Ever found yourself staring at a horizon in the Gobi or the Sahara, watching those leggy, hump-backed silhouettes trudge through the sand, and wondered what to actually call them? Most of us just default to "a bunch of camels." It works. People know what you mean. But honestly, the English language is a lot weirder and more specific than that. If you want to be technically correct, or just sound like you’ve spent some serious time at a watering hole in Rajasthan, you’re looking for a few specific terms.
The most common answer to what are a group of camels called is a caravan.
It’s a classic. It evokes images of the Silk Road, heavy silks, and spice chests tied down with rough hemp rope. But "caravan" usually implies movement. It’s a group of camels traveling together, often carrying goods or people. If they’re just hanging out, chewing cud, and looking generally unimpressed by your presence, that’s a different story entirely.
Why "Caravan" Is Just the Tip of the Hump
Nature is messy. Language is messier. While "caravan" is the go-to for travelers, biologists and desert-dwellers use a handful of other collective nouns depending on what the camels are actually doing.
A train of camels is another one you’ll hear. This usually refers to a line of camels tied together. It’s a practical term. In the Australian outback, where feral camels are actually a massive thing, you might hear "train" used by handlers moving stock. Then there’s a flock. Yeah, like sheep. It sounds wrong, doesn't it? A 1,500-pound dromedary doesn't exactly feel like a "flock" animal, but in pastoral contexts, especially with domesticated herds in East Africa, that’s the term that sticks.
And if they’re just standing there? A herd.
It’s boring. It’s functional. But it’s accurate.
But wait, there’s a more poetic one: a rag.
Nobody uses it. It’s one of those "terms of venery" from the Middle Ages, like a "murder" of crows or an "unkindness" of ravens. You won't find a Bedouin guide using the word "rag," but if you're trying to win a pub quiz, that's your secret weapon.
The Dynamics of the Drove
Let’s get into the social grit. Camels aren't just biological SUVs. They have complicated social hierarchies that dictate how these groups—whatever you call them—actually function.
In the wild, specifically with the Critically Endangered Wild Bactrian camel (Camelus ferus), groups are usually small. We're talking 6 to 30 individuals. These aren't massive "caravans" of hundreds. Usually, it’s a dominant male leading a group of females and their calves. When you see a massive group of hundreds or thousands, you’re almost always looking at a drove.
A drove is usually a group being moved for trade or to market. Think of the Pushkar Camel Fair in India. It’s one of the largest camel markets in the world. You’ll see thousands of camels there. It’s a literal sea of humps. Calling that a "caravan" feels too small. It’s a drove. It’s chaos. It’s an experience that smells strongly of dusty fur and dung.
Understanding the Dromedary vs. Bactrian Split
Does the name change based on the hump count? Not really. But the group behavior does.
- Dromedaries (One hump): These are the desert specialists of the Middle East and Africa. They are highly social but often managed by humans. Their "groups" are frequently artificial, constructed by herders for milk, transport, or racing.
- Bactrians (Two humps): Found in the rocky deserts of Central Asia. Their wild counterparts are much more elusive. A group of wild Bactrians is a survival unit, moving constantly to find water in the Gobi's brutal minus-30-degree winters.
The Cultural Weight of the Camel Group
To understand what are a group of camels called, you kind of have to look at the cultures that live alongside them. In Arabic, there isn't just one word for a group; there are dozens. The language reflects the importance of the animal. There are different words for a group of ten, a group of forty, or a group of a hundred.
There’s a specific word for a group of camels going to water. Another for a group returning.
This matters because "caravan" is an English imposition on a much older relationship. When we talk about a caravan, we’re usually talking about the commerce. We’re talking about the Silk Road. We’re talking about the 2,000-mile journeys that shaped the modern world. In those contexts, the group wasn't just animals; it was a mobile city. It included the "cameleers," the merchants, and the guards.
Australia's "Feral" Flocks
Here’s a weird fact: Australia has the only population of truly feral dromedary camels in the world. They were brought over in the 19th century for exploration and construction—the "Ghan" train is actually named after the Afghan cameleers.
When the trucks arrived, the camels were let loose.
Now, they roam the interior in massive numbers. Because they aren't being "driven" by humans, they don't form caravans. They form herds. These herds can be destructive, sometimes descending on small outback towns by the thousands during droughts. In this context, the collective noun loses its romantic "caravan" feel and starts sounding more like a "plague" to the locals.
The Biological Reality of Camel Socializing
Camels aren't solitary. A lone camel is usually a stressed camel, or a very old bull that's been kicked out of the group.
Young males often form "bachelor herds." Think of it like a frat house, but with more spitting and occasional biting. These groups are temporary. They spend their time testing each other, preparing for the day they can challenge a dominant male for his own group of females.
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If you’re out in the scrub and you see three or four camels looking shifty, you’re likely looking at a bachelor group.
Practical Takeaways for Your Next Desert Adventure
So, you’re at a dinner party, or maybe you’re actually in Morocco looking at a line of dromedaries. Which word do you use?
- Use Caravan if they are tied in a line and carrying gear. It’s classic.
- Use Train if you want to sound like a professional handler or an old-school explorer.
- Use Herd if they are grazing or just existing in a wild or semi-wild state.
- Use Drove if you are at a massive market or seeing them moved across vast distances by herders.
- Use Flock if you’re talking about them in a livestock/farming context (though it might get you some weird looks).
Honestly, the most important thing isn't the noun; it's the distance. Camels are notoriously moody. A group of camels—especially a "rag" of bachelors—can be territorial. If you see a group, give them space. They can run up to 40 mph. You cannot.
When identifying these animals in the wild or in travel writing, accuracy adds flavor. Instead of saying "I saw some camels," try "We encountered a small caravan of salt-traders." It paints a picture. It tells a story. And really, that’s why these specific collective nouns exist in the first place. They turn a simple observation into a piece of cultural history.
To see these groups in their most authentic form, head to the annual Bikaner Camel Festival in Rajasthan, or watch the wild herds in the Altai Mountains of Mongolia. There, the terminology stops being a trivia point and becomes a living part of the landscape. Pay attention to how the locals interact with the "herd" versus the "caravan"—the shift in body language tells you everything you need to know about the status of the group.