Orangutan watching tips

Several vaccinations are advised before travelling to Southeast Asia; consult your GP or travel clinic six to eight weeks before departure to ensure you have time to complete all the series of injections. Malaria is present here, so you will need to bring anti-malarial medication. Wearing long sleeves and trousers is also advised, as well as insect repellent. This also protects against dengue fever. Remember, malaria can develop up to a year after exposure, so keep an eye on any symptoms.

Citronella is the favoured repellent for many travellers. However, this should be avoided as it attracts hornets – giant wasps with an extraordinarily painful sting.

Tap water is unsafe to drink – also be wary of ice in drinks and unpeeled fruit and vegetables.

Don't eat bushmeat such as monkeys or bats as these are often carriers of diseases – as well as being inadvisable for environmental reasons.

Leeches are present in the lowland jungles. These are more unpleasant than dangerous, but you can buy “leech socks” which are effective at stopping them, and keep trousers tucked into socks or boots.

Borneo and Sumatra are incredibly hot and humid, so keep well hydrated.

Bring a basic first aid kit and medication for sickness and diarrhoea if planning to visit remote regions.

If you need to be hospitalised, travel to the mainland may be necessary, so be sure you have comprehensive travel insurance which covers medical evacuation, along with any other activities you may be doing, such as high-altitude hikes, windsurfing or diving.

Forest fires in Western Sumatra and Kalimantan cause serious, dangerous air pollution. 2015 was the worst year so far, and the fires were described as a "crime against humanity". While they eased off a little due to heave rains in 2016, 2017 was badly hit again. Travellers with respiratory problems should exercise precautions, and all travellers are advised to check with their holiday company on the severity of the smog in the region they are travelling to - pollution also spreads into Sabah and Sarawak. You should ask if face masks are available when in the worst affected areas.

Malaysian Borneo in general is a safe destination with relatively low crime rates and no large cities. Tourists should exercise the usual precautions – not walking alone at night, not leaving valuables such as cameras and smart phones on display, using registered taxis, etc.

In recent years there have been a few kidnappings of tourists and locals around the east coast of Sabah. Thanks to its proximity to the Philippines, this area is at a higher risk of this kind of activity. Travel to this area is largely trouble-free, but stay up to date with government travel advice on the FCO website to be sure.

If you are travelling independently in this region – and particularly from the airport at Lahad Datu to your accommodation, you should be sure you are using transport organised by reputable companies.

There is an increased risk of terrorist attacks or kidnappings around holiday periods including Christmas, Easter and Independence Day on 17th August, particularly in northern Sumatra and Jakarta. Follow advice on the FCO website

Keep an eye on natural disasters in Indonesia, such as flooding from October-April, and volcanic eruptions.

Traffic accidents are not uncommon. Choose your driver wisely, and always wear a helmet if travelling by motorbike or moped.

Malaysia and Indonesia are largely conservative, Muslim countries, and you should dress modestly, particularly in rural areas, to avoid causing offence. This is even more important in Indonesia.

Homosexuality is not widely accepted (homosexual acts are illegal in Malaysia), so same-sex couples are advised to act discretely in public.

I love my bed but we had to leave at 5am to get our return flight, the sunrise on the river and the birds were wonderful. If I had realised I would have got up this early on other days! - Sue Shickle

Pack leech socks. - Alison Robb

You are a guest in the home of a variety of wild animals - be prepared to be amazed. - Fiona Trolley

Fit in an extra visit to the orangutan sanctuary by yourselves. You can hang around longer and we saw the orangutans playing in the wild rather than just at the feeding station. - Andrea Gauntlett

In the rainforest, many animals are high up and difficult to see. We knew what sort of area we were going to and thought the experience was unbelievable, but we came across people who hadn't expected this and were disappointed. - Gillian Slater

The weather and conditions will change, so have a range of footwear and clothing to suit whatever might happen. - Jonathan Reed-Lethbridge

Don't use flash photography on the wildlife, it is cruel and frightens off the creatures for other people to see! - Alicia Jane Taylor

Don't be put off going in the rainy season. We didn't get too much rain and the national parks and other attractions were very quiet. - Kathryn White

With a good supply of bug spray, and if you stick to the shade and drink lots of water, you'll be set to have a brilliant time. - Katie Beckwith, volunteering trip

Be prepared to work physically hard, get sweaty and dirty. The rewards far outweigh any short time discomfort. - Julie Marshman, volunteering trip