When Wild Tiger Rum’s Gautom Menon and Paul George drive their customized “TRiger” Tata Hexa on to the Croisette in Cannes on September 28, they will have completed an epic 65 day, 25,000 plus km journey through 25 countries taking the conversation about tiger conservation across borders.
Wild Tiger’s Roar Trip project aims to raise both awareness and money for an issue that is near and dear to Wild Tiger Founder and Chief Brand Officer Menon’s heart, by providing on-ground support to help protect tigers and other wildlife around two Tiger Reserves in Southern India, Parambikulam in Kerala and Sathyamangalam in Tamil Nadu.
TMI spoke to Menon as they stopped in Russia, nearly 50 days into their trek.
“When we created the schedule, 25 countries in 65 days, we really did not know if we were going to be on schedule, because literally anything can happen. There are so many different political scenarios. We’ve 
seen every type of climatic challenge- whether it’s floods, landslides, roadblocks, or bridges breaking. Incredibly we are still on track. We are exactly where we needed to be,” says Menon.
“I’d like to tell you the experience is life changing, but it is so early to say that because we are just living in the moment. There is so much happening. We are driving 700-800 kilometers a day, sometimes 10 to 14 or 15 hours door to door. We are meeting a lot of people, a lot of Indian Embassy visits, friends, and members of the duty free industry. The trip is not something that is going to sink in any time soon. We are absolutely living in the moment and soaking in the sights, enjoying the different cuisines, and enjoying the different cultures we see.
“There is a lot you see when you are on the road and how things gradually change. It is quite different from hopping on a plane or train.”
Wild Tiger Foundation is the corporate social responsibility initiative by Wild Tiger Rum, with the company donated 10% of its profits to the cause.
The Roar Trip began in Kerala, India at the end of July, stopping at tiger preserves, Indian embassies, and duty free shops, before ending in Cannes for the TFWA World Exhibition. To find out more information about the epic journey or to donate to this worthy cause please visit www.roartrip.in.
