Your Typical Itinerary
Day 1 to 16
On arrival at Kuala Lumpur airport you will be met by one of our representatives. You will be taken by private car to Number Eight Guesthouse, which is about an hour’s drive away. A representative will meet you at the guesthouse. They will take you to lunch or dinner for a short orientation. You will stay in the Guesthouse in Kuala Lumpur for one night. You are free to explore the city.
On the second day you will check out of the guesthouse. You will be transferred to the Zoo where you will be working and shown the accommodation and have an orientation.
Project
Your role at either Negara or Taiping, will be to take care of orang-utan and other apes, specifically chimpanzees and primates. Working alongside the zoo keeper and your facilitator you will gain insight into the orang-utan behaviour and take part in the “behind the scenes” action of maintaining the zoo. You will generally carry out cleaning, feeding and general maintenance in the morning.
In the afternoon you will be learning and implementing enrichment activities for the orangutans and other primates. These are projects that aim to improve the quality of life of the orangutans and other apes and primates and win a deeper appreciation from visitors on the zoo and its furry guests.
Please make sure that you wear t-shirts that cover your shoulders (no singlets, or sleeveless shirts) and long trousers and shoes that cover your feet - trainers or trekking shoes are ideal.
During your volunteer work you may be involved in the following duties:
- Working with the zoo keeper and facilitator
- Assist keeper in feeding, cleaning, and maintaining animal areas
- Enrichment activities
- Possible Education activities
- Rotation of primates but your main focus will be with orang-utans
- Possibility of rotation to other animals on request such as: camels, sun bears, pythons, tigers or otters
- Work hours from 8.30am to 5pm at Zoo Negara and 8am to 5pm at Zoo Taiping.
Food
While you are at the zoo your meals will be Malay cuisine bought with your allowance. However, your zoo colleagues will either cook together and you can opt for a self-catering style or eat out as food is cheap and in easy access to hawker stalls and local restaurants. A full meal can be obtained for £2 / 2.50€. A fixed allowance for self-catering is given at the programme start and volunteers can top this up if they wish. Everyone at Taiping stops for a large breakfast at 11am so lunch is not usually taken. At Zoo Negara lunch is from 1-2pm. However, zoo restaurants can provide food and there are shops within walking distance.
Orangutan Experience Programme Guidance
- The zookeepers expect volunteers to show some initiative whilst working
- It is advisable to do some research into orang-utans and their behaviour in the wild before arrival and perhaps visit a zoo before your departure so you have some understanding of how they work
- Any contact with orang-utans cannot be guaranteed. However, if you do have contact with an orang-utan, this will be under the supervision of the zookeeper or supervisor as they are wild animals and can be unpredictable. Health and safety is paramount at the zoo and the keepers take this very seriously.
- The zoo greatly appreciates volunteers coming up with new enrichment ideas. You must check with the Zoo Keeper or facilitator for permission before implementing the activity. You may also be asked to help in the other primate areas. The keepers and facilitators have a lot of experience working with orangutans and this must be respected.
The work that is carried out at the zoo is broken into 3-4 parts:
Enrichment
The idea of enrichment is to stimulate the animals and improve their living conditions as much as possible to mimic their natural habitat.
- You can make fruit ice trays for the orang-utans
- Buy special fruit to give a variation on diet
- Put branches from fig or fruit trees in their homes to observe behaviour
- Rope work - make this fun and varied for the orang-utans
- Paint the interior of the ape or primate centre
- Take a look around the zoo and think of natural materials that could be used for enrichment
Examples of past volunteer ideas:
- Hanging paper from cages for orang-utans to play with
- Hiding fruit around cages to mimic their natural habitat
Education
There is an education centre and library at the zoo. Volunteers should learn as much as possible about orang-utans. You may be asked to guide and talk to school children about orang-utans. You may also be asked to prepare displays and information on orang-utans.
Husbandry
This involves cleaning cages and feeding, and cleaning the areas around the enclosures and raking leaves around the area. Cleaning is vital to the zoo, 100% hygiene is required to prevent diseases. You must be capable of cleaning up animal faeces - this can be extremely smelly!!
You will also be required to clean up after enrichment activities.
It is important that you use your initiative when Zoo Keepers are busy. The zoo is really appreciative of volunteers that show initiative, come up with new ideas and also bring some knowledge to the zoo.
Working Hours
Start work at 8.30am and finish at 5pm at Zoo Negara and 8am to 5pm at Zoo Taiping. Please do not be late as it will upset the zookeeper's schedule and also mean that you will miss out on work with orang-utans. You are expected to be able to work and be alert whilst at the enclosure. If you are tired you must take a break as lack of alertness can put you and the other volunteers and keepers at risk of injury.
You will normally have weekends off whilst at the zoo. Your facilitator shall advise you of your exact days off when you arrive. You will have time to see other parts of Malaysia. Normally volunteers at Taiping visit Langkawi, Penang or Cameron Highlands. Zoo Negara volunteers can visit Penang, Cameron Highlands or Singapore. If you do go out drinking or partying the night before please make sure you are still capable of working from 8.30am the next morning. There is a warning system for volunteers that are unable to work for no reason (I know this sounds very harsh but the zoo runs a tight ship). Obviously if you are not well this is different.
Day 17 to 19
On day 17 you will be transferred to KL airport for your internal flight to Kuching, Sarawak.
Kuching
When you arrive in Kuching you will be transferred to your hostel. Upon arrival in Kuching you will be met at the airport, again by a representative holding a placard with either our logo or your name on it. You will be based in Kuching for three nights.
Kuching is a large town, and the capital of Sarawak, set on the front of the beautiful Sarawak River, against the backdrop of old winding narrow streets and pretty shop fronts. Kuching is a beautiful, bustling haven of culture with its colourful fruit markets, local carvings, spices and lively fish markets, whilst the townspeople are extremely friendly and helpful. This is a great place to spend a week or so, exploring the surrounding areas and culture of Sarawak.
For the next two days you will visit Wildlife/ Rehabilitation Centres to view feeding time. At the Centres the animals are rehabilitated and released to the wild. There is very little animal interaction here so that the animals can be released successfully. You will learn about how the centre works and more about orangutan behaviour. Following your two-day visit to the Centres you will return to your accommodation to relax before your journey into the rainforests of Borneo. Make sure you stock up on any essential items you need before you go as you may not have a chance the following day.
Day 20 to 26
On day 20 a guide will be appointed to you. You will travel to Batang Ai.
Batang Ai
You will meet your guide who will take you up the river to Batang Ai. You will first board a bus that will drive you for four hours to the river. Before you board the longboat you will have the opportunity to stop at a market. The market is full of weird and wonderful food and crafts. Buy what you need now, as there are no shops where you are headed.
Next you will board a long boat that will take you up the river. It is probably a good idea to wrap all of your belongings in plastic, as you may have to get out and push where the river narrows or gets shallow the guides may need your help to get moving again. Also you may want to consider taking beer or cigarettes for your guides as a friendly gift for the journey. There are no shops upriver so make sure that you take all that you need (see the Kit List section).
You will travel to the Indonesian/Malaysian border to the land of the Iban people. Here orang-utans still roam free and pristine rainforest still survives away from loggers and modern civilisation. When you arrive you will have a chance to settle into your wooden lodge accommodation next to the Iban village.
The project at Batang Ai, which is based in an Iban tribal village, helps to reinforce orang-utan conservation within the area and helps to sustain the livelihood of the tribal community by supplying them with income and employment. Most importantly their cultural activities are now being practiced again (particularly weaving and basket making- as it now brings an income for them and there is benefit in carrying on the traditions.
Batang Ai has the largest population of wild orang-utans in Sarawak. But the exact number is not fully clear. You will carry out approximately three to four treks through the jungle whilst you are there to count orang-utan nests and hopefully spot a wild orang-utan. Your counts will help to get a clearer picture of the orang-utan population number in the area. The trek can be two to four hours long and over some rough terrain. However don’t worry if you have not trekked before as you will have an experienced trekker and a local guide and facilitator with you to ensure your safety. There are plenty of water stops on the way and a nice cool river to take a dip to cool down.
On the non-trekking days you will learn how to weave traditional Iban baskets and mats and try your hand at making your own. You will also learn some traditional Iban cooking. There will be plenty of time to interact with the local community in the evenings too.
As this conservation project is dynamic and developing, new and different activities may be added throughout the year.
Project Work
On the day you arrive you will get to the project at about 2.30pm after travelling from Kuching. You will spend the afternoon settling in and getting used to your surroundings. You will meet the community and get to know your guide. After dinner that evening you can rest and relax until bedtime. The next day you will do your first trek in the jungle to count orang-utan nests and hopefully see orang-utans. This first trek may take up to three hours, it will be the easiest of the treks to help you acclimatise to the work and the terrain. You will normally return by lunchtime, and after lunch you will be involved in a community activity such as weaving or cooking.
The following day is normally a rest day from trekking. This day you will be involved in a community activity such as learning the weaving process and trying your hand at making your own basket. You will complete at least another two nest counting treks during the rest of your time at the project. They will be longer and will take you further into the jungle where you are more likely to see orang-utan nests and possible orang-utans. Along the treks you will learn about the variety of trees and plants in the jungle and many of their medicinal properties. In the rest of the afternoons or days off you may try your hand at local cooking and possibly mat making (which is more difficult than basket making).
Dinner is served at 7pm and it is dark in the jungle by then. This is your down time to relax, hang out with your facilitator and the other volunteers, play games and share stories. It will also be an opportunity for you to interact with the local community. The community do not speak much English so you will have a guide to translate. Due to the development of this project we may amend the timetable and add new activities depending on the conservation needs of the project.
Life in the jungle is lived according to nature’s cycle. There are few mod cons though seated toilets and basic showers are available. There is a power socket to charge electrical items. The generator only runs from 7pm to approx 11pm. Take time to enjoy this peaceful and uncomplicated lifestyle. This is an amazing experience that is very rare to find in our modern times.
Please be mentally prepared for jungle living, there are insects, spiders and reptiles such as snakes, bees and wasps. Some of which can be dangerous, however your guide and facilitator will advise you of what to be aware of and how to avoid any danger. Your guide on the treks will always check for dangers and advise you on safety precautions. Also be prepared to get wet, as between the humidity, river crossings and rainfall there will be plenty of water. It is very important that you bring solid boots or trainers (that do not absorb too much water), as you will need them while working in the rainforest.
You will be accommodated in a large wooden lodge. Your room will consist of a mattress, clean bedding and a mosquito net on rattan raised mats. Food at this project will contain chilli, fresh jungle produce and will be rice based. There are no alternatives as there are no shops or towns nearby. Vegetarian food can be provided though prior warning must be given.
There are no shops nearby and all provisions are brought in by boat from the main towns. Volunteers should make sure they are prepared before they travel to the jungle. Make sure you leave your hairdryers and straighteners at home as they will not be much more than excess weight in the jungle.
At the conclusion of your stay you will take a longboat back down river. When you reach your destination you will board a bus for the four-hour drive back to Kuching. Returning to the hostel you will stay until your flight back to Kuala Lumpur the next day. This will be your chance to have one more last night out to say goodbye to your volunteer group and your guide. You will also be able to do some last minute shopping if you have time. When you reach Kuala Lumpur you will be free to catch your flight home or to continue on with additional independent travel.
Please note:
Itineraries and activities are subject to change
