Region 1: SOUTHEAST
5. Vashlovani reserve – Pistachio Savannah
Coordinates: 41 o10’ N, 46o25’ E
Altitude: 200– 700 m. a.s.l.
 Dry, Mediterranean– like, soft winter, hot summer. Annual precipitation below 400 mm (<20 mm in January, <40 mm in April, <40 mm in July, <30 mm in October) 20– 30 days with heavy rains per year. 10– 20 days with snow cover. Mean temperature: January /0, April /12, July /23, October /13. Mean maximum temperature (July) –/37 o C.
 The Vashlovani nature reserve is an isolated plot of savannah– like arid landscape in a depression of 48 square kilometers, surrounded by the clay slopes of the Gombori mountain range. The site located in a scarcely populated region of southeastern Georgia, north of the river Iori. The pistachio savannah is rich with game, birds, and reptiles. There are no substantial settlements around the sites. Visit to the site takes at least three days.
 The site is known for supporting a large community of breeding birds. Raptor and scavenger breeders are special attraction of the site, among them Egyptian, cinereous, Eurasian griffon vultures, imperial eagle, lesser kestrel, lanner falcon. Other nesting raptors are long– legged buzzard, northern goshawk, short– toed snake eagle, and some other birds of prey. The most typical bird of the region is chukar. Large aggregations of rose– coloured starlings, European bee– eaters, European rollers, and Eurasian hoopoes can also be found. A few pairs of black storks are nesting in the area. The songbird community includes calandra lark, colonies of crag martin, rufous– tailed scrub robin, several species of wheatears, shrikes, buntings, and warblers, blue rock thrush, rock nuthatch, rock sparrow, and many others. The site is a wintering ground for birds, including thousands of little bustards.
  The area harbors several mammal species, including wolf, fox, golden jackal, wild boar, brow bear, jungle cat, lynx, badger, rock marten, porcupine, striped hyena. Watching these animals requires help from experienced rangers. Common species of reptiles are Mediterranean tortoise, European glass lizard, Caucasian agama, and striped lizard. A special attraction is large Levantine viper, which is common in the area. Long– legged skink, European glass– eyed lizard, four– striped racer, cat snake, Montpellier’ s snake, western boa, and some other snakes and lizards are occasionally found. The best time for watching reptiles and amphibians is May through the first half of June. A number of plants typical for dry Mediterranean– like landscapes are common in the area. Most common are pistachio bush, wild pomegranate, berberis, celtis, juniper, wild pear, fig, Christ thorn. An attraction in the early spring is the very decorative Georgian iris, Stanley’ s peony, and an endemic bell flower, Campanula cakhetica.
 April through May (nesting birds of prey, displaying chukars, wheatears, shrikes, buntings, glass lizards, Mediterranean tortoises, Levantine vipers) or September.
  Tbilisi to Dedoplistskaro (the district center) takes. 5 hours by train, bus, or minibus, or about 4 hours by car. Public transport leaves several times a day from Isani bus station in Tbilisi. Minibus from Dedoplistskaro to the small village Kasristskali (ca. 30 km) takes 2– 3 hours, because of poor road quality. The village can be reached more quickly by car. The reserve (eight km from Kasristskali) can be reached only by car (no public transport available).
 There are entrance regulations. Before visiting Vashlovani reserve, you must contact the director/staff of the reserve. They can also provide necessary arrangements for local transportation, accommodation, and food (because there are no important settlements in the area, hotels/restaurants are not available). For further details please contact the park administration directly. Local transportation is by four– wheel drive. Transportation means are available from the reserve administration or a tourist company.
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