Khar Turan National Park

Khar Turan National Park is known as Africa of Iran which consists of three major parts a protected area, national park, and wildlife.

Khar Turan National Park is the second-largest protected area in Iran which including rare animal and plant species. Moreover, it is known as the second biosphere after Serengeti in the world. The biosphere reserve of Khar Turan National Park with an area of about 1470640 hectares became the largest one in Iran. The total area of this region is separated into three major parts as follows: Eight percent belongs to the national park, 17 percent belongs to the wildlife, and 75 percent belongs to the protected area. Khar Turan National Park is known as the Africa of Iran.

• Vegetation
  The vegetation of Khar Turan National Park are as follows: Zygophyllum, mugworts, atraphaxis, ferula, Ferula gummosa, Pistacia atlantica, Seidlitzia rosmarinus, brabejum, and grasses.

• Fauna
  Khar Turan National Park contains 41 species of mammal, 167 species of bird, 42 species of reptile, and two species of amphibians. Asiatic cheetah and Persian onager are the prominent fauna of Khar Turan National Park. Khar Turan National Park probably contains a large number of Asiatic cheetah among different regions in Iran.

• Mammals of Khar Turan National Park
  Moreover, goitered gazelle, chinkara,  Persian leopard, caracal, urial, wild goat, sand cat, wildcat, Pallas's cat, striped hyena, wolf, golden jackal, red fox, and Blanford's fox are the prominent mammals of Khar Turan National Park.

• Birds of of Khar Turan National Park
  Bustard, partridge, See-see partridge, quail, Eurasian stone-curlew, Rock dove, Laughing dove, White wagtail, Indian roller, sandgrouse, European greenfinch, Trumpeter finch, crested lark, Isabelline shrike, sparrow, Ferruginous duck, and heron are the prominent birds of Khar Turan National Park. Also, this region contains different bird of prey such as Barbary falcon, kestrel, golden eagle, Tawny eagle, Eurasian eagle-owl, Scops owl, Egyptian vulture, Eurasian sparrowhawk, and Common buzzard. Khar Turan National Park is one of the best habitats of Pleske's ground jay which is the only exclusive native bird of Iran. This native bird lives beside Zygophyllum shrubs.

• Reptiles of Khar Turan National Park
  Lizard, Agamas, Desert monitor, Greek tortoise, cobra, Horned Viper, rattlesnake, and echis are the prominent reptiles of Khar Turan National Park.
   

• Visiting information
   

  • If you want to visit Khar Turan National Park, you need a license to enter every protected area. To have a license for a daytime visit, you can coordinate with the local people. If you want to stay in the protected area, you should get the license yourself. You can get it from Delbar environment center. It takes 17 minutes by car from Qalebala village.
  • There are three tourist villages that host the visitors near the Khar Turan National Park. Qalebala village, Givar village, and Dezyan village.
  • During the visit Khar Turan National Park, you must be accompanied by a park ranger.
  • Desert outfit, hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen are the essential equipment for this visitation.

• What is the best time to go?
  Cold seasons are the best time to visit Khar Turan National Park. You can visit the Khar Turan National Park from late September till late March.

• Getting there?
  Khar Turan National Park is placed in the eastern side of Semnan province. Also, it is accessible from southern side of Tehran-Mashhad Road, east of Torud village, west of the Deh-e Zaman, and northeast of the central desert of Iran.
  You can reach there by road Number 44 which connects Mashhad and Semnan to the city of Beyarjomand.