Sataplia Nature Reserve & Dinosaur Footprints

Sataplia Nature Reserve lies roughly 7-10 kilometres northwest of Kutaisi, on the Colchian forest hills of Georgia's Imereti region, and has been a protected area since it was declared a strict reserve in 1935, covering some 350 hectares.

The Discovery of the Dinosaur Tracks

Its name means "place of honey" in Georgian, a reference to the wild bee colonies that long inhabited its limestone slopes. The site's fame began in the 1920s when a Kutaisi schoolteacher and naturalist, Petre Chabukiani, searching for traces of prehistoric humans, discovered the footprints of plant-eating dinosaurs pressed into the limestone plateau. Dating to the Cretaceous period around 100 million years ago, these tracks are considered among the best-preserved dinosaur footprint clusters in the world and are displayed beneath a transparent protective canopy that shields them without blocking the view.

The Karst Cave and Glass Observation Deck

The reserve's second great draw is its karst cave, roughly 900 metres long, carved over millions of years by the Oghaskura stream; the illuminated walking route is lined with stalactites, stalagmites and shallow underground pools, takes about 15 minutes to traverse, and stays cool and constant in temperature all year. A 2010-2011 development added a visitor centre, a small museum, a cafe, an open area with dinosaur models, and a glass observation deck cantilevered over the cliff edge, from which visitors take in an eagle's-eye panorama of Kutaisi, the Rioni valley and the surrounding green ridges. The forest itself blends alpine and subtropical species and shelters many endangered Colchian endemic trees, so the shaded trails are cool and family-safe.

Visit Duration and Tour Programme

Turkish agencies favour this stop because it sits at the heart of the Kutaisi leg on Black Sea-Georgia tours routed in from the Sarp border gate, and because it pairs easily on the same day with the famous Prometheus (Kumistavi) Cave nearby. The trio of dinosaur tracks, cave and glass terrace offers a strong "fun science" appeal for groups with children, while short walking distances and bus access keep the itinerary simple. The average visit lasts one to one and a half hours. On guided programmes Sataplia is usually the first morning stop, later combined with Prometheus Cave and, in Kutaisi, the Bagrati Cathedral and Gelati Monastery, gathering Imereti's nature, prehistory and medieval heritage into a single day.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit runs from late spring to early autumn (May to October); summer forest shade keeps things cool, while winter roads can be wet and slippery and warrant care. Peak season is July and August.