Korgalzhyn Wetlands Tour From Nur-Sultan

Day 1: Nur-Sultan

The day starts with 170 km drive to Korgalzyn village. While driving I can tell about the region or you may sleep a bit before main activity starts. After short formalities in local visit center we go toward Korgalzhyn lakes, 70 km more, this time off-road. Then, if lucky, we will see ping flamingoes that inhabit Tengiz lake. This lake is much more saltier than any other, the concentration of salt in it is 20%, which is almost 7 times higher than in average sea. Nothing can survive in such water except tiny Artemia cancers, which is perfect food for flamingoes and conveys them pink colour of their feather. Birds are very cautious and never let human approach for less than 500 meters, so long-focused cameras will come very handy. Of course, I will have few binoculars with me, so if just watching is good enough for you, it is possible to not care about optics. Generally, this area is not a zoo, all birds and animals are wide, the most of everything we will watch from the distance. Even if we miss flamingoes that happens from time to time, other birds are interesting enough: pelicans, cranes, herons, swans, a lot of smaller birds, saiga, eagles, hawks, falcons, marmoths, ground squirrels, maybe foxes and hares. In the summer this area is hot and dry, I suggest to start the trip early, before it comes too hot. Any commercial activity in this area is prohibited, so we'll have no cafe, even toilet there. The lunch, if you want it, we may have later in Korgalzhyn village. Or, like it is done usually, we can have a kind of picnick lunch right in the steppe. I believe, this is the best option. After having done all job we head back to Astana. If we move fast enough, on the way back we can visit ALZhIR museum, former camp for politidcal prisoners. I love this subject and will tell everything on my own. Then back to Astana, good job!! Welcome to Korgalzhyn!