During the 12th Century a boy is born to a tribal chief. He is named Temujin, which means "blacksmith." Nine years later, his father is murdered by the Tartars After a long struggle, just when Temujin reclaims tribal chief status, the Merkit tribe kidnaps his wife. In order to fight against the Merkits, Temujin has to use his mother as a pawn in exchange for troops from ally tribes. Temujin manages to rescue his wife only to realise that she is pregnant with the enemy's child. Enduring tremendous anguish, Temujin throws himself into battle against the Tartars and slaughters the leader of the intruders. He eventually takes his wife back and accepts her child. Later on, he begins a campaign to unify all Mongolian tribes. By the age of 40, he is bestowed the title "Genghis Khan", which means "oceanic ruler".

In 1916, a new Russian governor is sent to the Kazakhstan steppes by the Tsar and tries to impose mandatory military service upon the native Kazakhs. A popular uprising begins against the Tsarist empire. A Kazakh hero, Amangeldy Imanov, leads the revolt and allies with the Bolsheviks against the Kazakh clans loyal to the Tsar.

Найбільший степовий заповідник Європи Асканія-Нова розташувався у Херсонській області і зберігає унікальну місцеву екосистему. У квітні 2019 року виповнюється 100 років, відколи територія набула природоохоронного статусу. Фільм розповідає про сьогодення Асканії-Нови через монологи трьох головних героїв, долі яких переплелися завдяки спільній роботі. Усі вони, як і заповідник, випали з сучасних реалій, але при цьому зберегли свою неповторність.