Episode 2

In the second episode of Nick Knowles' remarkable Mongolian adventure, Nick heads to a Nadaam Festival, a vibrant celebration of the ancient skills required to become a warrior under the ruthless Genghis Khan.

There, he takes on the team coach, a formidable fighter named ‘Ghana', in a wrestling match, channeling his rugby skills in a valiant attempt to bring down the expert, and puts up an impressive fight.

Next Nick visits a Mongolian mastiff breeder and learns how these huge native dogs were bred to guard homes and herds against snow leopards and other predators, but were brought to the brinks of extinction during the Soviet era when many aspects of Mongolian culture were suppressed. The new breeding programme is underway to bring these native canines back.

Before heading West to the immense Altai mountains Nick jumps on a motorbike to participate in some camel herding and is gifted a female camel in return for his efforts.

From the Western town of Olgii Nick hits the road in his (not entirely reliable) Russian-built 1960s Furgon van. It's a bone-rattling ride, but he makes it to his destination, a fast-flowing river that carves through the mountains, providing the perfect playground for a novel Mongolian sport, white water rafting.

Nick is welcomed in by a nomadic family in the process of migrating to a new location for autumn. He mucks in, helping to build one of their homes, a tent-like structure known as a ger. Nick watches the Kazakh Mongolian games which involve versions of kiss-chase and pick-up-sticks, all whilst on horseback, beautifully demonstrating the dexterity and skill of both horse and rider.

Finally Nick comes nose to beak with one of the most magnificent creatures on earth as he joins an eagle hunter and participates in eagle training.

It's yet another deeply moving experience for Nick that further demonstrates the deep and respectful connection the Mongolian people have with both the landscape and wildlife around them.