Mahen Sanghrajka
Mahen Sanghrajka, a native of Kenya, grew up with a deep fascination for the wildlife and native cultures of his homeland. His lifelong commitment to conservation began during the 1970’s when he collaborated with zoologists of the British Chipperfield Foundation in a project tracking, tagging and studying elephant and rhino populations of Kenya and Uganda.
His love of the African continent and its wildlife was further nurtured during participation in research projects studying lowland and mountain gorillas in the rain forests of Rwanda and Zaire. From these beginnings, arose lifetime devotion for the animals, peoples, and natural habitats of the world.
Following marriage to Usha Mehta, Mahen Sanghrajka established Big Five Tours in Nairobi in 1973. The company grew swiftly and is now recognized among the leading tour operators in East Africa.
In 1985, Mahen moved with his family to the United States, where he launched Big Five's North America operations. The company has since expanded its luxury, crafted vacation programs to the farthest corners of the globe, with specialized tours throughout Africa, South & Central America (including the Galapagos Islands), Asia & the Orient, South Pacific, Antarctica & the Arctic. The company was ranked among Top Three Tour Operators & Safari Outfitters by Travel + Leisure in 2004.
Mahen and Usha have 1 son, Ashish who is also in the business and is married Purvi.