Responsible Tourism

Discover Borneo & Orang Utan Conservation Volunteer Holiday

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Highlights of this tour.

Make a difference to Borneo's reforestation and Orang Utan conservation
Once-in-a-lifetime experience helping Orang Utan rehabilitation
Enjoy jungle treks, a rainforest canopy walk and swim & snorkel in the South China Sea
Great conservation voluntourism trip for a career break or ethical travel holiday
Family voluntourism holiday during the school summer break
Introduction

Borneo is the third largest island in the world, famous for its jungles and wildlife, in particular the Orang Utan. Visit this fascinating island and take this once in a lifetime opportunity to get close to these amazing creatures, working alongside the park rangers to help ensure their continued survival.

Kota Kinabalu

Your base for the first few days is Borneo's most important city, Kota Kinabalu. Each day we include a fascinating excursion. Get your first glimpse of the rainforest trekking through Kota Kinabalu Park, witnessing life in the treetops as you walk along the 100ft high canopy walkway above the forest. Follow this exhilarating day relaxing, swimming and snorkelling in the South China Sea, in the turquoise waters of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park.

Sukau

Leaving the city behind, we then fly to the north of the island and travel to Sukau, the Orang Utan research centre where you'll spend the next few days working alongside research assistants helping with the reforestation programme. A final highlight of your trip will be a visit to Sepilok Orang Utan rehabilitation centre, an initiative of the Sabah Wildlife Department to rehabilitate young Orang Utans enabling them to survive once released back into the wild. Once back in Kota Kinabalu, enjoy a day exploring at your leisure, maybe buying a few souvenirs, before flying back to London.

Example Itinerary.

Day 1: Fly from London to Kota Kinabalu

Day 2: Arrive in Kota Kinabalu and transfer to your hotel

Day 3: A half day city tour of Kota Kinabalu followed by an afternoon at leisure

Day 4: Trek through the rainforest and walk along the 100ft high canopy walkway in Kota Kinabalu Park

Day 5: A day of relaxation, swimming and snorkelling in the South China Sea

Day 6: Transfer by air and bus to Sukau and the Orang Utan research centre

Days 7/10: Volunteer work at the Orang Utan research centre

Day 11: Enjoy a visit to Sepilok Orang Utan rehabilitation centre before flying back to Kota Kinabalu

Day 12: Day at leisure exploring Kota Kinabalu

Day 13: Return flight to London

The difference you make by taking this tour.

More than 210 mammals, including 44 which are found nowhere else in the world, live on Borneo. Between 1994 and 2004 at least 361 new species were discovered and new ones are constantly being found.
In 2005, a WWF report showed that less than a third of Borneo's forests could remain by 2020, threatening the future survival of orang-utans.

Main causes of deforestation include rampant logging, the conversion of forests to plantations and forest fires.

Populations of 250 or more orang utans have the best chance of survival. The destruction of habitat means populations will live in small isolated islands of forests, leaving them unable to meet & breed with other groups, causing serious health problems from interbreeding and jeopardising future survival.

In February 2007, Borneo's three nations (Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia) signed a deal to protect 200,000 sq km of rainforest on the island, considered to be one of the most important sites of biodiversity in the world, home to thousands of species.

Half the original forest has already been lost. The Bornean orang-utan population is half of what it was 60 years ago. Its future hangs in the balance. The agreement, known as the Heart of Borneo Declaration, aims to put an end to this, and protect an area prized by conservationists.

Help restore harmonious relationships between people and the orangutan. Contribute to raising awareness and building local community support for developing alternative income sources, without harming the environment through damaging activities such as logging and poaching. In turn this will support local socio-economic development compatible with habitat and wildlife conservation.

This trip combines exploration of this fascinating island with the opportunity to assist with work to ensure the continued survival of the Orang Utan. We participate in important research behind the reforestation project, which includes monitoring the nesting patterns and behaviour of wild Orang Utans and collecting wild seedlings which form part of their diet, in order for the reforestation to encourage the settlement of wild Orang Utans. You will have an excellent opportunity to discover this island, its jungles and wildlife as you trek through the rainforest, take the 100ft high canopy walkway in Kota Kinabalu Park and swim and snorkel in the turquoise waters of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. The trip also visits Sepilok Orang Utan rehabilitation centre before returning home.

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