World of Wild
About WOW
Wildlife, birding and photography journeys shaped by field experience, ethics and a deep respect for nature.
About World of Wild
Field Experience Behind Every Journey
World of Wild is a specialist birding, wildlife and nature travel company built around a simple idea: a wildlife journey should begin with the wildlife and the traveller, not with the hotel. Our journeys are shaped by habitats, seasons, animal and bird behaviour, photography opportunities and the interests of the people travelling with us.
Manmohan Uniyal
About
Manmohan is a wildlife and bird photographer, birder and expedition leader with more than 15 years of experience in the field. His work has taken him through forests, wetlands, grasslands, mountains and wildlife landscapes across India and abroad.
Before dedicating himself fully to World of Wild, he spent more than two decades in business and leadership roles, including serving as Managing Director of an international healthcare organisation. That experience continues to influence the professional way in which WOW plans journeys and works with travellers from different parts of the world.
Field Expertise
- Wildlife photography
- Bird photography
- Bird and animal behaviour
- Expedition planning
- Habitat understanding
- Photography mentoring
Credentials
- Awarded Photographer ★★★, 1x.com
- Active eBird contributor
- Alumnus, Indian Institute of Photography
- Nature and wildlife writer
- Bird photography mentor
Why World of Wild Began
Wildlife Travel Needed a Different Approach
Before starting World of Wild, Manmohan had spent years travelling, photographing wildlife and observing how wildlife trips were being planned. One thing increasingly stood out to him: wildlife tourism was often treated much like leisure travel. A hotel was selected first, and the wildlife experience was then planned around it.
He also realised that people travelling to the same forest may have completely different needs. A birdwatcher may want to cover different habitats and find as many species as possible. A bird photographer may be willing to spend much longer with a single subject for better light, behaviour or background. A wildlife photographer may structure the day around animal movement and photographic conditions. Someone travelling simply for a relaxing jungle holiday may want an entirely different pace.
These travellers should not all be offered the same itinerary.
When Manmohan began thinking seriously about World of Wild, he followed a simple process. He wrote his passion on a piece of paper and started asking how a professional business could be built around it without losing the understanding, patience and curiosity that had drawn him to wildlife in the first place.
The business model came afterwards. The starting point was the field.
How We Design Wildlife Journeys
Every World of Wild journey begins by understanding the destination, the wildlife and the people travelling with us. The itinerary follows from that understanding.
Wildlife First
We begin with species, habitats, seasons, wildlife movement and realistic field opportunities. Accommodation and logistics are then planned around the experience we want to create.
Different Travellers, Different Journeys
Birdwatchers, bird photographers, wildlife photographers and nature travellers may visit the same destination, but they often need a very different pace, route and amount of time in the field.
Destination Knowledge
Good wildlife travel depends on understanding habitats, seasons, local conditions and how birds and animals use a landscape, not simply knowing the names of popular parks.
Specialist Local Guides
We work with experienced local naturalists, bird guides and safari specialists who know their landscapes closely. The right guide is selected according to the destination and purpose of the journey.
Photography Understanding
For photographers, finding the subject is only part of the experience. Light, distance, background, position, behaviour and enough time with the subject can make the difference between a sighting and a photograph.
Professional Journey Design
Field knowledge is combined with careful planning, practical logistics and an understanding of international travellers to create journeys that work both in the wild and beyond it.
Photographer-Led Expeditions
Our Approach to Bird Photography
At World of Wild, our specialist bird photography journeys are designed with a photographer's understanding of the field. We know that finding a bird is only the beginning. Creating a strong photograph also depends on light, background, shooting angle, bird behaviour and having enough time with the subject.
This changes the way we evaluate and design a photography-focused expedition. A destination may offer exceptional bird diversity but still be difficult for photography. Birds may remain high in the canopy, move through dense forest, appear in difficult light or offer very limited opportunities for clean backgrounds and eye-level images.
Photography-Led Planning
We consider habitat, seasonal bird movement, light conditions, backgrounds, shooting angles and productive time in the field. The objective is not simply to reach a destination with a long species list, but to create meaningful photographic opportunities.
Time With the Subject
A birdwatcher may identify a species and move on. A photographer may need considerably more time for better light, a cleaner perch, eye-level positioning or natural behaviour. Our photography-focused journeys allow for that difference in pace.
Hides & Field Opportunities
Where suitable and ethically managed bird hides are available, we may include hide sessions for closer and more controlled opportunities. These are combined with field photography so guests can photograph both intimate portraits and birds within their natural habitats.
Expedition Leaders & Local Guides
On specialist photography journeys, World of Wild expedition leaders work alongside carefully selected local bird guides and naturalists. Local expertise helps locate and understand the birds, while our photography experience brings attention to light, position, background, behaviour and photographic possibilities.
Photography Knowledge
Years of working with cameras, telephoto lenses and field accessories allow us to help photographers make practical decisions in real conditions, from equipment choices and shooting positions to understanding what the available light can offer.
Ethical Bird Photography
We do not believe in surrounding birds, disturbing habitats or forcing behaviour for a photograph. Our approach is based on patience, fieldcraft and understanding bird behaviour so photography can take place responsibly and with minimal disturbance.
Our Philosophy
World of Wild is built around three things: understanding the destination, understanding the traveller and understanding the field. We believe the best wildlife journeys happen when these come together. That means choosing the right habitats, the right season, the right people and the right pace rather than simply following a standard itinerary. You can read more about this approach on our WOW Difference page.
Our Impact
Travel should help protect the places we love.
WOW partners with local naturalists, drivers, homestays and nature camps so wildlife tourism creates real livelihoods, stronger local participation and deeper conservation awareness.
“A great tour for us is not just tiger or bird sightings. It is how many local people got work because of it, and how many guests returned home with deeper respect for the wild.”
Explore World of Wild
Different ways to experience the wild.
World of Wild works across birding, wildlife and nature photography. Each requires a different understanding of the field, a different pace and, often, a very different journey.
Birding Tours
Specialist birding journeys across India’s forests, wetlands, grasslands and Himalayan landscapes, planned around habitats, seasons and the birds travellers hope to encounter.
Explore Birding Tours →Wildlife Safaris
Wildlife journeys across India’s national parks and reserves, with experiences ranging from tigers and leopards to elephants, rhinos and the wider ecosystems they inhabit.
Explore Wildlife Safaris →Bird Photography
Photography-focused journeys where species and habitat knowledge are considered alongside light, behaviour, backgrounds, positioning and productive time with the subject.
Explore Bird Photography →