Before I ever planned a trip, I spent over a decade working hands-on as an animal behaviorist in professional marine mammal care - working directly with cetaceans, pinnipeds, penguins, tigers, and assisting with marine mammal rescue & rehabilitation. I spent my days studying their behavior, building trusting relationships with individual animals, and developing the kinds of intimate knowledge of marine wildlife that most people never get close to.
That background changed how I experience the world. When I'm on the bow of a ship in Antarctic waters and a humpback surfaces twenty meters away, I'm not just watching - I'm reading the behavior, understanding what that animal is doing and why. When a pod of orcas appears off the coast of Alaska, or a colony of Galapagos sea lions spills across the rocks, I see it through a decade of working intimately with those same species. That kind of understanding isn't something you can learn from a travel brochure, and it's not something most travel advisors can offer.
My first trip to Europe - wandering through medieval streets, standing on coastal cliffs in Ireland, feeling the weight of centuries in places that felt almost alive - lit something I couldn't put down. I realized that the way I experienced the natural world through a zoologist's lens could completely transform how someone travels. Not just what they see, but how deeply they understand it.
That realization became Endless Wanderlust. I am based in the Ozark Mountains of North Central Arkansas, where I live with my family. I work with travelers nationwide, and I bring the same care to every itinerary that I brought to every animal I ever studied - because the details matter, the context matters, and getting it right makes all the difference.
I spent a decade studying wildlife. now i'll help you experience it.
Zoologist. Marine Mammal Behaviorist. Travel designer. I spent over a decade working hands-on with whales, dolphins, tigers, exotic birds, manatees, penguins, and sea lions - and now I design expeditions that take you to observe them throughout the world.
meet amanda king
It started in the field, not in a brochure.
my story
A Zoologist Plans Your Trip Differently
why it matters
I only work with operators who share a genuine commitment to wildlife welfare and ethical travel. I know which safari camps position you for the best sightings at the right time of year. I know which expedition cruise lines hire naturalists who can actually explain what you're seeing - not just point at it.
Wildlife moves. Migration patterns, breeding seasons, feeding behaviors - these rhythms determine what you'll witness and when. I plan your trip around the animals, not the other way around.
With every expedition cruise or African safari booked through Endless Wanderlust, I make a donation to a wildlife conservation foundation based in the region you're traveling to. The places worth visiting are worth protecting - and your journey plays a direct role in that.
The same attention I bring to wildlife travel shapes my European itineraries. Ireland, Scotland & Italy aren't destinations I've researched - they're places I've experienced, and I design itineraries that go far beyond the tourist trail into the landscapes, history, and character that make each country extraordinary.
european depth
conservation commitment
seasonal intelligence
operator & guide selection
expertise & training
I've invested deeply in professional training across every area I specialize in - because the travelers who trust me with their bucket-list trips deserve an advisor who knows every detail of what they're booking.
credentials built in the field and the industry
-Zoology degree with 10+ years as a professional animal behaviorist specializing in marine mammals - cetaceans, pinnipeds, and penguins - in a professional zoological setting.
-Expedition cruise specialist - trained across small-ship and polar expedition voyage planning including National Geographic Lindblad, Quark Expeditions, HX Expeditions and many more.
-African safari specialist - trained in safari logistics, ethical operator selection, and regional conservation.
-Ireland, Scotland & Italy destination specialist
-Extensive supplier training across luxury lodges, boutique hotels, and expedition operators
-Affiliate of Trips & Ships - access to preferred partner rates, exclusive inventory, and industry resources.
-Nationwide service - based in North Central Arkansas, working with travelers across the United States.
travel should leave you with more than photos
My philosophy is simple: the best travel experiences are the ones that change how you see the world. Not just what you ticked off a list, but what you actually understood - the ecosystem you stepped into, the culture you sat with, the landscape that made you feel genuinely small.
Every itinerary I design starts with a conversation about who you are as a traveler and what you want to feel on this trip. Not just where you want to go. I handle every detail - from expedition ship selection and safari camp positioning to train connections through the Scottish Highlands and hidden agriturismos in Tuscany - so you can arrive fully present and simply experience it.
I specialize in the kinds of trips most people dream about for years before booking. My job is to make sure the reality matches - and usually exceeds - everything they imagained.