The Enaidura Guide Team – Lalashe Guide Co Op
Johnson Ping’ua Nkukuu (Ping)
Paul Kirui
Johnson Ping’ua Nkukuu
Ping is an extraordinary guide, named one of Conde Nast’s Best 25 Safari Guides for all of Africa. He possesses an uncanny ability to predict animal behavior, making him legendary for predicting the perfect position during action events.
Ping is a Maasai, and time spent with him is excellent for cultural learning. As a boy, Ping was always interested in the wildlife and environment around him. His early days in guiding included a long stint guiding for CC Africa, which had an outstanding training program including time spent in South Africa and under the tutelage of Kenyan legend Paul Kirui.
A unique opportunity arose when Ping was recruited to help Disney create and open their Animal Kingdom Park in Florida. This allowed Ping to experience living in America and increase his knowledge of cultures from around the world, which he credits to making him a better guide.
Paul Kirui
Paul Kirui is among the most accomplished guides in all of Africa. Paul was just the second guide in Kenya to achieve Gold Level Status, Paul is Chairman of the Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association, and in 2014 was named one of Conde Nast’s 15 Safari Guide Legends. He most recently earned the Ecotourism Guide of the Year Award in 2016.
Paul is well known from his outstanding work guiding film crews for their productions. Since 2006, Paul has worked with the BBC Natural History unit as a consultant for the leopard filming crew during the Big Cat Week and Big Cat Live programs. He also guided film crews for the BBC’s documentary, The Truth About Lions, in 2009 and Disney Nature during the filming of African Cats.
In addition to guiding, Paul conducts research on vultures in the Masai Mara in association with the National Museum and the Peregrine Fund. He is also assisting with training and developing a guide grading system in Rwanda.
There’s no doubt Masai Mara is Paul’s home, and he knows it as well as anyone, but he also has great experience guiding in Northern Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda. Guiding and wildlife photography are Paul’s passions and he is always keen to share these magical places with his guests.