Three Camel Lodge

Since its founding, Three Camel Lodge has supported numerous scientific expeditions, including several leading to impressive discoveries of dinosaur fossils: in 2000, a new species of Ankylosaurus (armored dinosaur) was named Zaraapelta Nomadis in honor of the lodge’s parent company, Nomadic Expeditions. Proudly supporting workshops and conferences promoting knowledge about Mongolia's paleontology, the lodge also funds a scholarship at the Mongolian Academy of Sciences Paleontology Department, providing ongoing support for scientific research.

A partnership with the Mongolian Bankhar Dog Project focuses on breeding, raising, and donating Bankhar puppies to nomadic families, helping reestablish this ancient Mongolian dog breed in the countryside while also saving endangered Snow leopards, frequently responsible for attacks on livestock. Bankhar dogs, known as Mastiffs, are native to Mongolia and prized for their protective instincts safeguarding livestock - where the dogs have been re-introduced, human-wildlife conflict involving Snow leopards in Mongolia has decreased dramatically.

Three Camel Lodge also partners with Mongolia’s Wildlife Science and Conservation Center to protect these iconic birds of prey. In addition to studying this raptor’s population and behavior and promoting animal welfare, the lodge’s partnership with Mongolia’s Wildlife Science and Conservation Center also aims to protect cultural heritage by building a sustainable future for the country’s ancient falconry tradition.

Conservation programs include a reforestation initiative that has planted more than 12,000 trees to prevent desertification. At the lodge, solar panels power LED lights, purified drinking-water stations fill reusable metal bottles, and more than 50 percent of supplies and ingredients come from within 50 miles – including from an on-site organic greenhouse.

Mongolian music and dance students at the Gobi Hanhongor School receive supplies and instruments from the lodge and are invited to perform live for guests. Three Camel Lodge’s scholarship program also provides support for performing arts students studying at the university level to help keep Mongolia’s music and dance heritage thriving into the future.

The lodge employs a 100 percent Mongolian staff and actively promotes employees – with a particular focus on women – into leadership roles. In the surrounding community, Three Camel Lodge also supports local artisans and small businesses. In support of local community needs, the lodge has established important permanent water wells to assist nomadic herders and provides grass hay and protein pallets to help the local community when there is low rainfall and not enough grass for animals to survive Mongolia’s harsh, long winter months.