Muskoxen, Dovre-Sunndalsfjella National Park, Norway

© Robert Haasmann/Minden Picture

Muskoxen, 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 mother 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 taking a trip north to visit the park, 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 muskoxen.