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Volunteering in Lombok: Bird Catalog Waterfall

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The experience

📸 Join our mission to train local guides and catalog waterbird species in an area without a bird guide. As a volunteer, you'll help create a catalog, install habitat signage, and promote sustainable ecotourism.
Located on the southern slopes of Mount Rinjani, Aik Berik is known for its waterfalls and biodiversity. Your contribution supports both conservation and community empowerment — and your name will be credited in the final publication!

What you offer

20 hours of help per week

Photography: Take, edit and provide amazing photos.

Additional fee required

Amount: US$ 35 Per day

Fee pays for: Benefits for travelers, Materials for volunteer activities, and Donation to project

Description: The $35 daily fee covers your accommodation and three time meals per day. A scooter is also available for rent at the location. You'll be staying with a host family near the project site.

What you get

3 days off per week

Private Room: You will have a bed in a private room. In other words, a room just for you.

Breakfast: You are entitled to a free breakfast, every day of your stay.

Lunch: You are entitled to a free lunch, every day of your stay.

Dinner: You are entitled to a free dinner, every day of your stay.

Free Tours: We’ll take you on tours and rides around town. For free!

Get free drinks or beverages.: Drink up! Get free and tasty drinks for yourself.

Use our equipped kitchen: Feel free to use our kitchen and make your own delicious food.

Certificate: Get a certificate of completion after you finish your experience.

Requirements

Intermediate English or Beginner French

Between 18 and 45 years old

Only hosts solo volunteers (doesn’t accept couples or partners)

Be from outside Indonesia

European Union Passport

United States visa or citizenship

Travel insurance

What's not included

Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa

Program Details

📚 Led by Bale Nara Lombok, this initiative documents waterbird species around the Aik Berik Waterfall area, nestled in a village under the majestic Rinjani Mountain, Lombok, while training local guides in birdwatching and species identification.

As the first formal effort to create a bird catalog here, the program aims to publish a comprehensive field guidebook and install educational signboards at key birdwatching spots near the waterfall and surrounding habitats.

Volunteers will collaborate closely with locals to survey birds, capture photos, record data, and map habitats. All contributors will be credited in the final publication—helping lay the groundwork for sustainable ecotourism and conservation awareness in this unique mountainous region of Lombok. 🦅🌿

Activities & Shift

🐦 Daily Schedule

🌿 Morning Shift (8 AM – 12 PM)
Take a guided birdwatching trek with local guides
Record sightings, behaviors, and habitats
Photograph birds and document GPS coordinates for signage
📝 Midday (12 PM – 1 PM)
Head back to base or stay in the field
Input species data and research bird profiles
Help with community workshops or student sessions
🍽️ Lunch Break (1 PM – 3 PM)
Time to eat, relax, and recharge
🔍 Afternoon Shift (3 PM – 5 PM)
Revisit selected sites for follow-up observations
Collaborate on bird catalog and signboard content
Join a feedback session with Bale Nara Lombok’s team

🌟 Additional Weekend Programs
🏖️ Join our weekend donation-based (pay-as-you-wish) activities—both on-site and off-site! These include scuba diving, surfing, cooking classes, digital literacy sessions, and trips to waterfalls, Gili Islands, and other tourism villages across Lombok.
🏍️ If you ride a scooter, feel free to join and meet us at the designated meeting point!

📝 Additional Notes
🌿 This remote, underdeveloped site is steadily growing into a hub for ecotourism. You’ll often meet foreigners visiting the waterfall.
🗣️ Most locals speak English.
🕌 As a Muslim-majority area, food and prayer ceremonies are common. If invited, it’s a meaningful cultural experience—just follow the ✅ DOs and ❌ DON’Ts.

Rules

🕌 Cultural Guidelines for Volunteers in Lombok

Lombok is a culturally rich, predominantly Muslim island. Respecting local customs is essential for your safety and a positive experience. Follow these key DOs and DON’Ts:

✅ DOs
Dress modestly: Cover shoulders/knees; loose-fitting clothes are best.
Respect attire rules in homes, schools, mosques; women should avoid revealing outfits.
Cover tattoos and limit visible piercings.
Remove shoes before entering homes or prayer areas.
Mind prayer times; avoid loud noise near mosques.
Use your right hand for eating, giving, or receiving.
Ask permission before taking photos.
Engage respectfully with locals, use basic greetings, and eat local food.
Disclose your background truthfully. No criminal record is allowed.
Note: The program follows a “LGBTQ-Free” policy to align with local norms—public expressions are not accepted.

❌ DON’Ts
No short, tight, transparent, or revealing clothes.
Avoid offensive symbols or slogans.
No alcohol, drugs, or public affection in villages.
Don’t mock or criticize local customs.
No pork in Muslim homes.
Don’t interrupt religious practices or enter mosques without proper dress.
No bikinis on non-touristy beaches.
Don’t misrepresent your identity or background.
No smoking near children or families.

🌙 During Ramadan
Don’t eat, drink, or smoke in public during the day.
Avoid loud music or parties.
Dress modestly and be respectful if invited to iftar (breaking the fast).