Nature Attraction: Sungai Udang Recreational Forest

The Sungai Udang Recretional Forest is located in Sungai Udang in Alor Gajah district, about 335 hectares in size within the Sungai Udang Reserve Forest and is Dipterocarp Meadow forest. The recreational forest is home to various flora and fauna suitable for outdoor recreational activities. Established from Melaka Chief Minister's idea, the recreational forest was officially launched on 26th June 2005.

There are several valuable local timber species could be found here include Karas (Aquilaria malaccensis), Jati (Tectona grandis), Nyatoh (Ganua hirtiflora (Ridley) van royan), Keruing Merah (Dipterocarpus verrucosus foxw), Cengal (Neobalanocarpus heimii), and Merbau (Intsia palembanica miq).

The recreational forest is a relatively new park open for the public's relaxation. Around the main entrance, there is an administrative centre, food stalls, parking lots, playgrounds and other facilities.

Certain fishing spots have been marked along the river and there are trails deeper into the jungle for trekking or camping in the forest at night.

Some of the activities which may be indulged in here include camping and jungle trekking. The peaceful condition of the forest is suitable for recreational activities, camping, bird watching and picnics.

Zoning

Sungai Udang Recreational Forest is divided into 4 main zone which are:

Zone 1

The recreational area is focus more on the main activities which provided with administrative centre, food stalls, parking space and recreational amenities such as fishing facilities, childern playground and lounge with a herbs trails for visitors who love to appreciate the herbs and traditional medicine.

Zone 2

Camping is one of the recommended activity in Zone 2 where the site is suitable for school children, university students group camping. This zone allows visitors to overnight and use the site for their activities.

Zone 3

The development of the area can be divided into two which are the "Nature Interactive Area" and General Public Interpretation for visitors convenience especially for those who love to explore and learn about the forest, fauna and flora. 

Zone 4

The specialty of this site which consists of various species of fauna and flora make this site is the most suitable place to be preserved for educational activities. The zone is very suitable for jungle trekking, map reading, compass marching and others. The untouched or preserved forest also suitable for extreme and adventurous activities. 

Visitors may reach the Sungai Udang Recreational Forest through self or public transportation, such as busses and taxis from the Sungai Udang town.

Pegawai Hutan Daerah

(District Forestry Officer)

Pejabat Hutan Daerah Melaka,

75459 Air Keroh, Melaka.

Tel. :06-231 6095

or

Pejabat Renjer Hutan Alor Gajah

(Alor Gajah Forestry Ranger Office)

Hutan Rekreasi Sungai Udang,

76300 Masjid Tanah ,

Melaka

Tel/Fax : 606 - 3514654

Nature Attraction: Bukit Batu Lebah Recreational Forest

Bukit Batu Lebah or also known as Bee Hives Hill is located in the forest reserved of Bukit Senggeh in Jasin district. It situated about 20km from a small town named Selandar. The hill called Bukit Senggeh is a fractions from range of Mount Titiwangsa. Its area is about 208 hectar. Bee Hives Hill is about 500m to 600m from the sea level famous for its wide range of big rocks formation.

Local people called it Bee Hives Hill because once there are many bee hives along the caves and rocks. You can find rock similar to a snake head, ship and many small caves (actually a hole or oppening). You can find wild boar and monkey species like gibbons and loris. It is a nice place for daily activities like jungle trekking, team building or training camp, as the forest is small and have a good and clear track signage.

The attraction is suitable as a starting ground for beginner hikers before climbing the higher mountain. At the middle of the hill, there is a rock platform that was naturally made over thousand years ago. 

From the rock platform, you can enjoy the nature scenery of Kampung Bukit Senggeh and its surrounding areas. On the horizon, you might also see the straits of Melaka. By using binocular, you can see clearly the ships in the bussiest straits.

Besides, you can also see many bee hives at the rock. There are also plenty of unique rocks with different shapes and look. You also can have the experience walk through the small cave there. Bee Hives Hill is also the home for a variety of birds, small mammals, reptiles and different species of monkeys. 

The Ministry of Tourism allocated RM 7.7million to upgrade the facilities here including the Sungai Udang recreational forest and Linggi coastal mangrove forest.

Pejabat Hutan Negeri Melaka

(Melaka Forestry Department),

75450 Ayer Keroh, Melaka                          

Tel : 606 - 2316 095

or

Pejabat Renjer Hutan Jasin

(Jasin Forest Ranger Office),

77000 Jasin, Melaka

Tel/Fax  : 606 - 5292 060

Nature Attraction: Bemban Hot Springs

Bemban Hot Springs is located at Bemban, Jasin is also known as Taman Rekreasi Air Panas Jasin was built on the historic site of Natural Hot Springs Pool which was first opened on May 1884. Situated in the tranquil village of Bemban (Kampung Air Panas), your journey will be filled by calm scenery of traditional village, vegetables farm and estates.

This hot springs is very popular because of the healing power of the water. Visitors or those therapeutic cure for skin ailments can take a dip in the spa pool at the hot spring. Besides it is an ideal spot for family outing or for those seeking cure for their skin ailments. Immerse your body in the hot water and then enjoy a goodnite sleep afterwards.

The content of mineral inside the hot springs had been authorized by a government recognized private laboratory, referring to a recent analysis done under the Laboratory reference number ‘Lab. No. :08 UK10.027.’ on 28th Oct 2008.

Fish Therapy

The mineral contents at Jasin Hot Springs are:

Magnesium – 0.022

Phosphorus – 0.53

Silica – 87.7

Sulfate – 11

Boron – 0.4

Calcium – 2.11

Chlorine – 0.15

Fluoride – 10.05

Apart from the thermal bathing pool and the phase by onsen pool, it also have normal swimming pool for children with very shallow water because the hot spring are too hot for children. Other facilities includes souvenir shop, small restaurant and washroom or changing room.

Children Pool

Jasin Hot Srpings,

Taman Rekreasi Air Panas, Kg. Air Panas,

Mukim Bemban, Jasin, Melaka

Operation Hour:

Tuesday to Sunday (Close on Monday except for Public Holidays)

9.am to 12a.m midnight

Ticket Price: Adult RM5 / RM6 (public holiday)

Children RM RM2 / RM3 (public holiday)

Tel: 06-5210369. 

Nature Attraction: Tanjung Tuan Recreational Forest

Tanjung Tuan Recreational Forest is located in the administrative area of Alor Gajah Municipal Council (MPAG) and is bordered with Port Dickson in Negeri Sembilan. It is about 20 minutes by bus from Melaka Town. The beach is a newly established recreational area for the whole family.

Various activities can be done here such as picnicking, boat riding, kite flying and swimming. There are services like horse riding but it is chargeable.

Every morning, local residence from the vicinity come to the beach to catch 'geragau shrimp' (a very tiny shrimp), which is in abundance from August to October. This activity is seasonal according to the monsoon wind.

'Geragau' shrimp is very popular among local people in Melaka. They are made into 'belacan' (shrimp paste) and 'cencalok' (shrimp sauce).

Every Sunday from 4.30pm to 6.30pm, there is a free "Dondang Sayang" performance. There is also a lot of food and fruits stall along the beach. This beach promises serenity and tranquility to relieve stress after a hard week of work.

Tanjung Tuan Lighthouse

The star attraction here in Tanjung Tuan, the light house was built by the British in the 18th century on the highest point of the cape. The site of the light house is said to be the same site where an old light house was built by the Portuguese during their occupation of Melaka in the 16th century which was later destroyed in a war. It is the oldest lighthouse in the country and is still in use today. 

In the 1990s, a radar for monitoring purposes of crossings by large ships was installed in the light house. On a bright and clear day, one can see Sumatra Island across the Straits of Melaka.

The lighthouse is not open to visitors, nevertheless the keeper is more than willing to bring visitors for a tour if one were to request. There are 66 flight of steps leading to the lighthouse. To reach the peak of the lighthouse, one has to climb 72 flight of steps. The lighthouse is controlled by the Shahbandar of Melaka as Tanjung Tuan is a territory of Melaka even though it is located in Port Dickson (Negeri Sembilan).

View from the top

Enjoy the good view from the top of the hill overlooking the Straits of Melaka where the light house is located. From this vantage point, one can see the town of Port Dickson and the outline of Indonesia's Sumatra across the Straits of Melaka.

While you are here, try to use your imagination skill to create the numerous fighting scenes between the Portuguese and Dutch armadas in the sea below that took place over 500 years ago.

Tanjung Tuan Forest Reserve

The entrance to Tanjung Tuan Forest Reserve is right at the mouth of PNB Ilham Resort. The forest is worth checking out since it's chockful of forest birds and there's a lighthouse at the very end of the trail. 

Birding

During March every year, birders from all over Asia and world would descend upon Tanjung Tuan to watch thousands of raptors fly overhead from the Straits of Melaka. 

Spotted Eagle

Purple Throated Sunbird

Pink Necked Green Pigeon

Red-Eyed Bulbuls (Pycnonotus brunneus)

PNB Ilham Resort

Birding spots around PNB Ilham Resort :

1) Observatory Tower at PNB Iham Resort - You can watch raptors glide on warm thermals during the hot noon hour. Bird's eye view of tanjung Tuan from here.

2) Tanjung Tuan Lighthouse - Lots of Olive-Winged Bulbuls over here. There is a guide to raptors right at the top over here. Visitors can spot the usual sparrowhawks during migratory season. Or, if you're not into birds, you can see the narrowest point of the Straits over here.

3) Jungle Trails in the Nature Reserve - Lots of forest birds species.

Tanjung Tuan Wildlife Santuary

The Tanjung Tuan Wildlife Santuary is located half way between the main entrance of the Tanjung Tuan Recreational Forest and the peak of the hill where the lighthouse is located.

Dusky Langurs or Dusky Leaf-Monkeys (Trachypithecus obscurus)

The local Long-tailed Macaques (Macaca fascicularis)

Green Turtles

Here, you'll find monkeys in group along the way but if you venture further in the jungle trail, you'll be able to sample some of the coastal hilly rainforests' flora and fauna. For easy navigation, the jungle trails are clearly marked.

Menarik: Butterfly and Reptile Sanctuary

Butterfly and Reptile Sanctuary is a popular tourist attraction located in Ayer Keroh City, about 15km northeast of Melaka Town. Also known as Taman Rama-Rama by local people, it is home to a huge collection of animals ranging from beautiful butterflies to snakes, lizards, crocodiles, koi fish and even a pair of gorgeous golden leopards. 

The Butterfly and Reptile Sanctuary houses dozens upon dozens of butterfly species, flitting about everywhere in their enchantingly landscaped habitat. It is one of the world's most comprehensive butterfly and insect farms. The farm has more than 200 local butterfly species including rare ones like Raja Brooke and Birdwing species.

Raja Brooke species

Spread across an 11ha jungle area, the complex is part secondary jungle and part landscaped park. The well-maintained sanctuary was opened since 1991 and is divided into five sections: 

1. Koi River Valley

2. Butterfly Garden

3. Reptile Aviary

4. Wild Photo Lane

5. Nature’s Art Centre.

Peacock

The sanctuary also houses a wide variety of exotic snakes within its beautiful and fascinating nature landscape. Be forewarned, those who do not take too kindly to creepy-crawlies - there are lots of huge spiders, scorpions and other six and many legged insects that will make your skin crawl. 

Snake

Fortunately, those are not free to roam as the butterflies are. Visitors can also be able to view the impressive collection of snakes includes the Albino Cobra, the giant Burmese Python, and the King Cobra. There is also a collection of more than 400 insects' specimen to be discovered.

Love Birds

 The Asian Brown Tortoise, the largest tortoise species in Asia which grows up to 25 kg

Butterfly Garden

First up is the walk-through Butterfly Garden, the Butterfly & Reptile Sanctuary’s premier attraction. It is a place where hundreds of butterflies, simply bursting with colours, fly freely.

The garden has more than 20 different species of butterflies, including the Black and White Helen, Malayan Birdwing, and the Rajah Brooke’s Birdwing (Malaysia’s National Butterfly, named after Sir James Brooke, the ‘Raja’ (King) of Sarawak).

Koi River Valley

The Koi River Valley is undoubtedly the most serene section of the park. Here hundreds of colourful carp swim around in the beautifully landscaped ponds, complete with miniature waterfalls and surrounded by tropical plants. Check out the 250m-long canopy walk: the sights here make for great souvenir photos.

Opened in October 2008, Wild Photo Lane is another great place for souvenir photos with the animals of Butterfly & Reptile Sanctuary: here you can take up-close-and-personal shots with the Burmese python, red-tailed boa, giant green iguana and more.

Reptile Aviary

Also be sure to visit the Reptile Aviary where snakes such as boas, pythons, vipers and cobras can be found at the Butterfly & Reptile Sanctuary. Check out the giant Burmese python and the 20ft reticulated python; non-snake lovers had better watch out for the long-nose whip snakes (with their slender twig-like bodies and green scales) camouflaged in the leaves of trees in this aviary.

Just past the lizards exhibit you can see a small closed-off section of the park where crocodiles live: they look pretty lazy and it seems like the only movements you see are when they move their heads. Also in this section is a cage with a pair of golden leopards. They are a gorgeous duo and feeding time is obviously a sight to see.

Park Admission

Adults: RM5

Children: RM3

Opening Hours: 08:30 – 17:30 open daily

Address: Lebuh Ayer Keroh, 75450.

Tel: +606 232 0033