The corridor of life awaits you! Enter a remnant of paradise called the Corridor of life, situated in the Lower Kinabatangan Floodplain Rainforest in Sabah, Malaysia, on the island of Borneo.

Live with the local tribe of the ever smiling “people of the river” in the middle of a wildlife sanctuary shared by singing gibbons, orang-utans, proboscis monkeys, sun bears, hornbills and the pygmy elephant as well as a host of other rarely seen wildlife.

Help with community development, learn the local crafts, trek through the jungle, collect important wildlife population data from the river, visit the famous orang-utan rehabilitation centre and help with the reforestation of this beautiful rainforest.

Project overview

Project pictures

Project days:

Every day of your stay

Project start dates:

The project starts every 5th of the month (duration: 12 days).

Project activities:

Go to the Borneo rainforest and

• Live amongst a local tribe in the rainforest
• Collect wildlife population data from a boat on the river
• Trek through the ancient rainforests of Borneo
• Help with reforestation of sites important for wildlife
• Partake in various community development projects
• Learn all about the tribes, their culture & traditions
• Visit the famous orangutan rehabilitation centre

Life in the rainforest runs according to cycles and some times of the year might be dedicated to harvesting or festivals or might be monsoonal. Be prepared to spend time with a few good books or your journal.

Project fee:

£840 for 12 days

Project location:

The Corridor of life in the Borneo rainforest of Malaysia

Accommodation:

1st night you’ll stay at a dormitory-style room in a traditional style longhouse.

Day 2 to 11 you’ll stay at the comfortable and basic village-run B&B, set in the middle of the village, within walking distance to the centre of the village and the village jetty. Rooms are shared with other participants and the attached toilet comes with western toilets and cold water showers. Breakfast is taken at the common area overlooking the river.

The last night you’ll stay at a comfortable and basic hotel room in Sandakan town, shared rooms with other participants with attached toilets & showers.
 

What is included

Accommodation:

All accommodation as described above

Food:

Whilst in the Borneo rainforest 3 meals a day will be prepared for you, except on your arrival day (dinner only), day 11 (breakfast & lunch) and the last day (breakfast only).

Airport Pickup:

Arrive Sandakan Airport (SDK) and transfer to dormitory-style accommodation.

Please ensure you have provided us with the correct flight details and the correct airport.

1800 hours, meet at lobby for welcome dinner & introduction to the programme

Orientation:

Welcome dinner & briefing on arrival dates and a thorough Health & Safety briefing as well as an orientation around the village on day 2.

Support:

In-country team & 24 hour emergency support

Internet:

There will be no internet in the middle of the rainforest.

Airport drop off:

On your last day we will drop you off at Sandakan airport

Not included

The Corridor of life volunteer project

Enjoy true tribal life staying in the same village as the Orang Sungai – People of the River.

Besides having lunch and dinner with the locals at their private homes you can help the local community by working with them to understand the complicated conservation world that has descended upon them.

You will also go out to record wildlife along Kinabatangan River with focus on orang-utans and pygmy elephants. And plant trees and maintain planting sites important for orang-utan and pygmy elephants.

Don’t forget to trek through and learn about the mysterious Corridor of life rainforest, which will help you understand the threats to habitat and wildlife

End your project with ½ day visit to the rainforest discovery centre and ½ day to the famous orang-utan rehabilitation centre.

Note that for all projects life in the rainforest runs according to cycles and some times of the year might be dedicated to harvesting or festivals or might be monsoonal. Be prepared to spend time with a few good books or your journal.

Itinerary

Day 1 {5th of the month} (Dinner)
ARRIVAL & WELCOME

Day 2 – 10 (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)
PROJECT DAYS

After breakfast, transfer to Project Site: Sukau.

After showing you to your accommodation, your will be given a thorough Health & Safety briefing as well as an orientation around the village.

The project at Sukau involves wildlife observation to collect important wildlife population data. Habitat restoration work involves tree-planting and maintenance activities at high priority areas. These are crucial in connecting fragmented forest in the area to encourage healthy orang-utan and pygmy elephant populations. Community and Education programmes involve interaction with the villagers and the students of the village school.

Day 11 (Breakfast, lunch)
Depart Sukau after breakfast for Sepilok. Walk through the Rainforest Discovery Centre to reinforce what you have learned about the rainforest the last few days. After lunch, visit Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre where you will learn about the challenges of orang-utan rehabilitaion. After this learning session, you will head into Sandakan. Check into accommodation. Free at leisure. Try to catch the sunset from the Ba-Lin bar at the rooftop of Nak Hotel.

Day 12 (Breakfast)
DEPARTURE

Check out and transfer to Sandakan Airport.

 
More information
For more information about Accommodation, flights, host family, local transport, project dates, project locations, sim cards, the first couple of days, the team behind LEO, the former war, travel & socializing, travel insurance, vaccinations, visa, volunteering in general and why you would pay to volunteer please visit our FAQ.