Do you want to help endangered animals, protect and restore their habitats and promote sustainable awareness among the villagers? Then you will love the Bird Sanctuary on Nusa Penida. It offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in conservation and community development projects while living in traditional Balinese villages. Here you can get actively involved, implement ideas and really make a difference. By involving the local communities, the activities are sustainable and you also have the chance to gain unique cultural experiences. You will support the organization with daily tasks such as bird watching, reforestation and English lessons. In addition to your work, there will be plenty of time to explore the island's breathtaking landscape. If you are willing to get actively involved, have a passion for nature conservation and enjoy physical work, then a unique experience awaits you on Nusa Penida.
Our partner organization has been successfully supporting community-based conservation and development projects since 2004. The aim of these projects is to restore the island's habitat and protect its wildlife. At the same time, the local communities are to be offered alternative and sustainable livelihoods and the young population educational opportunities.
On Nusa Penida, the focus is on protecting and restoring the population of endangered Indonesian bird species, including the Bali starling, Java sparrow, yellow-crested cockatoo and Mitchell's lory. The island has managed to mobilize all 41 villages for community-based bird conservation, transforming Nusa Penida into a unique poacher-free sanctuary. In 2006, after two years of intensive consultation with influential personalities on the benefits of bird conservation and preservation, all Penida villages unanimously agreed to incorporate bird conservation into their traditional village rules. This created a social and spiritual contract that obliges all residents to protect birds. The communities have enacted regulations to protect wildlife from poaching and illegal trade so that endangered species can live safely in the wild. A stark contrast to much of Indonesia, where poaching is unfortunately still a constant threat. Thanks to the efforts of the partner organization, various Indonesian birds have been rehabilitated and released back into the wild. These include the island's mascot, the Bali starling. It is endemic to Bali and threatened with extinction. Due to poaching, the number of Bali starlings in the wild fell to less than 10 in 2005. Today, the population of Bali starlings on Nusa Penida is back to over 100 specimens. Other birds released into the wild include the Java sparrow, Mitchell's lory and yellow-crested cockatoo. The project also observes and monitors turtles, butterflies and bats.
In return for the unanimous commitment of all villages to bird conservation, the partner organization carries out various projects for the benefit of the community and its development. The communities receive support for ecotourism, English lessons, traditional dance classes, demonstration plots for organic farming and educational scholarships. Reforestation is also promoted through tree planting and support for agroforestry.
Work at the Nature Conservation Centre, the organization's headquarters, includes improving visual material and information for visitors, guests and locals, general maintenance of the communal area as well as gardening, composting and tree nursery work.
Volunteers of all ages are always welcome to get involved and support the implementation of project activities. Great importance is attached to a lively community atmosphere. Living, working and sharing experiences together contributes significantly to the development and advancement of the projects. The volunteer program has been and continues to be developed by the volunteers.
Your tasks will depend on the time of year, the length of your stay and your personal skills and interests. Basically, you will be involved in the daily project activities and take on a variety of tasks. You will help with planting trees, mulching and watering depending on the season, teaching English, public relations and education. You will assist with gardening in the organic vegetable garden, bird watching and monitoring, beach clean-ups and maintenance of the communal area. You will also spend time with the children in the community.
Your working hours, from Monday to Saturday, are usually 4-5 hours per day, depending on the activity. The day is divided into a morning session from 7:00 am to 10:00 am and an afternoon session from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The activities vary and are adapted to external factors such as weather, season, community and religious ceremonies. In addition, the scope of the tasks also depends on your personal commitment and interest. Every evening, volunteers and staff discuss the next day's activities. In addition to the daily tasks, the working hours are flexible and the organization is always open to other, new project ideas that you would like to implement during your stay. Creativity and initiative are highly appreciated and all ideas to improve the project and the community are very welcome. If you have special skills or are particularly good at something, for example music, sport, yoga or similar, please let the staff know and perhaps courses can be organized for the young people on the island.
Most days at the center start at 7am with the Bali Star monitoring program. Volunteers are guided to various sites by a conservation coordinator. The number and behavior of the Bali starlings found are recorded and this data can be used to assess the population and the success of the breeding program. You will regularly check nesting boxes for predators and possible eggs. You will also take part in reconnaissance hikes to find new suitable habitats for the Bali starling.
Part of the project activities focus on supporting the local population by implementing reforestation measures. These are implemented as part of the agroforestry land use system, in which trees and shrubs are grown around or between crops or pastureland. This has already proven to be successful and cost-effective over time. The combination of agriculture and forestry offers benefits such as increased biodiversity and reduced erosion. The seedlings grown in the nursery are distributed free of charge to the village communities. Local people are also encouraged to collect seedlings. So far, almost 200,000 seedlings have been distributed free of charge and planted by the communities on Nusa Penida. You help with the work on the reforestation site. This work varies throughout the year. In the rainy season, new seedlings are planted and in the dry season, watering, mulching and monitoring the growth of the seedlings is carried out. In the tree nursery, everything revolves around the cultivation and care of the seedlings. As a rule, this includes preparing the soil, bagging the seedlings, weeding, watering and transplanting.
The organization also gives English lessons in its own center or in local schools. If you have a longer stay, you are welcome to assist with the teaching activities. The aim is to improve the English language skills of local children, staff and tour guides. In addition to teaching English, the organization also promotes environmental education in schools through games, songs and annual conservation competitions as part of community development. None of this support takes place during the school vacations.
After work and in your free time, there is plenty of time to explore the natural beauty of the island or to relax and socialize with members of the local community and other volunteers.
Nusa Penida is a small island just 45 minutes by boat from Bali. It offers beautiful beaches, coral reefs and dramatic cliffs. Compared to the mainland, life on the island is even less influenced by tourism. It is the perfect place to interact with the locals and gain authentic cultural experiences. The Balinese Hindu communities lead a simple life, living off subsistence farming, fishing, seaweed cultivation and ecotourism in coastal villages and remote inland villages.
The organization's conservation center is located in Ped, on the north coast of Nusa Penida. All project activities, such as bird rehabilitation, educational and cultural programs, waste management and demonstrations on organic gardening, take place here. The site also houses accommodation for volunteers and guests. The center also houses the office and a community library.
The climate on Nusa Penida is generally hot and humid, with a rainy season from October to May and a dry season from June to September.
You should take enough cash with you on the island for your stay, as it is not certain that you will be able to get money from the ATMs. Although there are some ATMs on the island, they are not guaranteed to work or only accept local cards.
In your free time, you have the chance to explore and experience the magnificent island. For example, you can take part in bird watching and sneak through the forests with the nature conservation coordinator and visit numerous nesting sites. This gives you the unique opportunity to discover the beautiful, endangered birds of Nusa Penida. After birdwatching in the morning, you can visit the local market in Sampalan, the island's main town. This is a good opportunity to immerse yourself in the everyday life of the island and to buy a few groceries. It is important to mention here that you should always take a reusable bag with you to the market and when shopping in general, and refrain from using plastic. With the freshly bought ingredients from the market, you can also learn how to prepare traditional Balinese dishes. For such cooking classes, you are welcome to contact the center's cook. For an intercultural experience, you are also welcome to cook dishes from your home country.
The island also offers unique places for snorkeling and diving. Nusa Penida was declared a marine reserve in 2014, and the north coast is home to a spectacular coral reef with many different species of fish. The currents can be very strong - you should be careful here. To protect and preserve the reef, you should only go at high tide to avoid damaging the corals. Alternatively, you can also book a snorkeling tour by boat to get to different snorkeling spots. For diving, you can book a dive with one of the many dive operators and enjoy the beauty and diversity of the coral reefs - with a bit of luck, you might spot manta rays and moonfish.
Other Nusa Penida sights for you to discover include the spectacular limestone cliffs of the west coast at Broken Bay, Angels Billabong and Klingking Beach. The east coast awaits with slightly fewer people, but with equally great experiences, such as the rocks at Raja Lima or the clear blue waters and white sands of Diamond Beach and Atuh Beach. In the south of the island, you can visit the Tanglad weaving village and watch the villagers weaving traditional ikat fabrics using natural dyes and traditional techniques.
Arrival:
The quickest and most convenient way to get to Bali is by plane. There are numerous and inexpensive connections, especially from the major cities in Indonesia. There are also good overland connections to Bali by bus and ferry, which take longer depending on the starting point. There are two transportation options from Bali to Nusa Penida. You can either take the public ferry from Padangbai harbor or a speedboat from Kusamba or Sanur.
You don't need any special expertise, just a willingness to help and a passion for conservation and community development projects. What you should bring is an open and proactive attitude. The team is made up entirely of locals and are sometimes too shy to ask western volunteers for help. Therefore, it is partly up to you to ask how and where you can help. If you are flexible, like to contribute your ideas and see where tasks need to be done, then you will be a great support to the project while having an all-round good time and unique experience. In addition, you should be in reasonable physical condition and be prepared for practical work in a hot equatorial climate.
You should have a good command of English for the work at the Bird Sanctuary. To communicate with the staff, some of whom also speak good English, and for the activities in the English courses for the local children and residents. It generally helps if you can express yourself well and can also ask questions if you don't understand something or want to know more.
The accommodation for the volunteers is located in the nature conservation center. The accommodation is simple, but comfortable and clean. There are rooms for individuals and groups. A total of up to 15 volunteers can be accommodated at the center at any one time. The beds are equipped with sheets, pillows and comforters as well as a mosquito net. The accommodation has fans, but no air conditioning. At sunrise you will be woken up by roosters, during the day you may occasionally encounter stray pigs and cows and in the afternoon you can watch the endangered Bali starlings in the trees.
Facilities available for volunteers to use include a small collection of library books, snorkeling equipment for exploring the magnificent reef around the island, electricity for charging personal items and basic kitchen equipment for preparing meals. You are responsible for organizing your own meals. You can buy ingredients for cooking at the local market or supermarket and then prepare them at the center. There is also a chef at the center who offers an à la carte menu with delicious local dishes. You can also get meals for lunch, from 12:00 to 14:00, and for dinner, from 19:00 to 21:00. The prices for the dishes are between 1 and 2 euros. There are also several cafés, bars and warungs, the typical local restaurants, nearby. These serve a selection of Indonesian and Balinese dishes for around 1 euro.
You can do your laundry in the nearby village. There is a launderette on the main street. The average wash load for one person is between 1 and 1.50 euros.
There is basic W-LAN on the project site. Depending on the provider, cell phone reception is quite good in most areas. It therefore makes sense to buy a SIM card. It is best to install it in Bali or before you arrive on the island. If you are traveling on the island, most cafés also offer Wi-Fi with the purchase of a meal or drink.
To explore the island or to get around in general, you can rent a motorcycle, for which you need an international driving license, or use one of the bicycles in the center.
Founder of Wanderworld Travel
Advice and travel preparation
On-site advice and support
Sign up for a non-binding wanderlust consultation with us and we'll talk about all your questions, wishes and concerns.
Let us plan your trip to Costa Rica together. Without obligation and free of charge.
MO - FR 09:00-18:00
Or apply here for a consultation appointment by phone or video call.
