Accommodation
You will stay within a house which is within the community itself. The house has been adapted slightly to ensure your comfort but otherwise is part of the make up of the village. This will enable you to become part of the community during your stay as opposed to purely a tourist and outsider.
Kampung (community) Kipouvo is approximately 20 km east of the Sabah state capital of Kota Kinabalu. This is usually a 30 minute drive from the airport with the road tarmaced most of the way! Once off the main road it is only several kilometres to the village itself – even though it is only a few kilometres it feels like you are in the middle of no-where, in a small beautiful valley in the foothills of the Crocker Range National Park.
You will be living and sleeping in a locally built house which has been specially adapted for your comfort. The house is within the community itself and therefore you will be within the village right from the start. The house has a small communal area and front porch for sitting around and talking with the locals. The bedrooms are arranged for twin sharing purposes and the house also has a small kitchen area if you need to prepare a drink or snack.
Meals
Full board except one lunch. The kitchen is small but well equipped if you need to prepare anything yourself. Members of the community will prepare your meals for you and deliver them to the house. It will be fresh produce and traditional styles of cooking so you are very welcome to get involved in learning to cook the food yourself. They are responsible for providing three healthy, well balanced and tasty meals a day. There will be a mix of local menus and a sprinkling of western food, hopefully catering to all tastes and requirements.
The community support team are very accommodating and will insist that you relax, sit back and enjoy all they can offer. There will undoubtedly be special occasions in the village which you will be invited along to – weddings, public holidays or festivals – generally Sabahans don’t need an excuse to lay on a good feast and do some dancing. If you are there for a wedding then you will get the chance to eat Water Buffalo which is usually served up on such occasions.
Staff
Experienced Local Leaders
Age Restriction
None of the activities featured require anything more than a reasonable level of fitness. No special skills are required for any of our projects.
Optional Activities
Please note that with the exception of Scuba Diving which can be completed at weekends, all adventures booked with a CKB1 must be completed as an extension to your standard 28 day programme.
Scuba Diving: There are a variety of diving activities you can book with us; from a basic 'fun diver' to certified PADI diver. From £35.
Mount Kinabalu: Mt Kinabalu is the highest peak in South East Asia at 4096m. The climb itself passes through five different temperate zones from a dense rainforest to a barren alpine landscape. The mountain is part of the Mt Kinabalu National Park which is a World Heritage sight and a very popular tourist attraction. From £135.
Jungle Trekking: Spend up to a week trekking in deep jungle miles from civilisation. Learn how to survive using local resources and and sleep in a hammock. Carry all you need for the duration of your trip on your back and learn about local folklore and legends in the area once frequented by head hunters. The trip will include two nights in local homestays run by the community. From £135.
Other Information
There is limited mobile phone reception in and around the village and all key management carry mobile phones. If you have 'international roaming' activated on your phone you will be able to make and receive calls. We suggest you purchase a local SIM card if you intend to use your phone in order to avoid the horribly high roaming bills. However we also encourage you to minimise on phone use – you can catch up with everything back home when you get back – don’t let the phone interrupt your experience.
Operator Remarks
Please be aware that the exact nature of the work you will be involved in will depend on the current needs and priorities of the school and village. As volunteers it is important to remain flexible and keep in mind that sometimes priorities and/or emergencies may arise which may result in your duties changing at short notice. We also reserve the right to change the order of your itinerary, not the components, to suit client numbers and seasonality.
Every time someone books with us we use a proportion of the money to fund our projects. There is no room for us to act as politicians; it’s all about results. If we commit to a community partnership and say we will do something; we do it. It does mean that we are not the cheapest option, but for all the right reasons.
