Volunteer Programs in Borneo, Malaysia

Both guides were fantastic. They were bright, and passionate and able to help us to understand the complexities and factors to consider when understanding challenges in relation to reforestation in Borneo. The whole family (kids aged 11, 14, 17) really enjoyed the volunteering aspect and felt that it was incredibly rewarding. It was hard work in the humidity but completely manageable and breaks and snacks were always strongly encouraged. It was very inspiring to hear of animals being seen in areas that have been reforested, and a sense of hope for similar with the trees we've planted. Maintenance of trees planted by previous volunteers was lovely, knowing that future volunteers would look after ours. We felt very well looked after throughout the project .The river trips were fantastic and we all loved the night trip as well. Our guide went out of his way to ensure we could see as diverse a range of wildlife as possible. It was very special to have a guide who was still in touch with his family's indigenous roots and beliefs and to give us a deeper insight into understanding the rainforest on a much deeper level. The food was good, and even our relatively fussy children enjoyed it and ate well. Meals in villagers houses were a real highlight. Out of a three week trip to Borneo, I'd say that this was everyone's favourite week.

The entire project and everyone involved with it provided a first-rate service throughout the trip and it proved to be a truly remarkable experience for me and my family. We felt fully prepared about what to expect and were able to ask questions throughout – always getting a full and swift response. Nick at the flight centre was excellent, especially when the Malaysian Airline website kept crashing and organised seating, special assistance and private transfers for us in KL which really helped. Georgie has been a great support throughout, and I felt I could trust her to ensure our trip would run smoothly. Mark in Malaysia is a formidable guy, an excellent educator, passionate conservationist and 100% dedicated to the work they are doing on the ground. He is infectious and brings out the best from every volunteer on the project. I must particularly praise the patience and kindness with which he supported our son with learning disabilities – Mark made him feel valued and as such he was able to make his own contributions to the project. There were so many magical moments but seeing a mother and baby orangutan, in the wild, at close quarters will take some beating! Also for the sheer hilarity that ensued – the boat breaking down late afternoon in a croc infested river led to the most incredible wildlife observation experiences of the trip. Grasp that nettle and do it. It will be like nothing else you’ve ever down as a family before and from it you will get to observe the different relationships between your children, see their own interests develop and emerge, meet incredible people and have a school vacation like no other! It has given us a time together that we might not otherwise have had. I was really keen to help my children understand a little bit about the world around them, especially after the impact of Covid. This experience has absolutely provided that, it has pushed them outside of their comfort zone, got them away from the constant pinging of phones and given them a new perspective on the opportunities that are available to make a positive contribution to the world.

Mark is an amazing project leader, so intelligent and passionate. Our teammates are awesome, too. We’ve all bonded. The tree planting is coming along, and we’ve seen many wonderful animals during the program.

I had a wonderful time on this projected and loved the whole thing. The work: it’s hot and this is hard work it’s also excellently balanced to as much work as you’d want to do in the heat. I enjoyed that we got to do several aspects of reforestation including maintaining previously planted trees, preparing plots for planting, and then the actual planting! I had honestly gone thinking that this would be much more work and less vacation but it still felt very much like a vacation with several hours of “working” most days. The project crew provides great instruction. The lodging: this was lovely and more developed than I expected. Although there were occasionally power outages they were short and the bed and breakfast was lovely. In the community: I very much appreciated that the program tried to ensure that the local community benefited from our tourism. We often are in local homes, did a cooking classes, and helped with a conservation class at the school (which ended with a fierce game of a dodgeball like game!). Malaysia: I hadn’t ever been but felt very safe and was a delightful place to travel. Organization: the organization on the ground was wonderful and responsive to the needs of participants. They are clearly invested in conservation in Malaysia (and specifically in the Kinabatangan) and making sure that conservation includes the local people. I very much appreciated them. Oyster was also great. Well prepared and responsive. Know that it’s hot and there are periods of hard work but it is an amazing trip!!

Oyster Worldwide responded to this reviewNovember 27, 2019

Thank you for reviewing us! <br/>The Oyster Team

This project is hard work, that can't be denied. But it is truly worth it. The B&B I stayed in was good, for a rural village in Borneo; there were a couple of issues, but the project supervisor was able to resolve them fairly quickly. The food was delicious, despite my limitation of being vegetarian there was always plenty of choice. Each morning, the 20minute boat ride along the river is an amazing way to wake up, watching the forest wake up with you. We saw monkeys, hornbills, snakes, monitor lizards, orangutans and so many more. There was evidence of pygmy elephants in the area but they didn't appear while I was there. We worked at clearing a plot and planting trees, to eventually complete the tree canopy along the river bank. This project is very rewarding, as there is evidence of animals using the plots planted years ago, proving that this conservation work is successful and appreciated by the forest residents. It is tough work in the heat, but knowing you are helping and supporting the wildlife is good motivation! In addition to the conservation work, time is spent with the locals in the evenings and days off, which is a great way to experience the culture and expand your knowledge of other ways of life. Oyster Worldwide offers an amazing way to travel the world, keeping you safe while encouraging you to give something back to the community and immerse yourself in the local way of life.

I spent a fantastic month with TRACC near the north tip of Borneo from early January to early February. I camped in a comfortable tent under the trees just in from a beautiful beach. The diving was brilliant, lionfish, nudebranches, rays, a turtle, we even saw a whale shark from the boat! It was really rewarding to be able to help with the reef conservation, it was great to see the marine life colonising artificial reefs other volunteers had put in, and it was great fun making and installing new reefs. The visibility wasn't always fantastic but this was because there was lots of plankton, which is what attracted the whale shark! I think the weather gets better after March. The food was great and we could go body boarding or kayaking, or go to the north tip of Borneo in our spare time. The people were fantastic, really welcoming, friendly and fun, and I learned loads about marine life, fish ID and coral conservation as well as the problems currently facing sharks. I passed my advanced open water diver and emergency first response courses while I was there. I would definitely recommend going to anyone who enjoys the sea, you don't have to be a diver, you can take your open water certification when you get there. I wish I had stayed longer!