The city of Zhanaarka is located 1 km (0.62 mi) to the east of the mouth of the river.

[2][4] The Zhaman Sarysu river originates in the southern slopes of the Zhaksy Tagyly massif of the Kazakh Uplands, with some rivulets flowing from the Shetshok and Baynazar mountains.

The Zhaman Sarysu flows within a floodplain in that direction until it enters lake Koktinkoli from the northeast.

Towards the end of its lower course the Zhaman Sarysu bends westwards and flows along the southern outskirts of Zhanaarka city, the district capital.

Finally it joins the left bank of the Sarysu about 1 km (0.62 mi) downriver from Zhanaarka and a little further east from the mouth of the Taldymanaka.