Friends of the National Parks Foundation Volunteer & Conservation Center in Bali

Banjar Bodong Ped Village, Nusa Penida, 811111 Indonesia

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4.5

#1 of 28 lodges in Nusa Penida

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FNPF (Friends of the National Parks Foundation) is a not-for-profit conservation and community development organisation. We offer simple accommodation for singles, couples or larger groups on our property, located directly opposite a beach with amazing coral, and amongst our tree nursery, endangered bird release facility, and community library. You will see the rare Bali Starling and other endangered birds that we have released flying free in the trees at our centre and other locations on the island. Volunteers can help in our nursery and organic vegetable demonstration plots, teach English to local children, plant saplings on our reforestation site, and monitor the released birds.

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Banjar Bodong Ped Village, Nusa Penida, 811111 Indonesia

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sandranilsen wrote a review Sep 2012

Nimbin, Australia

peacefulness with a purpose

i have just returned to Nusa Penida for the 5th time to be a volunteer at Friends of National parks Foundation. i return to help the locals and volunteers with re-forestation, organic gardening and rehabilitation of the bali starling. Originally the king of Klung Kung sent all the prisoners here and they were ordered to cut down every tree and drain every swamp, so the island was decimated, up until now. The entire island is powered by wind generators so the air is pristine with not to many cars and mainly scooters. there is a bemo taxi you can call. FNPF has a nursery that grows many species and these are offered for free to village banjar locals. the bali starling prized for it's putih (white) plumage was almost at extinction, up until now as Bayu, pak Mike, Nyngah, Wayan and many more carers and donators help this bird become rehabilitated in it's natural environment, you get to live in either a bamboo house, dorm or a private room all with mosquito nets, of course it only cold water showers but with perfect temperatures and weather who needs to warm up more.
Volunteers can work up to 4 hrs per day, but it isn't really work when you sing in the garden and pot up rainforest specie, knowing that they will bring fresh air, cooling temperatures and of course much wildlife back into nature, after that freedom in paradise is awaiting with snorkelling and diving along coral reefs and seaweed beds, take a guide as the currents are very strong, Tambiling forest is serene and is completed with male and female water holes. There are beautiful temples including Dalem Ped, the only temple in all Bali to house the 4 temples, it is a mecca for hindus due to this reason. Giri Putri is immuculate,a caved entrance into a giant cave with white limestone naga steps and many small meditation caves. many more things to see and do so i guess i,ll have to plan another trip.

Date of stay: August 2012

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Trip type: Travelled solo

Room Tip: front can be alittle noisy in the morning as the scooters go to the school at around 6 am, the...

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Responded Jul 9, 2013

Thanks for your lovely review of our volunteering center. We agree Nusa Penida is indeed a paradise. We hope that you can one day get back to volunteer with us again. Terima kasih. Sincerely, Dr Bayu Wirayudha FNPF CEO and Founder

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delnRJ wrote a review Sep 2011

Darwin, Australia

FNPF Nusa Penida a true paradise!

My son (3yrs) and myself stayed at FNPF, Nusa Penida for a month. During this time, we got to know many of the wonderful locals and staff members. My son and I experienced a simple life full of smiles and warmth, such an amazing time that was beyond anything we could of imagined. A beautiful, rare island that is tucked away for the 'off the track traveller'. The foundation offers an amazing fruit/veg garden that we experienced first hand (YUM), a huge tree/plant nursery and an amazing sanctuary for the beautiful Bali Starling. Not forgetting the resident chooks, cows,pigs and wildlife. My son had a choice of activites to do and many little friends to play with. The staff at FNPF went above and beyond to include my son in their day to day lives and I always knew he was in good hands.
Nusa Penida is Bali's best kept secret!! We are planning our next trip back and hope to stay much longer. And did I mention the snorkelling-FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!

Date of stay: August 2011

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Trip type: Travelled with family

Response from Bayu W, General Manager at Friends of the National Parks Foundation Volunteer & Conservation Center in Bali

Responded Jul 26, 2018

Dear Del and RJ Thank you very much for your support. I hope you will have another good experience for your next visit. Best wishes. Bayu

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Will P wrote a review Mar 2011

Kentfield, California

This place is a paradise you'll want to share with your friends - just don't tell too many!

Two filmmaking colleagues and I traveled to Nusa Penida last week to shoot part of a documentary about water. We had a wonderful time staying at the FNPF Visitor Centre. The compound's natural beauty, the surroundings, and the staff made it our haven. I stayed in a charming two story bamboo house, complete with a comfy bed, mosquito nets and towels. Just outside and down the steep steps (bring a head lamp for night time visits) was the loo and shower - literally set amongst the trees! We awoke each morning to the call of wild birds (and roosters), then walked across the street to the sea for a swim amongst the seaweed farms and out to the coral reef. The waters is crystal clear and we could easily see 15 feet or more without a mask. Then it was back to the compound for a home made breakfast made by the staff, including freshly laid eggs, crepes with locally grown bananas and Balinese coffee. Ahhh. After a day of filming we'd come home to ice cold beers and after a shower the staff would have begun to grill fresh, line caught fish over coconut shells served with homemade sambal crudo. One evening we returned home early enough to see the rare Bali Starling, a bird the FNPF has helped save from extinction. Oh my god, did we die and go to heaven or what? We found solice here each night and morning in this simple but charming spot on the northwest side of the island of Nusa Penida. The friendly staff helped us with everything from advise on places to see, things to do, to bringing us lunch out on location and helping us fill our cooler with water and other drinks. Tell you friends but not too many or I fear the island will become overwhelmed by tourists hungry for an untouched paradise. The income from your stay at the FNPF goes towards supporting the organization's community based conservation work, including education. This place is too good to be true! To learn more go to the FNPF website - http://www.fnpf.org/

Date of stay: March 2011

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Trip type: Travelled on business

Taj81 wrote a review Jun 2012

New South Wales, Australia

Pretty rough digs Could do with some basic makeovers

We are seasoned travellers in Asia for over 20years. We wanted to help out with some volunteering but found this. Place a bit unessecarily rough and disorganised. Admittedly the new coordinator was quite sick at the time but she seemed to have some positive plans for the place. Mike usually got out of bed at 10 am which left us organising and initiating things ourselves. Don't go for the front room as it is incredibly noisy from morning motorbikes. There was no decent mosquito net , another guest bought one and the staff cut it down before we moved in ? Also no fan which made it pretty cloistering at night. We don't mind basic or squat dunnies but the showers and toilets were always dirty as you have to walk over dirt to and from your room. We cleaned and swept all around the toilet area which obviously hadn't been attende for a long time. Such a quick and simple house keeping chore which meant not traipsing dirt into your room ( regardless do whether you are wearing footwear and removing it before you go in and out). Improvements could be made by placing. Some concrete stepping stones or a path to and from the toilet area . Also the toilet doors were clapped out and there were only cheap and broken hooks in the bathrooms to hang things. Honestly this place has been unnecessarily neglected and there is a lot of people sitting arou d a lot of the time. We like basic living and simple pleasures of a dirt free environment and functional doors with a place to keep your clothes clean and dry is easy to achieve. Also be very careful of snorkelling beyond the reef. The currents here are very dangerous. We didn't attempt it as coming from Australia we are well aware of how to read the tides. Otherwise the people of Nusa penida are largely friendly . Wayan who runs the warming prepares fantastic tasting inexpensive food and is a lovely lady. We enjoyed her hospitality very much. We hope that this place will become more productive with the n coordinator as up until now we don't know what has been going on there with previous management.

Date of stay: February 2012

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Trip type: Travelled with family

Room Tip: This is hard as they are all rustic. Don't go for the front family room as it is very hot...

ccmillar_88 wrote a review Jul 2011

Melbourne, Australia

Nusa Penida - the friendliest island on earth

I first spent a week at FNPF, Nusa Penida in June. It just goes to show how much I loved it as I ended up back there for another week in July, and have only just left. I can't stress how perfect this island is - completely un spoilt, with the friendliest locals ever, little to no tourism - it's textbook tropical paradise! I believe the experience many people have on Nusa Penida wouldn't be so special without FNPF either. The project has three facets - bird rehabilitation, reforestation and community development, and is truly inspirational. The locals that work at the foundation are lovely, as are the families that live in the local, and every other volunteer I met was a fantastic, individual human being. This is perhaps the best volunteer project I've ever been involved in, and the perfect island setting of Nusa Penida just makes it that much better! I would recommend getting there quick though, before people start realising how amazing the place is and start building hotels! I also can't wait to visit the FNPF project in Kalimantan...

Date of stay: July 2011Trip type: Travelled solo

fm_arr wrote a review Jul 2011

Melbourne, Australia

I am already planning my trip back!

I stayed at the FNPF Visitor Centre as a volunteer for a week in June and absolutely loved it! I arrived on Nusa Penida by speed boat on a Wednesday morning. I was greeted at the jetty by an FNPF staff member who transported me by motorbike to the foundation. The ride to the foundation was an experience on it's own, it was only 10 minutes but I saw so many people and birds and smelt so many different smells. We arrived at the foundation and I was greeted by the Manager and 2 other volunteers. I was then offered a drink of fresh coconut water, which was extremely delicious. I was shown to my room which was the honeymoon suite. The room was fairly big with a double bed, mosquito net and secure cupboard to lock my valuables in.
The rest of the day was spent meeting people, looking around the foundation and then at about midday I watched my first English class with the kids which was a lot of fun. The kids were very shy at first but by the time I left they all knew my name and were very comfortable around me.
For the rest of the week I spent my time teaching English to children during the day and adults around the dinner table along with other volunteers. The foundation did not provide meals but we regularly cooked in the communal kitchen and ate together. I also went on a lot of guided tours with staff from the foundation and saw some pretty amazing scenery.
My overall experience staying at the FNPF visitor centre was absolutely amazing, my greatest experience so far. Although I was only there for a week I got to meet and spend a lot of time with some wonderful people. I miss them all so much and hope to return to Nusa Penida to meet them all again sometime soon. Next time I will take books and stationary etc for the kids, simple things that we often throw out but they struggle to get access to.

Date of stay: June 2011

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Trip type: Travelled solo

ssahala wrote a review Aug 2015

Jakarta, Indonesia

a memorable stay

last December my friends and I stayed at FNPF for a night. They have two places: one near the beach and another one up a hill. This is the review for the one by the beach.

at first i contacted them through the phone numbers I found in their website. Johnny (or Joni?) picked up the call and I inquired about:
1. the rates and
2. whether it is OK for us to stay for a short visit without doing chores (like volunteering in the vegetable gardens).

He recommended me to call their post in Ubud. No answers.

After that I call Johnny back and informed him the Ubud guy did not respond to my call and SMS and he said it was OK for us to come.

Arriving on the island, we were picked up by Johnny's colleague (I forgot his name). We were surprised to see the place was a bit deserted. there were no activities, it was quiet. The wooden (main) hut looked OK and there was shelves of books in the terrace. Johnny came and greeted us and his colleague teased him for giving not full information. He's a new guy here, said the colleague.

I asked about the room and they showed us some rooms. I expected the rooms looked like the photos in their website. But they did not. There was a two floors (two storeys?) wooden hut but it was dusty and seemed like uninhabited for a quite long time for insects to call it home. So we went to the concrete buildings. We were shown the room in front of the building the nearest building to the street (the quiet beach is just about 50 steps away!) It has three rooms. Once occupied by a volunteer from the US. the middle room looked nice but too small for the three of us. so we stayed in the biggest room. its wall looked awful with the peeling paint. next to the rooms are the shared bathrooms and toilets which looked sad and a bit dirty. after some discussion, we decided to take the room because we thought, it would take time if we went around looking for a nicer place.

So I chatted with them at the big bale and Johnny's colleague is a guy who is in charge with birds. He has good knowledge of birds and he asked us whether we wanted to do birdwatching the next day. Of course, we replied. This place runs a successful conservation effort to save endangered birds such as Bali starlings. From him we knew that Bali staling was not endemic to the island of Penida but some released birds have successfully bred. FNPF in Penida rehabilitates birds before releasing them in the wild.

We asked him where everybody is. Where the volunteers are? He said there were some volunteers and that the manager was recently married so everyone got some kind of holidays (it was late December anyways). And that they were building a new place up in the hillside which is good for birds rehabilitation.

After that we went around the beautiful island. later at night we returned and asked Johnny what time was the birdwatching trip the next day. he said at nine. We met the girl from US who volunteered for the FNPF and chatted with her. The night was humid so was our room but thanks to the fan and the mosquito net, we had a good night sleep.

The next day we woke up at 6 and roamed the place. We checked the greenhouse which was full of seedlings ready to be planted. we called everyone but there was no one. so we sat in the bale, waiting for our breakfast (they have agreed to serve it at 7). An hour later a lady (we forgot her name and her role at FNPF) arrived, introduced herself, and made the breakfast. It was mango season so she served us some nice pancake and sliced mango.

At nine the bird expert came and asked where we had been because he wanted to take us birdwatching. He said he knocked on our door many times but since there was no answer he drove back uphill. We said we were here all the time and that Johnny said we would be picked up at 9 for the birdwatching trip. A miscommunication :)

He then apologised and asked us to follow him to the new place they were building. It is located about 30 minutes ride up the hill and it looks very nice. The manager (the one who was a newlywed at that time) greeted us. He then explained about the place. there are patches of thriving vegetables, five or six huts and toilets and bathrooms (much cleaner), a big hut that looked intended to be a restaurant or warung, and a very good scenery. There are birdcages and up in some trees there are wooden boxes intended for Bali starlings to breed.

Down the hill there is a big cage housing about eight peacocks. The birds were given by authorities after they caught the owners for keeping them illegally. I asked whether the peacocks, like the Bali starlings, would be released in Nusa Penida. The manager said perhaps. I hope the birds, if released (introduced, as peacocks are not endemic to the island), survive and do well.

We would love to stay in the new place but it was not finished at that time. Maybe next time we will return and stay--at the new place.

Date of stay: December 2014

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Trip type: Travelled with friends

Room Tip: give them a call, email them, and ask for a room (hut) in the new place uphill

Response from Bayu W, General Manager at Friends of the National Parks Foundation Volunteer & Conservation Center in Bali

Responded Dec 8, 2016

Thank you very much for your support. Our new place have been operated more than a year now. You are more than welcome to visit us.

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Jacqui S wrote a review Jul 2015

Melbourne, Australia

Volunteering with FNPF in Kalimantan, Borneo

I spent one week with FNPF (Friends of the National Parks Foundation) in Kalimantan this July, and it was the most amazing experience! Most of my time was spent at their Jerumbun location. My hosts became my friends, and were so helpful and good at explaining about the work they do. Volunteer work ranged from English teaching with the staff, to hands on farm work, to collecting young saplings from the jungle and taking care of them in the nursery. My hosts also spent time showing me around and giving me a memorable experience - we saw a lot of wildlife in the jungle, and went fishing. The accommodation was comfortable, although very basic. And as a single young female I always felt safe! I look forward to returning and would highly recommend this as a unique way to see Kalimantan!!

Date of stay: July 2015Trip type: Travelled solo

Response from Bayu W, General Manager at Friends of the National Parks Foundation Volunteer & Conservation Center in Bali

Responded Jul 3, 2016

Thank you very much for your visit and we need more people to help us to work hard in Borneo. Best wishes, Bayu

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Kathrin P wrote a review Sep 2012

Konstanz, Germany

Combining social work, cultural experience and vacation

When I arrived with the boat on Nusa Penida, I felt like entering another world. After the buzzling life in the south of Bali, Nusa Pendia seems at first to be really quiet and peaceful. I spent just a few days at FNPF in Nusa Penida, but during these couple of days I got to know the local community and saw lots of nice places on the island. In the morning everyone could pick the work he would like to do and I got the possibility to work on an organical garden together with school kids and another organical garden close to a small village. That was a good possibility to get involved in the daily life of the people and they introduced us to the making of coconut oil. They said everyone in their village from the age 6 till 60 knows how to climb a coconut tree. One day I had the chance to work in the library of FNPF and in the afternoon watched one of their traditional dancing lessons for the school kids (it is possible to join!). I loved to spent my time at one of the beaches with fantastic snorkling possibilities or exploring the area around (cave temple, weaving village, ceremonies...) and wished I could have stayed longer...

Date of stay: July 2012

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Trip type: Travelled with friends

Haziq Adam wrote a review Dec 2018

Fantastic and Educational trip!

The staff members were wonderful and have taught me many things about the environment there as well as the flora and fauna. My favourite part of the volunteer work was quite unexpected as at first, I thought that it was just going to be tiring and tedious. The activity was cleaning and feeding the animals at the conservation center. Animals such as bears, crocodiles, and birds, a lot of birds can be found there. It was truly an eye-opening experience to see the animals play around as we washed their cages and fed them. It truly inspired me and made me feel the joy in doing community work. I highly recommend anyone to partake in this activity as I assure it will be as fantastic of an experience as I had in this trip!

Date of stay: October 2018

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Trip type: Travelled with friends

Response from Bayu W, General Manager at Friends of the National Parks Foundation Volunteer & Conservation Center in Bali

Responded Jan 25, 2019

Dear Haziqadamdesilva Thank you very much for your support. Your support allow us to look after the animal properly. Best wishes,

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…

Debant10 asked a question Jun 2019

Geelong, Australia89 contributions17 helpful votes

Can you do a tour without staying overnight? I would like to bring my daughters 10 years and 7 years. Is it suitable to visit just for a tour?

Answer from Bayu W

Gianyar, Indonesia36 contributions

Yes, you can have a tour with us. Please send us e mail to info at fanta november papa fanta dot oscar golf romeo for more detail. Best wishes, Bayu

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Liziel87 asked a question Feb 2016

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia3 contributions

how did you manage to call the number? I'm having trouble getting through...

Answer from Bayu W

Gianyar, Indonesia36 contributions

+62811398052

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tessajensen asked a question May 2015

portland oregon usa2 contributions

Hi, We are interested in staying in June to volunteer at turtle conservaion. What are names of other lodging in case you are full?

Answer from Bayu W

Gianyar, Indonesia36 contributions

Sorry for late answer, please keep writing to our email for quick answer. There are several accommodation in the island started with rate USD7 - 75, We do not have any turtle in captivity but more do monitoring for the wild one that may lay egg on the beach. We work with the community to give protection to the only beach that turtle still can lay egg.

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tessajensen asked a question May 2015

portland oregon usa2 contributions

which rooms have fans? Are the local eateries near by and a good selection?

Answer from Bayu W

Gianyar, Indonesia36 contributions

Sorry for very late answer. We only do communication via e mail in general. All room has fan. Yes we are very close to the local restaurant and our kitchen can cook for our volunteer when they want

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brandown123 wrote a tip Jul 2018

Pejeng, Indonesia1 contribution

"the rooms with the two twin beds are the nicest and have a balcony"

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Ash T wrote a tip Dec 2016

1 contribution1 helpful vote

"The room with a balcony has a great view"

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georgiabarber99 wrote a tip Dec 2016

Bali, Indonesia1 contribution1 helpful vote

"choose room with working fan"

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Sean D wrote a tip Dec 2016

8 contributions3 helpful votes

"Twin suite overlooking the forest. Its brilliant!"

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Zadie P wrote a tip Nov 2016

Melbourne, Australia4 contributions6 helpful votes

"All the single rooms have a balcony overlooking the forest. It's lovely to wake up to birdsong."

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