Wildlife conservation in Borneo
All meals covered with the exception of your last night. 12 day project available instead of 7 during certain months of the year.
Private rooms available for a supplement.
Description of Wildlife conservation in Borneo
By volunteering on a wildlife conservation project in Borneo, you’ll step into one of the island’s most beautiful and untouched areas, far off the beaten path. This immersive experience allows you to actively help conserve Borneo’s endangered wildlife, including orangutans, pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys, macaques, gibbons, and sun bears—as well as a stunning variety of birds—by restoring and protecting their rainforest habitat.
With rampant habitat destruction threatening Borneo’s species, this project takes action in two powerful ways:
Planting trees to regenerate the jungle. By reforesting vital areas, you’re directly helping to increase the jungle’s coverage, giving more wildlife the chance to thrive in their natural habitat. Tasks include planting saplings, clearing weeds, and nurturing tree growth. It’s incredibly fulfilling to see the immediate impact of your work in just a few hours.
Monitoring wildlife from the river. While cruising along the river, you’ll help monitor and document sightings of orangutans, elephants, and more, contributing valuable data to local wildlife authorities. Observing these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat is awe-inspiring, and your efforts will help preserve the area’s conservation status by tracking population numbers.
Beyond the main activities, additional experiences include a jungle trek, visiting the renowned Sepilok orangutan rehabilitation center, and exploring the Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre and Rainforest Discovery Centre.
Accommodation & Food
You’ll stay in charming local guesthouses, where meals are prepared either by your hosts or local community members. The food is varied, delicious, and a highlight of the trip. Expect to share an en-suite room with at least one other volunteer, ensuring a comfortable and authentic experience.
Note: The 7-day project is similar but with reduced time at habitat restoration sites, fewer meals, and shorter engagements with local villagers and children.
Itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrive to Sandakan on the 21st of the month. On arrival you will spend your first night in a lovely rainforest guest house on the outskirts of Sandakan. You will be staying in a traditional longhouse, with a balcony that looks out over the jungle and with a series of lakes just a few minutes away. A delicious welcome dinner is provided by the guest house, and you can relax to the noises of the jungle with the rest of your group. |
| Day 2: | Transfer to the small village of the Orang Sungai people, located on the Kinabatangan river. Stay in a riverside guesthouse, sharing a basic yet comfortable room with at least one other volunteer. An en suite bathroom is shared between you and your room mate(s) with a western toilet and refreshing shower. |
| Day 3 +: | Spend your days out on the river monitoring wildlife and helping with rainforest regeneration work. |
| Day 12: | Leave the beautiful river behind and head back to Sandakan via the inspiring Sepilok Orangutan rehabilitation centre, Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre and Rainforest Discovery Centre |
Price information
All meals covered with the exception of your last night. 12 day project available instead of 7 during certain months of the year.
Private rooms available for a supplement.
Departure information
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Reviews
6 Reviews of Wildlife conservation in Borneo
Reviewed on 04 Mar 2020 by Matthew Perry
Incredibly meaningful and unforgettable..... Working with all the dedicated, passionate team members and volunteers -- and seeing orangutans in the wild were the most memorable parts! Read full reviewReviewed on 05 Jan 2020 by Paolo Catalani
A great human and environmental experience. Read full reviewReviewed on 05 Nov 2019 by Elisabeth Mering
Seeing the difference in a site after a mornings work was really rewarding and of course seeing so much wildlife was also of course a highlight Read full reviewReviewed on 09 Oct 2019 by Doreen Watson
I had a great time, met some lovely people and would certainly recommend this holiday to others. Read full reviewReviewed on 05 Apr 2018 by Conrad Blakemore
The most memorable was working in a tropical downpour and seeing a mother and baby Orangutang climbing a tree near the work site. An interesting and insightful look at conservation in Sabah, Borneo. A bit short though - two full weeks would be better. Read full reviewReviewed on 06 Mar 2017 by Sue Jarrett
Seeing a large wild male Orangutan eating figs in a tree by the Kinabatangan River was the most memorable - we were so close to him and he looked so relaxed! What a beautiful special creature. A fabulous experience. Read full reviewResponsible Travel
Planet
Conserving BorneoThis project is all about conserving the dwindling natural environment in Borneo - and hopefully enabling it to regenerate and survive for many more generations to come. Orangutan populations are plummeting, mainly thanks to palm oil plantations and deforestation. On this project, volunteers help to plant new rainforest and maintain it, ensuring that animals have safe places to live and thrive.
Protecting the world
We are passionate about encouraging our travellers to be kind to the environment as they travel. Each participant receives advice about how to care for the environment whilst they are away. This includes water usage, how to avoid single use plastic, and electricity usage.
We insist that all participants bring their own water bottles when they travel with us, and clean free water is always available. We have even created a water bottle that can be purchased before departure and encourage people to use it at all stages of their journey including at the airport, on flights and whilst on their project. We are striving for all of our projects to be free of single use plastic.
People
Meeting local needsThis project engages directly with the local community. Meals are provided by local families, boat and bus drivers do all transfers and the guest houses are rented from local families. In addition to this there is an active local education and immersion scheme which allows families to get to know their friendly hosts. Volunteer spending is spread around the local community by engaging a large range of local individuals and businesses. Saplings are bought from locals who grow them to help regenerate the rainforest.
Cultural sensitivity
We emphasise the importance of showing respect for local people and their customs in our briefing material. Participants will work alongside permanent staff, forming close bonds and getting an insight into real life in rural Borneo. Volunteers are briefed on the local cultures and customs. Our policy is to send people in small groups, which minimises the environmental and social impact that the participants have on the destination and helps them to integrate into the local community.
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