Ashish Tirkey

Sustainable Tourism Consultant | Hospitality Business Leader | Professional Photographer | Entrepreneur | Lodge Operations Specialist

MY STORY

Firstly, a big Thank You for stopping by my website. If you are here, you are probably curious to know more about me.

My love for the wild began at a very young age in the dense forests of Southern Chhattisgarh from Kondagaon (Bastar), where I accompanied my father, posted as a Range Forest Officer. My early childhood encounters include, sloth bears, leopards, snakes, civets, hyenas, wild elephants, and the unforgettable capture of a man-eating tiger in the mid 1990s by him and the rescue team from Nepal.

These incredible experiences paved my path, and at the age of 23, I formally stepped into Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal and pursued my Post Graduation. With the guidance from my professors, I then, built my foundation on Ecotourism, Rural Business Development, Sustainable Tourism Practices, Wildlife management, Environment Studies, CSR, Project Management, Landscape Restoration Planning, Wildlife Photography, Content writing, Marketing and Sales. Since, then I never looked back.

I love to deliver integrated advantage combining my wildlife domain expertise, hospitality leadership, strategic business development, brand positioning, operational auditing, eco-lodge development, and sustainable practices seeking service excellence and long-term brand equity for institutional partnership, investors, and luxury travel businesses.

It brings me immense joy to celebrate and create this platform to share my learnings, experiences, stories, and wild encounters. Stay tuned.

PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

General Manager | Senior Lodge Manager | Resident Manager

Founder’s Camp, Bandhavgarh National Park – Bagh Tola

Tree House Hideaway Lodge, Bandhavgarh National Park – Pugdundee Safaris

Denwa Backwater Escape, Satpura National Park – Pugdundee Safaris

Daroji Sloth Bear Resort & Karadi Café – JLR

K.Gudi Wilderness Camp, BRT Wildlife Sanctuary – JLR

Kabini River Lodge – Nagarhole National Park – JLR

Achievements

Above 95 percent of 5-Star ratings across Trip Advisor and Google reviews as General Manager

Received Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor for 10 Consecutive years during my tenure as Senior Lodge Manager

Multiple times 5-Star Sustainable Practice ratings received from TOFT

Winner – Best Responsible Tourism Practice Award from TOFT

Successfully developed and implemented SOPs, aligned with luxury hospitality standards

Built and trained local village boys, integrated sustainability and hospitality mindset as Core of lodge operations

Ecotourism & Landscape Restoration Consultant

Worked with

MP Ecotourism Board – Satpura National Park

Maharashtra Forest Department – Tadoba National Park

Madhuban Eco Retreat – Ratapani Tiger Reserve

Commonland’s Landscape Restoration Program – Samerth Charitable Trust C.G

We worked on Sustainable tourism policy, Eco-lodge design and Operations, Waste management systems, Nature-based tourism models, SOPs, Hospitality training, Stakeholder and Community engagement, CSR driven conservation initiatives, Awareness program, Capacity building and Exposure visits.

Wildlife Photographer | Naturalist | Content Creator

I am a visual story-teller, and have documented stories, written blogs, provided social media content, hosted and guided celebrities, global travellers and professional photographers on safaris and the lodges I managed.

Specialist for Central India landscape with 1500+ safaris

Documented Wildlife, Culture, Food, Interiors, and did Brand photography for Lodges & Safari Camps

Published Work –

WWF – Times of India – Undisciplined Environments – Saevus – Traffic – Deccan Herald – Pugdundee Safaris

MY WHERE ABOUTS

Join me this safari season.
Collaborate. Consult. Create. Explore.

Let’s build experiences that protect the wild while elevating hospitality.

Ashish Tirkey is a seasoned Hospitality Professional, Luxury Safari Tour Operator and Sustainable Tourism Consultant with over 17 years of leadership experience across India’s premium Wildlife lodges, and Jungle safari camps.

Recognized for delivering above 95 percent 5-Star ratings across Trip Advisor and Google reviews, he has consistently delivered, trained teams, transformed wilderness properties into high-performing assets, and created award-winning hospitality brands during his tenure.

Accomplishments

Received Certificate of Excellence (5 star rating) on Trip Advisor for the past 11 years for successfully running Pugdundee Safari lodges.
Outstanding Sustainable Practice with (5 star rating) by TOFT thrice since 2013 for Denwa Backwater Escape lodge, Satpura & Treehouse hideaway lodge, Bandhavgarh
Winner of Travelers Choice Award, Best Responsible Tourism Award for reducing plastic waste and implementing sustainable practices at our lodges & resorts

Area of Expertise

Published Work

WWF – Times of India – Undisciplined Environments – Saevus – Traffic – Deccan Herald – Pugdundee Safaris