This year, we had an incredible opportunity to see how rich Serbia is when it comes to flora and fauna! We witnessed how they interact and create a perfectly balanced ecosystem.

From May 9th to 11th, 2025, the Serbian team spent time enjoying nature, sports activities, and good food in the western part of Serbia. Instead of settling for the ever-growing and commercialized Zlatibor mountain, we opted for a small village many people have never heard of, called Vraneša. Untouched nature, painted with the serenity of fresh air, crystal-clear rivers and lakes shimmering with bluish-green reflections, rare birds unique to this region flying over vast forests and flower-filled meadows — it was an oasis of peace, pristine nature, and exclusive leisure in the surroundings of the magnificent Uvac Lake (also known as Sjeničko Lake), which we also visited.

Upon arriving at the location, we had enough time for a short hike, stunning views and great photos, a few basketball matches, and one long soccer game on hilly terrain (but don’t worry, there were no casualties). The sports activities were followed by a rich feast and the introduction of our newer colleagues to the team. Team building has truly become a meaningful event in the last couple of years — it provides an opportunity for people from different teams to bond. That night, we stayed up late, enjoying drinks, sharing thoughts and ideas, playing the guitar, and singing.

The second day started late, with a breakfast worth mentioning — traditional Western Serbian specialties such as komplet lepinja and mekike. We headed to Uvac Lake, where boats were waiting for us!

Despite the disappointing weather forecast, it was a sunny day at the lake, and we spent about an hour cruising down the entrenched meanders of the Uvac River, gazing up at the canyon walls. A colony of Eurasian griffon vultures (an endangered species since 1994) lives in this nature reserve, which is why it is known as “The Kingdom of the Griffon Vulture.” In fact, they thrive here — their numbers have increased from just a few pairs to over 500 since 1994. It was easy to see why. The air currents within the canyon help them glide effortlessly, so they don’t need to use brute force to activate their massive wings. Moreover, they blend perfectly into the canyon walls — spotting them wasn’t easy!

Our first stop was the “Ice Cave” (it stays at just 8°C year-round), one of the caves in the “Ušački” cave system, which is 6,185 meters long. This cave was only recently discovered and is still being researched. All of these caves are characterized by abundant cave decorations, deposited by dripping water — such as stalactites, stalagmites, columns, draperies, and icicles.

Our second stop took some effort to reach, but it was well worth it! Crêpes made from spelt flour (a healthy, low-gluten grain typical of western Serbia) were waiting for us at the top of the canyon wall. A small wooden cabin with long wooden tables nestled beneath the treetops was able to host all 30 of us! A family of three — husband, wife, and their teenage son — rushed to bring us refreshments after the steep but relatively short climb. We all took some photos together with a breathtaking view of the canyon below.

Upon returning to the boats, it started to get colder, so we rushed back to the accommodation for a bit of spa time and dinner.

The next day, we enjoyed one more traditional breakfast, Turkish coffee with ratluk, and hopped on a bus back to Belgrade.

- Milica Milojkovic Jovicic

Events like this are one of the several employee benefits we offer here at Rare Crew – we have flexible hours, work from home, loyalty holidays, our company chalet and more, because we know how much the wellbeing of our employees matters.

People are our most valuable asset, and we make sure they know it. Our door is always open to team members who are enthusiastic about learning and seeking out challenges.

Does working at Rare Crew seem like the right fit for you? Reach out and send your CV to jobs@rarecrew.com or get in touch with our HR Manager Zuzana Matuskova if you have any questions.