airboat swamp adventures

Although my husband and I visited Swamp Adventures in November when not many alligators are seen, we had the chance to spot a few.Gary was our guide and he made the trip amazing. He is very knowledgable and will answer every question you have. We were sitting on an airboat and it was speeding a lot which made it really thrilling. The scenery was stunning and we were in the middle of nowhere in the swamp area. While speeding around Gary spotted a few gators and he made sure to get us right next to it; one of them was 13 feet long. I was in a large boat and it was perfect for us. There were only about 10 people with us.My advise to you, if you want a smaller airboat plan in advance as it sells out very quickly.THANK YOU GARY FOR YOUR AMAZING TOUR!

We took this excursion while staying in New Orleans. What a great ride! Saw lots of wildlife, insects & of course, the Gators! Plenty to see & our guide was wonderful local who grew up in this area. Would definitely recommend this tour if you are in this area!

We were looking for 3 things on our swamp tour:---a small group experience ---transportation to and from the tour site--a guide who would teach us about the flora and fauna of the swamp. This company's brochure touts itself as offering "Eco tours" plus tours that offered groups as small as 6. Plus the desired transportation. Sounded perfect.Well, the small group part was correct: there was only one other couple on the tour. The transportation was on a very nice mini-bus. The guide was very nice and provided ear protectors for when we were cruising along. The day was very hot, so flying along in the airboat was fun and felt good. Unfortunately, the positive comments end here. The entire 1 hour and 40 minutes of the "tour" consisted of roaring up and down a main channel of a bayou, periodically slowing or stopping for the guide to point out alligators (he fed a couple, which made for an interesting picture and at the end caught a baby gator for us to hold and take pictures if we wanted). Once we happened to pass a large bullfrog and he pointed that out. That's IT. No describing or searching for other wildlife, no mention of any of the trees or other plants. No insight into the ecosystem of the swamp. Nothing. This was basically an alligator hunt.So---if your idea of a great swamp tour is flying around on an airboat and seeing a few alligators, then this one will fill the bill. If you want a real ecotour, for goodness sake go elsewhere.

Fantastic day on the airboat with J, there was 6 of us in total and everyone had a great time. J was just out of this world with his knowledge and passion.He made the trip all that much better!! I would Defo recommend and make sure you get on J's boat!!!!!

Today we did the swamp tour. It started nicely with a little boat for 8 people. I had a cap and glasses, and we got ear protection. All the boats headed out, and then, without a warning, the guy gave full throttle. My cap, ear protection, and glasses were gone in an instant. At least he stopped, and we were able to get cap and ear protection somewhere from the back, but the glasses were gone. That was pretty unnecessary. The tour itself is nice, except that there weren't any explanations whatsoever. When we stopped for the first time in the swamps, it was like: "Okay, here we are. Are there any questions?". We got some more high speed cruises, which in general were nice, but did we have to cross the line just behind that other boat, such that we all got wet. I don't know what I expected, when I went to the office after the tour, to tell them about the glasses. They were not helpful at all, but rather got rude. For the amount of money they charge, I expect to be treated differently, and I expect to have a driver with a little more feeling for what is okay.

We took the smaller 6 person trip on the airboat and had a great time. Gary the driver was excellent. He caught a small alligator and allowed us to hold it and get photos before releasing it again. He also coaxed a larger alligator to the side of the boat and fed it.The smaller boat was able to get to some of the places the bigger boat may not get to. We saw plenty of alligators both in the water and on the bank. Transport to and from our hotel was arranged and on time.

Me my husband and two kids went on the airboat today. We all had an AWESOME time...I think its the best attraction we have done since we moved here two years ago!

We walked into this establishment and booked a swamp tour which is heavily predicated in their advertising on seeing an alligator and lots of wildlife. The trip was ok unfortunately I think our guide thought he was a movie star and after the first stop his banter became pedestrian.We only saw a few birds and really the swamp was beautiful.Please be up front if the Alligators are hibernating still would have done the trip but please be honest

Ever since watching TV about gators, we decided that this was a must tour during our visit in New Orleans. This was approximately 30 minutes from our hotel (where they had picked us up). There are two gators that seem to be accustomed to staying around the boat area to welcome guests to their bayou. We had decided to take the 6 passenger tour as we figured we would receive a better hands on from our guide than on the 16 passenger tour boat.After taking off with our guide, he wanted us to see small gators also, so on his second try he noticed one and quickly scooped him up in a small net. After making sure this small gator would not bite, he arranged for all of us to take in our hands and have our picture taken with it. We were surprised how small it was for a 2 year old.Off we went again, but this time for much larger ones. He explained that gators are territorial so we would usually see one male and one female staying in the same area. Well as promised, we saw two. He quickly told me that he would keep the gator occupied in front and that I should grab its tail and lift it out of the water. At first I thought he was kidding but quickly found out that he was serious and said that he would make sure nothing happened. It was quite an experience that I am glad I tried, as I was able to keep the tail out of the water for approximately 15 seconds.The rest of the tour was simply beautiful, taking us well inside the swamps and bayous. A trip I will never forget.

I was in NOLA with work and decided to take a break and see some local attractions. The air boat ride was alot of fun and being up close with the wild life was excellent to. My guide Capt. Rodney Dufrene Sr. was awesome. Not only a fun trip, but educational, Highly recommend you visit if in the New Orleans area. Also, a nice comfortable bus picked me up from hotel and dropped me back off. (optional)

Capt. Gary and Swamp Adventures provided an outstanding and informative tour on our small airboat tour (only six of us on board). Up close interaction with gators from 2 ft to 13 ft in length, and a lot of them. Just an absolutely fun tour while learning so much more about the marshes and swamps of Louisiana. Even our teenage daughter who normally has motion issues loved this. It was definately worth the time and money.

This was our first swamp adventure. It was amazing and our guide Gary was funny and informative. We saw lots of gators and one of the passengers got to feed one. The airboat was alot of fun also.

Adrenaline overload, the surge stayed with me for days afterwards, it's like nature meets theme park ride - only better.Went on the small airboat tour (6 of us) and got into the backwaters of the swamp thru' the smaller inlets. It was more personal and 'in your face' rather than for the assembled audience.Well worth the visit and the guide informative and hugely entertaining.Grabbing an 18ft alligator by the tail was awesome, can't remember if it was Big Dan or Dominic, yes, they respond to their names, and yes, these are still very wild and very dangerous, the meek & faint-hearted would have apoplexy, heh-heh!! Found out that my fingers look like chicken wings to an alligator, but the alligator never got to find out.The airboat can reach speeds of 42kts, about 50 mph, but slower speeds for riding over flotsam, obstacles and thru' the reeds & undergrowth.Some of the lady alligators were enticed and invited onto the foredeck of the airboat, their front paws on board and their hind legs flailing, only to return to the waters.Big Dan went over to his lady, only for his advances to be rebuked with a slap of her tail across his face, yes, knock-backs even happen in the animal kingdom.Seen the bald eagles nesting, with the chicks in their first or second day in flight. Also seen the wildhogs wallowing and hunting grubs. Only heard the splash of the snakes falling from the trees and the spiders grow to some size too.The airboat ride was 2 hours approx. with the pickup door-to-door about 4 hours in all. We were picked up at 8:30 for the 10 o'clock tour. I'd do it again, anytime.

It may be early in the season to see alligators, but the afternoon tour was the right decision. We saw alligators a plenty. There was wildlife of all kinds and plenty of alligators to keep you in photos to impress your friends and family for years. Not an adventure to be missed, unless you are faint of heart and even then you are safe. Because of the expert guides and airboat captains. The captains also knowledgeable about the wildlife and the eco-environment that is unique to the swamps of Louisiana. This would be a great experience for kids and adults. Great for a family looking for low impact adventure with just the right mix of excitement.

Met with Captain Gary, on this particular day told him we were from Canada he promised us he would give us the tour of a lifetime and he came through with flying colours,WOW!!!!!! As soon as we all got settled into the Airboat we took off through the swamp we started to see wildlife, turtles,snakes,and of course big ole Gators!!! Gary genuinely appreciates the swamp and his love for it comes through in his excitement towards showing the guests all what his swamp has to offer to visitors ,at one point he wanted to show us one particular alligator to our group he asked if I would like to help him pilot the airboat briefly so he could get closer to the Gator well I jumped at that offer, that was an incredible offer and experience, going over the Mud with mud flying out the back of the Airboat that was a blast and to actually see a Bald Eagle fly over our boat that was really an amazing sight to see!!!So bring your camera and your sense of adventure and you will definitely not be disappointed in what a Louisiana swamp has to offer, Thank -You Dale and Sue Johnstone