# Karatau State Nature Reserve, Kazakhstan: what it is and when to go

> Karatau State Nature Reserve is a protected area (Қаратау мемлекеттік табиғи қорығы) in Kazakhstan. Interests: Nature and Wildlife. The best time to visit is May to June and September to October. In June there are 15 h 15 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 45. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/kazajistan/karatau-state-nature-reserve/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-12
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **What it is:** Protected area · Nature, Wildlife
- **Local name:** Қаратау мемлекеттік табиғи қорығы
- **Where:** Kazakhstan
- **Best time:** May to June and September to October.
- **Nearest airport:** CIT Shymkent, 164 km as the crow flies
- **Run by:** Forestry and Wildlife Committee of the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources
- **Coordinates:** 43.7162, 68.67072

## What it is and where

Karatau State Nature Reserve is a protected area (Қаратау мемлекеттік табиғи қорығы) in Kazakhstan.

Its coordinates are 43.7162, 68.67072; the nearest main airport is Shymkent International Airport (CIT, Shymkent), 164 km as the crow flies. How to get around Kazakhstan (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/kazajistan/#moverse).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=43.7162%2C68.670724)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=43.7162%2C68.670724)

- **Run by:** Forestry and Wildlife Committee of the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources

It is one of the [Nature](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/kazajistan/naturaleza/) and [Wildlife](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/kazajistan/fauna/) places in Kazakhstan. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap.

## When to go

The best time to visit Karatau State Nature Reserve is **May to June and September to October**.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Better not | 9 h 05 |
| February | Better not | 10 h 16 |
| March | Better not | 11 h 38 |
| April | Possible | 13 h 13 |
| May | Best time | 14 h 32 |
| June | Best time | 15 h 15 |
| July | Possible | 14 h 57 |
| August | Possible | 13 h 48 |
| September | Best time | 12 h 17 |
| October | Best time | 10 h 46 |
| November | Possible | 9 h 25 |
| December | Better not | 8 h 45 |

In June there are 15 h 15 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 45. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather.

| What you come for | Best time | Possible |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Nature | May to June and September to October | April, July to August and November |
| Wildlife | May to June and September to October | April, July to August and November |

It is not the same trip whatever you come for: Karatau State Nature Reserve has a different season depending on what you want to do here, and [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) puts it in the right month for you.

When to go to Kazakhstan in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/kazajistan/#cuando-ir).

## Before you go to Kazakhstan

To enter Kazakhstan there are 10 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Baikonur and border areas require a permit”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the Kazakhstan checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/kazajistan/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Tenge (KZT); plugs: Type C and F · 220 V · 50 Hz (the same plug as in Spain); emergencies: 112 · 102 police · 103 ambulance · 101 fire brigade.

In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it.

## What is nearby

- [Syrdarya-Turkestan State Regional Nature Park](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/kazajistan/syrdarya-turkestan-state-regional-nature-park/): Protected area · 48 km
- [Great Steppe Country Center](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/kazajistan/great-steppe-country-center/): Museum · 57 km
- [Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/kazajistan/mausoleo-de-khoja-ahmad-yasavi/): Mausoleum in the city of Turkistan, Kazakhstan · 57 km
- [Sawran](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/kazajistan/sauran/): Ancient city located in the vicinity of Turkestan, Kazakhstan · 76 km
- [South Kazakhstan State Reserved Zone'](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/kazajistan/south-kazakhstan-state-reserved-zone/): Protected area · 119 km

Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the Kazakhstan guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/kazajistan/).

## More in Kazakhstan: Nature

- [Khan Tengri](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/kazajistan/khan-tengri/): mountain in Kyrgyzstan
- [Belukha Mountain](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/kazajistan/belukha/): mountain on the border of Russia and Kazakhstan
- [Tanbaly](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/kazajistan/petroglyphs-of-the-archaeological-landscape-of-tanbaly/): archaeological site in Kazakhstan
- [Charyn Canyon](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/kazajistan/charyn-canyon/): canyon on the Charyn River in Kazakhstan
- [Altyn-Emel National Park](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/kazajistan/parque-nacional-altyn-emel/): national park
- [Katun Nature Reserve](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/kazajistan/reserva-natural-de-katun/): protected area in russia

Every Kazakhstan place under Nature, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/kazajistan/naturaleza/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is Karatau State Nature Reserve?

It is a protected area (Қаратау мемлекеттік табиғи қорығы in the local language) in Kazakhstan.

### When is the best time to visit Karatau State Nature Reserve?

May to June and September to October. In June there are 15 h 15 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 45.

### How do you get to Karatau State Nature Reserve?

The nearest main airport is Shymkent International Airport (CIT), 164 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=43.7162%2C68.670724) opens the route on the map, and how to get around Kazakhstan is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/kazajistan/#moverse).

### How do I add it to my trip?

With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the Kazakhstan map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby.

### What else is around here?

Nearby you have [Syrdarya-Turkestan State Regional Nature Park](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/kazajistan/syrdarya-turkestan-state-regional-nature-park/), [Great Steppe Country Center](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/kazajistan/great-steppe-country-center/), [Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/kazajistan/mausoleo-de-khoja-ahmad-yasavi/). The rest is in [the Kazakhstan guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/kazajistan/).

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/1550766436), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/), CC0. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).