Ajameti Managed Reserve, Nature reserve in Baghdati and Zestafoni Municipality, Georgia
Ajameti Managed Reserve covers 4848 hectares of protected land with 4738 hectares of forest containing oak groves, hornbeam stands, and oriental hornbeam sections. The landscape transitions across valleys and elevated areas, supporting diverse woodland communities throughout the reserve.
The land started as a 20-hectare protected forest in 1928 and became an official botanical reserve in 1935. In 1946, it gained strict nature reserve status to ensure long-term protection of its valuable woodland.
The area sits near Vartsikhe, a settlement built atop ancient Rodopolis ruins, and Geguti, home to remains of a Georgian royal winter hunting lodge.
The reserve sits about 230 kilometers from Tbilisi and 15 kilometers from Kutaisi, making it reachable from major cities. Visitors should wear weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear, as forest paths vary in condition depending on the season.
The reserve protects rare specimens of Imeretian Oak and Zelkova trees that are over 250 years old, representing botanical survivors from the Tertiary period. These ancient trees offer visitors a window into plant communities that have largely disappeared elsewhere.
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