Information about Samboja Lodge

Visas - All visitors to Indonesia must be in possession of a valid passport (+6 months valid) and have proof of onward passage (return ticket). A visa is required and for tourists visiting Indonesia from many countries, the visa can be obtained at your point of entry airport (check Indonesia Embassy website for a complete list). Airport visas are no longer than 1 month and are non extendable.
International Health Certificates of valid smallpox, cholera and yellow fever vaccinations are required from travellers coming from infected areas. It is however recommended to contact the local health authorities in your country for further information on vaccinations before entering certain areas in Indonesia. Malaria is common in the area, so medication is recommended. We are sharing the space within Samboja Lestari with many animals. Orangutans and humans are very susceptible to the same diseases; additional medical precautions are necessary, more than for normal tourist visits to Indonesia. These precautions are necessary both for the protection of yourself as well as for the protection of the animals.
BOSF would like proof that Lodge guests are clear of the following:

HIV

Tuberculosis

Vaccinated for Hepatitis A, B, & C

All visitors must show before arrival that they have proof of having fulfilled the above-mentioned requirements. Often, for a tourist visit to Indonesia vaccination against Hepatitis A is advised, but not for Hepatitis B. However, among some of the orangutans in the rescue centers Hepatitis B has occurred and therefore this vaccination has become obligatory. Malaria prophylaxis might be necessary. Your local health department often will advise malaria prophylaxis for the whole of continental Indonesia, so this is also recommended for this project.

Please notes that some of the work is very strenuous and you will be working in the hot sun…know your own limits!!!!

Money - The Indonesian unit of currency is the rupiah. Banks everywhere accept notes and traveller's cheques in major world currencies. Leading international credit cards are accepted by most of the major hotels, airline offices and certain stores. We at the Samboja Lodge, however, can only accept cash (rupiah, euro and US dollar). We will be able to change foreign currency into rupiah in small amounts only and at the local rate. We recommend that you purchase large amounts of rupiah before coming to the Lodge.

Postal services - The airmail service between Balikpapan and overseas countries is fast and efficient. The charge depends on letter weight. We also have telephone and email available at the lodge and readily available in the cities.

Language - The national language is Bahasa Indonesia. English is understood in larger cities but not in smaller areas. Most of the key staff of the Samboja Lodge know English. Lodge guests should have a working knowledge of English if they do not speak Bahasa Indonesia.

Climate – Though the climate is mostly warm, it can get cool in the evenings. The dry season is approximately from mid-April to September (this is very variable) but we can still get rain. The wet season is wetter, but there are still clear, sunny skies with daily sudden, tropical showers. Bringing a rain jacket would be a good idea! Due to the high humidity, it may also help to have waterproof bags with silica gel to protect your electronic equipment (cameras, computers, etc.)

Clothes - Informal summer attire – long sleeve shirts and long trousers might be best to help keep the mosquitoes under control and protect sensitive skin from the sun. It is useful to have a set of nicer clothes for visits to the City. Mosquito tip: tiger balm (or Vicks VapoRub) works well to alleviate itching from insect bites. Sun block and bug repellent are also useful additions to your travel kit.

Shoes – Please, it is respectful to the local culture, when entering a private home, your Samboja Lodge room or the BOSF Office, to remove your shoes before entering.
Time - There are three time zones in Indonesia. West and Central Kalimantan observes Western Standard Time (GMT+7 hours), East and South Kalimantan observes Central Standard Time (GMT + 8 hours).

Additional Activities in and around Indonesia - Trekking, river trips, caving, eco tourism, cruises, sailing and scuba diving, crafts, pottery, temples. There is more information about places to visit in our Samboja Lodge handbook.
Electricity - In Indonesia, voltage is 220 Volt (AC), 50 Hertz. A special adaptor plug usually is necessary.

Operating Hours - Opening hours of Banks are 8am – 4pm (Mon-Fri) and most shops 9am – 9pm (Mon-Sun). Please note that in small villages, some shop opening and closing times may be quite erratic and unreliable, usually because the shop can also be the owner’s home!

Animal Fact
Most of the animals in Borneo live in tropical rain forests and a few in swamp forests. Some are able to survive in the remaining primary forests, while others are managing to exist in regenerating secondary forests. Others still are surviving in the buffer zones between secondary forests and local villages. Daytime dwellers include small monkeys, gibbons and orangutans, and squirrels. Nighttime dwellers are: rats, flying squirrel, bats and civets (small jungle cat). Animals that move about in both day and night are forest pigs, small and large forest deer, and sun bears.

EMERGENCIES: If you meet serious problems in East Borneo you can call the police emergency number 110. If you have a health emergency while staying at the Lodge, we have a doctor available to us living in the village of Samboja. Balikpapan also has many good hospitals