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OUT & ABOUT

Kemaman is a district located in the state of Terengganu. It’s location is on the east coast of Peninsula Malaysia facing the South China Sea makes it suitable as one of the deepest seaport in the region. There are many oil refineries off the coast are owned by the local petroleum company Petronas. Due to the strategic location, many large iron and steel factories have also been built around Kemaman.
There are many beautiful beaches in Kemaman namely, Kemasik Beach, Teluk Mak Nik, Telaga Simpul Beach, Cagar Hutan Beach, and Ma' Daerah Beach. The Cherating Beach is a haven amongst avid surfers who come from all over the world each year to especially enjoy the ride of the ocean waves.
The sea turtle nesting season is a must not missed event if you are visiting Kemaman. The season runs from March to October every year. The Turtle Sanctuary Centre at the Rimbun Dahan Turtle Hatchery, just 4.5km south of the Kemaman-Kuantan border, serves as the turtle conservation and educational center. There you will see rows and rows of nests in the Turtle Hatchery. this is an indication that many turtles have laid their eggs in the surrounding beaches areas. The eggs are usually buried about 80 cm from the surface, any deeper the baby turtles have to work harder to climb up to the surface. Upon emergence these hatchlings are released into the sea. Late night turtle watching and day trip to Turtle Hatchery can be arranged by our hotel.
For nature lover who wants more out of Kemaman, can join many of the activities organized by our local organizer, Hafiz Cherating River Activities, whom frequently organized daytime rivers cruises and fireflies watch at night by boating along the Cherating mangrove river. Whereas in Pasir Gajah (20km from our Hotel), there is a River Terrapin Conservation Centre which serves as a mini museum and educational center for fresh water turtles. This center provides good firsthand information for visitors who are interested to learn more about the critically endangered creatures. As for animals lover, or family travel with young children, don’t miss out our Mini Zoo located at Bukit Takal!
Kemaman is also famous for its food-based tourism. Keropok lekor, satar, nekbai, lemang, otak-otak, nasi lemak, nasi dagang are all famous local delicacies. The popular and famous Hainanese kopitiam, Hai Peng coffee shop, serves the best and famous freshly brewed coffee in town. Delicious Halal food is also being served in the premises since years ago.
Another must try food in Kemaman is the famous Stuffed Crabs. This history-long special delicacy can be found in a few of the restaurants opposite the Kemaman river front. Others recommended sea food dishes including : sambal sotong, sambal or butter prawns, chili crabs and sambal belacan kangkong.
Kemaman is truly a tropical gateway. In the land where nature embraces heritage, it will truly revitalize your senses. Welcome to Kemaman and discover splendors of nature, the diversity of tradition and the fascination of heritage. There is absolutely no place like Kemaman.

Experience the Warmth of Local Hospitality

Sea Turle Nesting
(Distance from Home 2 Hotel -5.3km)
Sea Turle Nesting
The sea turtle nesting season runs from March to September/October every year, and the peak nesting activities occur in May-June. The most common sea turtle observed at Pantai Teluk Mak Nik is the Green turtle (Chelonia mydas). Green turtles may lay between 30 and 160 eggs per nest, with an average of 100 eggs per nest.
It would be an amazing experience if you are able to witness the nesting of a Green turtle. Firstly, the turtle will dig a body pit big enough for her to be comfortable in. Then, she will carve an egg chamber for the eggs. When she is ready, she lays her eggs, 2-3 eggs at a time. When she is done then she covers her egg chamber. Before leaving the nest behind, she sand bathes for about an hour, in an attempt to camouflage her nest. The entire nesting process may easily take 3 hours to complete!
For the purpose of conservation, all Green turtle eggs that are laid at Rimbun Dahan Turtle Hatchery are carefully retrieved and incubated at the hatchery. Approximately 60 days later, hatchlings will emerge and they will be immediately released into the sea.
If you too, would like to experience the magic of being up close with a critically endangered Green turtle, sign up a highly educational Turtle Discovery Trip today! It is an eye-opening experience as participants will learn so much about our critically endangered turtles.
The Turtle Hatchery
(Distance from Home 2 Hotel -10.2km)
The Turtle Hatchery
The turtle hatchery, which is located just by the beach at Rimbun Dahan Turtle Hatchery, has a successful programme to hatch the eggs that volunteers have collected from the beach with a rate of more than 80%. Each nest contains the eggs of one turtle, unless the turtle has laid a large number, then the eggs are split into two or even three nests. The record number of eggs laid by one mother turtle on this beach was 164 but the average is 70 to 140.
Eggs are hatched under cooler conditions as the authorities are trying to obtain more male turtles. They estimated that there are currently way more female turtles than males, so they are trying to balance the ecosystem. The process of hatching requires some 45 to 60 days, and the hatchlings are released into the sea as soon as they are hatched. The hatchery here holds a record of more than four thousand baby turtles released simultaneously at one time.
Even so, research has shown that the average survival rate of turtles is very low. Out of a thousand baby turtles released, only about one or two will survive in the ocean wilderness.
Even the release of turtles has its own procedure. They have to be released at least five metres from the shoreline. Firstly, it provides a good exercise for the hatchlings, and secondly it would allow them to recognise the beach. Experts believe that turtles have an in-built Global Positioning System (GPS), and by going through this process, they will return to the same beach even after many years in the future.
The protection and conservation of turtles are huge causes in Terengganu. The turtle is also one of the symbols of the state. It’s no wonder that turtle-shaped souvenirs are widely popular here too.
River Terrapin Conservation Centre
(Distance from Home 2 Hotel - 20km)
River Terrapin Conservation Centre
The River Terrapin Research and Conservation Project are collaboration between the first turtle NGO in Malaysia, Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia, and the Village Committee ( JKKK ) of Pasir Gajah. River Terrapin eggs are procured for incubation, hatchlings are head started and released in September every year. The centre serves as a mini turtle museum for visitors who are interested to learn more about the critically endangered freshwater turtle.
River Cruises
(Distance from Home 2 Hotel -14.3km)
River Cruises
Various nature–related activities, including river cruises where you could sight various wildlife including pythons, otters, monitor lizards, snakes, squirrels, monkeys and mangrove crabs along the Cherating Belat River.
Beside the river cruise, fishing, snorkeling and canoeing trips can be arranged by Hafiz.
Firefly Watch
(Distance from Home 2 Hotel – 14.3km)
Firefly Watch
Let’s come and experience it yourself the excitement of night time fireflies watch by boating along the Cherating mangrove river!.
Organised by Hafiz
Beaches
Beaches
Among the beaches that can be found in Kemaman are Kemasik Beach, Teluk Mak Nik, Telaga Simpul Beach, Cagar Hutan Beach, and Ma’ Daerah Beach. The beach in Cherating is a haven amongst avid surfers who come from all over the world each year to especially enjoy the ride of the ocean waves.
Kemaman is truly a tropical gateway. In the land where nature embraces heritage, it will truly revitalize your senses. Welcome to Kemaman and discover splendors of nature, the diversity of tradition and the fascination of heritage. There is absolutely no place like Kemaman.

Local Famous Delicacies

(Distance from Home 2 Hotel – 5 km)
Ikan Bilis
Keropok Keping
Satar
Otak-otak
Keropok Lekor
Satar
Local Famous Delicacies
Kemaman is also famous for a variety of local delicacies that are rather unique compared to the food from Kuala Terengganu, the capital state of Terengganu. Local delicacies such as satar, nekbat, lemang and otak-otak are a must try when visiting Kemaman.
The Kemaman keropok is a great afternoon snack. Keropok is made of fish which is ground to a paste then mixed with sago before it is steamed and later deep fried. It is the snack instead of a proper meal and sometimes is served as the snack before meal.
It can be eaten either when it is steamed or deep fried, both given different taste. The long chewy ones are called keropok lekor while the thin crispy are called keropok keping, means slice. Both types of keropok is usually eaten with chili dip, which is a specially made chili sauce with a sweet yet packs with a punch with oomph of spiciness. Keropok is easily found in Kemaman, from the stalls beside the road to restaurants or market.
Satar is another famous Terengganu Malay cuisine. It is made of mixture of pounded fish, shallots and ginger wrapped in banana leaf, pierce of few by one single bamboo stick then barbecue over low charcoal fire.
Stuffed Crabs
(Distance from Home 2 Hotel – 1.4km)
Another must try food in Kemaman is the famous Stuffed Crabs. This history-long special delicacy can be found in a few of the restaurants opposite the Kemaman river front. Others recommended sea food dishes including : sambal sotong, sambal or butter prawns, chili crabs and sambal belacan.
Lemang Kijal
(Distance from Home 2 Hotel – 18km)
Lemang is a traditional malay food that is made of glutinous rice and cooked in hallowed bamboo stick lined with banana leaves in order to prevent the rice from sticking to the bamboo. Lemang is usually eaten with rendang or serunding.
If you are travelling to Kijal, you will see the road side stalls with lots of hollowed bamboo sticks awaiting to be filled with glutinous rice and coconut milk, with salt added for taste.
Lemang is usually prepared for festivities such as the Muslim Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Hari Raya Aidiladha. Lemang is available in almost all districts but the most popular lemang stalls are in Kijal, Kemaman.
Nasi Dagang
Nasi dagang is a Malaysian and Southern Thai dish consisting of rice steamed in coconut milk, fish curry and extra ingredients such as fried shaved coconut, hard-boiled eggs and vegetable pickles. Nasi Dagang literally means "Trading Rice". It is a well-known breakfast food in the states on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, such as Terengganu ( Kemaman ) and Kelantan.
Coffee and Roti Kahwin
This coffee is brewed using coffee beans from Kemaman itself. Best drunk black, no sugar or creamer would be able to bring out the best of the coffee other than the original coffee aroma itself. It was so good to have a cup of local coffee, a roti khawin (bun) and a hardboiled egg for breakfast.
The Roti Kahwin (charcoal baked buns, crispy on the outside and soft in the inside layered with butter and kaya) is best to go with a cup of local coffee.
Hai Peng coffee shop best known to be a very popular place for pit-stop by travelers. This kopitiam is always filled with people seeking the aroma of coffee and food. Halal foods are served in the premise.