Rashid Ali 2012
Rashid’s passions are natural history and wildlife conservation. As a child growing up in a family of naturalists, Rashid developed a keen interest in the natural world as the family visited many wildlife parks and nature reserves in India and abroad. It wasn’t surprising that he pursued a career as a professional naturalist guide, spending much of his adult life living and working in India’s national parks, including the famous tiger sanctuaries of Kanha and Ranthambhore. In Kanha he managed a lodge, facilitated guide training programs and conducted tiger census surveys. He also coordinated with the BBC’s Natural History Unit on several projects in Kanha. In addition to sharing India’s nature treasures with guests, Rashid has also guided Indian travelers through Europe, though it wasn’t long before he was drawn back to the wild homelands he loves. Most recently he has been working on a conservation project in the Western Ghats of South India’s Kerala region. Rashid and his Irish wife, Jan, share their home with two children and a collection of extraordinary animals. They live in Pune, where Rashid and his son are regularly called upon to use their skills in handling snakes.
What Our Guests Say
Rashid was an outstanding Expedition Leader in all respects. He set expectations brilliantly and really cared for the members of the group. Safety considerations within his control were handled perfectly by Rashid. He's one of the best I've encountered, having been on many such trips. I would use Rashid again and recommend him to others without hesitation!
Of the hundreds of trips I've been on, the Expedition Leader on this trip was the best (and I can be quite critical). He was always thinking ahead and prepared us for each day. He was careful to divide his time equally between participants and took an interest in each of us. He represented Nat Hab well. He spoke well and was easy to understand—it was obvious that he had a lot of experience in trip leadership.
Rashid was so knowledgeable about India, the animals, birds, customs and religion, and he made it all fun to learn. His enthusiasm was infectious, and he treated everyone's questions seriously and intelligently. You could tell he loved his job and enjoyed people. He had a good sense of humor and was excellent at discerning when people needed a diversion
