need to personally register and deregister and normally there is no fee payable.

It is wise to have a few days in Mongolia either side of your planned stay on the project, as travel delays often happen in this part of the world. Have at least 24 hours free time at the start and end of your stay on the project to give a good chance of meeting your flight or train connection. You should also be aware that flight schedules are always changing so the above dates do not always tie in with a flight schedule. 

Please note that 6 months is the longest stay allowed on the project as a volunteer.  Unless you are highly qualified and specially requested to join the project, you must pay the full rate, as indicated below, as the funds are essential to maintain the project.

Additional Services
We can arrange accommodation for you in Ulaanbaatar if your schedule demands this. We arrange various cultural and activity adventures in Mongolia and nearby in Siberia, plus many other countries

Price per person - 2008:
GBP40 / USD80 per day, if you agree to 21 days or more on the project.

GBP36 / USD70 per day, if you limit your time on the project to 20 days or less.

Minimum stay: 10 days (please note a higher rate applies for 20 days or less on the project).

Plus a registration fee to cover our administration costs of GBP200 / USD400 per person.

Winter mark-up for fuel per day (only for months - Oct to May inclusive):  GBP4  / USD6

Plus your travelling costs from your home to Ulaanbaatar (UB) and back, together with any accommodation you need in UB. Any other travel services you need in Mongolia can be arranged by us - such as camel rides in the Gobi desert, before and after the project.

Transportation to and from the project
There is free transport to and from the project on the first and last day of your time on the project, BUT PLEASE NOTE it is subject to availability and if it is not available you will have to pay for commercial transport.  The project's own vehicle has so far always been available, but you need to have emergency funds in case the vehicle is needed elsewhere on the day you need it. A taxi could cost about USD50 one way.

Application Process
Space cannot be allocated to you until your application and the registration fee of GB£200 / US$400 is received by us.  The balance is due about 100 days prior to departure. We provide support letter to obtain your visa and a range of useful notes to help you prepare for the experience.

The above prices are subject to currency fluctuations. GB Pounds is the base currency.

What is not included
Travel to and from Mongolia. Passport / Visa fees (we provide a letter of invitation). Personal comprehensive travel insurance (is compulsory). Personal expenses such as telephone, souvenirs, etc.

Accommodation
The facilities at the project will be quite basic, but adequate. You will sleep in a traditional Mongolian ger (a round tent - 6 metres in diameter). Beds, some simple furniture and a wood-stove are provided. In your spare time of you can watch television or video, play basketball, volleyball, darts or chess. There are solar heated showers, which give a good hot shower, plus Western style toilets and a sauna. 

Conditions for participation
The project is suitable for everyone who is in normal physical condition and who is:-

* Capable of walking and horse riding regularly over long distances.
* Speaks fluent English.
* 18 years or older.
* Able to cope in a traditional Mongolian tent (ger).
* A non-vegetarian (as most Mongolian meals contain meat)
* Able to appreciate silence and the open landscapes of the steppe.
* Holding current comprehensive Travel Insurance

If you cancel your booking
If you decide to cancel your booking, the person who signed the booking form must do this in writing.  Cancellation charges will be applied based on the date that we receive your cancellation letter and the number of days remaining prior to the start date of your project.

120 days or more before departure - Deposit only,  119 - 43 days  - 50%, 42 – 15 days – 75%,  14 - 0 days  -  100%

Balance Deadline
The project needs volunteers to sustain it, so if you apply for space please ensure you will have the funds available to pay on time.  The cancellation charges above can be levied on any applicant who has not fully paid by the 120th day prior to departure.  You are in danger of losing your space if you do not pay the balance on time.                      

You must book your place well in advance as there are limited places available. Balance payments need to be paid 4 months prior to travel.

Before you proceed you must request the Extended Fact Sheet This document is sent by email with the booking forms and should be read before you make a decision.