Wally Alligator?

 Day 199

For our foray into Florida, Orlando was the furthest we intended to travel before making our way northeast toward St. Augustine. We would have loved to visit the Everglades in south Florida but it was the only attraction that was of interest down there. So what does one do around Orlando to see a few alligators in their natural habitat? You call your nearest bog airboat company for a tour of the local swamps. 

Our journey took us an hour south of Orlando to the Boggy Creek Airboat Company on Lake Tohopekaliga. We had no idea what we got ourselves into as we travelled through the backroads of Florida, just to jump into a strangers fan boat and take off into the backwoods in swamp land. 

When we arrived, we were relieved to see a fair number of visitors at the company; safety in numbers I suppose 😂. We picked our tickets up at the front booth and provided a coloured wrist band with the time of our ride printed across it. We had about twenty minutes before the tour so we explored the small visitors centre before heading off for a little alligator hunting.

The airboat was large enough to seat twelve with the driver situated on a platform in front of the fans at the back of the boat. I must say the hour long tour was pretty cool! 

Boggy Creek Airboat Adventure.

Jororo Native American Village 

Young alligators in captivity.

Our boat. 

These boats can move pretty fast over the marsh. 

Lots of birds in the flats.

Alligator swimming away from us. 

 

It was a sea of plants, floating mud flats and lily pads. 

Fragrant water lily, native to Florida. 

Birdwalker 

Found a few gators, this was the only one that stayed put as we approached. 

The engine was loud and needed to wear hearing protection. 

Anihnga Bird. 

Spatterdock lily pads. Used by the native and pioneers as a numbing agent for pain. 

Surprisingly everything is floating in the flats. There is nothing solid you could step out onto.