Our volunteer program in Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo offers an introduction to the issues facing the natural environment and the work we do on the ground, including reforestation and environmental education.
Most of our projects are based in and around Tanjung Puting National Park. Our main volunteer center and accommodation is opposite the national park at Jerumbun, close to Sekonyer village. It is about an hour and half up river from the port town of Kumai, or a 30-minute drive from Pangkalan Bun airport (Iskandar Airport). We have a second site at Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve, which is about four hours by road from the airport.
Volunteer life
Volunteers help with a range of activities depending on our needs. You might find yourself planting trees, gardening, watering, composting, collecting seeds, gathering food for cattle, building, and even teaching English to our staff. If you are interested in teaching English to school children, we can usually help arrange that.
Volunteer fees – which are listed at the bottom of the page – cover all meals and accommodation, as well as airport transfers to and from Jerumbun. Our accommodation and facilities are very basic. You must be prepared to share accommodation, meals, work tools and personal space with other volunteers and local staff.
Getting here
There are direct flights from Jakarta, Semarang and Surabaya to Pangkalan Bun, the closest largest city to our sites. There are also ferries from Semarang and Surabaya to the nearby Kumai harbour.
Download our Kalimantan volunteering factsheet for more information on our center, accommodation and facilities. There are also details on what you might do as a volunteer, what to pack, the weather and more. You can also find more details in our FAQs.
How to apply
Download the application form, fill it in and email to info@fnpf.org with your preferred dates. We will be in touch as soon as we can to let you know if we have availability. To secure your place, you will need to pay a 50% deposit. We welcome large groups, including groups of older school children. If you have any questions or need more information we would love to hear from you. Please drop us an email.
Important note
Volunteers do not handle orangutans. Please do not apply if you are hoping to handle orangutans. However, you can visit Camp Leakey to see semi-wild orangutans and our staff would be happy to help you organize a tour during your stay with us.
Volunteering fees
As a not-for-profit operation, all proceeds from volunteering fees are classed as donations. Every dollar donated is used to fund our conservation projects. When you volunteer, not only do you get the chance to stay in a unique environment and take part in conservation and community development projects, you also help fund our ongoing vital work.
One person in a single or double room | *one week includes 8 days and 7 nights
| no of weeks | US$ per week | no of nights | US$ per night |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 300 | 1-6 | N/A |
| 2 | 275 | 8-13 | 40 |
| 3 | 265 | 15-20 | 38 |
| 4 | 250 | 22-27 | 36 |
| 5 or more | 235 | 29 or more | 34 |
One person sharing a triple room or dormitory | *one week includes 8 days and 7 nights
| no of weeks | US$ per week | no of nights | US$ per night |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 175 | 1-6 | N/A |
| 2 | 157 | 8-13 | 20 |
| 3 | 146 | 15-20 | 19 |
| 4 | 140 | 22-27 | 18 |
| 5 or more | 135 | 29 or more | 17 |
Two people sharing a twin room | *one week includes 8 days and 7 nights
| no of weeks | US$ per week | no of nights | US$ per night |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 425 | 1-6 | N/A |
| 2 | 385 | 8-13 | 50 |
| 3 | 365 | 15-10 | 48 |
| 4 | 345 | 22-27 | 46 |
| 5 or more | 325 | 29 or more | 44 |