Samboja Lestari Orangutan Volunteer Project
This project offers you the chance to work on enrichment with captive orangutans and sun bears at the world-renowned Samboja Lestari Rescue Centre.
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Activities
Your main activities whilst volunteering with orangutans at Samboja Lestari include husbandry, enrichment, reforestation, maintenance and construction work for both the orangutans and the sun bears resident here. You will be treated as pseudo-staff whilst on the project, meaning full participation in all of the centre's work.
Itinerary
Below is an example of a typical two-week itinerary. Please note, however, some activities may be subject to change during the time of your stay as they are dependent on weather conditions and the requirements of the project at the time.
Day 1 - The Adventure Begins:
Upon arrival into Balikpapan Airport, you will be met by a member of the team and transferred to the project site at Samboja Lestari. After settling in, and perhaps having your first glimpse of the centre's orangutans, you will enjoy dinner and have a chance to relax before getting a good night's sleep ahead of tomorrow's activities.
Day 2 - Induction Day:
After breakfast at the lodge, you will have an orientation from Kate, the volunteer coordinator, before climbing the on-site fire tower, where you will enjoy an incredible view and see all areas of the centre. In the afternoon you will take a trip to head office to meet the staff, before enjoying dinner in the evening and learning all about the history of Samboja Lestari.
Day 3 - Orangutan Enrichment & Husbandry:
Today you will begin your project work by creating enrichment for some of the 112 resident orangutans and collecting leaves and branches for them so they can build their nests. If there's time, you may also get involved in food preparation for the animals.
Day 4 - Project Work with the Sun Bears:
After breakfast, you will walk to the sun bear enclosures as you prepare for a day working with these incredible animals. You will spend today feeding the bears, cleaning their enclosures and creating enrichment for them. In the afternoon your construction skills may also be tested!
Day 5 - City Visit to Balikpapan:
Today you will be able to spend a full day in the city of Balikpapan. You can visit the local craft market, try some local food or simply buy anything you may need for the week ahead from the local shopping mall. You will also enjoy a nice lunch as a group with the volunteer coordinators.
Day 6 - Orangutan Enrichment & the Night Market:
Today will be another orangutan day, and to ensure the great apes remain stimulated you’ll be making a different type of enrichment for them. Afterwards, you will be able to give the enrichment items to the orangutans and see what they make of your work! Tonight you will visit the local night market and we recommend trying some of the amazing street food whilst there!
Day 7 - Enrichment & Branch Collecting:
This morning you'll be helping with any current construction projects, such as building platforms on the orangutan islands. Then, in the afternoon, you will be creating enrichment for the orangutans in an area which overlooks the orangutan islands, offering another great opportunity to observe them.
Day 8 - Morning to Relax & a Boat Trip:
Today you will have a relaxed morning off which you can spend as you like (a lie-in may be needed)! In the afternoon, you will go on a fantastic boat trip along the Black River. This is a great opportunity to see the iconic proboscis monkey, so make sure you bring your camera along with you!
Day 9 - Reforestation & Project Work:
This morning, the focus will be on reforesting an area of degraded land, bringing life back to the area to create a future thriving habitat. In the afternoon, you may help gather branches for nest-making and take part in a construction activity if the project requires it.
Day 10 - Canopy Walk in the Rainforest:
You'll begin your day either working on enrichment for the orangutans or on a small construction project. In the afternoon, you'll be off on an adventure as you go on a canopy walk in the rainforest! You will have the opportunity to walk high up in the forest canopy, keeping your eyes peeled for gibbons and learning about the native flora and fauna from the project staff.
Day 11 - 12 - Project Work with the Orangutans:
These will be your final full days at Samboja Lestari, and you will spend your remaining time working alongside the orangutans. You will continue to create enrichment for them and, if you have not yet had the opportunity, you will take a small boat around the islands to distribute food or enrichment items. This is a great opportunity to see the orangutans up-close and to take some amazing photos! Your final evening will be spent with your group and the project coordinators, as you enjoy your final dinner and a few drinks if you wish.
Day 13 - Final day:
Sadly, today will be your final day and after saying goodbye to the rest of your group and the project staff, you will take a transfer back to Balikpapan Airport in time for your flight home or to continue with your travels.
Durations & Prices
Accommodation
Volunteer Accommodation
You will be accommodated at the stunning Samboja Ecolodge during your time on the project, all built with recycled materials! Each room comes equipped with air conditioning, mosquito nets, an en-suite bathroom with hot water, and a Western-style toilet. Rooms are allocated on a twin-share, same-sex basis (unless travelling as a couple, in which case you will be accommodated together), and there is the option to pay a single supplement ($540 for a 12-night stay or $1,148 for a 26-night stay) to have a private room.
Within the lodge, there’s a relaxed social area where you and your team can switch off after a busy day. With a pool table and an on-site bar, it’s an easy place to unwind and spend time together.
Meals & Beverages
You’ll be fuelled with three hearty meals a day while on the project, all served buffet-style in the lodge dining area. Breakfast includes a varied spread of cereals, eggs, rice or noodle dishes, fresh fruit, and fruit juice. Lunches and dinners typically feature rice with chicken, seafood, mutton or beef, alongside vegetables, with noodles often on the menu. Vegetarian options include tofu and soybean dishes, ensuring everyone is well catered for. (Please contact us before booking if you have a severe nut allergy.)
Project Details
When is the best time to volunteer?
This project is based at a rehabilitation sanctuary, and there are orangutans and sun bears 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 29-31°C (84-88°F) in the daytime and 24°C (75°F) at night.
Getting There
You will need to fly into Balikpapan Airport on your project start date, arriving between 7am-6:15pm, with most international flight routes going via Jakarta International Airport (Soekarno-Hatta International Airport) or Singapore. Upon arrival at Balikpapan Airport, you will be met by a project representative in the arrivals hall who will then transfer you to Samboja Lodge. This transfer takes approximately one hour.
If you arrive a day early and stay in a hotel close to Balikpapan Airport, we can arrange your transfer to Samboja Lodge from there.
Visa Requirements
To join this project, you will need a tourist visa which you can get on arrival in Indonesia. The cost of this visa is approximately US$35.
If you plan to stay in Indonesia for longer than 30 days, you can get a 30-day tourist visa on arrival and then extend this visa for a further 30 days by going to the immigration office in Balikpapan (which we can arrange for you).
We advise that you speak to the embassy in your country to see if there are any requirements for travel. Please note that your passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from your date of entry into Indonesia.
Fitness & Skills
The work undertaken on this project can be quite physical, often in humid conditions, so a moderate level of fitness is required. No skills or experience are required; all that we ask is that you arrive with a commitment to the project and its aims, a passion for wildlife conservation, and the willingness to work alongside your team!
Vaccinations & Medical Requirements
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 the Covid-19 pandemic, 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.
No Contact Policy
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.
Videos
Discover the Samboja Lestari Orangutan Project
Join us in Borneo for an unforgettable adventure with orangutans and sun bears! From creating enrichment and assisting with construction projects, to visiting a local night market and trekking through one of the world's oldest primary rainforests, this project has it all!
Volunteers Share Their Experiences
Hear from volunteers Alex, Kye, Carrie, and Rita as they share their experiences, favourite moments and what you can expect from volunteering with orangutans at Samboja Lestari.
An interview with Kate - Our Volunteer Coordinator!
Join Kate, The Great Projects' Volunteer Coordinator at Samboja Lestari, as she explains how joining this project leaves a lasting impact on the resident wildlife and what you can expect from participating as a volunteer.
Catherine's Experience at Samboja Lestari
Take a look at wildlife adventurer Catherine Capon's trip to Samboja Lestari and discover what volunteering with orangutans is really like!
Gallery
News & Stories
14
Bag Full of Surprises
UPDATE | Sep 2026
The island orangutans got a new enrichment challenge this week. Volunteers filled natural reed bags with leaf parcels, fruit and treats, then watched as the orangutans quickly worked out how to get inside. Three days later, some were still carrying their bags around, dunking them in the water, using them to carry food and even wearing them on their heads!
1
REVIEW | Aug 2026
Gabriella shares her experience volunteering with orangutans at Samboja Lestari in Borneo, from sun bear care and enrichment to daily orangutan conservation work!
2
Kikan & Papa Put Their New Island to the Test
UPDATE | Aug 2026
Kikan and Papa have returned to the islands together. So far, Kikan seems a little curious about her new companion, as Papa is already being his usual grumpy, dominant self, breaking branches and making his mark. The pair have already been putting the new platform to the test, too. Built by our volunteers last month, it looks like it’s already received the orangutan seal of approval!
Reviews
Volunteering at Samboja Lestari was incredible - it is much more than just a holiday. We did lots of hard but manageable work and grew together as a group quickly! The food was really yummy and Kate was very kind, funny and good at instructing us and keeping us motivated. The accommodation is basically a hotel and very clean and comfy. There’s even massages available.
Oh my gosh I have no words. I have only been back home from this wonderful experience for over a week now, and let me tell you - it was truly- life changing. Everything about this experience was a highlight, from simply being on the planet with these amazing animals. Having an Orangutan look directly into your eyes, and you into theirs is simply something i cannot describe. It was amazing as a human, to feel like somehow I was able contribute, even in a small way, to the wellbeing of these majestic animals. The leaders Kate, Wik and Aril, were beyond anything I could have wished for. Their knowledge, kindness, patience, wisdom and generosity in allowing us into their world and sharing this experience with us was something I will never forget. Forging beautiful friendships with a group of people that I had just met . I came home with a full heart of gratitude, a deeper connection to mother earth and these incredible animals, and an experience that will stay with me forever :)
We had a fantastic experience, Kate was our project coordinator and her and her team were so well organised. Every evening she would run through the itinerary for the following day, including how the group were to be split up for different tasks etc. During the 12 nights we had really varied activities, from collecting leaves for enrichment, preparing different enrichments, building a feeding platform, helping to lay a concrete path to removing silt from the river bed to increase the depth of the water. We initially worked with the sun bears until our second covid tests proved negative whereby we were able then to work with the adult orangutans living in the sanctuary. Kate and her team were really supportive, given guidance and had lots of knowledge about the sun bears and the orangutans. The group we were with, were really great, everyone worked well together and we had lots of fun whilst feeling really thankful for being able to give some care to the sun bears and orangutans to help make their lives better. The lodge was very comfortable and we had superb food, best food we have had on any of the other volunteers experiences we have... We had a fantastic experience, Kate was our project coordinator and her and her team were so well organised. Every evening she would run through the itinerary for the following day, including how the group were to be split up for different tasks etc. During the 12 nights we had really varied activities, from collecting leaves for enrichment, preparing different enrichments, building a feeding platform, helping to lay a concrete path to removing silt from the river bed to increase the depth of the water. We initially worked with the sun bears until our second covid tests proved negative whereby we were able then to work with the adult orangutans living in the sanctuary. Kate and her team were really supportive, given guidance and had lots of knowledge about the sun bears and the orangutans. The group we were with, were really great, everyone worked well together and we had lots of fun whilst feeling really thankful for being able to give some care to the sun bears and orangutans to help make their lives better. The lodge was very comfortable and we had superb food, best food we have had on any of the other volunteers experiences we have undertaken. Kate also organised some super trips in our downtime. We did feel part of a large family of like minded people. One of the best volunteer projects we have been on. Highly recommend this - Kate is definitely the best project coordinator we have had. (Show More)
Download Project Guide
What's Included
- Airport transfers to and from Balikpapan
- Accommodation
- Three meals per day
- Tea, coffee and drinking water at the lodge
- All volunteer activities at the project site
- Canopy walk excursion
- River cruise along the Black River
- Conservation donation to the Samboja Lestari Orangutan Sanctuary
What's Not Included
- All flights
- Vaccinations and medical tests (which are required)
- Visas
- Soft or alcoholic drinks and extra snacks
From
$2,871.00€1,794.00£1,495.00$2,019.00
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Up to 12 Persons
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All Meals Included
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12 - 26 Nights
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Set dates between April and September
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Minimum Age 17 (Or From 15 Years Old With An Adult)
