One of Kenya’s most distinguished safari guides, Paul was born on the northern outskirts of the Maasai Mara National Reserve. He grew up herding cattle on the savanna, where he grew to know the bush and its flora and fauna intimately. His childhood goal was to become a safari guide, and during his youth, he cultivated the necessary knowledge and skills for that endeavor. He spent each day honing his abilities in tracking, birding, recognizing spoor, and identifying animal behavior and alarm calls, expertise that his safari guests benefit from today.

Paul attended colleges in both Kenya and South Africa, earning degrees in natural history and professional guiding. Paul’s passion for photography began while he was a correspondent covering sports and other events for a Kenyan regional newspaper. He purchased an old twin-lens camera and opened a small photo studio specializing in wedding and events photography and taking passport-size photos for students and identifications documents. Paul continued to hone and expand his skills, joining established safari photographers like BBC wildlife show presenter Jonathan Scot in the field.

Paul has worked as a photo safari guide in Kenya, northern Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda for more than 25 years and is one of just 30 Gold Level (highest-ranking) guides in Kenya. He has also received "Best Guide of the Year" recognition from Eco-Warrior Awards in both 2016 and 2017 for his outstanding leadership in safari tourism. Paul has tapped his extensive experience to train other guides as well: He helped set up the first training school for safari guides in the Serengeti, has been involved with training guides in Rwanda and Uganda, and was a director of the Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association (KPSGA). Paul is also a specialist East African birder, a vulture conservation activist, and has conducted research on vultures in the Maasai Mara with the National Museum of Kenya’s Department of Ornithology and the Peregrine Fund. Among all these commitments, he still finds time for his first love: personally guiding guests through the natural wonders of East Africa.

Paul has a special interest in leopards and has worked with the BBC Natural History film unit since 2006 as a leopard tracker and consultant for the BBC’s Big Cat Week and Big Cat Live programs. He was the wildlife still shots photographer for BBC’s Big Cat Diary, and his photos were featured on the DVD cover of the Big Cat Live program in 2008. Paul also took part in shooting the BBC documentary The Truth About Lions in 2009, as well as helping DisneyNature during the filming of African Cats in 2009-10.

Paul focuses on interpreting nature through his photography, taking photos that convey the story and emotion of the moment. He believes that no amount of expensive camera equipment can surpass a deep understanding of animal behavior, and his extensive wildlife knowledge enables him to effectively predict the best photo opportunities for his guests.

Paul’s photographs have been featured in Swara, an East Africa wildlife magazine, as well as newspapers in England, Scotland and elsewhere. View Paul's latest photography portfolio additions on Instagram at @paulonsafari.

Enjoy this selection of Paul's nature photography: