Meaningful Wildlife Safari in Borneo, with APE-Malaysia
Live the mystery of the Bornean rainforest when you participate in this project located along the Lower Kinabatangan River. This wildlife sanctuary is home to singing gibbons, orangutans, proboscis monkeys, sun bears, hornbills and the pygmy elephant as well as a host of other rarely seen wildlife. The main part of the project will be in Sukau village and you will live among the gentle Orang Sungai or ‘People of the River’ learning their ways of life and joining them in their homes for meals. You will contribute significantly towards habitat restoration work by planting trees and maintain planting sites important for orangutan and pygmy elephant. At the same time, your participation will contribute to the meaningful work of APE-Malaysia and this portal.
Highlights
Wildlife Population Observation – This entails cruising on the river to observe the endangered wildlife roaming the forest along the river banks. A lot of time is spent observing wildlife and their habitat. This will be done from a boat cruising along the main river and its tributaries within the wildlife sanctuary.
Habitat Restoration – The most crucial activity ensuring the survival of wildlife. You will take part in tree-planting, nursery care and seedling generation, sapling maintenance, mulching, composting, clearing invasive species and tree growth data recording.
Education Project – Half a day will be spent with school children working on conservation issues that the children deal with on a daily basis. You will be provided with a framework and the coordinator will guide you in the planning of this session.
Community Development – This involves the development of a continuous project with the community of a local village. You will learn some skills requires for their daily livelihood and maybe assist them as well.
Jungle Trekking – As an introduction to the flora and fauna of the rainforest, you will go for a trek to understand what the rainforest traditionally offers the inhabitants in terms of medication, food & survival.
Cultural & Community Interaction – Contributing back to the community is a big part of this project. Most lunch and dinners will be in the private homes of individual villagers. You may get to hear about their daily lives, chat with the children, learn their family structure and see how the Orang Sungai have been living off the rivers and jungles for centuries.
(Note: Not all activities will be included on your itinerary. Changes to the activities will occur subject to weather conditions, school calendar, community and project requirements. Activities not listed above may also be added if deemed suitable / necessary by the project coordinator.)
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival & Welcome: Arrival at Sandakan Airport; transfer to Sepilok; welcome dinner & briefing.
Accommodation: Dormitory of Paganakan Dii (Shared warm water showers and toilets.)
Meal: Dinner
Day 2-10 Project Days: Transfer to Project Site in Sukau; short orientation followed by health and safety talk; main activities.
Accommodation: Sukau Greenview B&B (Shared room 2 – 3 persons to a room. Ensuite showers and toilets.)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11 Depart Sukau & transfer to Sepilok; visit Rainforest Discovery Centre, Sun Bear Conservation Centre, and Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilition Centre.
Accommodation: NAK Hotel (Shared room 2 – 3 persons to a room. Ensuite showers and toilets.)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 12 Departure: Check out and transfer to Sandakan Airport (or continue with trip extension).
Meal: Breakfast
Trip details
- Dates in 2020: Starts on the 21st of every month till September 2020
- Minimum age: 18
- Fitness level: Moderately tough
- Trip cost: RM5800 per pax (single supplement +RM800)
- Deposit: RM1800 per pax
- Start & end point: Sandakan (or Lahad Datu / Tawau if extend)
- Includes: Conservation contribution to the project; English-speaking project coordinator; 1 work T-shirt; all activities, tools & materials included in “Project Days”; 11 nights at designated shared accommodation; meet & greet at Sandakan Airport (SDK); arrival transfer from airport to Sepilok lodging; welcome dinner on arrival day in Sepilok; transfer from Sepilok lodging to project site accommodation; project introduction and orientation in village project site; boat and river transfers on “Project Days”; departure transfer to Sandakan Airport (SDK); entrance fee to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, and Rainforest Discovery Centre; selected meals as indicated on itinerary; Tourism Tax; Sales and Service Tax (SST).
- Excludes: International and internal airfare, camera fees, visa application/fees, immunisations and vaccinations, dinner on Day 11, drinks, private transfers, meals and accommodation when travelling independently or on off days, insurance, personal incidentals and any item not stated in the list above.
Trip extension – these options can be arranged before or after the trip:
- Turtle Islands Park (1 night)
- Deramakot Forest Reserve (min. 2 nights)
- Semporna (Tun Sakaran & Sipadan Marine Parks)
- Tabin Wildlife Reserve / Danum Valley Conservation Area
Join us today on a meaningful wildlife safari in Borneo to learn about its native animals and people, while help to restore habitat important for native wildlife. Please write in to discuss possibilities of customization, to help you maximize your visit to Borneo.
(Original program by APE-Malaysia; all photos and adaptation by Khoo M.S., unless otherwise stated)