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

© Robert Haasmann/Minden Picture

Heads together. Muskoxen in Dovre-Sunndalsfjella National Park, Norway

These handsome beasts are a living legacy of primeval times - they’ve watched history unfold around them since 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 follow the signposted Musk Ox Trail by yourself, just be aware that the massive animals are known to attack if they feel threatened, so give them plenty of breathing space. If that sounds too scary, you can jump on a park safari with an experienced guide who can help you see the muskox in all its hairy glory, from a safe distance.