Muskox mother and calf in Dovre-Sunndalsfjella National Park, Norway

© Robert Haasmann/Minden Picture

What are these ancient animals?. Muskoxen in Dovre-Sunndalsfjella National Park, Norway

These handsome beasts are a living legacy of primeval times—they’ve watched history unfold around them from the era of the woolly mammoth. The cow and calf in our photo belong to Norway’s only herd of muskoxen, and you can visit them in Dovrefjell National Park. If you feel like roaming by yourself, follow the signposted Musk Ox Trail; just be aware that the massive animals are known to attack if they feel threatened, so give them a wide berth. That sound too scary? Jump on a park safari with an experienced guide who can keep you safe and help you see the muskox in all its hairy glory.