Every now and then, we all need a little break from our busy lives and short getaways can be easily slotted into our busy schedules. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy! If you still haven’t figured out a place to go to, fret not because we’ve got the perfect venue that’s not far away!
If you’ve heard about Tasik Kenyir in Terengganu before, then you’d probably know that it’s one of the biggest man-made lakes in the whole of Southeast Asia. The impressive lake is actually 260,000 hectares wide and it has 340 man-made islands surrounding the area.
FYI, they are called man-made islands because they were originally mountains but drowned in water and thus, formed the islands.
Source: NST
This place is pretty cool because it harbours 8,000 species of flowers, 2,500 species of plants, 1,000 species of birds and 800 species of butterflies. Yep, this would definitely be a cool place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city life and enjoy what mother nature has to offer!
Plus, Tasik Kenyir isn’t just your ordinary lake because there are actually several activities you can do there besides just admiring the scenic view. So, if you’re already planning your next getaway to Tasik Kenyir, here are five things you can do whilst you’re there.
1. Bask in the glory of the Lasir Waterfall
If you love waterfalls, you should definitely visit Lasir Waterfall in Tasik Kenyir.
Source: Gaya Travel
It’s located 16km away from Pengkalan Gawi, so you would need to get there by boat. However, it’s worth the hassle because this waterfall is just stunning! Trust us on this one.
Source: Lake Kenyir
Other than taking a dip there, you can also bond with your loved ones over a round of fishing. Don’t forget to bring your fishing tools if you’re keen on this activity!
2. Explore Gua Bewah
Gua Bewah was once known as “kilang tahi kelawar”; in fact, there are still some inventions left in the cave which were used to scrap the bats’ faeces. If you’re wondering, they use it as fertilisers (aka guano).
If it’s your first time going into a cave, this is the perfect spot for you to explore because Gua Bewah comes complete with stairs and automatic solar lights that light up once you step into the cave. Cool, right?
Source: Terengganu My Heritage
What makes this cave even more interesting is that there are actually white snakes living in Gua Bewah. But you can only see them hiding by the rocks if you’re lucky.
Apart from that, you can also see a real-life archaeology site which was dug up by a group of archaeologists from UKM (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia), Department Museums of Malaysia and the Terengganu State Museum.
Source: Visit Terengganu
Through their findings, it was discovered that there were human bones dating from the Mesolithic era, which is about 8,000 to 11,000 years ago, in Gua Bewah. So, if you’re into ancient civilisation, Gua Bewah might just interest you.
3. Play with fishes at Kelah Fish Sanctuary
This is an exciting place for someone who’s looking to connect with the wildlife because you can swim and play with the fishes there. Yes, you can feed them too!
However, do take note that fishing is strictly prohibited in order to “maintain the natural spawning grounds”. If you didn’t know, this is a sanctuary for the Kelah fishes for protection, preservation and reproduction.
Source: Gaya Travel
Interestingly, there are 91 streams that flow into this river and they are all mainly from Mount Padang, a popular hiking track in Terengganu. Wowza!
4. Bathe with rescued elephants at the Kenyir Elephant Conservation Park
Another great way to connect with wildlife is by heading over to the Kenyir Elephant Conservation Park. Here, you will get the opportunity to see elephants in their natural habitat (as opposed to the ones in zoos).
Moreover, you don’t have to worry about your safety because the staff are trained to assist you and handle the elephants. Plus, you can even get up close and personal with the gentle giants by bathing in the waterfall with them!
Source: Travel Holic
Interested to bathe in the waterfall with these elephants? Do take note that there is a small fee you’d have to pay. Check out the rates below:
Source: KECV
5. Visit the bird park and orchid park
While you’re at Tasik Kenyir, don’t forget to go bird-watching at the Bird Park in Pulau Terengganu Mati which is only 15 minutes away from the lake. At the Bird Park, you can see several kinds of bird species like peacocks, swans and more.
Besides that, you can also visit the Orchid Park that’s only a 10-minute boat ride from Pengkalan Gawi. If you love orchids, we recommend paying this place a visit as it has one of the widest selection of forest orchid and orchid hybrids.
Source: Terengganu tourism
And there you have it, some of the activities you can do here at the largest man-made lake in SEA located in Malaysia!
All in all, we’d say Tasik Kenyir is a pretty underrated yet exciting place to visit for a short vacation, especially if you want to get closer to nature and some wildlife! Have you been to Tasik Kenyir or are planning to? Tell us in the comments!
Also read: 5 Astonishing Waterfalls in Malaysia You Need to Check Out
