One of the most unique things to do in Bali is watching a thrilling water buffalo race called Makepung, and the best place for it is Negara. These buffalo races traditionally celebrate the end of the rice harvest and are highly competitive affairs that are very popular with the local people.
Before the race, the buffaloes are decorated and their horns painted. In pairs, they pull a small two-wheeled cart that is driven by a brightly clad and precariously balanced jockey as they race around an oval course at speeds up to 60kph. The locals bet frantically on these races and the wining bulls can be worth twice the market value when sold.

Buffalo races take place on every other Sunday near Negaraand, during the dry season (July to October) and start at around 7 or 8am. There are also year-round races held for tourists every two weeks, usually every 2nd Thursday at 3pm on a special track near Perancak, 10 km south of Negara where the course length and rules are the same as the real thing.