Bandhavgarh, biodiversity, & a tigress named Solo

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Joining us from Delhi - headquarters of Ameliya Safaris - is Indian safari guide, filmmaker & on-screen presenter Suyash Keshari, who you are more than likely to have stumbled across on social media. His popular following is a testament to the addictive nature of his exciting wildlife content, and after working with Suyash to plan a tiger safari for repeat guests of ours, we knew we wanted him in the hot seat to talk more about his country and its complex and incredible wildlife offering.

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Suyash has spent over 1,200 days in Bandhavgarh National Park in the last five years alone! If you’re as starstruck as we are about the Indian safari landscape, whether it’s tigers, the 1,500 bird species, black leopards, snow leopards, or the Indian Big Five, you’ll love this deep-dive conversation with Suyash.

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Where to go, where not to go - for ethical reasons, exclusivity and quality of your experiences, government vs private safari operations, and common misconceptions - Suyash debunks some typical narratives about a safari in India, answering our audience questions, and making relatable comparisons that truly paint a picture of how to make the most of this incredible destination. 

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Growing up around wildlife in India and with 10 years of professional guiding under his belt, Suyash is firmly cemented in the industry we know and love. He believes "we all have a curiosity towards nature embedded deep within us" - a sentiment that speaks right to our own spirit of adventure and discovery in the natural world. He has worked with WWF and Animal Planet, and developed an intriguing YouTube series that follows him on safari, notably covering the story of one famous tigress named Solo. 

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Beyond that, Suyash is a dedicated conservationist who has created significant awareness and impact around human-wildlife conflict in areas of India where people and nature exist side-by-side. Building waterholes in water scarce areas, equipping hundreds of anti-poaching rangers with the essentials to work in their remote and challenging environments, working with authorities to reconstruct and rehabilitate natural habitats, and sponsoring impactful educational programmes for kids living alongside wildlife populations. 

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This was a totally fascinating (and far too short) virtual campfire conversation that we plan to pick up again in person (on safari with Suyash in Bandhavgarh!) It’s a listen you’ll love and it is sure to spark curiosity, if not set a fire under your seat and urge you to take that next step on an Indian wildlife adventure. 

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Follow Suyash on Instagram, YouTube, and find out more about his safari experiences at Ameliya Safaris.

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Happy listening!

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