What made you write an autobiography?
People often look at someone and wish they could do what that person did, but soon they figure out a reason why they can’t. The point is, they can if only they believe in themselves. This book is the link between the dreams and the journey with which I want to inspire people. I want to tell them that I could do it only because I was determined and persisted with my dream.
I had a traumatic childhood but I also lived an extraordinary life. Each of us can have it if we don’t stop when we encounter problems.
You mentioned a difficult childhood. What had happened?
I lost my father at a very early age and that affected me psychologically. I started imagining illnesses.
We are all fascinated by big cats but they scare us too. How did your relationship with big cats begin?
I never had any fear of big cats and the credit for that goes to the way I grew up in a farm. I loved the outdoors and the big cats appeared fascinating to me even as a child. As a child, I would visit my aunt in London and she would take me to the zoo and circus where I saw these animals in captivity. It was then that I decided to see them in the wild.
Also, I have always loved adventures and facing my fears.
What inspired you to move to Africa?
I was inspired by George & Joy Adamson, who lived in Kenya along with a lioness. I was around 16 years old when I saw a movie based on them, titled <Born Free>. That was it, I knew I wanted to go to Africa.
After graduation, my professor asked me what I wanted to do next and I told him that I wanted to be with wild animals. He advised me against it saying that I didn’t have an income and should go for a job instead.
Years later when he saw BBC’s ‘The Big Cat Diaries’, he wrote to me saying that he was glad that I didn’t listen to him. He even invite me to college in 2006 and honored me with a‘Graduate of the year’ award.
Tell us about the journey between London and Africa.
After graduation, I took a gap year and saved money for a trip from London to Johannesburg in a truck. It took me four months and I covered 6,000 miles experiencing the richness of Africa. When I arrived there, I told them that I was not going back. But the problem was what would I do next? I noticed that people in South Africa were selling paintings and as I was always good at drawing, decided to be an artist. I also learned photography. After doing a series of odd jobs for the next two years, I went to east Africa. Somebody was looking for a person to camp in Masai Mara, I volunteered and became a guide. Life kept on building gradually.
How did TV happen?
I was lucky because TV found me. They wanted to do a show and knew me as somebody who understood big cats and could help them. Later they asked me to present the show as well saying that I spoke well.
Who is your favourite big cat? And, why?
Without a doubt it is the leopard since it is like me. The animal is self sufficient and can look after himself. I am a loner who is comfortable on his own. I am very sociable but I do not need people. This is how the leopard is.
