Kokshetau National Park
Kokshetau National Park, founded in 1996, is located in the Akmola region and the North Kazakhstan region. The park’s area exceeds 182 thousand hectares, which is equal to the area of Shymkent and Almaty combined.
World of plants and animals
The national park lies within the forest-steppe and steppe climatic zones, experiencing hot summers and harsh winters. The park's terrain is diverse, featuring plains, hills, forests, lakes, and rivers. Over 700 species of plants thrive in this environment.
The fauna of Kokshetau National Park includes more than 280 animal species, such as elk, roe deer, wild boar, fox, wolf, marten, hare, badger, and squirrel.
The area is also home to over 220 bird species, including rare and endangered ones like the whooper swan, imperial eagle, golden eagle, white-tailed eagle, demoiselle crane, little bustard, osprey, eagle owl, and common crane.
Tourism
The park offers 22 tourist routes to its attractions, including lakes Zerenda, Shalkar, Aiyrtauchic, and Imantau. Notable sites within the park include the Botai Archaeological Site, Aiganym’s Manor, Smolnaya Hill, Akan Sery Hill, and the Karasay and Agyntay Batyr Memorial Complex.
Additionally, there are 32 resorts and guest houses around lakes Imantau, Shalkar, Zerenda, and Aiyrtauchic, providing ample accommodation options for visitors.
How to get there?
The main office of Kokshetau National Park is located in Kokshetau at 54 Temirbekov St. For first-time visitors, it is advisable to stop by the office before exploring the park. You can reach Kokshetau by direct train from many major cities of Kazakhstan. Traveling by car from Astana takes about four hours, covering approximately 310 km (193 mi) along the Astana-Kokshetau highway.
From Kokshetau, you can choose your destination within the park. Lake Imantau, a favorite among vacationers, is 60 km (37 mi) away. Lakes Shalkar and Aiyrtauchik are 70 km (43 mi) away. The Zerenda resort area is 50 km (31 mi) from Kokshetau.
Other tourist attractions near Kokshetau National Park:
- The Town of Kokshetau
- The Town of Shuchinsk
- Borovoe (Burabay)
- The Town of Akkol
- Kumai Archaeological Site
- The Town of Makinsk
Recommended tours:
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