Volunteer Programs in Sandakan, 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.

I am getting on very well at the bear centre and really enjoying the experience.. and I am having a wonderful experience of the jungle! Volunteering with Sun Bears in Borneo has been an amazing experience and I am so glad I did it .

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.

The work at the sun bear centre was more varied than I had expected, and we worked more closely with the bears than I had hoped. Being a part of the process of rehabilitation, especially in regards of three young bears at the centre was amazing. I created a dry cage for them, watched them take their first steps into the jungle and later on saw them climbing trees, foraging and playing out in their rain-forest enclosure. It is a fantastic opportunity to learn about the process of rehabilitation and the biodiversity in the rainforest.

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

I had a spare 2 weeks in my travelling plans and emailed Oyster World Wide explaining I loved to travel, loved all animals and wanted to volunteer somewhere that made a difference. I received an email a few hours later with lots of ideas and projects that suited my time frame and the rough areas I was already travelling in. I only booked my oyster worldwide volunteering project a couple of weeks before the start date but they were fantastic from start to finish, answering any questions usually within hours of me sending emails or proving me with information packs that gave very in depth details and information about the project so I felt prepared and ready by the time the start date came. The project itself was a fantastic experience. I have travelled extensively over the years but this was by far one of the most exciting, rewarding and fun experiences of all my travels. We had great accommodation, simple, basic and came with a few “creatures” but was more than what we needed and actually much better than I had imagined. We had a weekly food budget but shared our cooking within the group to make the budget stretch. Each morning we worked in teams directly with the animals, helping to hide food for them and clean their night time enclosures. This was hard work but made fun by music, the friendly and fun staff and made all the worthwhile once you learnt the stories of each animals and how they came to be at the sanctuary. We then had a lunch break in the heat which was time for ourselves to relax, play games, swim in the river, take a much needed nap or spend time with the animals. Each afternoon was different. We got to participate in releasing wild animals back in the wild, special moments I’ll never forget, create enrichments for the animals (hidden food or creating puzzles for them to keep them challenged), painting inside and outside enclosures and daily maintenance. Our evenings were free time. We spent them doing a night time jungle walk, spotting many different animals and plants, swimming in the river (watch out for crocs- we didn’t see any), playing games, cooking and eating together, watching movies and getting to know each other. You will meet many people of different ages and walks of life, each on their own adventure. It’s a fantastic way to meet new people and make new friends. I went on to explore Singapore with the girls in my house after the project. We had 2 days off during the project where we relaxed at the beach and enjoyed a local festival. If you love to travel, experience new cultures and places, love animal and want to give something back then I couldn’t recommend Oyster World Wide enough. I am already planning next year’s adventure.

Oyster Worldwide responded to this reviewAugust 14, 2019

Thank you for reviewing Oyster Worldwide!

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.

As my first trip overseas, it was very ambitious of me to go to Borneo. It was terrifying. But Oyster helped me through every step of the process and after plenty of planning, asking questions and researching, I was just about ready to go. The transfer from airport to accommodation was timed perfectly, and on arrival I was welcomed by the project supervisor, Mark. He was friendly, helpful and reassuring. My first day of volunteering was difficult, as I was jet lagged and didn't adjust to working in the heat too well! But the whole team were great, they checked on me regularly and all of them were happy to take over my chores if I needed a break to sit down. I had an amazing two weeks with them, getting to know the bears and the people. Two weeks was just about enough to learn my way around, settle in and enjoy the time. I would definitely recommend a longer stay though! Minimum of 4 weeks, if you can! Oyster were very helpful through the booking and travel processes, answering any small questions I had and providing extra information. As Anne has visited the animal welfare projects, she knows how they all work, accomodation and the people. It was very reassuring to know that it's all been checked, so I would be safe and well looked after, as I had only just turned 18! Overall, it was an incredible experience and I am going back to visit the bear sanctuary this summer to see how they're all doing. It's a great way to see a new country, immerse yourself in the culture and be part of an incredible team who are making progress in helping this beautiful bear species.