Aditya Panda2016
Aditya Panda is an award-winning naturalist, wildlife conservationist and photographer from Odisha, India. His passion for nature began early, nurtured by wildlife storybooks and jungle tales from his grandfather. Growing up in a city only deepened his desire to live and work in wild places.
Aditya began his career in conservation communication as deputy editor of a prominent wildlife magazine before becoming a field guide at Kanha National Park. He has since led safaris and photo expeditions across India as an Expedition Leader for Natural Habitat Adventures since 2016.
With more than two decades of experience, Aditya’s conservation work focuses on tiger and elephant habitats in Odisha. He collaborates closely with government officials, scientists and local communities, and was appointed Honorary Wildlife Warden of Satkosia Tiger Reserve. He serves on several state-level wildlife task forces and policy boards, using advocacy and on-the-ground action to protect imperiled ecosystems.
Aditya is also an accomplished wildlife photographer whose images have appeared in national and international publications. He uses photography and writing to share compelling stories of wild India, capturing charismatic species in sweeping landscapes.
Whether tracking tigers, birdwatching or sharing conservation insights with fellow travelers, Aditya brings a deep knowledge of Indian wildlife and a passion for interpretation, helping guests gain a richer understanding of the challenges and wonders of India’s wildest places.
What's in My Camera Bag
I pack light for India’s strict airport security and carry-on rules, tailoring my gear to 1–2 week expeditions. My main setup is a Nikon Z9 with a Nikkor 300mm f/2.8—ideal for tigers, rhinos and elephants. For extra reach, I use a 1.7X or 2X teleconverter, switch to DX mode or my Nikon D500 backup. A Nikkor 70–200mm f/2.8 handles close wildlife and landscapes. I also bring a 50mm f/1.4 for people and street scenes. For long hikes, I swap in a lighter 200–500mm f/5.6. All accessories—batteries, charger, cables, card reader and 2TB hard drive—go in a Nat Hab mesh bag for quick access. I also carry a photo vest to shift weight to my person if needed at airport gates.

Cameras:
Nikon Z9
Nikon D800
Nikon D500
Lenses:
Nikkor 300mm f/2.8 VRII
Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII
Nikkor 200-500 f/5.6 VR
Nikkor 50mm f/1.4
Teleconverters:
Nikon 1.7X TCII
Nikon 2X TCIII
Flash:
Nikon SB910
Camera Trapping Equipment:
Pardus P1 trigger for DSLRs
Multiple Digitek flashes & triggers
Miscellaneous Accessories:
Tripod with fluid head for filming
Manfrotto monopod
Beanbags
Circular Polarisers, multiple
Neutral Density filters, multiple Extra batteries Fresnel flash extender Straps, silicone cases, etc
Cleaning kit
Memory Cards & Hard Drives
Multiple CF Express and SD cards, card reader and 2TB SSD hard drive
Binoculars:
Carl Zeiss SFL 10X40
Computer
Apple MacBook Pro 14
Editing Software
Adobe Lightroom
DaVinci Resolve
iMovie
What Our Guests Say
Adi's leadership was superb! He was very knowledgeable about the wildlife and provided helpful education about existing threats and conservation efforts unique to Bengal tigers. Adi was also very courteous and professional throughout the journey. He anticipated and fulfilled every need of each traveler. His guidance absolutely added to the experience. Well done!
Aditya was wonderful. He was very knowledgeable about the wildlife and nature but also very interesting as far as educating us on Indian culture and history. His personality blended all the members of the group together. He is a very caring person and professional also. He was always ready to help—never flustered, angry or impatient. But the most important thing was that you could see he loves what he is doing—being with different kinds of people in nature and showing them his beautiful country of India!
This was our first trip with Nat Hab, and we couldn't have been more pleased! Adi did an excellent job from start to finish and exceeded all of our expectations. We had a fantastic time, saw a lot of tigers and are already looking forward to another Nat Hab adventure with Adi. I would also like to mention that I am most impressed with his devotion to conservation and helping others. He is most definitely an asset to your company and what it stands for!