Sataplia Nature Reserve Travel Guide

Sataplia Nature Reserve, located just 10 km from Kutaisi in the Imereti region of Georgia, is a captivating destination for nature lovers and history enthusiasts alike. The reserve spans 354 hectares and is known for its unique attractions, including preserved dinosaur footprints and the stunning Sataplia Cave.The reserve's history dates back to 1935 when it was founded to protect the recently discovered karst cave and dinosaur footprints by Petre Chabukiani. The name 'Sataplia,' meaning 'place of honey,' comes from the tradition of local people harvesting honey from wild bees that inhabited the mountain's caves.Visitors can explore the Sataplia Cave, a 900-meter-long cave featuring stunning stalactites and stalagmites. A 314-meter section of the cave is open for tours, enhanced with lighting and audio effects. The Dinosaur Footprints Trail allows visitors to step in the tracks of herbivore and raptor dinosaurs that roamed the area millions of years ago. The glass-bottomed viewing platform offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. The reserve is also home to the Sataplia Museum of Natural History, which showcases local geology, flora, and fauna.The Colchian forest, covering 98% of the reserve, features a diverse array of flora, including rare and endangered species. Wildlife includes jackals, foxes, squirrels, martens, badgers, roe deer, and wolves.