OUR TEAM

But inside, I felt disillusioned, quietly asking myself, ‘Is this all there is?’ I was craving more: more meaning, more connection, more life. Then divine timing intervened. I received an email from my dear friend Mandy Stein, founder of Neema International, a nonprofit in Tanzania focused on empowering vulnerable children through education and providing other necessary long-term support. In her message, she explained that she was organizing the first-ever charity climb up Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for a new school building.

I’d supported Neema since 2012 and had been sponsoring a brilliant young girl named Anna through her private education. This climb would allow me to both fundraise for the project and finally meet her in person. I said yes, quit my job without a backup plan, and boarded a plane to Africa.

What was meant to be a two-week trip became the beginning of a much bigger journey.

My time in Tanzania made me fall in love with the continent, and I vowed to return. In 2016, I embarked on a year-long Professional Field Guide course with EcoTraining in South Africa and Botswana, where I trained to become a safari guide and deepened my connection to the land, wildlife, and rhythms of the bush. From there, I dove into the world of African travel, receiving mentorship from industry leaders such as Africa 360 Travel and SafariScapes & Aviation, while traveling extensively across the continent. Each adventure sharpened my knowledge of the places I now curate, giving me an intimate understanding of what makes a journey not only special but truly soul-stirring. In 2018, I founded Hope African Adventures to merge my love for Africa with a passion for purposeful, personalized travel. Since then, I have built a life and business rooted in a deeper calling, guiding others through transformational experiences across this extraordinary continent.

Yet Africa shaped me in more ways than just professionally. Alongside my career path, my years here led me through profound personal growth, helping me navigate life transitions throughout my 20s and early 30s and heal my soul in ways I never imagined. I’ve faced the challenges of addressing my mental health, overcoming anxiety, perfectionism, and dependencies, and navigating love, breakups, and the realities of living solo in a foreign land. I’ve also experienced incredible successes, such as introducing first-time travelers to the magic of Africa, and I’ve weathered challenges, including the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through it all, I’ve learned the power of stepping into the unknown. And because I’ve walked this path, I am able to guide others through their own journeys, wherever they may be.