Foto: The Aksu Djabagly nature reserve in southern Kazakhstan (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Kazakhstan - In a four-wheel drive jeep, I head to Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Park. Lammert and Elmira come along — they’ll be our guides in the area. Just outside the village, the road quickly worsens. The driver often has to switch to low gear. I’m jolted around in the back seat. The landscape is beautiful — rolling green hills. At the park entrance, the gate is locked. I see the caretaker mounting his horse in the distance. He trots over to bring us the key. Where else would you experience that? At the top of the gorge, I get out. I have a beautiful view over the canyon and the Aksu River below. Aksu means “white river.” I can see the striking white water flowing through the valley. Lammert explains that the stream carries many minerals from the mountains, which gives it the milky color. Lammert takes the mountain path down, and I follow. The river lies about 300 meters below. Along the narrow trail, I see beautiful wildflowers. I have to watch my footing carefully — loose gravel makes the path slippery. The lower I go, the better the views get. Eventually, I reach the bridge over the Aksu River. The water thunders below me. After a short break, I take the same path back up. Luckily, it’s lightly overcast today — ideal weather for hiking. At a steady pace, I climb the 300 meters back up. Just before reaching the top, I see dark clouds gathering to my right. In the distance, I hear thunder. Lammert says this doesn't necessarily mean it’ll rain here — the clouds are still on the other side of the mountain. I reach the top without issues. At the old presidential teahouse — little more than a simple shelter — I eat my packed lunch. Just as I finish, a chilly wind picks up. The clouds start spilling over the mountain ridge.
Dead trees in Lake Kaindy
Kazakhstan - From the village of Saty, it’s still twelve kilometers along a dirt road to Lake Kaindy. The road is little more than a cart track. Oncoming cars can only be passed by pulling off into the roadside. Suddenly, we reach a river. Other drivers advise us ...
The beautiful Charyn Canyon
Kazakhstan - A good asphalt road leads us to the Charyn Canyon area — a rugged rock formation carved out by the Charyn River. At the location marked by our GPS as the canyon entrance, we wait for the motorcyclists. But they’ve found the entrance somewhere else. ...
The former capital Almaty
Kazakhstan - From the hotel, we walk to the St. Nicholas Cathedral. A light turquoise-colored cathedral with golden onion-shaped domes. Built in 1909, the cathedral features a beautifully ornate iconostasis inside. A heavy chandelier, filled with candles, hangs above ...