Up until last week, when we thought of an outing to Bangsar, we would think of grabbing some food, doing a bit of shopping, or maybe escaping into the air-conditioned play centres with friends on a rainy, hot, or hazy afternoon. But now we have discovered that we can add visiting a farm to that list!
A green haven
Only a two-minute drive from Bangsar Village, tucked among the winding streets and high fenced suburban houses, is Kebun-Kebun Bangsar. You could easily miss the sign-post if you’re not looking for it, but once you pull up into the small gravel car park and wander through the brick archway overgrown with green vines, you’ll enter a very nice pocket of countryside.
Kebun-Kebun (which means orchard in Bahasa Malaysia) is an 8-acre linear green garden which is designed, built, managed, funded and maintained by community efforts and volunteers.
I visited one weekday morning with my five-year-old daughter Evy, and we were delighted to explore the grounds, which are home to dozens of chickens, geese, ducks, rabbits, a few turkeys and even a couple of cows!
Naughty turkeys
For RM2, you can purchase feed for the animals, which we did before carefully opening the large wire fence into the enclosure where many types of fowl run free. For anyone a little wary of birds, it would be best to note that the birds at Kebun-Kebun are definitely not going to be wary of you! Though being flocked upon entry was a little confronting for Evy, the birds were very tame and the most contact we had was a couple of nudges from a goose’s beak and a rustle of feathers from an overly showy turkey.
The rabbits are kept separately behind some small wire fences, but within easy reach to feed, and one of the gardeners helped Evy to scoop up a baby bunny for a cuddle. We sat for ages with it curled on her lap, peacefully perched on tree stump stools under the leafy shade, with the showy turkey and a curious goose watching on and the noisy roosters crowing all around us.
Once the bunny got a bit restless, and the turkey got a little too close for Evy’s comfort, we kept walking past the birds and out through the other end of their enclosure to explore the large gardens, filled with fruits, vegetables and flowers, that stretches all the way up the hill. Here we met a volunteer who cheerily welcomed us, warned us of the slippery path ahead and suggested we go and visit the cows. For animal loving Evy, I think this was the best morning out in Bangsar she has ever had!
Activities at Kebun-Kebun Bangsar
Kebun-Kebun isn’t just a great place to visit, you can also volunteer to work in the garden as needed (all produce is donated to local orphanages or soup kitchens) or attend weekend gotong royongs (communal work). Kebun-Kebun also runs information and activity sessions.
Tips for visiting Kebun-Kebun Bangsar (KKB):
• KKB is free to visit, with the animal feed and other items available to purchase in an honesty system
• KKB is open every day, including public holidays, though should not be entered during rain or thunderstorms
• All ages are welcome to visit or volunteer – it is a family-friendly place
• Wear sturdy shoes, or rubber boots if needed, it can get muddy after rain.
• To find the cows, go through the animal enclosure and follow the small path up the hill. There’s a great view of the city as you go!
To register for an event, enquire about volunteering or find out more about visiting Kebun-Kebun Bangsar, check out their Facebook page or follow them on Instagram.
We recently published a map of Bangsar. Discover more great activities in this neighbourhood. You can download the map here.
