Mysteries of the Gobi

Searching for Wild Camels and Lost Cities in the Heart of Asia

The Gobi is the largest, coldest and driest desert in Asia. Its shifting sands conceal ancient cities, 3,000-year-old mummies, dinosaur bones and areas where no man has set foot. It is also the last place on earth where the wild Bactrian camel clings to survival, its fragile habitat threatened by poachers and development. With the conservation of this elusive creature in mind, John Hare was inspired to venture into the wildest parts of the Chinese Gobi on an expedition during which they crossed a hundred miles of sand dunes, unexplored in recorded history. Several weeks into the journey, Hare and the team discovered, in two unmapped valleys, a population of wildlife with no experience of man. Interwoven with the account of his remarkable journey, Hare tells, for the first time, the story of an epic migration made by Kazakh nomads in flight from Chinese communists and describes the historic and current tensions between the Chinese and the indigenous Uighur population of Xinjiang. A blend of history and high adventure, discovery and conservation, Mysteries of the Gobi is a unique and compelling account of modern-day exploration.

'[A] terrific story of wild camels, Kazakh migrations, ancient mummies, lost cities, gold miners and oil speculators. 'Mysteries of the Gobi' is an exciting and important account of modern-day exploration, revealing much about the past and future of this extraordinary region.' -- Ranulph Fiennes

'This is just a fantastic piece of writing. It's travel-writing, it's story-telling, it's a camp-fire tale of memorable characters and unforgettable places, packed with thrills and spills. This is an adventure story - and this is what will surely grab you - every word of it is true...' -- Matthew Parris