Trip from Astana to Kokshetau Nature Park -
Jeep tour from Almaty to Akmola region -
Where the Kazakh steppe turns into endless forests, where the mountains meet the sky, and the lakes reflect the silence, the Kokshetau National Nature Park is located. This place is like a fairy tale written in reality, like a prayer whispered by the wind through the pine forests. The Park was created in 1996 in order to preserve the unique nature of northern Kazakhstan – and since then it has become not just a protected area, but the heart of the Akmola region. Here, among the mountains, lakes and forests, you can feel what it means to truly live-in harmony with the earth. The Park has such attractions as Lake Zerendi with the village of Zerendi located on its lake, where you can have a good rest and spend time. You can also visit the "Dragon Cave" (Aydahar), the Zerendi Mountains and the Zerendi Waterfall (Ulgulinsky Canyon). The Airtau Mountains are very popular, these mountains are incredibly beautiful, the nature here is absolutely wild, the places are well suited for jeep tours and camping. The Park borders on another natural park Burabay (Borovoe), which is also very popular among travelers.
How to get there and visit -
The Kokshetau National Park is located in the north of Kazakhstan near the city of Kokshetau, Zerendi district, Airtau district, Akmola region, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 53°14'59"N 68°25'59"E
Information -
The territory of the Kokshetau National Park is spread over more than 180 thousand hectares and covers two regions at once: Akmola and North Kazakhstan regions. The landscape here is diverse and picturesque: from hilly forests to lake valleys and granite hills framed by pine crowns. The Aiyrtau and Imantau mountains are especially beautiful - rocky, severe, but at the same time spiritual. In spring and summer, steppe grasses and wild tulips bloom here, raspberries, blueberries, and mushrooms grow in the forests. In autumn, the park flares up with fiery splendor - yellow, red, burgundy, as if nature itself is painting with watercolors. The main pearls of the Kokshetau Park are the lakes Imantau, Shalkar, Sabyndykol and Kopa. Their waters are cold and transparent, and the shores are covered with coniferous forests. These places are ideal for relaxation, hiking and meditation alone with nature. It is especially amazing to watch the sunsets here - when the sun drowns in the mirror of the water, and the sky flares up with all the shades of fire.
My friend, when you enter the territory of the Kokshetau Park, the ground under your feet begins to tell you ancient sagas. Here, every mountain is a page of the stone chronicle, every lake is a tear or laughter of forgotten gods. The Kokshetau National Park is not just a protected area, but a living organism, where the spirits of the steppes, the whisper of the forests and the songs of mountain streams are intertwined. The sacred mountain of Kokshetau, which the Kazakhs have called the "Heavenly Fortress" since time immemorial, rises like an ancient guard. Its slopes are covered with secret signs - "spirit tears" in the form of ice fonts even in the summer heat, "stone library" with imprints of ancient ferns, "throne of Tengri", where the energy of shamanic rituals is still felt. Climb to the top at dawn - and you will see how the first rays of the sun light up the granite rocks, turning them into giant golden candles.
Climate, flora and fauna -
The Kokshetau Park is home to more than 200 species of birds and about 50 species of mammals, including: roe deer, fox, wolf, wild boar, and in the depths of the forests - red deer and even lynx. In the sky you can often see a white-tailed eagle or golden eagle soaring over the rocks. The forest here is mainly represented by pine, birch, aspen, and in the lowlands - alder and shrubs. The air is pure, pine, healing. It is easy to breathe and think here. The climate is moderately continental. Summer here is warm, dry, with a refreshing wind and a pleasant temperature - on average +22 +26 ° C. In winter it is snowy, frosty, but without harsh extremes. This makes the park comfortable to visit at any time of the year.
Legends and spirit -
Like Burabay Park and Kokshetau Park, these lands are full of legends. Every mountain, every cliff or lake is part of an ancient epic. People say that the spirits of ancestors live in these places, and if you come with pure intentions, nature will open up to you like a home.
Kokshetau National Park is not just a beautiful place. It is an opportunity to return to yourself. To get away from the hustle and bustle. To hear the silence. Feel the earth breathing under your feet and the endless sky spreading above your head.
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