Orangutan, Rainforests and Tribes Tour
Departs: 3rd of the month (Oct-Apr); 3rd & 17th of the month (May-Sept)
Duration: 2 weeks
Price: £999
Download the full project details brochure here
This tour will take you through the national parks of Sarawak, one of the Malaysian states on Borneo. These are some of the most bio-diverse habitats on the planet and you will be amazed by the variety of plant and animal life that you encounter. This tour will also take you to two of the world’s orangutan rehabilitation centres and allow you ‘behind the scenes’ with talks from our expert staff. Your tour will culminate in Batang Ai National Park, the only area of Sarawak that retains a population of wild orangutan. By joining this tour, you have a chance to see some of the most endangered primates on Borneo, living wild in their rainforest habitats. It is also a chance to spend some time with some of Borneo’s indigenous people, and discover what it is like to live in remote areas of rainforest. You will also learn about the numerous issues facing the environment in places like this, and why our work to conserve these areas is so important.
Day 1 |  Arrive in Kuching, Malaysian BorneoTransfer to Basaga Lodge, a comfortable and stylish guest house, to meet Orangutan Project staff and your fellow travellers for a welcome dinner and briefing. Make the most of the hot shower, air conditioning and swimming pool before departing to more simple amenities! |
Days 2-4 | Travel to MatangYou will spend these days being toured around the park, meeting the conservationists working in the field, trekking through the jungle, creating enrichment and potentially helping out with small manual labour tasks. |
Day 4-5 | Travel to Bako National Park!Spend your time trekking through the hugely varied rainforests, relaxing on the beautiful secluded beaches, taking boat trips to see the scenery or watching the varied wildlife. You spend one night here, and we strongly recommend doing a night trail here to maximise the chance seeing wildlife |
Days 5-7 | Telok SerabangSpend 2 nights at Telok Serabang, a Malay community that is situated in a beautiful coastal area of Sarawak. Assist with a fledgling turtle conservation project led by the local community |
Day 7-9 | PadawanSpend 2 nights with a Bidayu community – learn how everything from rafts, to bar-be-que tongs, to houses can be crafted from bamboo. |
Days 9-13 | Batang Ai National ParkHere you are in for hard-core trekking, hopeful wild orangutan spotting and a back-to-nature existence for 5 days. Spend time with an Iban community who reside permanently in this area, and learn of their traditions. |
Days 13-14 | KuchingTravel back to Kuching, stopping at Semenggoh Orangutan Centre on the way for the chance to see semi-wild orangutan. Though they cannot be considered ‘truly’ wild, there is something unforgettable about seeing these animals in the trees. Spend a final night back in Basaga for a farewell dinner with your group, before transfers to the airport the following day. |
| Additional Information | |
| Start Date | 3rd of the month (October – April) 3rd and 17th of the month (May – September) |
| Duration | 2 weeks |
| Cost | £999 |
| Price Includes | All essential food and drink Accommodation Contribution to our animal welfare and conservation work Airport pickup Expert guide at all locations |
| Price Excludes | International flights Travel insurance |
| Booking | Please note that bookings directly with us means that a significant proportion of the money you pay is a donation to our work here on Borneo, and no ‘admin fee’ is levied. However, we have an administrative team of one, and they are based at Matang Wildlife Centre. So if you do not hear back within 30 minutes, please bear with us – we will always endeavour to respond within 48 hours maximum. For more information please contact us. |
| Your money | 50% of the project cost covers food, accommodation and transportation of you, the volunteer 50% of the project cost is a donation to the orangutan, indigenous communities and our work on Borneo |
| Project Ethos |
| If it has always been your dream to hold a baby orangutan, this is not the tour for you. We are aware that to give rescued orangutan the best chance of rehabilitation, they need to remain as far removed from people as possible. Having these animals exposed to mass market tourism only serves to decrease their chance of returning once again to life in the trees. We believe that tours with a stated mission to help these endangered animals should do just that, and not simply provide photo opportunities for Western visitors. In saying that, participants to date have found this tour incredibly worthwhile and enjoyable – please contact them via our Facebook group Project Orangutan to hear from them first-hand. Also, have a read of our No Contact Policy for more information on this issue |
