I believe that if there is a place 2500 kilometres away from where you live, and you still keep coming back there every year just to see it in a different season, in a different light as the sun rays hit its grasslands, that deserves an explanation.
This little piece of land, maybe forgotten by man, but not by God, jammed into the easternmost recess of Georgia, right at the border with Azerbaijan, strikes with serenity and this amazing tranquillity. Yet it’s so diversified and so different from other parts of Georgia that you hardly believe it’s real.
The landscapes, with black earth steppes, grassy hills, loamy gullies and badlands, semi-deserts and savannahs, stately Alazani valley with its flood plains, limestone-origin gorges, mud volcanoes and charming pistachio forests will make you feel dizzy from its overwhelming, stark beauty.
Vashlovani Protected Areas means compact area of the Vashlovani Strict Nature Reserve and Vashlovani National Park as well as so called natural monuments (Eagle Gorge, Takhti-Tepa mud volcanoes, Juma Bay and Alazani Floodplains).
It was established for the first time in 1935 and expanded in 2003. The name comes from the Georgian word vashlo, meaning an apple. The name was given by the locals, who say that the heart of the nature reserve with its distinctive pistachio forest resembles an apple orchard, which is the exact meaning of the word vashlovani. There are number or trails around, there is also a possibility for overnight accommodation in the newly renovated bungalows located in the park.
What else there is to write? Each area of the park is different, but same interesting. The park is a true paradise for bird-lovers, perfect for spring bird-watching, mostly famous from vultures, eagles, black storks, bustards and many many others. It’s the same for other animals, such as bears, lynxes, wolves, hyenas, wild boars, numerous tortoise and snakes. Human impact is rather limited, but you’ll find some fields at the outskirts and traditional pasture lands throughout, in Autumn you’ll meet Tushetian shepherds migrating with their herds from High Caucasus.
Whenever I come, I always see something different. And I have to mention that this is only possible because of few hard-working people, for whom Vashlovani is their love and life, who fight for development grants and scientific attention, for more national and foreign consideration. They ensure the right protection, they try to open the park to more and more visitors and promote its beauty, they keep an eye on the park’s wildlife, develop new projects, both scientific and commercial.
My personal hero of Vashlovani is Amiran Kodiashvili, a person who devoted half of his life to Vashlovani’s protection development. An ex-ranger, who left the park after the governmental changes in administration system. Amiran still guides groups to Vashlovani with his new Travel Agency EKOTURI (http://www.ekoturi.ge), passing on his passion for the park to everybody in his company, moving you to his magic world of love, respect, and laughter, and contentment, and teaching you how to enjoy every single moment of your life.
Amiran, you know I love you 
My first visit to Vashlovani was in October 2008, next one – May 2009, next – August 2009, the most recent in November 2010 and March 2011. The next one?
Who knows, but for sure as soon as possible.
Who knows, but for sure as soon as possible.
News from Vashlovani :)
- http://www.georgiatoday.ge/article_details.php?id=8859
- http://birding-georgia.bunebaprint.ge/vashlovani.php
- http://georgiandaily.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1622&Itemid=105
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