Do you like exploring different places and cultures? Do you like seeking thrill and fun in nature? If so, then you will surely be interested in the hunting trip that I and my two brothers took last month.
We three are avid hunting enthusiasts who often go to different countries and regions to experience different hunting environments and methods. This time, we chose a destination that has both historical charm and natural scenery: Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Sarajevo is a city with more than 600 years of history, once a major trade center of the Ottoman Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and also the birthplace of the First World War and the Bosnian War. It has a rich cultural heritage, including mosques, churches, museums, markets, etc. It is also a food paradise, with many local specialties, such as kebabs, meat pies, cheese, etc.
Besides the city’s charm, there are also many natural landscapes suitable for hunting around Sarajevo, such as forests, mountains, rivers, etc. We planned to visit the city during the day and go hunting in the mountains at night. In order to see the target clearly in the dark, we needed a pair of cost-effective infrared binoculars. After investigation and comparison, we finally chose the NB1 model from wildguarder.
Wildguarder NB1 is a handheld digital night vision observation system that uses an infrared-sensitive CMOS sensor to provide excellent image quality. It has a full optical system, video camera, 3x digital zoom and 31mm objective lens. It is also equipped with a 5W infrared 850nm LED infrared illuminator that can observe and record large targets up to 984 feet away in the dark. It also has a 2.7-inch display screen that allows you to easily view and playback pictures and videos.
In this article, I will introduce you to the details of our hunting trip in Sarajevo, including what historical and cultural attractions we visited, what delicacies we tasted, and how we used wildguarder NB1 night vision binoculars to conduct exciting and unforgettable hunting activities. I hope you will enjoy my sharing and get some inspiration and fun from it.
Sarajevo is a city with a long history and diverse culture, located in the central part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, across the narrow valley of the Miljacka River, surrounded by the Trebević Mountain. It is the capital and largest city of this country, and also one of the most important political, economic, cultural and educational centers in the Balkan Peninsula.
The history of Sarajevo can be traced back to the Neolithic Age, when people of the Butmir culture, famous for their pottery, lived here. Later, this place was occupied and settled by Illyrians, Romans, Goths and Slavs. In 1415, Sarajevo was mentioned as Vrhbosna, and became a trade center and a stronghold of Muslim culture after being invaded by the Ottoman Empire in the late 15th century.
Under the Ottoman rule, Sarajevo developed into a typical oriental city with mosques, wooden houses, public baths and schools. One of its most famous landmarks is the old Turkish market (Baščaršija), which is the commercial and social center of the city, with many streets and workshops named after trades and crafts. Sarajevo also attracted many merchants from Dubrovnik, who established the Latin quarter (Latinluk) in the city. In addition, many Jews who fled from religious persecution in Spain also settled here and established their own area, called Čifuthani.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, Sarajevo suffered from wars, fires and plagues, resulting in population and economic decline. In 1850, after the decline of the Ottoman Empire, Sarajevo became the administrative center of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 1878, the Austro-Hungarian Empire replaced the Ottoman Empire’s control over the region and modernized Sarajevo in the following decades. During this period, Sarajevo also became the center of the Bosnian Serb resistance movement “Young Bosnia”.
On June 28, 1914, a Bosnian Serb named Gavrilo Princip assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary and his wife in Sarajevo, triggering the outbreak of the First World War. This event took place at the Latin Bridge (Latinska ćuprija), where there is now a museum and a monument to commemorate this historical moment.
After the end of the First World War, Sarajevo became part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, and later part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. During this period, Sarajevo underwent industrialization and urbanization, and its population and economy grew. It also became a multi-ethnic and multi-religious city, with different groups such as Bosnian Muslims, Serbian Orthodox, Croatian Catholics and Jews.
In 1984, Sarajevo successfully hosted the 14th Winter Olympics, showcasing its modernity and openness. However, this glorious scene was soon shattered by war. In 1992, after Bosnia and Herzegovina declared independence from Yugoslavia, Sarajevo was besieged and bombed by the Republika Srpska for nearly four years. This was the longest siege of a city in European history, resulting in thousands of deaths and injuries, and most of the city’s destruction.
In 1995, after the end of the Bosnian War, Sarajevo began the process of reconstruction and recovery. Many damaged buildings were repaired or rebuilt, including the famous National Library (Vijećnica), which was engulfed by flames in 1992, losing many precious books and documents. Sarajevo also regained its cultural vitality and diversity, hosting many festivals, film festivals, music festivals and other events. It also attracted many tourists and investors again, becoming one of the most dynamic and charming cities in the Balkans
We visited many interesting and meaningful places in Sarajevo, feeling the city’s historical changes and cultural integration. We tasted local delicacies such as ćevapi (kebabs) and burek (meat pies) in Baščaršija, and bought some handicrafts as souvenirs. We felt the solemnity and elegance of Muslim culture in Gazi Husreff-Bey’s Mosque (Begova Džamija), and saw the passage of time in the clock tower next to the mosque. We saw the site of the assassination at the Latin Bridge, and learned more about the background and details in the nearby museum. We admired the neo-Moorish style architecture and gorgeous interior of the National Library (Vijećnica), and saw a wonderful concert there. We were moved by the stories and items of the children who were born or grew up during the siege at the War Childhood Museum (War Childhood Museum). We took an amazing aerial trip on the Sarajevo Cable Car (Sarajevo Cable Car), overlooking the beautiful view of the whole city from Trebević Mountain.
Sarajevo impressed us deeply, it is a city full of history and culture, but also a city full of vitality and hope. It shows how different ethnicities and religions coexist and interact, and also shows how humans face and overcome war and disaster. We were glad to have the opportunity to visit this city, and also grateful to meet those friendly and warm locals, who made us feel the charm and warmth of Sarajevo.
Sarajevo not only has a rich history and culture, but also has many beautiful and interesting attractions and delicacies, which can make visitors feel the charm and vitality of this city. During the day in Sarajevo, we visited some historical sites and museums, but also went to some other places, enjoying some local specialties.
One place we had to go was the Sarajevo War Tunnel (Sarajevo War Tunnel), which was built during the siege, a 800-meter-long, 1-meter-wide, 1.6-meter-high tunnel that connected Sarajevo Airport and a suburb of the city. This tunnel was the only connection between Sarajevo and the outside world, and was an important channel for transporting personnel, weapons, food and medical supplies. Now there is a museum here, displaying some pictures, videos and items of the war, as well as part of the original tunnel. We felt the hardship and courage of the people at that time.
Another place we had to go was the Sarajevo Cable Car (Sarajevo Cable Car), which reopened in 2018, because it was destroyed in the war. It allowed us to take an amazing aerial trip, overlooking the beautiful view of the whole city from Trebević Mountain. We saw the whole picture of Sarajevo on the cable car, including its red roofs, mosques, churches, bridges, etc. We also saw some war relics on the mountain, such as tanks and bunkers. We saw a yellow fortress (Yellow Fortress) on the top of the mountain, which was a defensive fortification built in the 18th century, now a viewing platform and cafe.
After visiting some attractions, we also tried some Sarajevo delicacies, which are traditional dishes of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with influences from both east and west. Our favorite was ćevapi (kebabs), which are small meatballs made of beef or lamb, eaten with flat bread stuffed with onions and sour cheese. We also liked burek (meat pies), which are made of thin pastry wrapped with meat or cheese or spinach filling, baked on charcoal fire. We also tasted some baklava (nut honey cake), which is a dessert made of layers of pastry stuffed with nuts and honey. There are many shops selling this dessert in the Turkish market (Baščaršija).
Although the day in Sarajevo was wonderful, we were more looking forward to the hunting activity at night. We three are avid hunting enthusiasts who often go to different countries and regions to experience different hunting environments and methods. This time, we chose a destination that has both historical charm and natural scenery: Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
There are many natural landscapes suitable for hunting around Sarajevo, such as forests, mountains, rivers, etc. We booked a three-day hunting package through a local hunting club (Hunting Club Sarajevo), which included accommodation, meals, guides, weapons and transportation services. Our target was some common wildlife, such as wild boars, deer, rabbits, etc.
In order to see the target clearly in the dark, we needed a pair of cost-effective infrared binoculars. After investigation and comparison, we finally chose the NB1 model from Chinese brand wildguarder. Wildguarder NB1 is a handheld digital night vision observation system that uses an infrared-sensitive CMOS sensor to provide excellent image quality. It has a full optical system, video camera, 3x digital zoom and 31mm objective lens. It is also equipped with a 5W infrared 850nm LED infrared illuminator that can observe and record large targets up to 984 feet away in the dark. It also has a 2.7-inch display screen that allows you to easily view and playback pictures and videos.
We drove to a hunting spot on the mountain with our guide every night, and then walked to a hidden location, waiting for the target to appear. We hung the wildguarder NB1 night vision binoculars around our necks, ready to use at any time. We found this night vision device very light and practical, it can let us see the shape and movement of animals clearly in complete darkness, without being discovered or disturbed. It can also let us take high-definition pictures and videos, recording our hunting experience and results. In the three-day hunting activity, we shot two wild boars, one deer and three rabbits. We were very satisfied with our performance and harvest, and also very grateful to wildguarder NB1 night vision binoculars for bringing us great help and fun. We think this is an excellent performance, reasonable price, worth recommending night vision device.
Through this trip to Sarajevo, we not only felt the history and culture of this city, but also experienced its nature and hunting. We visited many interesting and meaningful places during the day, feeling the changes and integration of this city. We enjoyed the fun and excitement of hunting at night, feeling the vitality and charm of this city. We also thank wildguarder NB1 night vision binoculars for bringing us great help and fun, letting us see more clearly in the dark, take more clear pictures.
Sarajevo is a city worth visiting, it has a rich history and culture, but also has many beautiful and interesting attractions and delicacies. It is a city suitable for different types of travelers, whether you like history and culture, or nature and hunting, you can find what you want here. We hope to have the opportunity to come back to this city again, and hope you can also come to this city, feel its charm and warmth.
