Aktau-Buzachi Nature Reserve

Aktau-Buzachi Nature Reserve, established in 1982, occupies a territory of 170 thousand hectares in the Mangystau Region. It covers the southwestern part of the Buzachi Peninsula, the northwestern part of the Northern Aktau Ridge, and a part of the Caspian coast. The landscapes include flat plains, salt marshes, and dunes. Nature is typical for the desert and semi-desert zone.

Climate

The climate is continental with cold winters and extremely hot summers. In winter, the temperature often reaches -30^oC (-22^oF), and in summer it goes as high as +42^oC (108^oF). In spring and summer, it often rains resulting in mudflows. It also can get very windy, sometimes even causing sand storms.

Wildlife

The reserve protects many species of desert plants such as wild rue, camelthorns, saltbush, Euphorbia, Artemisia, Kochia, and many others. The reserve is home to steppe tortoise, common viper, steppe ribbon racer, Eurasian woodcock, eagle owl, eastern imperial eagle, and common buzzard. Caspian seals, manuls, mouflons, corsac foxes, steppe minks, black hedgehogs, badgers, saiga antelopes, and sand cats are said to dwell there. There were also sightings of a rare caracal.

How to get there?

The territory of the reserve is quite big. It is located north of the city of Aktau, on the Buzachi Peninsula. If you plan to visit, you must obtain permission first. The area is very remote so make sure you carry enough water, food, spare tires, a first aid kit, and everything you may need on the road.

Other tourist attractions near the Aktau-Buzachi Reserve:

   •    Caspian Sea
   •    Shakpak Ata Cave Mosque
   •    Ushtam Necropolis
   •    Sultan Epe Underground Mosque
   •    Kenty Baba Necropolis
   •    Kapamsay Canyon
   •    Mausoleum of Akshora
   •    Mausoleum of Beltoran