Sharad Kumar Vats
Born and brought up in New Delhi, it was Sharad’s childhood passion to play cricket for India. An ardent outdoor athlete, he excelled in every sport he set his mind to. At the time when his peers were preparing for Engineering and Medical entrance exams, he shifted his focus to pursue Hotel Management to build his professional career. After successfully completing his course, he was selected by Asia’s largest hotel group, the Taj Group of Hotels (a TATA Group Enterprise).
At the turn of his first year with the Taj Group, accolades poured in as he was chosen as Employee of the Year. It was soon after that he met his ‘Super Boss’ Mr. Divya Bhanu Sinh Chavda, who was a Wildlife Expert, and an acclaimed author of several books on Indian Wildlife. It was the meetings and interactions with him that inspired Sharad to visit a host of different national parks over the next few years.
From the year 1990 to 1999, Sharad traveled pan India, through the jungles of- Bandhavgarh, Corbett, Dudhwa, Kanha, Bharatpur, and Sariska. He saw his first tiger in the year 1990 at the mere age of 22, but little did he know that this one sighting would engulf him into a realm where forests were all that mattered. While Sharad did continue to grow in the corporate world, he aligned himself to the purpose of living in the wilderness of India and to save the Tiger.
Our Team at Meru Vann
Naren Malik
A natural at tracking the big cat and other wildlife, Naren has been our star naturalist in Kanha since 2006. He has been working with professional wildlife photographers for 15 years and knows exactly what angles to click from. Learning on the job with his photographer friends, Naren too has learnt photography and likes to pick up the camera when he’s not behind the wheel. Travel with this expert on our luxury tour to Central India.
Omkar Wandhare
Born and raised in Chandrapur, near the iconic Tadoba Tiger Reserve, Omkar Wandhare serves as the Assistant Manager – Front Office at Meru Vann. With a deep passion for wildlife and photography, Omkar brings energy and charm to his role, ensuring every guest enjoys an unforgettable experience. Known for his warm demeanor and excellent communication skills, he goes beyond just managing the front office to ensure seamless service and a truly memorable stay at Meru Vann.
Vibhav Srivastava
Vibhav is a conservation biologist with 18 years of experience working in the field of wildlife conservation & ecotourism. He started his career with Wildlife Institute of India where he worked on an all India project on Tigers. Later he worked for Himachal Pradesh forest Department on a project on conflict monkeys of Shimla. In the field of ecotourism he’s worked as a naturalist in Kanha and as a tour guide.
Mohd. Aslam
Mohd Aslam, a seasoned culinary expert with over 17 years of experience, brings his deep love for Indian cuisine to every dish he creates. Known for his supportive leadership and thoughtful management, he inspires his team to deliver their best. As Executive Chef at Meru Vann, he blends expertise with creativity to craft flavors that resonate with guests. His dedication to detail and passion for hospitality ensure every dining experience is both memorable and heartfelt.
Naturalists On Board
A Naturalist makes or breaks your safari experience, and at Meru Vann we ensure that its always the former. Guests will always be accompanied by expert naturalists who have been traversing through the thick and thin of Kanha National Park for almost 2 decades now.
Sanjay Thakre
Having spent most of his life in Kanha, he has developed the skills of tracking big cats, with added insights about the herbal life and its importance in local communities. He was intrigued by various bird calls and sounds, which made him follow them to observe their behaviour and habitats. Having worked in Kanha for 16 years as a naturalist, he is a great companion to be with while exploring the Kanha landscape.
Samsher Khan Aalam
Fondly known as Aalam among guides and drivers, Aalam was born and brought up at the edge of Kanha tiger reserve. His grandfather was a forest guard since british time, so he grew up listening jungle stories from his grandfather. He always wanted to be connected with nature so decided to be a naturalist.
He has been driving in park over a decade and having very good knowledge of animal behavior with flora & fauna of kanha. He is an excellent bird watcher and was involved in a tree survey in kanha.
His passion and love for wildlife can be seen if one goes on safari with him!
Mahesh Gop
Mahesh Gop, age 33, has been working in the Kanha tiger reserve as a naturalist for over a decade. His father was an assistant mahaut with park management during the re-establishment of villages from the core, and his family also was shifted to the buffer area of Kanha from the core. He grew up seeing wildlife around and chose guiding and driving in the park, had worked with WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) for 6 months in the Kanha to Pench corridor, and completed the ‘Pronats’ course conducted by WFS associated with Pungdundee safaris in the Satpura tiger Reserve. Mahesh is passionate about bird watching and big cat tracking.
