Paul Kirui2016
Paul was born near Kenya’s famed Maasai Mara National Reserve, where herding cattle as a boy gave him a deep, instinctive understanding of the bush. That early connection with wildlife led him to pursue formal training in natural history and guiding, earning degrees from institutions in Kenya and South Africa.
His guiding career spans more than 30 years across East Africa, including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda. Along the way, Paul developed a sharp eye for photography, buying his first camera while working as a newspaper correspondent. He later trained alongside renowned photographers, including BBC’s Jonathan Scott, and has led countless photo safaris. In 2016 and 2017, he was named “Best Guide of the Year” by the Eco-Warrior Awards.
With upwards of 400 gorilla treks to his name, Paul brings unmatched field experience to 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. His contributions include Big Cat Week, Big Cat Diary, and the documentary The Truth About Lions.
When it comes to wildlife photography, Paul believes understanding animal behavior is more powerful than gear, and it shows in his evocative, story-driven images. His work has appeared in Swara, East Africa’s leading wildlife magazine, and regional publications. Today, Paul blends science, storytelling and still imagery to create safari experiences that are rooted in place, built on instinct and guided by a life lived close to the wild.
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!
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!
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.
