The most exciting event in Jembrana is the traditional buffalo race. The regency even calls itself "The land of the Mekepung". Usually held between August and October, the Mekepung was originally held as part of the harvest festivities. The carts and buffaloes were, until quite recently, still used for transportation and help the peasants to carry the yoke to plough in the rice field. The Mekepung consists of a race between two carts pulled by a team of water buffaloes. The colorfully decorated animals race on a two-kilometer course. These days, championship events are organized under the sponsorship of the local government, which uses the race to help promote tourism.

In the village of Perancak, a buffalo race can be arranged to order. If you like, you can be your own jockey! There is a small temple of white stones to commemorate the landing of Sang Hyang Nirartha. A crocodile farm commemorates the now extinct Perancak crocodile. There is also a zoo which displays crocodiles, tigers, the rare jalak putih, the phoenix bird of paradise and other animals.

At high tide on nearby Perancak river, small traditional jukung and sampan boats can be seen quietly sailing up the river towards Loloan on the estuary, which is a unique Bali village, inhabited by descendants of Bugis seafarers who settled here at the end of the 17th century. Loloan is predominantly Muslim in many ways, having its own dialect and culture.

Besides the Mekepung buffalo race, there is a cow race called Magembeng. The name originates from the gembeng, the wooden bell the cows carry around their necks. As they walk, the bell makes a sound that produces a special kind of music. The Megembeng competition is not so much about speed as about the elegance and beauty of the cows.