Malaysia
Borneo Orangutan Adventure
About
About Borneo, Malaysia
On Better World Adventures’ Borneo Orangutan Adventure, you will travel to Sarawak in Malaysia where you will visit two of the world’s key orangutan rehabilitation centres. You will be allowed ‘behind the scenes’ with their expert staff and will gain an understanding of the issues involved with the conservation of major ecosystems, and the wildlife and people within them. You will learn why the work to conserve these areas is so important to the future of our planet.
You’ll then tour three spectacular national parks where you will participate in a night-time jungle trek, and a snorkelling tour of the habitat of the endangered Green Sea Turtle. Travel by boat deep into the rainforest of Batang Ai National Park, the only area of Sarawak that retains a population of wild orangutan. Spend time off-the-grid with Borneo’s indigenous people who will take you trekking through the dense jungle to catch sight of the iconic and gentle ginger giants in their natural habitat – a rare and precious experience! Finally, you’ll witness semi-wild orangutans that have been released back into their natural habitat, the ultimate goal in any wildlife rehabilitation effort! Learn about tribal life in the rainforest, get the chance to see orangutans in their natural environment, and help to protect these awe-inspiring animals on this amazing voyage of discovery.
Highlights
- Visit 2 orangutan rehabilitation centres and 3 national parks in Sarawak, East Malaysia
- Volunteer behind the scenes at an orangutan rehabilitation centre
- Track the endangered proboscis monkey in the beautiful Bako National Park
- Snorkel in search of green turtles at Tanjung Datu National Park (season depending)
- Experience Dayak tribal life searching for wild orangutans in Batang Ai National Park
- Learn how deforestation and palm oil farming is threatening the orangutan with extinction
- Join Hindu worshippers at the unique and huge Batu Caves temple complex
- Visit Kuala Lumpur’s popular Petaling Street night market
Dates
Departure Dates
Departure dates available March-October
Send us a request for a date that suits you
Every school group tour is created bespoke, according to the time of year, available duration, proposed budget and number of group members. Better World Adventures has done the due diligence for you in partnering with extremely high quality and sustainable volunteering projects and memorable activities that perfectly showcase each country’s uniqueness.
Use this website to gain an introduction to a selection of the most popular volunteering projects and cultural activities that Better World Adventures are able to combine into your perfect itinerary. Then contact us to discuss your objectives and requirements related to current study themes, group capability, and your travel objectives. We are absolutely confident that you will end up with an itinerary that delivers above and beyond your expectations, with exceptional attention to detail, and at a price that is significantly lower per head than other providers.
Inclusions
What’s included?
- Fully escorted tour with two tour leaders (male and female)
- Tour leaders available to students 24/7
- Comprehensive travel insurance
- Economy class international air travel to Malaysia ex Auckland
- All airport transfers
- All accommodation (single gender, twin or multi-share)
- 3 meals per day (2 meals per day on weekends)
- Malaysian entry (for New Zealand passport holders)
- Professional local guides
- Tour tipping (drivers, guides, group waiters)
- Malaysian SIM card with data (for unlocked devices)
- Volunteering at Matang Wildlife Centre, Kubah National Park
- Visit
to Bako National Park, including night rainforest walk - Visit
to Telok Serabang Green Turtle Conservation project
- Traditional longhouse accommodation with Bidayuh Community
- Traditional longhouse accommodation with Iban community, Batang Ai
- Jungle trekking in Batang Ai National Park
- Entry into Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, Kuching
- 1 day escorted tour of Kuala Lumpur, visiting major attractions including Merdeka Square, Petronas Towers, Royal Selangor Pewter Centre, Malaysian Batik Centre, Batu Caves
- Visit Petaling Street Chinatown night market
- Extensive pre-departure orientation
- Foreigner entrance fees to all scheduled activities
- Souvenir T-shirts
Itinerary
Sample Itinerary
- Day 1 - Arrival
- DAY 3-4 MATANG
- DAY 5-6 BAKO
- DAY 7-8 TURTLES
- DAY 9 PADAWAN
- DAY 10-13 BATANG AI
- DAY 14: SEMENGGOH
- DAY 15-17: KUALA LUMPUR
DAY 1 – 2: ARRIVAL IN KUCHING
“Selamat Datang” Welcome to East Malaysia. We fly from New Zealand to Kuching in the East Malaysian province of Sarawak, via Kuala Lumpur. Arriving into Kuching we transfer to our guesthouse and meet our guides.
- Lunch/Dinner
- Basaga Guesthouse, Kuching
DAY 3 – 4: MATANG WILDLIFE CENTRE
After breakfast, you will travel to
- Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
- Longhouse
DAY 5-6: BAKO NATIONAL PARK
In the afternoon we head to Bako National Park by boat, before having an incredible jungle night walk where there are opportunities to see some of Borneo’s fascinating nocturnal species. Bako National Park is Sarawak’s longest established and with its beautiful rainforest, abundant wildlife, streams and waterfalls, the park offers an excellent introduction to the rainforests of coastal Borneo. You will spend the second-morning trekking in the rainforest in search of the famous
- Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
- Basic cabins
DAY 7-8: TURTLE CONSERVATION
(Weather permitting) You will spend two days at Telok Serabang. You will have opportunities to snorkel with green turtles in their natural habitat and ensure their natural habitat is safe by assisting with beach clean-ups. Part of each day you will be volunteering in the local community school.
You will also participate in night-time turtle patrols, get sweaty on jungle treks to see gibbons and flying lemurs, and will learn to make traditional jewellery with artisans in the Malay community.
- Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
- Traditional Longhouse
DAY 9: BIDAYUH TRIBE
Our group is invited to spend time with a Bidayuh community, one of the indigenous Dayak groups from Sarawak. Your accommodation will be in a traditional bamboo longhouse, with shared bedrooms and amenities. You’ll get to learn about the traditional culture of this tribe, utilising bamboo in more ways than you knew were possible. You may even see human skulls in their longhouse, kept from their long-past head-hunting days. Don’t be surprised if you are encouraged to take part in cultural dancing during the evening!
- Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
- Bamboo Longhouse
DAY 10-13: BATANG AI
We head off-the-grid deep in the rainforests of the Batang Ai National Park, completely cut off from the trappings of technology and Western consumerism. Electricity is provided by generator just 3 hours per day. There is no other power, no telephone signal, no internet, and no hot showers. It’s just you and the jungle. As well as searching for wild orangutans high up in the trees, there are lots of different activities to get involved in including interacting with the local Iban tribespeople, learning traditional handicrafts, cooking, fishing, and swimming in jungle rivers. The financial benefits from eco-tourism provide the indigenous Iban people with an income and make them less dependent on illegal agriculture and logging, so your visit an essential part of the ongoing conservation of wild orangutan in jungle areas.
- Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
- Iban Longhouse
DAY 14: SEMENGGOH
Today we return to the city of Kuching, spending time at the Semenggoh Rehabilitation Centre which was established in 1975 to care for wild animals that have been found injured in the forest, orphaned, or were previously kept as illegal pets. During its decades of operation, Semenggoh’s role has changed and it is now a haven for dozens of semi-wild, rehabilitated orangutans who you can see as they come to the platforms to eat.
- Brunch/Dinner
- Basaga Guesthouse
DAY 15-17: KUALA LUMPUR
We fly to the Malaysian capital city of Kuala Lumpur. “K.L.” is one of Asia’s supercities, and we will spend a day exploring it before returning to New Zealand. Highlights will include visiting the Petronas Towers in the central city, exploring the fascinating Hindu shrines deep inside the Batu Caves, and shopping for souvenirs at the famous Petaling Street Chinatown night market.
- Brunch/Dinner
- The Bed Capsule Hotel or similar
KUCHING
MATANG WILDLIFE CENTRE
BAKO NATIONAL PARK
Telok Serabang
Batang Ai National Park
SEMENGGOH
KUALA LUMPUR
Accommodation
Accommodation
Basaga Guesthouse, Kuching
In Kuching, you will be staying in a boutique guesthouse. All rooms are well equipped with en-suite bathrooms. Located about a 20-minute drive from the Kuching International Airport and a 7-minute drive away from the City centre, it is within walking distance of one of Kuching’s largest shopping malls.
Longhouse, Matang Wildlife Centre
Whilst at Matang Wildlife Centre, you will be staying in a traditional wooden longhouse in the grounds of the centre, an idyllic setting in a remote rainforest area, inside of Kubah National Park. The longhouses are basic, well-used jungle cabins. Bathroom facilities include western toilets and overhead showers.
Cabins, Bako National Park
Accommodation at Bako is in very basic shared cabins. Bathroom facilities include western toilets and overhead showers. Make sure you shut your door to keep monkeys from going through the contents of your backpack!
Traditional longhouse, Telok Serabang
This is an opportunity to spend time with a Malay Sea Dayak community on one of Sarawak’s secluded beaches. Your accommodation will again be in a basic traditional wooden longhouse, with shared bedrooms and amenities. Bathroom facilities include western toilets and overhead showers.
Bamboo longhouse, Bidayuh Community, Padawan
You will be staying with a Bidayuh tribal community, one of the indigenous Dayak groups of Sarawak. Your accommodation will be in a traditional bamboo longhouse, with shared bedrooms and amenities. Bathroom facilities include western toilets and overhead showers.
Iban Community longhouse, Batang Ai National Park
You will be living in a traditional longhouse across the river from a small Iban community that has resided in this area of the rainforest for many generations. Bathroom facilities include western toilets and overhead showers. Expect facilities to be very basic as the community is a two hour upriver boat ride into the rainforest. Electricity is provided by the generator and runs for 3-4 hours per day. Other than that, there is no power, no telephone signal and no internet.
The Bed Capsule Hostel, Kuala Lumpur (or similar)
The bed is a very modern and clean capsule hostel in the popular KLCC area of central Kuala Lumpur. Expect your accommodation to be “small but perfectly formed” with clean shared bathrooms, basic breakfast, WIFI, and lockable security.
Meals
Three meals a day and drinks are provided throughout the tour. Meals will typically consist of noodles, rice, vegetables and meat, however, vegetarian options are always available.
Fitness
To participate
Volunteering
Volunteering Projects
Matang Wildlife Centre
You will spend two days at the esteemed Matang Wildlife Centre being toured around the park, meeting the conservationists working in the field, and trekking through the jungle. There will be limited volunteering at Matang, and it will
Batang Ai National Park
This is a unique opportunity to work towards conservation efforts of endangered flora and fauna within Batang Ai National Park. Your work here will range from checking camera traps to maintenance of trails and infrastructure. There will also be work assisting local communities that live adjacent to the park, developing sustainable eco-tourism initiatives with them to provide alternate revenue streams and securing their future on their land. There will also be opportunities for treks to simply try to spot the wildlife that lives there – it is the only spot in Sarawak that there is a chance to see wild orangutan!
Gallery
Borneo Orangutan Adventure Gallery
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+64 21 2336367
