Today we’d like to introduce you to Katherine Kuntz.
Hi Katherine, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Hi! My name is Katherine Kunz, and I am a proud Texan, born and raised in Houston. I went to River Oaks Baptist School from Pre-K through eighth grade, then Episcopal High School for my high school years. After graduating in 2010, I went on to the University of Texas (Hook ’Em Horns) and studied business at the McCombs School of Business. During college, I was a member of both the cheerleading and pom squads, and I also joined a sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma. Everything was moving along as intended until the spring of my sophomore year, when my world was suddenly turned upside down.
In 2012, my mom was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, a very aggressive form of cancer. She was told she would only have three to six months to live if she didn’t receive a bone marrow transplant from someone who was a “match” for her. I wasn’t a match, which meant it would have to come from a stranger who had registered to be a donor. Miraculously, my mom matched with a perfect donor in the database. She was able to receive the transplant, and her body accepted it, which ultimately saved her life.
Going through this challenging time strengthened my faith in a whole new way and allowed me to truly feel and see the presence of God / Source / Higher Power and its work in our lives. It was also my first real experience with life and death that hit so close to home. Those insights changed everything for me. I realized that life is precious and fleeting. As a result, I felt called to lead my life then with greater love and intention, giving back selflessly to others in need, just as that stranger had done for my family. As I stepped into this new mindset, the first of several divine opportunities entered my life.
Around the same time as my mother’s diagnosis and the beginning stages of her treatment, I reconnected with a high school friend, Mandy Stein, while at UT. She told me about the nonprofit she had founded in Tanzania called Neema International, which is dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty through education, community engagement, and sustainable development. In Tanzania, 74% of children are affected by multidimensional poverty. In the poorest villages, mothers often have between five and ten children, and because of this high birth rate, nearly half the population is under 15 years old. These realities leave many children orphaned and without access to the education, healthcare, or support they need to rise above their circumstances.
To bring about change to these sobering statistics, Mandy shared with me that one of Neema’s most important initiatives is its Sponsorship Program, which invests directly in individual children by providing them with private school education, guidance, healthcare, and the supplies they need to pursue a brighter future. Hearing all of this, especially while walking through such a personal and emotional chapter in my own life, inspired me to get involved. I decided to sponsor a young girl named Anna so she could attend private school. I also became a passionate advocate for the organization, sharing their incredible work with friends, family, and anyone else who would listen.
After graduating from college in 2014, I returned to Houston and took a job at a high-profile public relations agency, so I could be close to my mom while she was still undergoing treatment. On the surface, it looked like everything was falling into place. I was learning quickly, attending exciting events, meeting inspiring business owners, working alongside talented women, and earning a solid income. But on the inside, I was deeply unfulfilled. Each day felt like the same exhausting loop, battling traffic, working long hours, juggling stress, then distracting myself with socializing or entertainment before doing it all again. What I was doing wasn’t lighting me up, and it felt empty compared to the genuine fulfillment I found in supporting Anna through my friend’s nonprofit, Neema.
As a result, these thoughts kept coming up: “This can’t be what life is all about. There has to be something more out there filled with more meaning, more connection, more purpose.”
As I sat in that season of questioning, another divine opportunity appeared. Mandy reached out to share that she was organizing Neema’s first-ever charity climb up Mount Kilimanjaro, where participants would summit the mountain while raising funds for a new school building. I felt an immediate pull to join to help raise funds, to witness the organization’s work firsthand, and to finally meet Anna in person.
From there, I committed to the climb and began fundraising. As the trip approached, my dissatisfaction with my job grew stronger. About a month before I was set to leave, I made a bold decision that went against every expectation of my parents, my circle, and greater society…I quit my job without a backup plan. I set the intention that I would use this time in Africa to step away from everything familiar, gain clarity about the path I was meant to walk, and explore how I could contribute to the world in a more meaningful way. That one decision changed the course of my life forever.
My first trip to Africa was profound in every sense of the word. It began with an exhilarating solo safari with a private guide. The breathtaking landscapes, the rhythm of daily life, the colors, the sounds, all of it was so new and alive. Also, seeing how closely people lived in connection with nature moved me deeply, especially coming from the fast-paced city life of Houston. And the wildlife, watching lions, giraffes, and elephants roaming wild and free, felt nothing short of magical.
From there, I set out on the Kilimanjaro climb with 18 others, all united by the same purpose: to support Neema International and reach the summit together. Over six days, we passed through every imaginable landscape, including lush rainforest, barren desert, rocky alpine slopes, and finally, the icy snows at the top. It felt as though the outer journey mirrored the transformation happening within me. For the first time in my life, I experienced deep, profound quiet, away from the noise and constant stimulation of the modern world. In that stillness, I could finally hear my own voice. Beyond what was familiar, I found myself asking: “What am I passionate about? How do I truly want to give back to this world?”
After the climb, I visited Neema’s school and facilities, where I finally met Anna. Seeing firsthand that she was thriving in school and building a brighter future brought everything full circle for me. In that moment, I knew: this was just the beginning of my story in Africa.
I returned home completely transformed. Something inside me had awakened, and I felt a deep pull to continue contributing to be part of something larger than myself. I began researching how I could build a life and career connected to Africa, and it was then that I discovered EcoTraining, an organization offering an intensive, year-long safari guide program where you live in remote bush camps and train under some of the most respected guides in the field. This intrigued me immensely.
So, once again, I chose to follow my heart. From 2016 to 2017, I traveled to South Africa and Botswana to complete my professional safari guide training with EcoTraining. I lived in unfenced bush camps and learned from legendary mentors. After my training, I transitioned into the travel-planning side of the safari world, working with respected mentors such as Africa 360 Travel and SafariScapes & Aviation to understand the logistics, relationships, and creativity required to design life-changing journeys. I also spent years traveling across the continent, visiting lodges and destinations firsthand to gain a deep understanding of what makes a trip to Africa truly spectacular.
Out of all these experiences, Hope African Adventures was born, a company now devoted to curating deeply intentional journeys for travelers seeking the same kind of transformative experience that once changed my own life. What began as a moment of faith and surrender has evolved into a lifelong calling: to help others discover the beauty, wisdom, and renewal that Africa so graciously offers.
To date, we’ve served more clients from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Chile, Ecuador, and South Africa, and have sent them to 13 different African countries.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road of entrepreneurship has most definitely not been smooth. That’s for sure! Just like life, it’s full of twists and turns, especially when you choose to build something of your own and forge a path that’s different from what your particular culture or society is doing.
One of the greatest challenges I have faced to date was the global pandemic. While COVID impacted the entire world, it hit the travel industry almost immediately and for an exceptionally long time. Because travel is considered a discretionary expense and borders were closed worldwide, it was one of the last industries to recover. Travel to Africa, in particular, took even longer to bounce back since it’s still a more specialized destination with smaller numbers compared to mass-market regions that tourists travel to.
Before the pandemic, when I launched Hope African Adventures in 2018, things were just beginning to take off. My first full year of running tours in 2019 was filled with excitement, with an assortment of beautiful trips that took place with wonderful clients. It truly felt like everything I had envisioned was finally coming to life. By early 2020, momentum was building and more bookings were lined up…And then, almost overnight, the world stopped.
Travel came to a screeching halt. Everything I had worked so hard to build suddenly felt like it had collapsed. It was heartbreaking. But in the midst of that massive upheaval, it also became one of my greatest teachers. It taught me how to rise. It taught me resilience, to adapt, to persevere, and to find purpose even in the waiting.
Since there was nothing I could do to change the state of the world, I pivoted. I took on other work to stay afloat while continuing to nurture my existing clients, keeping them encouraged, inspired, and hopeful until they could finally travel again. Through it all, I never let go of the vision. I stayed hopeful, kept my spirit alive, and trusted that travel would return, and when it did, I would be ready to help people experience Africa in the most meaningful way possible.
By 2023, travel had returned, and so had the growth of my business. On the outside, things were moving forward again, but inside, I actually had reached a breaking point. I had poured so much of myself into rebuilding that I hadn’t been caring for my own well-being. I burned out. My health and wellness were suffering, and I realized I could no longer pour from an empty cup. I needed to step back and restore myself.
That season became the beginning of my true spiritual awakening. I reconnected with God / Source / Higher Power in a new, profound way that brought immense clarity and powerful insights. Throughout the rest of 2023 and 2024, I made my healing a priority, nurturing my mind, body, and soul, learning to slow down, regulating my nervous system, listening to the divine wisdom within, and realigning my life and business from a more grounded place.
Looking back now, I see that every one of these challenges, from the uncertainty of the pandemic to the burnout that followed, was part of my evolution. Each season tested my strength and deepened my faith, ultimately shaping both Hope African Adventures and me into something far more intentional, soulful, and resilient than before.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The Importance of What We Do & Why It Matters Our mission at Hope African Adventures is to educate, coach, and match journeys to Africa for curious travelers seeking a transformative life experience. In essence, we are a travel agency, but our unique focus and specialized approach set us apart from others in the industry, as we go much deeper with our clients on a psychological and emotional level.
Travel to Africa, no matter the budget or style, is always a significant investment. Whether someone is spending $2,000 backpacking or $20,000 on a high-end safari, it’s often a once-in-a-lifetime journey. Because of that, most travelers come to Africa seeking something more than just sightseeing. They may not realize it consciously at first, but they’re drawn by something deeper, a longing to step out of their comfort zones, to expand their perspectives, and to be reshaped by what they encounter along the way.
This is why what we as travel planners do carries such great responsibility. And that is why our process is intentionally designed to go far beyond logistics and surface-level planning, ensuring that what we create for each client isn’t just any trip, but an experience that reflects who they are, the season of life they’re in, and what they’re truly hoping to gain from their time in Africa.
Because Africa isn’t just a destination, it’s a mirror, a teacher, and a sacred space that calls us back to something ancient and intuitive. In a world that moves fast and asks us to do the same, Africa invites you to slow down. To step away from the noise and remember what truly matters in this life.
Our Unique Process
At Hope African Adventures, every journey begins by asking one simple, yet powerful question:
“Why do you want to travel to Africa…And why now?”
From there, we go deeper, exploring the layers behind what’s drawing you to this journey. Once your special “why” begins to take shape, we then match you with the people, places, and experiences across the continent that align with that purpose.
To bring this discovery to life, we begin with an in-depth get-to-know-you session, followed by the creation of your personalized Adventurer Discovery Guide, a signature framework I developed to help travelers uncover their core motivations, emotional needs, and authentic travel style within the context of exploring Africa during this season of life.
Here’s a glimpse into how this guide comes together:
– Shape Your Story – We learn who you are, what season of life you’re in, and what’s calling you to Africa now.
– Reveal Your “Why” – We explore your emotional landscape and define the deeper reasons behind your pull to Africa.
– Determine Your Essence – We identify your internal needs, desired pace, and the energy you’re craving from this adventure.
– Identify Your Core Theme – We clarify your intentions and emotional outcomes for the journey.
– Curate Pathways Forward – We translate all of this into tailored recommendations for countries, properties, and experiences that align with your personal story.
Only once our travelers’ “why” feels clear and the direction feels aligned do we then move into crafting their full, customized itinerary, complete with routings, pricing, and all the thoughtful details that bring their vision to life.
This is how we stand apart: by designing journeys that are soulfully matched to who are clients truly are, rather than offering generic packages or one-size-fits-all experiences.
Here is a link to the Adventurer Discovery Guides we’ve created for our ideal clients.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nz_MoKUciZ3wFp_-Y8RVLBxtTBoRkc4i?usp=drive_link
From Preparation to Impact
Once our client’s itinerary is confirmed, we move into a thorough pre-departure phase with them. Beyond providing support with packing lists, visas, travel insurance, travel medicine, etc., we focus on preparing their heart and mind for what awaits. Each month leading up to departure, clients receive personalized “Fun Emails,” a mix of educational resources, news stories, podcasts, and documentaries about Africa to deepen connection and anticipation before their journey even begins. Then, throughout our clients’ travels, my business partner and I are available behind the scenes to ensure everything runs smoothly and as intended.
But our work doesn’t end when the trip begins…Every journey with Hope African Adventures is designed to create a ripple effect that extends far beyond the traveler’s personal experience. Each adventure directly contributes to conservation and community upliftment. Through every safari lodge stay or other local experience, our travelers help sustain livelihoods, support families, and protect Africa’s wild spaces for generations to come. It’s the true essence of ecotourism: the presence of travelers alone helps preserve the very places they’ve come to enjoy, experience, and connect with.
And that ripple continues even further. When clients travel with us specifically, they also directly support Neema International, the nonprofit in Tanzania that first opened the door to Africa for me. Our continued sponsorship efforts have allowed Anna, the young girl I began supporting in college, to graduate from university and launch her own tour company, African Trek & Travel. We now actively send clients her way. In addition, we are also sponsoring her younger brother, Baraka, as he begins his own university studies. And beyond that, we also contribute funds to other critical projects that Neema is leading.
What I’m Most Proud Of
What makes me proudest, brand-wise, is knowing that Hope African Adventures has evolved into something much more than a travel company. It’s become a vessel for transformation for travelers, for communities, and for the continent itself.
Every journey we design is a co-creation: part soul work, part adventure, part contribution. It’s an invitation to rediscover yourself through the spirit of Africa and to leave something meaningful behind in return.
What were you like growing up?
I’ve always been a curious and spirited soul. As a child, I was endlessly fascinated by ancient history, especially Egypt, and dreamed of becoming an archaeologist. I could spend hours reading about lost civilizations and imagining what it would be like to uncover their hidden stories. I was also captivated by the tales portrayed in The Jungle Book and Pocahontas, which stirred my imagination and nurtured a longing for freedom, independence, and adventure beyond the familiar. Looking back, I can see how those early interests planted the seeds for what would later become my life’s path, one rooted in travel, nature, and exploration.
I was the kid who was happiest barefoot and outdoors, always testing the limits of what I could do physically. Whether climbing trees, swinging at the park, swimming in the pool, or scouting out secret spots, I was determined, fearless, and full of energy.
Personality-wise, I was a bubbly child, always talking (and a bit loud at times), sharing ideas, and asking endless questions. I loved people, wildlife, and the world around me, and I was always eager to try something new. That same curiosity and zest for life have never really left me. That has simply evolved into a deep passion for connecting with others, discovering new places, and helping people experience the wonder of Africa in their own meaningful way.
Pricing:
- Budget Trips Price Range = USD $2.5K – 5K Per Person
- Mid-Range Trips Price Range = USD $5K – $7.5K Per Person
- Luxury Trips Price Range = USD $10K+ Per Person
- *NOTE: Price ranges above exclude international airfare to/from Africa.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hopeafricanadventures.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopeafricanadventures
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopeafricanadventures
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hopeafricanadventures
Image Credits
Katherine Kuntz, Anne Morley, Anita Lominac, Suzanne Beck, and Rebekah Geagea
