Kampung Sarang Buaya, Muar

A Javanese Cultural Village Homestay in Johor

One of Malaysia's most distinctive cultural homestay experiences, from Javanese heritage to live gamelan and dodol-making to the Sungai Gersik hot spring, is nestled in a working village in Muar, Johor.

• Muar's Javanese Heritage Landmark: Keraton Mbah Anang

• Outdoor and Hands-On Activities: Dodol-Making, Local Coffee, Batik, Jawi Calligraphy, and more

• Cultural Performances: Silat and Barongan

• Natural Escape: Sungai Gersik Hot Spring

• Getting There & Further Information

Situated in the Muar-Batu Pahat border in northern Johor, Kampung Sarang Buaya is home to one of the region's most distinctive community tourism programmes. At its heart is Keraton Mbah Anang, a Javanese-style estate built in the 1940s that has been carefully preserved by the village community as a living centre of heritage, craft, and performance. For visitors seeking memorable experiences in Muar beyond its famous mi bandung and otak-otak, this village offers full immersion into centuries of living Javanese-Malay traditions.

Muar's Javanese Heritage Landmark: Keraton Mbah Anang

Starting with the Gateway of the Four Brothers (Gapuro Sedulur Papat), visitors are greeted by hand-painted murals of the mythical guardian tigers of Johor, Dengkis and Tepok at the entrance. Beyond the gate, verses from the Gurindam Dua Belas, the 19th-century moral poem by Raja Ali Haji, are hand-carved onto wooden panels, lining the path to the main timber residence.

Verses from the Gurindam Dua Belas by Raja Ali Haji, hand-carved and displayed along the entrance path to Keraton Mbah Anang.

Gamelan Nadisukma performing within the carved timber halls of Keraton Mbah Anang. The ensemble has kept this Javanese musical tradition alive in Muar for generations.

Outdoor and Hands-On Activities: Dodol-Making, Local Coffee, Batik, Jawi Calligraphy, and more

When it comes to homestays, engaging in activities with the locals is what matters most. Here, visitors can experience dodol-making, a communal confectionery tradition that cooks palm sugar, coconut milk, and flour over a wood-fired iron cauldron (kawah). Everyone take turns stirring the dense mixture without stopping for several hours until it caramelises into rich, glossy dodol. Hands-on cultural experiences like this distinguish a cultural homestay in Muar from a conventional hotel stay, illustrating the spirit of Malaysian community.

Palm sugar, coconut milk, and flour simmer in the kawah. The mixture must be stirred continuously for several hours — a task that is always shared.

For coffee-lovers who would like to experience the Malaysian coffee culture, Kupi Nang Ajes Cafe, a small-batch roastery is located within the village. Visitors can follow the full bean-to-cup process, from sun-dried cherries to freshly ground Robusta and Liberica blends. It is one of the distinctive activities in Muar for visitors interested in Malaysian coffee culture.

Fitri Aziz of Kupi Nang Ajes grinds freshly roasted beans at the café's workshop. The roastery works with both Robusta and Liberica varieties.

Coffee cherries sun-drying process at the Kupi Nang Ajes production site. Visitors can trace the full journey, from harvest to cup, during the workshop.

Other activities here also include a Khat calligraphy workshop. Here, a local expert teaches visitors how to write in the Jawi script using traditional calligraphy styles. There are also batik painting sessions, where classic wax tools and colorful dyes are used to make your own art. These craft workshops are some of Johor's most popular activities for visitors who want to dive into Malay cultural crafts.

For an outdoor activity, visitors can take a peaceful one-kilometer kayak ride down the shaded village canal. They can also try harvesting coconuts with local farmers, which gives them a firsthand look at a skill locals still use every day.

Cultural Performances: Silat and Barongan

At night, the village hosts cultural performances like Silat and Barongan. Performed by Silat Panji Semalaysia, the show demonstrates bunga panji sequences and buah pukul combat techniques in the open compound, offering a vivid display of traditional Malay martial arts. It is then followed by the Barongan dance with the Singabarongan, moving to the live beat of Gamelan Nadasukma.

Silat Panji Semalaysia exponents perform bunga panji flower sequences and buah pukul combat techniques as part of Homestay Sarang Buaya's nightly cultural programme.

A performer carries the 30 kg Singabarongan mask using only a leather bite grip during the Barongan dance, accompanied by Gamelan Nadasukma.

Natural Escape: Sungai Gersik Hot Spring

A short drive from the village, the Sungai Gersik Hot Spring is one of Johor's most accessible natural attractions. It is a free-entry thermal pool set in open parkland, popular with locals and visitors to Muar alike. The spring is structured in concentric rings of increasing temperature as the outermost ring is comfortably warm, the middle ring is more intense, and the centre, where volcanic gas bubbles rise from the sandy bed, reaches its peak heat. Facilities on-site include changing rooms, a surau, a children's pool, and a shaded rest area.

Homestay Sarang Buaya is registered as an accommodation provider, but what it offers goes well beyond a place to unwind. It is a working village in Muar, Johor, that has opened its doors to visitors, sharing traditions, skills, and stories that have been passed down through generations of the Javanese-Malay community here. For visitors seeking meaningful cultural experiences in Malaysia, few places deliver as completely.

Getting There & Further Information

Address: Sarang Buaya Homestay Centre, Pos 55, Kg. Sarang Buaya, 83600 Semerah, Muar, Johor.

Contact: En. Mohd Khairi bin Abu, +60 11-3978 8817 | Email: mohd.khairi@jomhomestay.my

Website: Homestay Sarang Buaya

Check-in / Check-out: 3:00 PM / 12:00 PM

Packages & Pricing: Overnight and multi-day packages are available and include meals, cultural activities, and performances. Contact the homestay coordinator directly for current rates and package inclusions, as pricing varies by group size and programmes.

Getting There: From Kuala Lumpur, take the North-South Expressway (E1/E2) south toward Muar, then follow signs for Parit Jawa/Semerah. The village is approximately 30 km from the Muar town centre and is about 2 hours' journey from KL by car. From Johor Bahru, allow approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes travel. Long-distance buses serve Muar from KL's TBS terminal; from Muar, a taxi or e-hailing service can take you to the village.

### Sungai Gersik Hot Spring

Address: Jalan Kolam Air Panas Kg. Gersik, 83610 Parit Jawa, Johor.

Phone: +60 6-988 1316

Operating Hours: Tuesday to Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday: (9:00 AM – 6:00 PM), Friday: (8:00 AM – 5:00 PM), Closed on Mondays.

Admission: Free entry.

Distance: Approximately 10 km from Kampung Sarang Buaya (about 15 minutes by car).