Wildlife

For most types of Arctic wildlife, there are better places in Russia to visit than the Yamal Peninsula. See for example the tours to Chukotka, Yakutia and the Taymyr Peninsula on our sister website Arctic Russia Travel. Those are very good for spotting polar bears, whales and large walrus colonies.

The Yamal Peninsula does have walrus colonies and polar bears but they are very far in the north of the peninsula. Those areas take a very long time to reach overland by all-terrain vehicle in winter (when there are no walrus anyway) and in summer they require a helicopter to visit.

However, there is one animal that Yamal is possibly the best place in the world to spot: the muskox. These animals are only found in the Arctic and look like a bison with tusks, or almost like a mini mammoth.

The foothills of the very northernmost part of the Polar Ural Mountains, just south of the beginning of the Yamal Peninsula, have a large number of muskox that are very easy to find. It is one of the only places in the world where you can expect to see large herds of the animals together,

as opposed to roaming individually. This means it is also an excellent place to observe some of their unique herd behaviour, such as the defensive ring. This is when they all stand in a circle facing outwards  after sensing a potential threat. They do it every time they receive human visitors.

Other than muskox, the animals we most often see during our trips to visit nomad encampments are Arctic fox and ptarmigan. Arctic hare, snowy owl and normal fox are not uncommon either.

In August and September, seals and white beluga whales can also be seen around the mouth of the Yorkuta River in the Kara Sea. This can easily be combined with a trip to visit Nenets nomads, as there are several camps near Yorkuta trading post (not to be confused with the town of Vorkuta!) in both summer and winter.

Our Yamal overland itinerary (see below) includes a visit to nomads camped near the muskox herds. If you would like to organise a trip with a goal to spot any other type of animal or bird, please get in touch with us directly.

For most types of Arctic wildlife, there are better places in Russia to visit than the Yamal Peninsula. See for example the tours to Chukotka, Yakutia and the Taymyr Peninsula on our sister website Arctic Russia Travel. Those are very good for spotting polar bears, whales and large walrus colonies.

The Yamal Peninsula does have walrus colonies and polar bears but they are very far in the north of the peninsula. Those areas take a very long time to reach overland by all-terrain vehicle in winter (when there are no walrus anyway) and in summer they require a helicopter to visit.

However, there is one animal that Yamal is possibly the best place in the world to spot: the muskox. These animals are only found in the Arctic and look like a bison with tusks, or almost like a mini mammoth.

The foothills of the very northernmost part of the Polar Ural Mountains, just south of the beginning of the Yamal Peninsula, have a large number of muskox that are very easy to find. It is one of the only places in the world where you can expect to see large herds of the animals together, as opposed to roaming individually. This means it is also an excellent place to observe some of their unique herd behaviour, such as the defensive ring. This is when they all stand in a circle facing outwards  after sensing a potential threat. They do it every time they receive human visitors.

Other than muskox, the animals we most often see during our trips to visit nomad encampments are Arctic fox and ptarmigan. Arctic hare, snowy owl and normal fox are not uncommon either.

In August and September, seals and white beluga whales can also be seen around the mouth of the Yorkuta River in the Kara Sea. This can easily be combined with a trip to visit Nenets nomads, as there are several camps near Yorkuta trading post (not to be confused with the town of Vorkuta!) in both summer and winter.

Our Yamal overland itinerary (see below) includes a visit to nomads camped near the muskox herds. If you would like to organise a trip with a goal to spot any other type of animal or bird, please get in touch with us directly.

Wildlife-spotting tours to Yamal