3 tips from a tiger conservationist you need to keep in mind before your safari trip

Safaris can offer exhilarating and educational experiences with animals, but your itinerary also has the potential to support conservation and promote wildlife welfare. “India is a dynamic, fascinating nation. Nowhere in the world can a country claim that it’s home to the big five—Bengal tigers, wild elephants, Asiatic lions, snow leopards, and the Indian one-horned rhinoceros. You name it, we have it. Even when you compare it to Africa, you’re drawing a parallel with a continent. India’s wildlife diversity is unparalleled, and if we don’t go out in nature to see it, then who will?” says Amit Sankhala, a revered tiger conservationist and the principle trustee of India’s Tiger Trust. 

On World Wildlife Day, Sankhala tells us how conservation is continuing to make a difference in India, what makes him tick, and his top tips on exploring the jungles ethically.

1. Let animals be animals 

Sankhala insists on respecting wildlife and its habitat in ways that do not alter an animal’s behaviour. “If you go with the intention of partying in the jungle instead of basking in nature in all its glory, it is detrimental in itself. It’s imperative you understand that animals needs calm around them. Don’t shout if you spot a tiger or a deer, keep your phones on silent and switch your camera flashes off. We particularly notice this behaviour in zoos, where people try to get the attention of an animal.” 

2. Do your research before zeroing down on a destination 

For any safari enthusiast, the objective of a forest expedition should not be limited to heart-pounding encounters with wildlife, but should extend to help preserve the tableaux too. “The best way is to go local, no matter which destination you visit,” explains Sankhala. “Pick places that are driven by conservation and community spirit. Basically, these are options that employ locals, and offer fresh food instead of produce that’s shipped from metro cities. At the end of the day, no one from a foreign land is coming to poach our animals, but locals are forced to do it for a little bit of money to fend for their families. On the contrary, when you provide jobs for them, and conservation becomes their income, they become defenders, protectors of wildlife,” he explains. But how do you ensure you make the right choice? Says Sankhala, “It always helps to read the reviews before you embark on a trip. A source like TripAdvisor will reflect the ethos of a wildlife lodge or a hotel. For instance, if a property implements sustainable practices, then travellers are likely to talk about it and appreciate it. Even trivial seeming-yet-important things like a no-plastic policy or bedsheets not being washed every day, will be great giveaways for you to be mindful of your choices.”

Sankhala insists that there are some boxes you must tick when picking your accommodation. “First things to ask: does the property have an in-house naturalist? If so, how many? If a lodge or a hotel has 20 rooms and just one naturalist, then it does not cut it—only a professional can teach you something more about the environment, and thus add more value to your trip. Secondly, the property’s investment of the room should be equal to the investment in delivering a holistic experience, one that’s in tune with nature. You can always visit a five-star hotel in a metropolitan city if just luxury is what you’re after,” he says. He also recommends educating yourself about the place, people, and animals of the region you’ll be visiting in advance, to contextualise and value your time there.

Additionally, a traveller should discern the difference between ethical and problematic wildlife experiences, because wildlife tourism can be a tool for conservation as well. “You’re going to have a good time, but try to see consciously who is giving back to nature in some form, because tourism is a tool of conversation in the long run. At Jamtara Wilderness Camp, Madhya Pradesh for example, everything is reclaimed, and not a single tree was cut to make the lodge. I sourced the wood from Alankh, Asia’s largest graveyard for a shipwreck, and purchased 20 tonnes of wood. It now makes up all the flooring and furniture that we have in the lodge. The art pieces are purchased from the 1970s embassy market. The idea is to restore the nostalgia, but the beauty is that at the end of every April, everything comes out including the flooring, and goes back to nature for it to take its course. While modernisation is inevitable, we must protect wildlife in pockets for future generations,” he concludes.

3. Disconnect from the mundane

If you’re leaving the concrete jungle behind, don’t bring parts of it to the natural forest with you. “To completely immerse in the natural experience, disconnect yourself from the world. When you are on a safari, the last thing you should do is make a phone call or send a message to a friend in case you spot a tiger. It’s the classic example of ‘wrong place, wrong time’. Nature is the ultimate healer, so use this opportunity to bond with loved ones, with yourself. Give those smartphones a break. Safaris can be extremely transformational, and everyone can enjoy them and learn something from them. Take your binoculars, your bird and mammals book and a small camera to capture moments, but do not get lost in clicking pictures,” he says.

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