
Help to rehabilitate the largest number of rescued orangutans in the world by volunteering at this orangutan sanctuary – made famous by the TV show Orangutan Jungle School!
Below is an example of a typical two-week itinerary. Please note that some activities may be subject to change during your stay, as they are dependent on weather conditions and the requirements of the project at the time.
You will stay in either an authentic longhouse or one of two houses situated opposite in the jungle surroundings of the sanctuary's grounds. Rooms are based on a twin-share, same-sex basis with 1 double room available for couples at request. Each room comes complete with bed linen, a fan, and mosquito nets. All rooms have their own en-suite bathrooms, complete with a western toilet, shower, sink and mirror. There is a kitchen and communal area in the longhouse, which is free for all volunteers to use, and has free Wi-Fi available, but please bear in mind that the signal can be intermittent. There is a free, regular cleaning service if you wish for your room to be cleaned and there are also laundry services available, though this come at a small fee.
Volunteers enjoy three meals per day at the project, with all meals and drinking water included in the project fee. Your lunches and dinners will be prepared for you and will consist of typical Indonesian food, such as rice, noodles, and fried vegetables. Breakfast, however, is prepared by volunteers, but the food, such as cereal, yoghurt, bread and eggs is supplied. Vegetarians can be catered for but please let us know in advance so the appropriate food can be purchased. (If you have any severe nut allergies, please contact us prior to booking.)
Alcohol is permitted and beer can be purchased at the sanctuary but may only be consumed at the volunteer accommodation. Snacks are not currently available onsite, but they can be purchased from a small local store which is a 15 minutes walk from the accommodation.
This project is based at a rehabilitation sanctuary, and there are orangutans here year-round, meaning there is no real preferred time to volunteer regarding the animals.
The weather is also quite constant throughout, and whilst it can rain at any time of the year due to the rainforest climate, you can expect mostly dry weather with temperatures averaging 32°C (90°F) in the daytime and 23°C (73°F) at night.
You will need to fly into Palangkaraya Airport on your project start date, arriving between 8am-5pm, with most international flight routes going via Jakarta International Airport (Soekarno-Hatta International Airport). Upon arrival into Palangkaraya Airport, you will be met by a project representative in the arrivals hall who will then transfer you to the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Sanctuary. This transfer takes approximately 40 minutes.
If you arrive a day early and stay in a hotel close to Palangkaraya Airport, we will be able to arrange your transfer to Nyaru Menteng from there.
To join this project, you will need a Social Visa (C6), which you must obtain prior to arrival in Indonesia. This visa permits a stay of up to 60 days and can be applied for with ‘My Visa Indonesia’. We will provide all the necessary documentation you require and the cost of this visa is approximately $250.
Please note, your passport must be valid for a minimum of 6 months from your date of entry into Indonesia.
There is a moderate level of fitness required to take part in this project. There may be small construction tasks that will take place in humid conditions, as well as short walks which involve walking uphill. The other tasks are not too physically strenuous, but for the reasons mentioned above, we advise that you ensure you can cope with the few physically demanding tasks involved. There are no specific skill sets or experience that are required to join this project, but volunteers must always be willing to work as part of a team.
To volunteer on this project, you must provide negative test results to show you do not have HIV or Hepatitis B or C prior to arrival. A chest x-ray or QuantiFERON blood test to show you do not have Tuberculosis is also required. These are ESSENTIAL, as without them, you will be unable to join the project.
Due to Covid-19, additional safety measures have also been introduced to ensure the safety of all volunteers, staff members and the orangutans. These can be viewed by clicking here and may change at any time.
We are often asked whether or not volunteers will have the chance to touch or play with the orangutans whilst on this project. Our answer to this question is, and always will be no, and this is for good reason.
Orangutans are highly susceptible to human diseases, many of which are far more dangerous to an orangutan than they are to us. Also, an environment of constant change, with new volunteers going to the project every two or four weeks and being in contact with the orangutans would be very detrimental to the orangutans' well-being. With no consistency in their lives, behavioural problems arise. They also have a tendency to begin to trust humans which is damaging should they be released back into the wild, as they will become easy targets for poachers. Finally, an orangutan is around 7 times stronger than an adult male human so a no-contact policy is just as crucial for your safety as theirs.
That is not to say that you will have no interaction with the orangutans, it simply means that you will have no direct contact with them. You will still observe them on a daily basis and see how your contribution to their husbandry and enrichment makes a real difference to the lives of these apes. For more information, please view our article on hands-on contact with orangutans.
Join us in the heart of the Bornean rainforest with the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation, where you can help rescue and rehabilitate orphaned and displaced orangutans, all while experiencing the breathtaking beauty of Indonesia.
Arga, a dedicated Orangutan Veterinarian from the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation, explains the journey of a young orangutan going through the rehabilitation process and the meticulous care required to prepare them for a life of independence.
UPDATE | Sep 2025
September was buzzing with activity as new feeding platforms and cosy hammocks were built for the 160 unreleasable orangutans. Volunteers kept them happy with enrichment treats like popcorn and dried fruit, enjoyed time at a local eco café, and watched orangutans on the pre-release islands practice their jungle skills. Meanwhile, Jungle School favourite Rabia made sure everyone knew she was the star at the viewing window.
UPDATE | Aug 2025
Our volunteers are tackling an exciting challenge: crafting hammocks for over 80 orangutan enclosures! Each is fully funded through volunteer donations and fundraising, then handmade on-site. These hammocks aren’t just for lounging; they’re part of enrichment, offering comfort, stimulation, and a cosy retreat. Enjoy these snapshots of our incredible volunteers working together to make it happen!
NEWS | Aug 2025
Learn why International Orangutan Day matters more than ever, and join us as we learn, raise awareness, celebrate and take action in 2025 together!
I just got back home, and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat! It’s the experience of a life time! We had a wonderful team, and our project coordinators Matt, Niamh and Melda were incredible. And of course seeing the orangutans was the highlight! We observed them from a boat on the pre-release islands, made enrichments for them, built climbing towers and hammocks for them, and watched the toddlers in the playground. We also met the vet team, and explored the surroundings (cafe, night market, climbing a nearby hill). I can’t recommend this project enough!!! I loved it all!
My sister Andrea Lindner and I travelled together. We are in our mid-fifties and had one of the most wonderful and exciting experiences of our lives. We will never forget the orangutans, who behaved so gently and individually, the wonderful group and the excellent support from Matt and Melda! The program is very well thought out and competently organized. We had a motivating sense of achievement and the feeling of doing meaningful work in a great team, while also having plenty of time to relax. Big thanks to our supervisors and our new friends. This type of vacation made us want more, and we can warmly recommend this adventure to everyone!
This was a very special trip. The preparation was unusual and seemed a bit over the top with the blood tests and volunteer visa costing quite a lot and taking time to organise. However, it became clear that this was necessary for what became a unique, unforgettable experience a long way away from a tourist trip or "normal" holiday. The whole thing was very well organised and structured right from pick up at the airport (which was an hour early as the plane left from Jakarta an hour early - hence a race through the airport - this is apparently not unusual and many people had challenging journeys to and from Palankaraya). Matt and Melda were both lovely, friendly and highly experienced and professional in their roles. They looked after us all well and answered our many questions very patiently. They made sure we stuck to the health and safety rules. It felt like a very well established project. The activities were physical and frequently challenging (in a good way) and many of us learned some new skills; I can now wield an angle grinder! The project is very special in that it both supports unreleasable orangutans as well as... This was a very special trip. The preparation was unusual and seemed a bit over the top with the blood tests and volunteer visa costing quite a lot and taking time to organise. However, it became clear that this was necessary for what became a unique, unforgettable experience a long way away from a tourist trip or "normal" holiday. The whole thing was very well organised and structured right from pick up at the airport (which was an hour early as the plane left from Jakarta an hour early - hence a race through the airport - this is apparently not unusual and many people had challenging journeys to and from Palankaraya). Matt and Melda were both lovely, friendly and highly experienced and professional in their roles. They looked after us all well and answered our many questions very patiently. They made sure we stuck to the health and safety rules. It felt like a very well established project. The activities were physical and frequently challenging (in a good way) and many of us learned some new skills; I can now wield an angle grinder! The project is very special in that it both supports unreleasable orangutans as well as preparing those who can be released back into the wild. It was a huge privilege to get so close to so many orangutans and hear their stories and read their faces. We also saw wild proboscis monkeys and could hear gibbons in the forest. I slept better than I had in months and ate really well. It was a bit like a boot camp. I came out of it feeling fitter and healthier than I had in a long time. I would wholeheartedly recommend this project. Having said that it would not be for everyone - you need an open mind and adaptable approach and be willing to work hard and get very sweaty with a group of strangers. Everyone has to have orangutan wellbeing at their heart - our group had all of these attributes and everyone had a fantastic time. (Show More)