Family volunteering holiday: wildlife conservation in Borneo

Take your family on holiday to the depths of beautiful Borneo, living in a remote community on the banks of the Kinabatangan River. You and your family will become involved in helping to preserve the rainforest, which gives life and home to many incredible animals including orangutans, pygmy elephants, monkeys of all sorts and some unusual birds.

The project has two main components. The first component is helping to replant the rainforest after some areas were destroyed by the palm oil industry. This involves clearing vegetation and planting saplings - it is incredibly rewarding as you clearly see the results of your work. Kids love it, as it is an opportunity to get mucky and contribute to something!

The second component of the project is wildlife monitoring. This involves slowly chugging up the Kinabatangan River on a small boat, noting down all of the wildlife that you encounter en route. It is amazing how much you can see, and many people have been lucky enough to see orangutans!

Other aspects of the project involve learning about local life in the community and visiting the local school. At the end of your trip, you will visit Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, the Sun Bear Rehabilitation Centre and the Rainforest Discovery Centre - a fantastic way to further understand conservation and see these wild animals up close.

Families live in a guest house in the small riverside community. Meals are mainly eaten with local families, which is a fantastic way to gain ultimate cultural immersion for both you and your family. Please don't expect chicken nuggets and chips - all food is local Malaysian food, with lots of rice and delicious sauces.