Volunteering in Borneo: Orangutans And Sun Bears Conservation
Volunteer at Samboja Lestari
Support orangutan and sun bear conservation in partnership with the BOS Foundation and BOS Australia.
This O2E-coordinated program offers a grounded, ethical way to contribute to the daily welfare of rescued wildlife at Samboja Lestari, one of Indonesia’s leading conservation centres. Learn more about the program below.
Learn more about the program below.
About This Program
Samboja Lestari is home to orangutans and sun bears recovering from habitat loss, illegal trade and human–wildlife conflict. The centre is operated by the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF), with support from BOS Australia (BOSA) to advance BOSF’s conservation and welfare mission.
Oceans 2 Earth Volunteers coordinates the BOSA Volunteer Program at Samboja Lestari from October to March, managing applications, payments, documentation and pre-departure support to ensure a smooth, ethical and well-prepared volunteer experience.
If you’ve arrived here from BOSF, BOSA, Experience Borneo, a third-party platform, or a social media link, you are in the right place.
This page represents the official booking and support pathway for the October–March program.
A separate, independently managed volunteer program operates at Samboja Lestari from April to September.
Chiara M
Samantha
Lolls
Before you book
Before submitting an application, please take a moment to review the information below. This will help ensure expectations are clear before you reach the booking calendar.
This volunteer program is run by BOS Australia, coordinated by Oceans 2 Earth Volunteers and operates from October to March only.
Start dates and calendar information
The program has fixed Sunday start dates.
When using the booking calendar, you may select any date within your preferred period.
Once your application is received, you will be allocated to the appropriate Sunday start date for that period.
If the calendar displays UNAVAILABLE on non-Sunday dates, this does not mean the program is full. It simply reflects the Sunday-only start schedule, October – March.
Example below: a valid Sunday start date selection in the booking calendar.
Booking calendar: Sunday start dates, October to March
This program has fixed Sunday start dates and operates from October to March. When you select a date within the program season, the calendar will automatically suggest the nearest available Sunday. You can change this to a different Sunday start date if needed. Dates shown in red indicate selections outside the program season and are not available.
How it works
Apply online
Choose a preferred date range and complete the online application form.Secure your place
Confirm your placement by paying the deposit through our secure booking system.Prepare with support
Oceans 2 Earth Volunteers provides detailed pre-departure guidance and personal support to help you prepare confidently before arriving at Samboja Lestari.
Why this work matters
Many of the orangutans and sun bears at Samboja Lestari are unable to return to the wild due to injury, illness, trauma, or the permanent loss of suitable habitat. For these animals, long-term care is essential to their wellbeing and survival.
Enrichment is a critical part of that care. Thoughtfully designed enrichment activities help animals:
express natural behaviours
develop and maintain problem-solving skills
build physical strength and coordination
reduce stress and boredom in captive environments
By supporting enrichment preparation, habitat maintenance, and daily care routines, volunteers help ensure these animals experience stimulation, choice, and dignity in their everyday lives.
Your contribution supports the work of the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF) care teams and contributes directly to the daily quality of life of animals who would not survive without ongoing, specialist support.
What You’ll Do
Volunteering at Samboja Lestari requires flexibility. Daily activities and planned tasks may change at short notice depending on animal welfare needs, weather conditions, or operational priorities.
Volunteers support the enrichment and welfare needs of orangutans and sun bears in long-term care. Tasks vary by day but typically include:
preparing and distributing enrichment items
assisting staff with welfare-focused daily routines
travelling by boat to orangutan islands to observe feeding from a distance
observing orangutan and sun bear behaviour for learning and awareness
assisting technicians with cleaning and maintaining animal yards
building. painting or repairing feeding platforms and habitat structures
foraging and preparing leaves and food used by animal care staff
supporting enclosure, habitat, and forest maintenance
maintaining forest trails and shared work areas
observing rehabilitation and care work carried out by Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF) keepers
participating in guided night-time spotlight walks to observe nocturnal wildlife activity
Volunteers do not work directly with infant orangutans and do not enter quarantine or restricted animal areas. All activities follow BOSF’s welfare guidelines and are designed to minimise stress and encourage natural behaviours.
Volunteers receive one day off each week to rest and enjoy the lodge. Optional activities such as a relaxed riverboat cruise or guided jungle walk may be available during this time.
BOS Foundation (BOSF)
Runs Samboja Lestari and leads all animal welfare, rehabilitation and conservation work.
BOS Australia (BOSA)
Promotes the BOSA Volunteer Program and connects volunteers with O2E for booking and support.
Experience Borneo
Provides program information describing the activities, facilities and daily routines.
Oceans 2 Earth Volunteers (O2E)
Coordinates the October–March program, manages applications and payments, and prepares volunteers for the field.
April–September
A separate program runs during these months, delivered independently and outside the BOSA–BOSF–O2E partnership.
18 years of age.
Volunteers need to be flexible, full of enthusiasm and like a good day’s work!
It is important that volunteers are adaptable in terms of what work. they are involved in and the centre will do their best to ensure you are involved in the projects you are most interested in.
Proof of COVID and tetanus vaccination, blood test results for HIV, HEPB, HEPC and TB Test*.
Note: If you are coming from a Yellow Fever endemic country, you’ll need Yellow Fever Vaccine as well.
You spend your days in hot and humid conditions. The work can be physically challenging but extremely rewarding.
The centre operates on a strict hands off policy as the animals are kept away from human influence and risk of injury to yourself or others. They aim to live as naturally as possible without human contact. It can be difficult but you should refrain from touching or engaging the animals in human-like communications or interactions unless you are given instructions to do so.
Sundays between October and March each year.
If you are not sure, we are here to help. Email us any time team@oceans2earth.org
Arrive Sunday. Depart Friday.
2 week program set start dates:
- Sunday 18/01/2026 to Friday 30/01/2026
- Sunday 01/02/2026 to Friday 13/02/2026
- Sunday 15/02/2026 to Friday 27/02/2026
- Sunday 01/03/2026 to Friday 13/03/2026
- Sunday 15/03/2026 to Friday 27/03/2026
Seasonal Break
- Sunday 04/10/2026 to Friday 16/10/2026
- Sunday 18/10/2026 to Friday 30/10/2026
- Sunday 01/11/2026 to Friday 13/11/2026
- Sunday 15/11/2026 to Friday 27/11/2026 – closed for vet speciality program
- Sunday 29/11/2026 to Friday 11/12/2026
- Sunday 10/01/2027 to Friday 22/01/2027
- Sunday 24/01/2027 to Friday 05/02/2027
- Sunday 07/02/2027 to Friday 19/02/2027
- Sunday 21/02/2027 to Friday 05/03/2027
- Sunday 07/03/2027 to Friday 19/03/2027
4 week program set start dates:
- Sunday 18/01/2026 to Friday 13/02/2026
- Sunday 01/02/2026 to Friday 27/02/2026
- Sunday 15/02/2026 to Friday 13/03/2026
- Sunday 01/03/2026 to Friday 27/03/2026
Seasonal Break
- Sunday 04/10/2026 to Friday 30/10/2026
- Sunday 18/10/2026 to Friday 13/11/2026
- Sunday 01/11/2026 to Friday 27/11/2026
- Sunday 15/11/2026 to Friday 11/12/2026 – closed for vet speciality program
- Sunday 10/01/2027 to Friday 05/02/2027
- Sunday 24/01/2027 to Friday 19/02/2027
- Sunday 07/02/2027 to Friday 05/03/2027
13 or 27 days.
8am – 4pm, 6 days a week.
Location: Samboja Lestari, East Kalimantan
Set within a reclaimed landscape restored for conservation, Samboja Lestari provides volunteers with a rare opportunity to see the impact of habitat rehabilitation firsthand. Volunteers live within a short drive of the centre and share meals and accommodation with others in the group.
The on-site accommodation has stunning views of the rainforest. Two volunteers of the same gender will usually share a self contained room with their own small bathroom (toilet and hot shower), however we offer individual accommodation upgrades where possible. You can enquire by email for accommodation upgrade pricing.
Communal areas include a pool table, lounge chairs and a viewing deck.
There is free (but unreliable) Wi-Fi.
Transfers to and from the centre are included.
Meals are tasty with a variety of local food, all containing steamed rice plus 3 choices of local Indonesian dishes. Dietary needs can, in most cases, be met, so please advise us when you apply.
There are snack options, which cost extra, but are great to fill an empty stomach in the late afternoon.
Fresh, filtered water and tea and coffee are provided.
The lodge bar has beer, juices and soft drinks as well as a few snacks. At the end of the day, enjoy the sunset over the jungle hills with a cool drink.
Before You Book
This program suits volunteers who are:
18 years or older (at the time of travel)
comfortable with warm, humid environments
capable of light to moderate physical work
aligned with ethical, observation-based wildlife care
open to learning from experienced Indonesian staff
You will receive a comprehensive pre-departure information pack after booking.
From AUD $185 a day
Sunday Start Dates (October to March)
| Duration | Cost (AUD) |
|---|---|
| 13 days | $2400 |
| 27 days | $4871 |
| Accommodation upgrades | are available, email us! |
What’s included:
- Pre-departure support
- Project Information Pack
- Balakpapan airport transfers to and from the airport
- Arrival orientation
- 12 nights twin-share accommodation
- Three meals a day, tea, coffee and water
- Covid-19 tests
- Four excursions and tours
- $1,000 donation towards conservation work at the BOS Foundation
- All necessary training by staff and/or volunteers
- 24-hour in-country support
- 24-hour O2E emergency phone
- Certificate of Participation, if requested
*Please note some items are not included in the project fees listed above, such as flights, visas, vaccinations, travel insurance, snacks, spending money, local transport, in-country tours and return airport transfer (unless mentioned above). Please note that prices are subject to change without notice. Please ensure you have read the O2E Volunteers Terms and Conditions.
Emma D.
Sweden
"It was hands-on, hard work and very satisfying.
The highlight of each day was watching the keepers distribute
the new enrichment items and observing and noting
how the orangutans interacted with them.
I was moved to tears! "
HOW TO GET STARTED
Start your journey by selecting a Sunday start date in the calendar. Available program dates are in green. If you have questions before booking, we’re here to help.
Volunteer Information And Tips
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