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Borneo Wildlife Safari & Volunteering Experience
A perfect program for wildlife and nature enthusiasts. It'll be an opportunity for you to get closer to nature, and observe the little things that tourists often tend to miss out.
This program takes you to Sukau village on the Lower Kinabatangan River in Sabah, Borneo, inside a wildlife sanctuary home to orangutans, proboscis monkeys, sun bears, hornbills and pygmy elephants. Day to day you cruise the river and its tributaries to observe and record wildlife, plant trees and maintain nursery seedlings for habitat restoration, join community development work in the village, and go on a jungle trek. No prior experience is needed, but you must be fit and healthy and at least 18.
The program runs 12 days, with a fixed start on 21 Jun 2027. You spend your first night in dorm-style accommodation in Sepilok, then move to a shared village-style B&B in Sukau and a hotel in Sandakan, sharing rooms throughout; most breakfasts, lunches and dinners are provided as listed in the itinerary. The total starts at $1,844, deposit included. A distinct feature of this program is that most lunches and dinners in Sukau are eaten in the homes of Orang Sungai villagers, alongside a visit to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and Sun Bear Conservation Centre.
- Volunteer for a Wildlife Safari Volunteering Experience
- Hands-on work in the Coral Reef Conservation Program
- Learn more about the animals dwelling in the rainforests, their lives and how to conserve their natural habitat
- Spend quality time the natives of the Sukau village and learn more about their way of life
- Gain first-hand international work experience and make a difference through your active contribution
- Meet volunteer travelers from different parts of the world
- Responsibilities at the project includes Wildlife Population Observation, Habitat Restoration, Education Project, Community Development amongst others
- Volunteers work on weekdays, weekends are free to explore around the country with fellow volunteers
Your role on this program
- Observe and help record wildlife population data during boat trips along the river and its tributaries
- Plant trees and maintain planting sites at high-priority habitat restoration areas
- Care for tree nurseries, generate seedlings, and maintain saplings
- Clear invasive species and record tree growth data
- Carry out mulching and composting as part of restoration work
- Take part in community development activities with the local village
- Join a jungle trek to learn about the rainforest's traditional uses for food, medicine and survival
- Join villagers for lunches and dinners in their homes and interact with community members and school students
Exact duties vary with the placement's needs, the season and your experience.
Role boundaries
Wildlife is observed at a distance from a boat or on foot; you do not touch, feed, ride, bathe or take selfies with any animal, and visits to the Sun Bear Conservation Centre and Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre are guided visits, not hands-on animal care. All project work runs under the guidance of your project coordinator, and activities may vary with weather, the school calendar, and the community's and project's needs.
A typical day and week
Day 1 – Arrival at Sandakan Airport and transfer to accommodation. Meet all your fellow volunteers during the Welcome dinner. A short Briefing Session will be held on this day.(D)
Day 2 to Day 10 – You’ll be traveling to Sukau, which is your Program Location. There will be a short orientation, followed by a health & safety talk. You’ll commence your project work under the guidance of your coordinator. It’ll be an immensely enriching journey, observing the people and the wildlife, and living amidst nature. (B,L,D)
The project involves wildlife observation to collect important wildlife population data. Habitat restoration work involves tree-planting and maintenance activities at high priority areas. These are crucial in connecting fragmented forest in the area to encourage healthy orangutan and pygmy elephant populations.
Day 11 – Travel to explore the Rainforest Discovery Centre, Sun Bear Conservation Centre & Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre.(B,L)
Day 12 – Check out and transfer to Sandakan Airport. (B)
Timings are the placement's usual pattern; the local team confirms your hours at orientation, and they can change with school terms, clinic rotas, weather and the project's needs.
Program itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival at Sandakan Airport and transfer to accommodation. Meet all your fellow volunteers during the Welcome dinner. A short Briefing Session will be held on this day.(D)
Day 2 to Day 10 - You'll be traveling to Sukau, which is your Program Location. There will be a short orientation, followed by a health & safety talk. You'll commence your project work under the guidance of your coordinator. It'll be an immensely enriching journey, observing the people and the wildlife, and living amidst nature. (B,L,D)
The project involves wildlife observation to collect important wildlife population data. Habitat restoration work involves tree-planting and maintenance activities at high priority areas. These are crucial in connecting fragmented forest in the area to encourage healthy orangutan and pygmy elephant populations. Community and Education programs involve interaction with the villagers and the students of the village school.
Day 11 - Travel to explore the Rainforest Discovery Centre, Sun Bear Conservation Centre & Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre.(B,L,D)
Day 12 - Check out and transfer to Sandakan Airport. (B)
Who can join and what you need
- Minimum age 18
- No prior experience needed, but you should be fit and healthy at the time of joining
- Open mind and a flexible attitude toward working in a new environment
- Accurate flight details submitted in advance so airport pickup at Sandakan Airport can be arranged
- Travel and medical insurance, either your own policy or one arranged through Volunteering Solutions
- Booking deposit ($249), which counts toward your total and is refunded if no place can be offered
The placement, its limits and your part in it
The project is based in Sukau village along the Lower Kinabatangan River, working with the local Orang Sungai community and within a wildlife sanctuary that includes stops at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and Sun Bear Conservation Centre. Your project coordinator organizes the daily schedule, from boat-based wildlife observation to habitat restoration tasks, and gives an orientation and health and safety talk before work begins.
Wildlife is observed, not handled, and any time at the rehabilitation and conservation centers is a guided visit rather than direct animal care. As a volunteer, your contribution is practical and short-term: recording wildlife sightings, planting and maintaining trees at priority restoration sites, and taking part in community activities and meals with village families, alongside other volunteers and under local staff direction.
Our standards
- Responsible volunteer travel policyHow we choose, run and review every project
- Animal welfare policyOur rules for wildlife, marine and animal-care projects
- Certified B CorporationSocial and environmental performance verified by B Lab
- How we volunteer responsibly in MalaysiaCountry-level partner context and standards
Start dates
Weekly start dates, year-round — pick any week across the next two years.
Program fees by duration
Prices include your $249 booking deposit — which is deducted from your total program fee. Your deposit stays valid for one year, during which you may enroll in multiple programs. A 5% international banking fee applies to credit-card payments in USD or AUD.
| Duration | Total price | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week | $1,844 |
Indicative conversion — your booking is charged in the currency you choose at checkout.
✓ What you're paying for
- Pre Departure Information and Support
- Conservation contribution to the project
- All facilities and equipment for conservation work
- English speaking Project Coordinator
- 1 Work T-shirt for each participant
- All activities, tools & materials included in “Project Days”
- 11 nights at designated shared accommodation
- Airport Pickup from Sandakan Airport (SDK) and transfer to accommodation
- Arrival transfer from airport to Sepilok lodging
- Transfer from Sepilok Lodging to project site accommodation
- Departure transfer to Sandakan Airport (SDK)
- Project introduction and orientation in village project site
- Boat and river transfers on “Project Days”
- Entrance fees to Rehabilitation & Conservation Centers
- Welcome dinner on arrival day in Sepilok
- Selected meals as per the Itinerary
- Govt Taxes
Not included
- International Airfare
- Visa Fees
- Vaccinations
- Medical & Travel Insurance
- Any single supplement accommodation charges
- Meals and accommodation when traveling independently or on off Days
- Personal expenses
Accommodation & meals
Airport Transfers
The nearest airport to the Borneo Rainforest is Sandakan Airport (SDK), which is a domestic airport. Hence, you’ll have to book your flights to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA/KLIA2) or Kota Kinabalu International Airport, and then take another flight to Sandakan Airport.
Accurate flight details (flight number, airline, departure city, time of departure and arrival) are crucial to ensure pick up at the correct time.
Make sure that your flight arrives before 4:00 PM on the arrival date, and on the departure date, book a flight that departs after 11:00 AM from Sandakan Airport.
Orientation
There will be a detailed Program Orientation, that’ll enable you to know more about the conservation center and what kind of work is carried out there. You’ll also be guided and instructed on the ways in which you need to act and how you can provide your best services while being a part of this project. Our coordinators will be available 24/7, to offer any sort of assistance that you may require.
Accommodation
You will be provided a combination of dorm-style accommodation, shared accommodation in Village Style B & B and hotel.
For the first night, you’ll be provided with dorm-style accommodation, where you need to share a room with other participants on the same project. There are shared warm water showers and toilets.
At Sukau, you’ll be staying at a Village style B&B, in order to get a feel of the local living. It will be a shared room with 2-3 persons to a room with ensuite showers and toilets.
At Sandakan, hotel accommodation shall be provided with 2 persons to a room. Ensuite showers and toilets will be there.
Note: Single Room subject to availability – please let us know beforehand, in case you want a private room for yourself.
Meals
Selected meals as indicated in the itinerary shall be provided.
During your Free Time
During your free time, you can sit at the cafe by the river and watch the world go by. Bring your binoculars and watch for wildlife! You’ll also get to spend time conversing with the local people and get to know more about their lives amidst nature. It’ll definitely be worth experiencing.
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Life on the program
Getting there and who looks after you in Malaysia
Airport pickup
You are collected at Sandakan Airport (SDK) and transferred to your accommodation in Sepilok; arrive before 4pm on your start date so pickup can be arranged.
First night and welcome dinner
You stay in dorm-style accommodation in Sepilok for the first night, sharing a room with other volunteers, and meet the group at a welcome dinner followed by a briefing session.
Travel to Sukau and orientation
Over days 2 to 10 you travel to Sukau, your main project location, where you get a short orientation and a health and safety talk before starting project work under your coordinator's guidance.
Project days and daily support
Project days combine river-based wildlife observation with habitat restoration and community work; an English-speaking coordinator is available 24/7 for support throughout.
Center visit and departure
On day 11 you visit the Rainforest Discovery Centre, Sun Bear Conservation Centre and Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, then check out on day 12 for your transfer back to Sandakan Airport.
From volunteers in Malaysia
Frequently asked questions
What do volunteers actually do on this program?
You take part in boat-based wildlife observation to help record population data, plant trees and maintain nursery seedlings for habitat restoration, join community development activities in Sukau village, and go on a jungle trek, with weekdays set aside for project work.
Do I need experience to join?
No experience is needed; you just need to be fit and healthy and bring an open, flexible attitude to a new environment.
What is the minimum age?
The minimum age is 18 at the time of joining the project.
How long does the program run and when can I start?
The program runs 12 days on fixed dates, with the next start on 21 Jun 2027.
What does the fee include?
The fee, from $1,844 with $249 deposit included, covers 11 nights of shared accommodation, airport pickup and all listed transfers, project equipment and materials, an English-speaking coordinator, selected meals as per the itinerary, entrance fees to the rehabilitation and conservation centers, and a welcome dinner.
What is not included?
International airfare, visa fees, vaccinations, travel and medical insurance, single-room supplements, and meals or accommodation on independent travel days are not included.
Where will I stay?
You stay in dorm-style accommodation in Sepilok on the first night, a shared village-style B&B in Sukau (2-3 people per room, ensuite bathrooms), and hotel accommodation in Sandakan (2 people per room); a private room may be requested subject to availability.
What meals are provided?
Selected meals are provided as listed in the day-by-day itinerary, including a welcome dinner on arrival, and most meals in Sukau are eaten in the homes of local villagers.
How does airport pickup work?
Pickup is included at Sandakan Airport (SDK); since it is a domestic airport, you fly in via Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu, arriving before 4pm on your start date, and book your departure flight after 11am.
Will I get close to or handle the wildlife?
No, wildlife is observed from a boat or on foot at a distance as part of population monitoring; visits to the Sun Bear Conservation Centre and Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre are guided visits, and there is no riding, feeding, bathing or handling of animals.
What support is available during the program?
An English-speaking project coordinator runs the orientation and daily project work, and coordinators are available 24/7 for any assistance you need.
Who is this program best suited for?
It suits wildlife and nature enthusiasts who want hands-on conservation and community experience without needing prior experience, provided they are fit, healthy, and at least 18.
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