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Responsible tourism in Sarawak

There are some major wildlife & environment issues that may come to the fore when researching responsible tourism in Sarawak. Reforestation, volunteering responsibly and positive community tourism are just a few of the areas that you’ll need to read about to travel better in Sarawak and find out what you can do to help out.

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Responsible tourism in Sarawak

Responsible tourism in Sarawak is about creating value around unspoilt jungle, natural waterways and forest habitats for local communities. The importance of the Sarawak’s unique culture and nature is finally being recognised by travellers, photographers, wildlife fans and adventure-seekers, and as it steps out independently from the shadows of both Sabah and Borneo, responsible tourists from across the globe are travelling here to see these natural riches and to contribute to their protection. Far from the stampedes of mainland Southeast Asia, tourism here is largely being developed sensitively and sustainably. Income contributes to the wellbeing of communities, the preservation of the forests and of course, the orangutan rehabilitation centres. The steady yet controlled growth of tourism across Sarawak could provide hope for the survival of its most endangered species and its unique way of life, just as long as it’s done well.

Our Sarawak Holidays

Wildlife & environment

Reforestation

Huge steps are being made across Sarawak to conserve and manage its valuable and unique forests. In addition to some 800,000 hectares of Totally Protected Areas (TPAs) that are off-limit to logging companies, large areas of land classed as ‘terrain 4’ (steep and hilly) areas, ‘High Conservation Value Forests’, buffer zones and verified ‘Native Customary Rights’ land remain pristine. In addition, Sarawak has adopted a land-use policy that provides for the long-term economic well being of the State, which includes provisions for a sustainable forestry sector based on a targeted 6 million hectares of natural forests, and a further 1 million hectares of planted forests, and a robust agriculture sector based on a targeted 3 million hectares of agro plantations and smallholdings.

What you can do
Visiting Sarawak’s national parks and protected areas and paying fees contributes to the upkeep of these fragile forests – much of them pristine primary growth – and protects the unique wildlife that lives within them.

Some operators offer the chance to get involved in reforestation initiatives; park buffer zones are extremely important in increasing the available habitat for wildlife, so by extending the forest cover you are helping to protect what lives within it.

Orangutans: volunteering - responsibly

After hearing about the plight of the world’s last orangutans, it’s natural to leap at the opportunity to volunteer with them, and to support their conservation. However, philanthropic travellers should take a step back: choosing the wrong volunteer placement is not just worthless – it can actually cause even more harm. A common cold can quickly kill a baby orangutan, and spread rapidly throughout the group. Additionally, fully wild orangutans will avoid contact with people; it is the ones who have become habituated to our presence that are caught straying on plantations or farmland – or attacking a human. So any contact they have with people reduces their chances of successful rehabilitation, and reintroduction into the wild.

Stef Studley, from our supplier Regent Holidays, explains the company's stance: “I get so many requests from people who want to hold an orangutan, which is understandable because they’re so lovely, but it’s a really bad idea – they aren’t pets, they’re 96 percent the same as humans, so the chances of them picking up an infection is enormous if they’re handled by someone who might not be well. A responsible volunteer programme will make sure its handlers have lots of jabs and a thorough check over beforehand. We recommend sponsoring orangutans through reputable charities such as Orangutan Appeal UK.”

Harriet Whitmarsh, from our supplier The Great Traveller, explains more: “Now and again you do come across a project that allows hands-on volunteering – however, these volunteers will have been in quarantine for ten days, and the tests you have to go through are quite rigorous. There is also quite a significant amount of training – this just isn’t suitable for someone on a two-week holiday.”

What you can do
Pick your placement well. Most involve daily tasks such as cleaning, constructing and repairing enclosures, building climbing frames and maintaining paths. You should never be offered the chance to come into contact with the orangutans themselves to avoid the spread of disease.

Do your research – find out more about the place you will be volunteering, including the kind of work you will be doing there and where your money will end up. One way to do this is to check online traveller review sites; the reviews on Responsible Travel are also unedited and honest.

Think outside the rehabilitation centres, and look for initiatives that work with rural communities and conservation. Community tourism allows local people to make money from the forest in its natural state, thus reducing the incentives for logging and poaching, and empowering them to stand up to big businesses. Planting fruit trees on the edge of a national park may sound less glamorous and exotic than snuggling a baby orangutan – but it’s far, far more helpful in the long term.

Read more about Orangutan conservation here

People & culture

Positive community tourism

Sarawak is home to thousands of endemic species, 40 indigenous groups including sea gypsies, longhouse-dwelling communities and former head-hunting tribes, and one of the largest rainforests remaining in the world, so as well as the incredible wildlife, a Sarawak holiday has everything a cultural traveller could ask for. Longtail boat trips upstream through the emerald green waters of the Batang Ai reservoir are a truly mesmeric way to reach the remote villages of its near impenetrable jungle; the skilled Iban boatman will manoeuvre your boat around huge black boulders in the lake and treetops that emerge from the water as a visual reminder of the valley that flooded in 1980 to create the reservoir. And there’s plenty of chance to get stuck in locally too, with floating markets and living museums. Don’t overlook a rustic longhouse homestay; the Iban of Sarawak are famous for their longhouses, sharing communal life with dozens of local tribespeople. It’s a seductive and incredibly enriching experience.

What you can do
Community tourism is a way for visitors to learn about local traditions; for local communities to continue practicing them and sharing the knowledge with younger generations; and for people to demonstrate that their culture, their sustainable way of life and their knowledge is valuable – even in the modern world. Some of the best community tourism projects are in Sarawak, where you can stay in a communal longhouse and live alongside the tribe knowing that your money will go directly into their community and conservation initiatives.

Harriet Whitmarsh, from our supplier The Great Projects: “Our project is in Batang Ai, where there are wild orangutans. You stay with a local Dayak tribe and go out trekking with them in the forest, which provides local jobs. It really does help.”

Responsible tourism tips

Never use flash photography with wildlife. Avoid littering in any of the national parks - keep your rubbish with you until you can dispose of it properly back in Kuching. Don’t stray from the set trails while trekking in national parks and the jungle; they are there so we don’t damage delicate flora and fauna, or disturb natural wildlife habitat. If you’re going to stay with a local tribe at Batang Ai, don’t feel obliged to take a gift. Their longhouses are working homes and the fear is that the indigenous people that live there will become dependent on the tourist trade. If you insist on showing thanks to a local tribe for accepting you into their homes, books and pencils are appreciated, but absolutely no sweets. Believe it or not, dentists are few and far between in the jungle! Whenever you visit a longhouse, at the entrance you will be given a glass of tuak (palm wine) for warm welcoming - never say no, it’s disrespectful, but don’t knock it back unless you want a refill. Touching someone’s head, be they Muslim or otherwise, is a no-no, as the head is considered sacred in Eastern culture. The whole of Malaysia is quite conservative and conformist. Behaviour that draws attention to the individuals concerned is avoided.

Responsible Travel would like to thank the Sarawak tourist board for their sponsorship of this guide

More about Sarawak

Best time to visit Sarawak

A quick glimpse at our temperature & rainfall chart will tell you the best time to visit Sarawak in terms of the weather however, delve a little deeper and you’ll discover a month by month guide.

Sarawak travel guide

If you’re looking to learn all about Malaysia’s largest state then our Sarawak travel guide does just the job with a brief history of Sarawak as well as a 2 minute summary to help you travel like a local on your Sarawak holiday.

Where to go in Sarawak

Make the most of your time by checking out our interactive map of highlights, travel times and suggested itineraries which will give you a much better idea as to where to go in Sarawak and what to do when you get there.

Things to do in Sarawak

There's lots of things to do in Sarawak with Mulu National Park, Bako National Park and Gunung National Park all providing trekking and nature trails to help you understand everything from orangutan conservation to living like a local.

Community tourism in Sarawak

If you travel into the Central Highlands of Sarawak you'll find the Lun Bawang people living in a collection of villages known as Ba’kelalan, their culture and heritage at the core of community tourism in Sarawak.

Sarawak National Parks

There are some 30 Sarawak national parks, all different, all extraordinary although not all accessible - you have to keep a few secrets to yourself naturally, but our guide explains where to start your journey around the biodiverse beauties.

Sarawak adventure holidays

Sarawak adventure holidays release you into a truly spectacular natural landscape, one of dense rainforest and vibrant green plateaus snaked across by the toffee-coloured waters of the Sarawak River.

Rainforest World Music Festival

If the late, great Ella Fitzgerald were still singing on our mortal coil, she would almost certainly have graced the stage of the Rainforest World Music Festival in Sarawak, one of the most celebrated of its kind in the world.

Orangutan conservation in Sarawak

Community led conservation projects are really a change in Sarawak, and these also provide some of the most fascinating and life affirming experiences for visitors keen to contribute to orangutan conservation efforts.

Bird watching in Sarawak

There are over twenty Important Bird Areas in Sarawak alone - really is birding bliss - and with a plethora of national parks too, the infrastructure allows lots of ways to go bird watching in Sarawak.

Travel to Batang Ai National Park, Sarawak

Sarawak is a truly unsurpassed destination to see the highly endangered orangutan in the wild in Batang Ai National Park, living symbiotically with the local Iban community which contributes to it's protection.

Culture in Sarawak

Exploring the culture in Sarawak is one of the key reasons to visit the Land of the Hornbills - tours here introduce you to riveting tribal customs, the heritage of the Brooke Dynasty, and many colourful festivals.

Kuching in Sarawak

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Benefits of a short tour to Sarawak

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Brooke Dynasty heritage – the White Rajahs

The illustrious Brooke dynasty heritage can be seen across Sarawak, from the historic wooden forts they built to protect their kingdom, to renowned museums and a beautiful palace by the river.

Wildlife in Sarawak

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Travelling in Sarawak with kids

Travelling in Sarawak with kids is all about finding things they’ll enjoy and learn from at the same time with cultural villages, Kuching Cat Museum and the Sarawak Caves in Gunung Mulu National Park, all perfect activities.

Sarawak travel advice

If you’re searching for Sarawak travel advice then make sure you pay attention to the tips from our friends - we’ve published a few pearls of wisdom to help you travel safely with kids, and without.