This was my first volunteering trip and without doubt THE best thing I have ever done. From booking this trip nearly a year ago I was in good hands right up to my departure date the Great Projects Team were on hand to assist with any questions and were so helpful. I arrived in Sandakan, Borneo a little weary from the flights (understandably)! and met up with some fellow volunteers on route which was great - The great projects had put me in touch with some of the people going. Our driver was already at the arrivals waiting to take us onto our accommodation. When we arrived we were all so impressed by how friendly the staff were and the rooms were great, we had a dorm style room for the one night which was fun. If you love being in the great outdoors then this is the place to go. There were toilets and showers and mozzy nets over the bed and although basis (what do you expect) really comfortable and we all thoroughly enjoyed our first night there. Second day we moved on to the village where we would be staying for the next 8-9 days. The staff were great, the food delicious and the accommodation was comfortable. There were Macaque monkeys everywhere! We saw a beautiful owl that would visit the pier every night and a lovely snake - harmless, coiled round a big tree next to where we would sit and have our meals. Our tour guides Mark and his apprentice Mus were magnificent, so full of knowledge on the area and the animals we saw - which were A LOT!!! They were a lot of fun. Along our river tour we took everyday, we saw a variety of beautiful birds from eagles to hornbills, kites to egrets. We saw Orangutans, twice we saw a mother and her baby - I was overwhelmed when we saw them. Proboscis monkeys, gibbons, long tailed macaques, pig tailed macaques, a crocodile, a water monitor lizard. A feast for the eyes for animal and bird lovers! During our stay we were volunteering in the forest maintaining the newly planted trees from last year and planting new ones - we planted 500 trees between the 8 of us in our group. The work is so rewarding at the end so you don't mind the heat and the odd mozzy bite. The work they do there is helping the wildlife - in particular the orangutans and sun bears enabling them to move through the forest safely. Due to the de-forestation of the area from logging and the palm oil plantations there has been a significant reduction of forest area for these beautiful animals to live in. The planting of these trees is vital and the restoration of the forest will repair the damage caused by years of destruction. Go and volunteer and make a difference - I promise you it will be the best thing you will ever do!!!
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The Great Projects is an expert provider of safe and ethical volunteer holidays abroad for solo travellers, families, and groups. Founded in 2006, we offer a selection of unique and exclusive projects across Africa, Asia, Europe, Central America, and South America. Specialising in wildlife conservation, our projects are perfect for anyone looking to go behind the scenes and work with some of the planet's most endangered species.
As members of ATOL and ABTOT, we are fully committed to ensuring the safety of everyone who travels with us. Plus, with flights, tailor-made travel insurance, and a passionate, dedicated, and friendly team available 24/7, we make booking easy, offering peace of mind to all our volunteers throughout their journey. So what are you waiting for? Find your next adventure today, with The Great Projects.See more
