Full Breakdown
Women Guides Transform Safari Experience in Central India
8/28/2026, 12:53:37 AM
Core Event
Since 2015, women in Maharashtra’s Tadoba and Bandhavgarh tiger reserves have become forest-department-appointed safari guides, reshaping wildlife tourism. The first six women, led by Shahnaz Suleman Baig, now work alongside dozens of peers, while training programs such as Pugdundee Safaris’ ProNat have expanded pathways for women across the region.
Background & Context
Safari guiding in India was traditionally male-dominated, with entry through on-the-job apprenticeship. In 2010, naturalist Ratna Singh began training local women in Bandhavgarh, later mentoring over 2,500 people, including 250 women. Tadoba’s forest department officially recruited its first female guides in 2015 and now employs 52 women guides.
Key Figures & Groups
- Shahnaz Suleman Baig – forest-department guide in Tadoba, co-owner of a homestay.
- Maya Jengathe – original guide; earns up to $14 USD per day.
- Manav Khanduja – co-founder of Pugdundee Safaris, creator of ProNat.
- Prabhu Nath Shukla – field director of Tadoba, advocate for women’s inclusion.
- Ratna Singh – early trainer in Bandhavgarh.
Data & Statistics
- Tadoba employs 52 women guides; ProNat has 270 alumni (35 women) working in parks.
- Singh’s training reached 2,500 people, 250 of whom are women.
- Women guides in Tadoba earn up to $14 USD per day, often doubling that in tips, enabling household incomes of $500 USD per month or more.
Official Statements & Responses
Ratna Singh notes that women guides tend to follow park rules more closely, reducing off-track excursions.
On-the-Ground Reports
Guides report a shift in visitor dynamics: solo female travelers and families increasingly request women guides, finding them “more polite” and better at storytelling. Suryanshi Thakur, a 26-year-old guide in Bandhavgarh, says gender “ceases to matter” once in the forest, with success measured by the ability to “interpret nature” for guests.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Everyone still stares when they see women wearing safari fatigues and leading tourists into the forest,” — Shahnaz Suleman Baig
- “Women guides are better at following the rules; for instance, they’re less likely to veer off the designated paths just to follow or spot a tiger!” — Ratna Singh
- “When women earn, their entire family flourishes,” — Prabhu Nath Shukla
Why It Matters
Increasing women’s participation in safari guiding provides vital livelihoods where formal employment for women is limited. Higher incomes enable families to afford better education and housing, while the presence of women guides improves visitor experiences and encourages adherence to conservation protocols.
What’s Next
ProNat’s next cohort will be offered during the low season (August–September), though the program’s $1,200 USD fee remains a barrier for many aspiring women guides. Expanded free government training and broader employer commitment could further close the gender gap in India’s wildlife sector.
