The diversity of the country which Mimu lives in the outstanding, so he keeps exploring Georgia. This time reporting from Vashlovani…
It’s said that Georgia is blessed by Lord, as you may find yourself diving in the sea waves and then climbing snowy slopes, but just imagine the desert 400 km away from the sub-tropic forests, citrus trees and tea plantations…
Practical tips:
Vashlovani Protected Areas is located in the extreme eastern part of the Dedoflistskaro district. It includes Vashlovani Nature Reserve, National Park and 3 Natural Monuments – Eagle Gorge, Takhti-Tepa Mud Volcanoes and Kaklisyure Alazani floodplain forest. Dedoflistskaro is easily accessible by public transport, but to get into the protected areas you will need an entry permit, as the region is very close to the border. Good news is that it is easily organized at the spot in Border Police in Dedoplistskaro and 4X4 car. You can find the detailed routs here. It will take you 2-3 days to explore the whole region with it’s main attractions and sights. It’s a real heaven for reptile lovers and bird-watchers.
Impressions:
The area is really dry, sun is heating starting from early May and that’s the time when Mimu visited the area. Encyclopedia says: “ The National Park contains a collection of species unique in Eurasia and is home to the Caucasian Leopard, grey wolf, brown bear, striped hyena, Eurasian lynx, and golden jackal and supports a vibrant community of birds of prey” , but Mimu haven’t seen live any of above mentioned animals, what we have experienced is endless walleyes of wheat grown on very black, fertile soil, where butterflies and colorful birds fly-up as go too close… Snakes are widely spread and quite aggressive in the area, this is very important fact to consider but not the reason to avoid the trip to Vashlovani. Reptiles, mainly represented by turtles are lying like a stones on the road… Lizards of diverse colors and sizes are everywhere as well… The variety of the bird species is tremendous, there is place called an Eagle gorge close to Dedoflistskaro, where eagles and hawks are flying so close to you, it seems like they will hunt you in no time.
The scenery inevitably changes into badlands. You dive into the yellowish-grey narrow limestone canyon and realize that you are driving along the dry river channel, which may turn back into the flow in case of sudden weather change. In one of such gorges (Pantishara Gorge) you find the swallows “town”, which is multiple (about thousand, Mimu gave up counting) nests built on the overhanging rock in the canyon.
The gorges in Vashlovani Protected area were developed in quaternary, 0.01-2 million years ago in Neozoic era. The geological analysis showed that Vashlovani has been a sea button in different periods. According to pale ontological materials, Pliocene lowlands(2.5 -7 million years) and foothills of east Georgia were covered with savanna and there dwelled Southern Elephant, mastodon, giraffe, rhinoceros, antelopes, saber- toothed tiger, ostrich and monkey Dryopithecus. Fossilized fragments of tropical plants are found in geological mother rocks.
You obviously cannot cover this all in one day, as the area has much more to offer including Mud Volcanos. Takhti Tepa- that’s how the place is called. Volcanos very in height with mud craters on the top – ejecting mud and oil and evaporating the gas.
Scenery is surprisingly varying and changing within a very short time period, you are just left to wonder…
More is coming from Mimu Trips…