Skip to content Skip to sidebar Skip to footer

How to Tame a Camel in Minecraft: A Complete Guide

At first glance, camels might seem underwhelming compared to established rideable mobs like horses or llamas. But don’t be fooled—these hump-backed creatures bring more to the table than you might expect.

Camels add charm and utility to Minecraft’s deserts and badlands, biomes that have long felt underdeveloped. With their unique mechanics tailored for traversing vast, open terrain, camels are a perfect fit for adventurous players. Their lifelike standing animation mirrors real-world behavior, making them one of the more endearing mobs in the game. Beyond their functionality, camels also serve as a symbol of cultural representation for players around the globe. So, how to tame camels in Minecraft?

How to Tame Camels in Minecraft?

How to Tame a Camel in Minecraft: A Complete Guide
How to Tame a Camel in Minecraft: A Complete Guide
In Minecraft, camels are a relatively new and unique mob introduced in recent updates. While you don't technically "tame" camels in the traditional sense like horses or wolves, you can still interact with them in meaningful ways—most notably riding and breeding. 

How to Ride and Breed Camels in Minecraft

Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to find, equip, ride, and breed camels in the game.

1. Finding and Equipping a Camel

Camels naturally spawn in desert villages, typically near the village bell. If you're exploring desert biomes, keep an eye out for these hubs of activity, as they’re the only places where camels appear.

To ride a camel, you'll first need to equip it with a saddle. Saddles cannot be crafted in Minecraft, but you can find them in various loot chests—commonly in desert temples or village blacksmith chests, according to community sources like Reddit. Once you have a saddle, simply right-click (or tap) on the camel with it in hand to equip it.

After saddling the camel, press the use key to mount it and begin your journey.

2. Riding and Breeding Camels

One of the camel’s standout features is its ability to carry two players at once. While riding, the front player has full control over movement and speed, making it a great option for multiplayer travel.

To breed camels, place two of them within close range—10 blocks in Java Edition or 16 blocks in Bedrock Edition. Then, feed each camel a cactus. Doing so will initiate love mode, prompting them to breed and produce a baby camel.

Cactus not only triggers breeding but also serves as a healing item, restoring two hearts of health per cactus eaten.

3. Additional Tips and Tricks

  • Using Leads: To prevent your camel from wandering off, attach it to a fence post with a lead.

  • Mobility Perks: Camels are particularly useful for navigating terrain, as they can step over fences and blocks up to 1.5 blocks high. This makes them effective for traversing areas where most other mobs get stuck.

  • Multiplayer Utility: With room for two riders, camels are an ideal choice for adventuring with a friend.

Where to Find a Minecraft Camel

Camels are unique, rideable mobs introduced in Minecraft 1.20 as part of the Trails & Tales update. They naturally spawn in Desert Villages, typically wandering near stables or other village structures. If you're exploring a desert biome and come across a village, there's a good chance you'll find a camel nearby. Camels can be bred using cactus, making it possible to expand your camel herd once you've found at least two.

Minecraft Camel Behaviour

Camels are passive mobs with some distinctive traits that set them apart from horses, llamas, and other rideable creatures in Minecraft. Below are the key features that define camel behavior.

Dash

Camels have a special dash ability, allowing them to sprint forward in a quick burst of speed. This is particularly useful for crossing gaps or escaping danger quickly. When riding a camel, holding the jump button will charge a dash, which propels the camel forward once released. This movement mechanic is unique to camels and makes traversing terrain more dynamic.

Dual Saddle

Unlike horses, camels can be equipped with a dual saddle, enabling two players to ride them simultaneously. This is especially useful for cooperative exploration or survival in hostile environments. The front rider controls the movement, while the second player can defend or engage in combat.

Protection from Hostile Mobs

One of the camel’s most practical advantages is its tall height, which keeps players safe from many hostile mobs. When riding a camel, the player sits high enough off the ground that certain enemies cannot reach them. This makes camels ideal for traveling safely through dangerous areas, especially at night or in mob-heavy zones.

All Mobs That Cannot Attack When You Mounted on a Camel:

The following hostile mobs are unable to reach or damage a player who is mounted on a camel:

  • Endermites

  • Hoglins

  • Piglins

  • Silverfish

  • Vindicators

  • Zombies

This feature gives camels a unique strategic edge, offering both transportation and protection. However, keep in mind that ranged attackers (like skeletons or pillagers) and taller mobs can still pose a threat.

Final Thoughts

While you can't tame camels in the traditional Minecraft sense, they’re still highly useful mobs for both travel and breeding. With their unique mobility, two-player riding, and cactus-based care, camels are one of the most versatile additions to the game. Find a desert village, grab a saddle, and enjoy the ride!