Less than three hours from Astana, the Korghlazhyn State Nature Reserve is still an undiscovered region that is well worth visiting. In 2008 it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its vitally important wetlands, which act as a stopover for migratory water birds. In particular, the rare Siberian white crane and the Dalmatian pelican can often be seen here. The most impressive flock to look out for, however, is that of pink flamingoes, the world’s most northerly flock, which make up one of 300 species of birds living here. This is undoubtedly a twitcher’s paradise. Look out for the rare saiga antelope, wolves and marmots, too. Combining the virgin steppe and lakes, the landscape is impressive and makes for a nice day or weekend trip from Astana.