• Key involvement in ongoing community projects, including construction, teaching and sports
• Work on environmental project in Lower Kinabatangan region of eastern Sabah
• Visit to Sepilok Orang-utan Sanctuary
• Marine Awareness programme, educating and assisting remote island community to preserve their marine environment
• PADI Open Water diving course with other dives assisting with Marine Awareness Programme

Community

Working and living alongside a rural Sabahan community will be one of the highlights of your Borneo experience. Their warmth and generosity despite obvious hardships is incredible. In line with our camps in Africa, our camp has been established in partnership with the local community, providing a connection not only to much needed project work but also into the social heart of the village. The range of activities you can be involved in include teaching in the primary and pre-school as well as teaching English to the village elders themselves, refurbishing the school classrooms, assisting with harvesting and planting, development of their agro-tourism project and indigenous medicine garden. In addition it is hoped to start a programme of bio-gas collection within the community itself. As with all rural communities you can become involved in the nightly games of football, volleyball or badminton or simply watch, chat and make friends with the other bystanders.

In addition to your time in a mainland community, during your Marine Awareness Programme you will live in the heart of the island community of Mantanani. A remote and isolated Muslim community from the Bajau ethnic group, life here is different again from what you have grown used to. Earning a small income from fishing, you will work closely with the villagers to win their trust and make the Marine Awareness Programme a success – this is more important on the land itself rather than in the water.

Wildlife

This phase of your adventure will be conducted on the banks of the mighty Kinabatangan River in eastern Sabah. The river runs from the heart of Borneo and is steeped in history since it used to be the only way of getting into the deep interior jungle. Communities along the banks have developed mini eco tourism projects in order to create alternative streams of income. You will participate in an environmental project, helping to reforest areas where the jungle has become sparse. This is hard work in the heat and humidity of a Borneo jungle but your reward is the opportunity to see wildlife at close quarters from a boat. The banks of the river are teeming with life including crocodiles, wild boar, occasional elephants, assorted birdlife and at least 8 different species of ape and monkey which of course includes the Borneo Orang-utan. Several of these great apes nest near your work site so you may have the chance to get up close and personal with one. If you fail to see one at the work site then your day trip to Sepilok Orang-utan Sanctuary will certainly guarantee you see a number of them up close. During your stay on the Kinabatangan you will spend several nights jungle camping amongst the Borneo wildlife and insects as well as several nights in a traditional family home.

Ocean

Working in partnership with The Marine Research Foundation, a non-profit research foundation based in Sabah, you will help the small community on Mantanani Island take steps to protect and ultimately assume stewardship of their local marine environment. The Mantanani Islands, lying off the northwest coast of Sabah, comprise a host of marine communities, from coral reefs to sea grass beds, rocky cliffs and sandy shores. The inner lagoon area has been found to be used by numerous resident endangered green turtles, a handful of similarly endangered small dugongs, and a host of other tropical marine life.

In order to address the lack of basic infrastructure and support within the village, the lack of awareness of marine conservation issues, and improve the livelihoods of the local community, the Marine Research Foundation and Camps International are developing a conservation initiative aimed at educating and supporting the community to preserve their own marine environment. It is proposed that a process of gradual raising of community education and awareness will lead to an increase in environmental responsibility. Among the key initial requirements for the village, all linked to the Education for Conservation theme, are facilities for the school, an aid outpost for the community, waste dumping sites and incinerator facilities, and improvements in general environmental practices. Prior to the commencement of this programme you will gain your PADI Open Water diving qualification. Once you have attained the qualification you will be able to take part in some of the underwater survey and clean up work which is part and parcel of this project. You can once you have gained your qualification undertake other dives locally on your days off – please see the Adventure Add-On page for details.

Mountain

As you arrive in Borneo you may be lucky enough to glimpse the huge Mount Kinabalu. At 4096 metres it towers over Sabah although is hidden by cloud most days. If you are feeling adventurous you can sign up to carry out the two day trek to the highest point in South East Asia – if you are into mountains then this is an opportunity not to be missed. The trek takes you from a starting point of 1800 metres to approximately 3300 metres on the first day with a distance of 6 kms. This usually takes between 4 to 6 hours and you reach the lodge to watch the sun set above the clouds. After a fitful nights sleep you will be awoken by your guide at 0230 and you will start your trek by torchlight to the summit. This is a further 2.6 km and takes approx 3 hours, getting you to the summit for a spectacular sunrise. This is an amazing moment – but don’t forget you still have to trek down again. It takes another 6 hours or more to trek back down to the park gate where you will be picked up and whisked back to civilisation and a hot shower.

This additional climb of Mount Kinabalu can be booked and paid for before you travel but can also be added on at any stage of your placement (subject to availability).