Lavanya Sunkara, originally from South India, moved to New York City as a teenager and graduated from Fordham University. A transformative backpacking trip through Kenya and Tanzania ignited her passion for wildlife conservation, leading her to become a purpose-driven travel journalist. Over the last decade, she has undertaken numerous adventures across six continents, documenting her experiences in top publications and advocating for the protection of endangered species.

Her most cherished animal encounters include caring for wallaby joeys in rural Australia, tracking mountain gorillas in Rwanda, swimming with whale sharks in Mexico, and strolling alongside giant tortoises in the Galapagos. A particularly profound experience was meeting Najin and Fatu, the last two northern white rhinos in Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy, which solidified her dedication to conserving the planet’s most vulnerable beings.

During Nat Hab’s Southern Africa Odyssey trip, she witnessed hundreds of elephants and the endangered painted dog at Hwange National Park. More recently, she had the joy of seeing Arctic fox babies and humpback whales up close on a Nat Hab adventure in Iceland.

As a member of the Adventure Communications Content Team, Sunkara continues to inform travelers about conservation issues. When not on the road, she enjoys life in suburban Long Island, New York, with her husband, three cats and a dog. Her personal interests include hiking, gardening, cooking vegan food, and volunteering at pet adoption events. She is also passionate about DEI advocacy, implementing climate change solutions, and uplifting marginalized voices.