Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive at Sandakan International Airport (SDK) and transfer to dormitory. Welcome dinner & introduction.

Day 2 - Enjoy a little lie in before heading over to Sukau. Accommodation at Sukau is room-sharing with other participants in the village B&B which is run by members of the local village. Please note bathrooms have cold water showers and western toilets.

Day 3 to 11 - Volunteer Activities - includes:

Wildlife Population Density Data Collection: cruising on the river to observe and record the endangered wildlife that roam the forest along the river banks, taking photographs, if possible, of the wildlife (focusing on pygmy elephants and orang-utans) for record and research purposes;
Habitat Restoration: tree planting, nursery care and seedling generation, sapling maintenance, mulching & composting, water hyacinth clearing and tree growth data recording;

Education Programme: spend half a day with school children of the community to work on conservation issues that the children deal with on a daily basis and emphasize their immediate and personal impact on conservation;
School Project / Community Development: development of a continuous project with the community of the local village. This project directly benefits the community and volunteers will interact with the community on various levels

Breakfast, lunch and dinner on all days at Sukau will be included.

Day 11 - Depart Sukau and transfer to Sandakan. First stop Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre to view the morning feeding session. After lunch visit the Rainforest Discovery Centre before heading back to Sepilok for the afternoon feeding session. Check into accommodation in Sandakan (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner)

Day 12 - Check out and transfer to Sandakan airport (Breakfast).

Duties

You will help monitor the numbers and patterns of various animals, including orangutans and pygmy elephants. These activities will often be conducted from a boat as you cruise along the river and whilst we cannot guarantee that you will see a pygmy elephant, every group who has undertaken this project have had the magical experience of sighting these mysterious animals.

You will also work with the community - a local tribe called the 'Orang Sungai' (People of the River). They are a very gentle people who live along the river bank. Educating the community and providing them with economic motivation for conservation is one of the best ways of protecting local wildlife. You will have the opportunity to work with local school children providing them with an education in the importance of conservation.

One of the foremost ways we can preserve the local environment is with re-forestation. Part of your time on this trip will therefore be spent planting new trees and tending to the pygmy elephant and orangutan habitat. This is vital to ensure the survival of these wonderful animals.

What Makes this Project Great

FAQs

What skills do you need on this placement in Borneo?
Volunteers should love animals, especially orangutans, and be willing to work hard. The work is physical and the temperature in Borneo high so volunteers should have a decent fitness level. All participants should be able to speak good English and be able to work as part of a team. Previous experience with animals or research knowledge is especially welcomed.

Where does my donation go?
1. Enrichment - food (food parcels and a wide variety of different interesting foods) and physical enrichment (like hammocks and rope swings)
2. Construction - on materials and tools for getting orangutans out of cages and maintaining existing outdoor enclosures (everything from spades, to cement, to wheelbarrows, to nuts and bolts)
3. Reforestation - helping to create more species diverse forest by planting primary rainforest species under the pioneer tree canopy ( such as dipterocarpaceae, fabaceae and malvaceae) in certain areas. Also, we plant up species where we create destruction during the building process, such as recently when a digger dug out the island moats.

How do I go about booking my flights?
Please try to book your flights as far as possible in advance of your departure as flights become more expensive with time. We will provide you with some additional information in the 'Know Before You Go' pack that we send when we have received your deposit. If you have any difficulties feel free to contact our support team.

Do I need a mosquito net?
Volunteers sometimes leave behind their mosquito nets but we cannot guarantee availability so if in any doubt please bring your own.

For more FAQs please see our FAQ section here

Reviews

"My favourite time was going out early in the morning with the morning fog still present over the Kinabatangan River and spotting the first proboscis monkeys."
Kristina Effler, Sweden

"One of the best things about this programme is that it really benefits the local community. I got immense satisfaction from the knowledge that I had come to Sabah and done a variety of activities that benefitted the local people."
Farrah Naz, United Kingdom

"What I perhaps enjoyed the most was the class we did at the school. Groups of volunteers teach the children about protecting the environment and our module was on recycling... If you ever want to see Borneo, I would definitely recommend combining it with something like my project. You see and experience so much more!"
Monica Filkova, United Kingdom

“It was very well organised, the facilitator Mark was a great guide with a lot of knowledge he shared with us.”
Konrad Streitberger, September 2012

Important Information

Accomodation
Arrival night in Sepilok: dormitory style room in a traditional style longhouse with hot water. Shared bathroom. Situated in a relaxing and peaceful area set on high ground.
At Sukau: Basic but comfortable village B&B set in the heart of Sukau. Rooms are shared, water is cold! Common area overlooks the river.
At Sandakan: Basic but comfortable hotel room in Sandakan town with shared rooms. Town with internet cafes, restaurants, supermarkets etc.

Visas
Free, provided on arrival at airport.

Vaccinations
We recommend a course of malaria tablets and to consult with your local GP about what other vaccines are required. Contact us if you have any queries following consultation with your doctor.

Insurance
You will require special insurance for this project. Please let your insurance company know the nature of your trip. Do not hesitate to contact us with any queries and we will be able to suggest insurance policies relevant to your travels.

Please read our responsible volunteer policy and orangutan protection policy on responsible volunteering abroad with primates.

What's Included:
 Meet and greet at Sandakan Airport (SDK), Malaysia;
 Arrival transfer from Airport to longhouse dormitory accommodation. Meet & greet and arrival transfers will only take effect if correct flight details have been confirmed received one month prior to your arrival. Please ensure that we have received your flight details to avoid disappointment. Do check your arrival airport;
 Welcome dinner in Sepilok, Sandakan, Sabah;
 Transfer from dormitory to project site accommodation;
 Programme introduction in Sabah and orientation in the village;
 Entrance fees to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre;
 Entrance fees to Rainforest Discovery Centre;
 Departure transfer to Sandakan Airport in Sabah, Malaysia;
 English-speaking programme facilitator;
 11 nights at designated accommodation;
 Meals as indicated on itinerary;
 All activities, materials, tools and equipment included in “Project Days”;
 Boat and river transfers

What's Not Included:
 International and domestic airfare
 Visa application/fees
 Meals and accommodation when travelling independently
 Insurance
 Private Transfers

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