Volunteer and Travel in Indonesia

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Volunteering in Indonesia

Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world with over 17,000 islands, stretching along the equator for more than 5,000 km. It is one of the most ecologically diverse countries in the world and is a nature lovers paradise with nearly 60% of it’s landmass being forested and a significant portion being mountainous and volcanic. Indonesia’s biodiversity makes it a haven for many species of animals and birds which unfortunately brings with it the problem of poachers and illegal wildlife traders. You can volunteer in Indonesia to help care for animals rescued from the illegal wildlife trade in our orangutan, sun bear and wildlife rescue centre which is based on the beautiful island of Sulawesi.

If you want to volunteer in Asia and you can't find what you are looking for in Indonesia then please have a look at our volunteer projects in Nepal, Borneo, India, Vietnam, Thailand the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand.




About Indonesia

Given the fact that there are few places in the world that offer such cultural variety and geographical complexity as Indonesia, it’s no surprise that Indonesia’s national motto is ‘Unity in Diversity’. As the fourth most densely populated country in the world with a population of over 237million, it’s hard to believe that nearly 60% of Indonesia’s landmass is covered by forest, including some of the world’s largest and oldest rainforests and some 500 volcanoes 12 of which are still active!

Despite Indonesia’s biodiverse landscapes and vibrant culture many of it’s inhabitants remain desperately poor with 110 million Indonesians living on less than $2 a day.

  • Siau Island

    This idyllic island with lush jungle off the northern tip of Sulawesi is part of a chain of volcanic islands that connect Indonesia with the Philippines. It is home to one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes, Karangetang volcano, whose crater can be seen glowing at night. Diving around the island is good with Eddy Point being one of the more impressive sites. Black laval rock drops to over 60 metres and slight rumbles can often be heard from the volcano. There is a wide variety of interesting marine life at various spots around the island which includes a wall dive. Alternatively, just hang out around the hot spring on the beach.

    Climb a Volcano

    Sulawesi has an abundance of volcanoes with 11 active in total so if you’re feeling energetic and up for an adventure there’s plenty of options for you. A variety of climbs are available with different grades of difficulty. Mahawu, Lokon, Klabat, Duasudara are the most popular. Climbing any one of these volcanoes will give you a stunning view of the surrounding areas.

    Visit a Turtle Nesting Beach

    This can be arranged directly by your volunteer coordinator at the wildlife centre. Departure from the centre by 4pm latest in order to be able to see the beach before sunset. You will get an explanation about the project and eat dinner with the locals (watch out – the sambal is not the same “tame” version as at the centre!). After dinner, you will follow the local turtle conservationist on a patrol of the beach to see if there is any nesting activity. Return to the centre is at approximately 12 midnight.

Projects