Besides the impressive architecture and culture, Bosnia and Herzegovina is also well known for its breathtaking nature. One of the most beautiful examples is the Kravice Waterfalls.
Kravice is one of the most beautiful natural sites in the Herzegovinian region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Located on the Trebižat river, it cascades off a particularly large tuff limestone deposit and onto the lake below. The entire area is protected by the state government, but it is open to the local public and tourists for visits, picnics, camping and even swimming.
The entire area is full of greenery with chaste trees, poplars and figs all around. Even the tuff formations are green with thick lichen, moss and grass all over them. There are hardly any manmade formations near the falls to interfere with the location’s complete natural environment.
It’s roughly 25 meters high and separated into 20 falls, with the lake below being about 120 meters in radius. However, it is this small size of the fall that makes it so accessible, unlike most large waterfalls.
The Kravice waterfalls are a serene natural site to behold, but there are also the added attractions of camping, swimming and even a small café for people to just sit, chat and enjoy the general beauty of the place. If you are there in the summer, you can opt for rafting, which is quite popular at that time. However, spring is probably the best time to visit the Kravice waterfalls as the weather and the lush green scenery is particularly welcoming during the season. In fact, there’s even a little food specialty that goes on during springtime near Kravice falls, primarily based on grilled fish and local recipes. One should also check out the stalactite formations inside a natural grotto nearby. There’s the old mill and a sailing ship that might be worth checking out as well.
During the late spring and hot summer months, an amazing natural phenomenon occurs at noon time. The heat causes some of the lake water to rise up and form into a mist like formation at the top of the valley. It is not just gorgeous to look at, but the layer of watery mist also provides a natural layer of shade against the hot sun and keeps the temperature down for the people sitting on the sandy beach below or swimming in the lake. Apart from the waterfall, there is an opportunity to explore the Trebižat river itself via canoe rides as well.
You can reach Kravice if you take a cab from Mostar (if you happen to be in Bosnia and Herzegovina) and go south for about 40 km. Keep in mind that it’s only about 10 km to the south of Ljubuški, if you happen to be in that town.
The Kravice waterfall is open to visits from the month of May until October. It shuts down for the rest of the year as winter sets in, making the region unsuitable for public visits.