A short trip from Astana, the Korgalzhyn State Nature Reserve is a pristine wildlife escape where visitors can observe majestic pink flamingos in their nesting grounds.
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Just two hours from Astana, the Korgalzhyn State Nature Reserve is Kazakhstan’s largest protected area and a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. Spanning over 543,000 hectares of wetlands, it shelters hundreds of bird and plant species, and serves as a vital stop for migratory routes.
The reserve’s main attraction is its flamingos, which nest here in their thousands each spring, arriving at the northernmost point in their range. Safe from predators and sustained by brine shrimp in Lake Teniz, flamingos form unique “kindergartens” for their chicks and gradually turn pink from their diet.
Korgalzhyn also draws thousands of eco-tourists each year from Europe and Asia. Beyond flamingos, visitors can encounter swans, saiga antelopes, and a pristine landscape that offers a rare glimpse of untouched Central Asian nature.
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