Camels are unique creatures that have adapted to survive in hot, arid environments. With their large feet, humped backs for storing fat, and ability to go long periods without water, camels thrive in deserts where most other animals would perish.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: An adult camel can run at speeds between 40-50 km/hr or 25-30 mph over short distances.
Anatomy and Physical Features That Allow Fast Running
Long, Powerful Legs and Large Feet
A camel’s long, muscular hind legs and wide, two-toed feet give it incredible speed and stability when running. Their powerful leg muscles allow them to bound across desert sand at up to 40 mph. Large, flat pads on their feet help prevent sinking into soft sand – it’s like having natural snowshoes!
Flexible Spine
A camel’s spine has a unique structure that allows their backbone to bend and flex when running, almost like a spring. This flexibility allows their strides to be longer and faster. According to animalscience.com, this special spinal structure means a camel can cover distances 25% quicker than a horse.
Ability to Change Gait and Pace
Camels are able to change between a walking gait and a running gait as needed to manage different terrains and speeds. As they accelerate, their pace smoothly transitions from a walk, to a trot, to a canter or gallop as their speed builds.
This versatility coupled with their endurance allows them to maintain faster speeds over long distances compared to other desert animals.
How They Run and Maximum Speed
Galloping in Short Bursts
Camels are well-known for their unique running style called a pacing gait. When galloping, they move both legs on one side of their body at the same time, creating a rocking motion as they run. This distinct two-beat rhythm allows the camels’ large feet with two toes to gain better traction in sandy desert conditions.
Camels can comfortably maintain a speed of around 25 miles per hour for a short time when galloping.
However, galloping at high speeds requires a tremendous amount of energy expenditure. Therefore, camels are more likely to pace at a slower speed around 7-10 mph over longer distances. They take strides of around 15 feet and prefer galloping in short bursts to conserve energy in the harsh desert climate.
Their long legs, two-toed feet, and ability to open their nostrils help maximize airflow and regulate body temperature while running.
Average and Top Speeds
On average, camels can sustain a speed of about 25-40 miles per hour at their fastest galloping speed for a short time of around a quarter mile. However, some camels have been clocked at running 40-45 mph for up to around a mile.
One study found that on average, young camels can gallop at speeds of:
- 6.5 mph for 6 hours
- 7.5 mph for 4 hours
- 9 mph for 3 hours
Racing camels that are in peak physical fitness have reached astonishing top speeds of around 45 mph in short sprinting competitions. The current camel racing world record is 42.2 mph held by a robot jockey riding a camel named Markhoor in 2022.
So while camels are not the fastest animals, they are well-adapted to galloping efficiently across hot desert sands. Their unique physiology allows them to pace at moderate speeds for long distances or sprint in short bursts around 40 mph when needed.
Their running style demonstrates the remarkable stamina and speed camels have evolved for life in the desert.
Camel Racing
History of Camel Racing
Camel racing has a long history originating over a thousand years ago in the Middle East. Traditionally, camel races were held by nomadic tribesmen as a pastime and friendly competition. The sport gained popularity in the early 20th century when formal events and competitions began to be organized, particularly in the Arabian Peninsula.
Today, camel racing is a cherished tradition and popular spectator event in Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and others.
Rules and Events
There are many regional and international camel racing events held throughout the year. The rules can vary slightly between competitions, but most races involve a sprint of around 2-10 kilometers on a dirt track.
Camels race in categories based on age and often have robotic jockeys on their backs since child jockeys were banned due to ethical concerns. Major races occur at state-of-the-art stadiums and tracks and can attract thousands of spectators as well as lucrative prize money for owners.
Some of the most prestigious annual camel racing events include the Camel Cup in UAE, the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival in Saudi Arabia, and the Qatar Camel Marathon. There are also intercollegiate varsity camel racing leagues gaining popularity.
Top Racing Speeds
While they might look ungainly, camels can run up to 65 km/h (40 mph) at their top speed. However, their average racing speed is around 40 km/h (25 mph), covering 2-10 km distances in a sprint race under 5 minutes. Racing camels are specially bred and trained for speed, agility, and endurance.
As a comparison, elite human sprinters can run about 37-45 km/h at peak speeds. So a racing camel at full speed could outpace even a world-class Olympian sprinter like Usain Bolt! Their long, loping strides give camels a unique advantage for racing sports.
| Camel Top Speed | 65 km/h (40 mph) |
| Camel Average Racing Speed | 40 km/h (25 mph) |
| Elite Human Sprinters Top Speed | 37-45 km/h |
As camel racing continues to grow internationally, race times and speeds are tracked to identify top contenders. While camels aren’t breaking any land speed records, they can surprise spectators with their speed and endurance outpacing humans over middle-distance dirt courses!
Comparisons to Other Fast Land Animals
Cheetah
The cheetah is considered the fastest land animal, capable of running at speeds over 70 mph for short bursts. Compared to the camel’s maximum speed of around 40 mph, the cheetah is clearly much faster over short distances.
However, the cheetah cannot maintain top speed for very long and must rest after chasing prey. In contrast, camels are able to maintain a brisk pace of 25-40 mph for much longer durations. While the cheetah may be quicker, the camel has superior endurance over long distances.
Pronghorn Antelope
The pronghorn antelope is another speedy mammal that can run up to 60 mph, making it the second fastest land animal after the cheetah. But again, the pronghorn cannot keep up this blistering pace for very long.
The pronghorn’s top speed allows it to outrun predators over short distances on the North American prairie. Yet the camel can travel long distances across deserts at a steady clip. So while the pronghorn may be faster in a sprint, the camel has far superior stamina for marathon-like treks.
Horse
Horses are renowned for their speed and endurance. But compared to camels, horses are not quite as well adapted for long desert journeys. The top speeds of horses range from 40-55 mph, making them about on par with camels in terms of maximum velocity.
However, horses sweat profusely to regulate body temperature and require large amounts of water. Camels can tolerate extreme heat and go for days without drinking, thanks to special physiological adaptations.
So while horses and camels may have similar top speeds, camels can maintain their pace far longer in arid environments with scarce water. For desert travel, camels are the clear winners.
Ostrich
Ostriches are the largest and fastest birds on land, capable of running over 40 mph. Their long, powerful legs make them adept sprinters over short distances. However, ostriches lack the stamina and endurance of camels for very long trips through the desert.
Ostriches must rest in the shade during the intense midday heat, while camels plod on steadily. Interestingly, a camel’s long stride length allows it to outpace an ostrich at full speed over longer distances.
So despite their impressive speed, ostriches cannot match the camel’s enduring pace across vast desertscapes.
Conclusion
With their long, sturdy legs, flexible spines, and ability to gallop for short bursts, camels can reach speeds between 40-50 km/hr or 25-30 mph. While not as fast as cheetahs or pronghorn antelopes over longer distances, camels are well adapted to running fast in short sprints or camel races in the desert environments they call home.
