“Super Kazakhs can do anything”: Klava Coca nearly stranded in Mangystau desert

Tengrinews.kz – Russian pop star Klava Coca traveled to Kazakhstan to film a new music video but nearly got stranded in the Mangystau desert. The singer shared footage from the trip on Instagram, praising local hospitality and the resourcefulness of her team.

Filming took place in the desert landscapes of Mangystau. According to the director’s concept, the scene required a lone tree — something that does not naturally exist in the area. However, locals reportedly found a solution.

“There are no trees in these deserts, but our super Kazakhs said there would be. These guys can solve any problem,” she said.

Between takes, Klava practiced using a walkie-talkie and tried speaking Kazakh.

“I’m reporting the situation over the radio and learning Kazakh at the same time. ‘Qaidasyndar’(Where are you), ‘Bailanysta’(On the line),” the singer said in the video.

The biggest challenge turned out to be the weather.

“They fed us and welcomed us so warmly! But when filming started, a hellish wind picked up, piercing right to the bones. Neither five layers of thermal wear nor a heater helped. It was really scary. We barely managed to finish filming, but the cold desert didn’t want to let us go,” she shared.

Due to a sandstorm and poor visibility, the crew became stuck in the desert — vehicles were unable to move through the sand. Judging by the singer’s posts, the team had to spend the entire night there, waiting for dawn and better weather conditions.

Online reaction

The video received more than 50,000 likes and hundreds of comments. Many Kazakh users praised the singer’s attempt to speak the language.

“Our guys are awesome, welcome to our unique Mangystau!”
“Welcome to Kazakhstan! We have many beautiful places.”
“Klava’s pronunciation is accent-free — well done!”
“The kind of people for whom nothing is impossible.”

Why Mangystau attracts global attention

International interest in the region is not accidental. British newspaper The Telegraph previously included Mangystau in its list of the world’s top 10 deserts to visit at least once in a lifetime.

Journalist Sarah Marshall wrote that the colossal cliffs, chalk towers and limestone formations of the Bozzhyra tract on the Ustyurt Plateau make visitors feel as if they are looking at the hidden depths of the ocean.

According to her, the region’s geological wonders are far more valuable than the mineral resources discovered there.

Earlier, Chinese blogger Tao Mingxu, known as @taotaoaima, also shared a video from one of Kazakhstan’s most picturesque locations — the Bozzhyra plateau in Mangystau. In the clip, posted with the caption “in beautiful Aktau, Kazakhstan,” she poses with a golden eagle against the backdrop of white cliffs.

The video garnered more than 200,000 views. The blogger has over 2.8 million followers on Instagram.