Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Sanctuary

Just getting our breath back from having had this amazing experience. Thanks to The Great Projects for affording us this opportunity and for making the whole process and experience easy throughout. Spending time in the company of these amazing animals is a privilege not to be taken lightly and I will always be grateful for it. The project is a raw, emotional and physical challenge but worth it for every minute. Contributing to the care and development, preparing food and providing enrichment to the orangutans and working on infrastructure projects is so rewarding when you get to see what a difference it can make to both the ones who will ultimately reach release to the wild through the hard work of the BOS Foundation, its workers and the volunteers, but also to the unfortunate ones who will not make it that far but will be looked after and loved at Nyaru Menteng. The bond with each orangutan grows quickly when you spend time around them and particularly when you get to know their back stories, some of which are very sad indeed. Their personalities are incredible to witness. The people around you can make such a difference to any experience.... Just getting our breath back from having had this amazing experience. Thanks to The Great Projects for affording us this opportunity and for making the whole process and experience easy throughout. Spending time in the company of these amazing animals is a privilege not to be taken lightly and I will always be grateful for it. The project is a raw, emotional and physical challenge but worth it for every minute. Contributing to the care and development, preparing food and providing enrichment to the orangutans and working on infrastructure projects is so rewarding when you get to see what a difference it can make to both the ones who will ultimately reach release to the wild through the hard work of the BOS Foundation, its workers and the volunteers, but also to the unfortunate ones who will not make it that far but will be looked after and loved at Nyaru Menteng. The bond with each orangutan grows quickly when you spend time around them and particularly when you get to know their back stories, some of which are very sad indeed. Their personalities are incredible to witness. The people around you can make such a difference to any experience. We went as a couple and were so fortunate to have been paired for this experience with a wonderful multinational team of 6 other volunteers who worked hard for each other, laughed together, ate together and grew close over the weeks. I think that it is fair to say that we had a blast and have all made new life friends. Lastly, but certainly not least, throughout our time we were looked after and led by Cess, our project leader, and Melda our BOS Foundation team member who made the experience what it was for us all and made orangutan warriors of us all! Thanks so much to you both and to Borneo, its chaos and its lovely people x (Show More)

Such a touching experience getting so close to the orangutans! I loved to see them at the different stages of their rehabilitation, from Jungle School to Pre-release Island. Although some days have been hot, especially when we got tree planting on the new pre-release islands, I felt it was quite well balanced between the different activities for the volunteers. We could achieve work for the wellbeing of the orangutans at the sanctuary with different kinds of enrichments, also for increasing their abilities to return to the wild, and the volunteers coordinators Cess and Melda looked really well after us and organized that the demanding activities weren't too long and we had enough time to relax. My highlights: to observe how the orangutans were foraging each in their own way the pumpkin mix we prepared with dried fruits and nuts in coconut shells or bamboo pieces that we cut beforehand, and to contribute in building new climbing structures for the training of the young orangutans. So, if you're interested in having a direct impact in the wellness of the orangutans in a sanctuary and seeing them close during their rehabilitation until pre-release, I highly recommend this project.

It was an adventure and a challenge, we are proud and happy that we did it. The accommodations are simple, but you have everything you need. We had to go beyond our comfort zone, especially because of the humidity, but you can manage it well for 2 weeks. Time flew by because variety of different activities, enough breaks, e.g. after lunch, before we continued. But do not be afraid, the effort you spend is up to you and your condition, no one is forced to go beyond borders. The other activities such as a boat tour, night market, trip to Palangkaraya, rainforest tour with guide and hilltop trek were interesting and fun. The two volunteer coordinators Cess and Melda were great, warm-hearted and they had an eagle eye on our safety. They had a lot of information about the orangutans. We were a great group and grew together after two weeks. We will never forget the encounters with the wonderful orangutans. We had many opportunities to get closer to them (without touching). And we are so impressed by the team of BOS Foundation at Nyaru Menteng, they are doing such a great job. The whole organisation with The Great Projects... It was an adventure and a challenge, we are proud and happy that we did it. The accommodations are simple, but you have everything you need. We had to go beyond our comfort zone, especially because of the humidity, but you can manage it well for 2 weeks. Time flew by because variety of different activities, enough breaks, e.g. after lunch, before we continued. But do not be afraid, the effort you spend is up to you and your condition, no one is forced to go beyond borders. The other activities such as a boat tour, night market, trip to Palangkaraya, rainforest tour with guide and hilltop trek were interesting and fun. The two volunteer coordinators Cess and Melda were great, warm-hearted and they had an eagle eye on our safety. They had a lot of information about the orangutans. We were a great group and grew together after two weeks. We will never forget the encounters with the wonderful orangutans. We had many opportunities to get closer to them (without touching). And we are so impressed by the team of BOS Foundation at Nyaru Menteng, they are doing such a great job. The whole organisation with The Great Projects went smooth. (Show More)