Rules for Visiting Specially Protected Natural Territories by Individuals

1. General Provisions

1. These Rules for visiting specially protected natural territories (hereinafter – SPNT) by individuals have been developed in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Specially Protected Natural Territories" and define the procedure for visiting SPNTs for scientific, environmental-educational, tourism, recreational, and limited economic purposes.

2. These Rules apply to the following types of SPNTs of republican and local significance:

   • Conservation institutions: State nature reserves, state national nature parks, state nature reservoirs, and state regional nature parks.

   • Conservation organizations (State Enterprises): State zoological parks, state botanical gardens, and state dendrological parks.

   • SPNTs without legal entity status: State natural monuments, state nature sanctuaries, and state protected zones.

3. Access to state nature reserves is permitted only for scientific and environmental-educational purposes.

4. Access to religious pilgrimage sites located within or accessible through state nature reserves may be permitted by the administration in coordination with religious associations. Such group visits are free of charge but must be accompanied by state inspectors.

2. Visiting Conservation Institutions

5. Permitted activities (depending on the protection regime and SPNT type):

   • Movement by motorized or horse-drawn transport on public roads, designated excursion routes, and forest/field roads (except in strict protection zones);

   • Organized excursions and hiking trips on established trails, accompanied by guides or inspectors;

   • Movement on water bodies using only non-motorized watercraft (subject to administration approval);

   • Amateur (sport) fishing (in accordance with Article 43-1 of the Law);

   • Gathering of wild fruits, berries, mushrooms, and medicinal herbs, as well as haymaking and firewood collection in strictly designated areas;

   • Sporting events, eco-educational meetings, and tourist rallies (subject to administration approval);

   • Professional and amateur photography and videography;

   • Educational internships, soil sampling, and herbarium collection for educational purposes (except in strict protection zones).

6. Prohibited activities:

   • Entering SPNT territory without a valid payment document for the use of the SPNT;

   • Off-road driving or movement outside designated excursion trails and tourist routes;

   • Parking vehicles outside established parking areas;

   • Washing vehicles, clothes, or dishes, and bathing pets in or near water bodies;

   • Use of motorized yachts, boats, jet skis, or ATVs (except those used by the State Inspection);

   • Lighting campfires and using grills or stoves outside specially designated and equipped areas;

   • Camping or pitching tents outside designated campsites;

   • Fishing with nets or other prohibited gear;

   • Disturbing, feeding, or removing wild animals, or destroying nests, burrows, and anthills;

   • Felling, breaking, or damaging trees and shrubs;

   • Vandalism of natural, historical, cultural, or archaeological monuments;

   • Applying inscriptions or drawings on buildings, trees, stones, or rocks;

   • Littering and unauthorized livestock grazing or haymaking.

7. The basis for visiting a conservation institution is a document confirming payment for the use of the SPNT for scientific, educational, or recreational purposes. This document must be kept until the end of the visit.

8. Permanent residents of settlements located within SPNT boundaries and owners of dacha plots within these boundaries are exempt from the visitation fee.

3. Visiting Conservation Enterprises (Zoos and Botanical Gardens)

10. Permitted: Walking on designated paved or gravel paths, viewing collections, and photography (subject to administration approval).

11. Safety in State Zoological Parks (Prohibited):

    • Using loud audio devices or playing musical instruments;

    • Feeding, teasing, or scaring animals;

    • Throwing objects into animal enclosures;

    • Leaning against or reaching through fences and cages;

    • Using tripods or flashes for photography;

    • Placing children on barriers or fences;

    • Bringing pets into the park.

12. In Botanical Gardens and Dendrological Parks (Prohibited):

    • Damaging or removing plants, including seeds and fruits;

    • Unauthorized photography of cultural or natural objects;

    • Littering and failing to follow the instructions of security staff.