How long have you been interested in wildlife?
I was 10 when my father took me to the Simlipal Tiger Reserve in Orissa, where we stayed with the then founder-field director (and sometime director of Project Tiger), the late Saroj Rai Choudhury, who had adopted a tigress named Khairi. I remember taking Khairi for walks on a leash in the reserve and even sharing a bed with the tigress. For a 10-year-old, that was an unforgettable experience. I went back to Kolkata and raided the British Council Library for books on all kinds of animals, from the ant to the elephant… There was so much to learn about wildlife. Later, when I could afford a camera, that interest in animals morphed into a passion for wildlife photography.
And now you visit the Masai Mara at least once in two years.
Well, I have visited most national parks in India and when I could actually muster up the money to go abroad, it had to be Africa! For any wildlife enthusiast, Africa is most certainly the ultimate destination. For me, the raw and savage wilderness of the African continent, with its vast expanse, makes for the most exhilarating experience. To observe animals in a near-perfect natural environment with my camera is something very close to my heart. I visit Masai Mara every alternate year, coupled with a visit to one other national park.
What is it about the Masai Mara that draws you to it?
Well, it’s tough to say exactly. It’s not the largest park in Africa—that is Tsavo—but I prefer it to South Africa, which I find a little too touristy. But yes, the Masai Mara is associated with a lot of folklore, because of the animals and the tribesmen who live on the fringes. Moreover many of the Nat Geo series are shot there. Plus, after so many years, there’s a degree of familiarity. I also know the land, know where to go to spot animals or kills.
But your wildlife trips aren’t really about roughing it out.