Our Story

Paul Kirui2016

Paul was born near Kenya’s renowned Maasai Mara National Reserve, where he spent his childhood herding cattle and developing an instinctive understanding of the bush. This early connection to wildlife inspired him to pursue formal training in natural history and guiding, earning academic credentials from institutions in both Kenya and South Africa.

With more than 30 years of experience guiding in East Africa—including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda—Paul has built a career rooted in deep field knowledge and a passion for storytelling. He discovered photography while working as a newspaper correspondent and soon developed his talent behind the lens. Mentored by renowned photographers, including the BBC’s Jonathan Scott, he has led countless photo safaris. In 2016 and 2017, Paul was honored as “Best Guide of the Year” by the Eco-Warrior Awards.

Paul has completed more than 400 gorilla treks, making him an unparalleled asset on primate-focused expeditions. His expertise also extends to big cats; since 2006, he has worked with the BBC Natural History Unit as a leopard tracker and consultant on productions such as “Big Cat Week,” “Big Cat Diary” and The Truth About Lions.

For Paul, understanding animal behavior outweighs fancy gear when it comes to wildlife photography. His evocative, story-rich images have appeared in Swara, East Africa’s premier wildlife magazine, among other regional publications. Today, Paul blends science, intuition and visual storytelling to craft safari experiences that are grounded in place and shaped by a lifetime immersed in the wild.

What's in My Camera Bag

My Packing Philosophy

Cameras

Canon R6 Mirrorless

Canon 7D

Lenses

Canon 24-105mm f/1.8 RF

Canon 17-40mm f/1.4 EF

Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 EF

Canon 100-400mm f/5.6-8 RF

Canon 400mm f/4 EF

Canon 1.4x Teleconverter

Other

GoPro camera

128GB Memory cards

Charger + Extra Batteries

Car mount bracket

Justino Tripod with head

Sea to Summit dry bag

Adobe Lightroom editing program

Swarovski 10x42 Binoculars

Blak Rapid Camera Strap

What Our Guests Say

Paul is an exceptional Expedition Leader! He is very knowledgeable, can spot wildlife from a great distance and helps you understand the challenges these animals (and the various ecosystems) face. In addition, he is a great photography leader because he understands how to position the vehicle, intuitively understands what kind of photo you are going for and he helps you achieve amazing photography moments. We are planning to come back to Tanzania specifically because of the fabulous time we had with Paul. We will be requesting Paul for our next private trip!
L. De Boer
Paul was outstanding. His passion, pride and joy for his country and the animals combined with his professionalism, helpfulness and knowledge were contagious. His humor and lyrical explanations are so much a unique part of him; it was a pleasure just to listen to him!
C. Billow
I can't say enough great things about Paul! He was a great guide and went out of his way to make sure everyone was well taken care of and felt important and valued. He did a great job sharing photo tips as well. You can tell he loves what he does. He shared many fun stories and had a great amount of knowledge. He never seemed stressed or harried although I'm sure he had much to take care of behind the scenes. He made sure the group was cohesive and I'd love to travel with Paul again sometime in the future.
L. Harris

Upcoming Adventures with Paul Kirui

Our Story

Our Trips

Polar bears in Churchill by P. Endres

Polar Bear Tours

African Safaris

Galapagos Tours

Alaska Adventures

North Rim of the Grand Canyon Cape Royal

U.S. National Parks Tours

Canada & the North

Europe Adventures

Mexico & Central America Tours

South America Adventures

Asia & Pacific Adventures

Penguins One After Another Jump Into The Blue Water From A Snow-white Iceberg, Antarctica

Antarctica & Arctic Journeys

Photo Expeditions

Adventure Cruises

Women's Journeys

Family Adventures

New Adventures

Questions? Call 800-543-8917

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Hours
Mountain Time

  • 8 am to 5 pm, Monday - Friday

  • 8 am to 3 pm on Saturday

  • Closed on Sunday

Call 800-543-8917
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