Deniacb38
It was so much fun!! We had Captain Mark, he was an excellent tour guide!! We will be back!! They will even call you to make sure you are not lost!! It can not get any better!! It is worth the drive!
patinncpa
We did two airboat rides last week, and this one was far superior. Kissimmee Swamp Tours is a little out of the way, but so worth it. We took their 90 minute tour, and there were 4 of us in the boat, so everyone was able to see clearly. Captain Mark maneuvered the boat skillfully to give everyone a good view of the wildlife.The headsets you wear make it so much easier to block the drone of the airboat and yet still hear the commentary from the captain. They are two-way, so you can also ask any questions. The airboat ride was smooth and comfortable.We saw lots of gators of all sizes, turtles, and many different birds. Some of the birds were uncommon species that we did not see anywhere else. Captain Mark gave us a good overview of the lake, the migratory water fowl, the water plants, and changes that occur during the year. He also was a former fishing guide and was able to answer questions about game fishing. The whole trip was both educational and fun.Later in the week we took another airboat ride on a different lake with a company closer to Orlando, and it was a disappointment. The ride was 45 minutes instead of 90 for only a few dollars less, and the boat was less comfortable. No head sets, so it was hard to hear. The captain said very little. We only saw a few small gators and some basic birds like egrets and coots. This was just a boat ride and not a nature experience.On trips like these, animals can never be guaranteed, but it appeared that there was much less wildlife in the area on our second trip as there was at Lake Kissimmee. If you're only going to do one airboat ride, it's worth the drive to Kissimmee Swamp Tours for a better experience.
jakeleg
This is a great trip and well worth the drive. The air boats were great and the skipper was very knowledgeable. If you can just do this once, this is the trip to take. Saw lots of gatorz.
jenninek2015
Our group, which included adults and children from ages 5 to 8, went on the one hour tour. The weather, unfortunately, was cool and cloudy but in spite of that, Mark was able to spot alligators from a distance that I couldn't see until we were very close. We saw so many unusual birds and an amazing number alligators of various sizes, from about a foot long to about 11 feet long. It almost felt as if we were in the middle of our own wildlife documentary. We were all thrilled about having a chance to see the real side of Florida. The kids were laughing when we also went by a cow that was grazing in the swamp. It was a long drive, but it was really worth it. I'd recommend it to anyone wanting to see the local wildlife and learn about this interesting wetland.
Mauifarm456
Did the one hour tour last week with my family. Captain L.W. was awesome, very informative and answered all our questions. We saw quite a few gators as well as other wildlife. The staff were very friendly, the tour was great, well worth the time and effort to get there!
capri1966
Great time. Very personalized. Mark our guide was superb! He was beyond knowledgeable about our surroundings. I would recommend this to everyone!Capri and Rodney Bowles (Quetico canoers)Brookville, IN
CNY-Tripper
We found Kissimmee Swamp Tours after another airboat ride was booked for the day. It sounded like fun, and my daughter was very interested in seeing some alligators. While on our way I was a bit surprised when my phone rang. It was Kathy from the tour checking in to see if we needed help with directions and reminding us to beware of our GPS directions. Frankly, I was stunned. When was the last time a business was proactive in meeting my needs? I can't remember. One of the main reasons we picked this tour was the small boats. Besides the captain, there are only six passengers and not a bad seat in the house. In addition, they didn't just provide ear protection for the noise, everyone was given two-way radio headsets. We were able to communicate with the captain throughout the tour. Captain John was very attentive to the passengers. He encouraged questions and was very knowledgable able the area and wildlife. At times he turned the boat around to get a better look.My last thought leaving the dock to start the tour was, "Will I still think this is worth it if we don't see any gators?" No need to worry about that. We saw our first within five minutes, and dozens throughout the tour. We saw everything from little babies to ten and twelve foot monsters.It was a bit longer of a drive, but well worth it. The staff was friendly and helpful, the captain was outstanding and the whole experience was excellent. I would highly recommend this to friends and family.
117eileenl
Our family chose this instead of another Orlando attraction and are so glad we did.The drive to location may seem long, be sure to have transponder for tole road. The knowledge of the guide was great, leaves you with so many memories and things to think about. Collecting apple snails was also fun at the end. Good and safe. Going early may mean seeing fewer snakes but lots to see and not crowded. We were sorry when trip ended.
28suzannep
My husband and I drove out to the Kissimmee Swamp Tours as a break from Disneyworld. Let me say that this made the entire vacation worth it. Better than any other 'attraction' in the Orlando Area. Beautiful, exciting, and a wonderful experience. Our Captain (LW) has lived on/near Lake Kissimmee for 50+ years and he new so much about the flora, fauna, history, etc. I really made it worthwhile. I will do it again next time I'm in Florida. I highly recommend it!
170francesd
We enjoyed the one hour tour of the marshes on Lake Kissimmee. No need to fear being on an air boat, very smooth ride even at higher speeds. Saw lots of birds and active alligators. Jay, our guide, was excellent pointing out things in this interesting marsh area. More educational than thrill seeking adventure. Fun!
MrKrisC
My girlfriend and I made a last minute reservation for the 90 minute air boat tour and I am very glad we did. First of all, Kathy was pleasant and fun to talk to on the phone and provided excellent service. She called and made sure we were not getting lost (place is in the middle of nowhere), called to reschedule because the weather was poor, and was very friendly when we arrived. The actual boat ride was excellent as well. The captain has been on the water for many years and was very knowledgeable about the flora and fauna. We saw snakes, alligators, turtles, and birds beyond counting, including a nesting pair of bald eagles. Even though we signed up for a 90 minute tour, we were actually on the water for nearly 2 hours. That certainly made it seem like an even better value. Also worth mentioning: the company provides very nice headsets and walkie-talkie so the noise of the boat is minimized and the captain can easily communicate with folks. We will definitely do this trip again sometime in the future. I highly recommend this company.
1234567ph
I was recently in Florida on a family trip and decided to take a detour and hop on an Air Boat. It was a great experience! My girlfriend, her mother and I took a 60 min trip with Captain. Taylor. He was extremely knowledgeable about the local wildlife and was able to point out a number of alligators and nests. It was a little cold when we went out but Captain Taylor provided us with a blanket to keep us warm. We saw a number of alligator nests, two moderately sized alligators (8-11 ft) about 12 babies, a large eagle, a number of other birds, and Cows and horses, grazing in the water near Gators!! When we return we will definitely bring the rest of the family!
M9840DXjeffb
Drove from Clermont and was well worth the trip. No one I our family had been on a air boat before so besides seeing gators in the wild, we were all excited about going and riding the boat. The swamp tour didn't disappoint. All occupants sit well above the water level on 2 different levels so it was easy to spot the gators. The captain was very knowledgable and answered all of our questions no matter how weird they were. Saw many gators and captain "opened it up" for us for a short time.Side notes: Had to use a sunpass only exit without a pass. If you have time to eat in St. Cloud, I recommend Marco Polo Pizza.
Meiba2j
This was absolutely a fun, family trip. My family and I are natives of Palm Bay, and took I92, to Kenansville. It's kind of hard to find, but we took Joe Overstreer Road while we were in St. Cloud, and in about 30 minutes we were there. Beware though. There is a LOT of country side, and two lane roads to drive through. We loved driving through seeing all the ranches and cattle.Our Captain was Mark, and to say he was very professional, knowledable and funny is an understatement. This man knew his land, and his animals. I can't believe how many gators we saw! Babies, older ones, large ones!! You name it! We even saw a bald eagle and its nest. This trip was a definite memory we will treasure!Oh! And I can't forget to mention how CLEAN the bathrooms were! You would think like at parks and any public restroom, that it would be something to "hold your breath and not touch anything", but these bathrooms were directly the opposite. Now, they weren't SUPER fancy, but they were nicely decorated, with hand crafted art on the walls. It was very peaceful. Everyone was so kind and friendly, and we felt very welcomed! Jennie even called to make sure we were on track after getting caught in traffic. You couldn't ask for better customer service.Do be careful though. Country roads do means dirt and unpaved roads as well. Lucky for me, I own a Jeep, and it was an easy drive.I can't forget to mention that we went about 1430 (2:30 pm) and saw a lot of gators sun bathing. Hopefully this helps anyone with their quest!For my Florida natives, I have to say, It's something you have to try at least once! You can't possibly say you're from Florida, but you've never been air boat riding.The prices here are definitely comparable with competitors. I would also bring a hat, sunglasses and bug spray as those were the only obstacles. You also don't get wet at all. MAYBE a light mist here and there.03Jan2015
Windmill64
We phoned to book on our last free day in Kissimmee, unfortunately they were fully booked. 10 minutes later Cathy whom I had spoken to called back and said she had managed to move people around and could squeeze us in at 12.30 Yippee! Thanks Cathy. We set off on the drive using the directions Cathy gave us. It was a beautiful drive through St. Cloud but the traffic was horrendous so we called to say we didn't think we would make it for 12.30 and were considering turning back. Bless her, Cathy came through again and told us to keep on coming - she would sort things out! We arrived just after 1.10pm and were almost immediately taken to our boat. The hour long ride was amazing and our 'captain' was so good at pointing everything out and explaining things. We saw lots of gators in their natural habitat, a couple of really big ones too. Lots of frogs, turtles and too many different birds to mention. No seat belts on this ride - our only qualm - but to be honest they weren't needed. My 11 year old son said it was better than the parks!Absolutely a must do activity and thanks to the excellent service provided by Cathy and her team we wouldn't suggest using any other company!