Projects
Family Volunteering in Borneo
From £795.00
Help to restore the forest environment, meet indigenous tribespeople and encounter incredible orangutans with your family in Borneo
Borneo,
Orangutans
From £795.00
Help to restore the forest environment, meet indigenous tribespeople and encounter incredible orangutans with your family in Borneo
Borneo,
Orangutans
By joining this wildlife safari in Borneo you and your family will become immersed in the local community and fascinating wildlife of the Borneo rainforest.
For the majority of this project you will be staying in the beautiful Sukau village from which you will take part in a variety of conservation activities. These will include taking boat trips on the Kinabatangan River in search or orangutans and pygmy elephants and helping to preserve the incredible 'corridor of life'. As well as wildlife conservation activities you will also spend time interacting with the local Orang Sungai villagers or ‘People of the River’. This will include helping to teach some of the local children in the school. This will give you a great understanding of their way of life and help them improve their english skills!
To round off the tour, you will be taken to visit the world famous Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre to see these incredible animals up close!
Volunteers on this project aim to have a positive and constructive impact on the local environment by helping to rebuild habitats which have been destroyed, and teaching members of the local community about conservation. You’ll be helping plant trees, getting involved with teaching the local school children and observing the endangered wildlife along the river banks, so there’s plenty for you to be doing if you venture to Borneo!
This is a fantastic way to teach your children how rewarding it can be to volunteer, aswell as providing an opportunity for them to experience and witness first hand how important wildlife conservation is.
Without the participation of volunteers, the project will be short on man power and funding, both of which are vital for the continued success of the programme.
Over the course of the project, your family will embark on a number of boat trips in search of Malaysia's remarkable wildlife! Whether up in the trees, down on the river banks or even in the water below, there are animals to be discovered at every turn. Your expert guide will be on hand to share facts on all creatures big and small, making this an excellent opportunity for your children to learn more about the vibrancy of the rainforest.
One of the most rewarding ways for anybody to make a difference to conservation efforts can be found when planting trees! You and your children will be shown how to plant and maintain saplings on a dedicated site, where plant life had previously been removed as a result of logging or deforestation activities. Your efforts here will not only help to create a safe passageway for the animals to use as they move throughout the 'Corridor of Life', but will also ensure that the forest will sustain Borneo's wildlife for many years to come.
What greater adventure could there be, than a trek through the Bornean rainforest? This is an educational experience for the whole family, as you will learn all about the forest's flora and fauna from up close. Additionally, your guide will explain how the communities here have relied on the rainforest for food, shelter and even medicine for generations, allowing you to gain a further understanding of the very people you'll be living alongside throughout your time in Sukau.
Depending on the time of year that you take part, you may be invited to pay a visit to the local school! You will be provided with a framework and encouraged to plan a lesson which covers topics such as conservation and the environment. Whilst the main purpose of this activity is to help educate the Malaysian youth, you'll also experience great pride when watching your children build on their confidence and make new friends!
During your time on this project, you will live alongside the members of a local community known as the ‘Orang Sungai’. You will exchange stories of your daily lives, will learn about each other’s family structures, and will gain an understanding of how they have lived off of the land for centuries. You might even be invited to join in with some traditional activities, such as crafting, making music or dancing!
Towards the end of your time on the project, you will pay a visit to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, which is home to a number of orangutans which may require care for the remainder of their lives. This visit will only emphasise the need for conservation projects like this one and is sure to be a memorable part of your time in Borneo.
| Group Size | Up to 12 People |
| Meals | All Meals Included |
| Duration | 6 Nights |
| Start Dates | 11th of Every Month (Except December) |
| Minimum Age | Minimum Age 8 |
You will need to arrive into Sandakan International Airport before 4pm on the start date of your project. You will be met by a project representative in the arrivals hall and transferred by road to your first night's accommodation. The next day you will travel to the project site at Sukau.
Most nationalities do not rquire a visa to enter Malaysia. A tourist visa is provided upon arrival at the airport for up to 90 days, however, please check the Malaysian Immigration website for more information.
The Malaysian currency is the Ringgit. The conversion rate is approximately 1 MYR to 0.19 GBP.
Rebecca Glover - 2017