These grassy, shrubby prairies dotted with cypress islands offer great opportunities to see alligators and wading birds. It will cost you a few bucks for the overnight, but it is money well-spent. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. It’s the next best thing to the multi-day overnight wilderness tours – you just can’t camp out in the swamp.
We will share our experience and let you make the choice of what will work best for you. The swamp is always beautiful but different seasons have different highlights. And off we went, the boys and I in one canoe and Chip in the other.The trip in took about 2 1/2 hours and we were treated to a running, knowledgeble and patient commentary by Chip on all of the varying species of birds and other wildlife that we saw and didn't see. We have done 2 Okefenokee swamp tours on 2 separate trips to the famous swamp and have visited both the Wildlife Refuge and the Swamp Park.
Ask HotelCritique111 about Okefenokee Adventures, Ask Michelle G about Okefenokee Adventures, 3rd Time was a Charm (as were the 1st 2 times), Ask TruthTraveler about Okefenokee Adventures, Ask StellaCaroline about Okefenokee Adventures, Hotels near Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Hotels near Folkston Funnel Train Viewing Platform, Hotels near Chesser Island Homestead/Boardwalk, Hotels near Suwanee Canal Recreation Area, Hotels near (JAX) Jacksonville Intl Airport, Points of Interest & Landmarks in Folkston, Cumberland Island National Seashore Museum. Chip knows everything there is to know about alligators, birds and other animals which live in the swamp.
The sandhill cranes are here late November through early February. Some folks request to do the East/West Excursion but have no interest in camping. You can book online or call to book.
I hope you get a chance to come see us again.Joy CampbellOkefenokee Adventures. Thank you very much to Chip and the team at Okefenokee Adventures! ;) Gary, Michelle and I went to Floyd's Island in February. The swamp scenery is always spectacular. Wildlife activity varies with water levels, season, time of day and reasons known only to the wildlife, of course.
This 4 hour tour by canoe, kayak or motorized boat is for anyone who wants a more in-depth Okefenokee experience – both literally and figuratively – Okefenokee Adventures can accommodate you with advance arrangements. Book a Tour. All of the staff were friendly and welcoming. Our guides will share their knowledge of the swamp’s cultural and natural history, tell interesting swamp stories and identify plants and wildlife along the way. The boys fished some more while Chip and I struck the tents, packed up and loaded the canoes and we set off for home - this time we made it in about 1 1/2 hours back and avoided most of the rain that day. This request must be made during your initial contact with us. Plenty of gators out during the beautiful day.The last part of the trip was not easy but my eight year old in the front and me in the back managed it without incident.We arrived at the hard resin floating platform that floated on the water, with picnic table, overhang and Port-O-Potty on a separate platform. And because gators do not breed if there is insufficient food, it is never necessary to cull them.Take insect repellent and, especially for the sunset cruise, which is in the dark, take the best torch you have.Each trip lasted several hours but we were never bored. For folks who prefer not to paddle, this tour can also be done in a motorized boat. We saw numerous alligators (surfacing right next to our canoe), birds, and plants. ABOUT THE TRACK: The track was installed by B.R. MATERIAL USED: 13,500 track spikes – L.B. The Okefenokee Swamp Park located in Waycross, GA. We do offer an option where we do the paddling described above but you would spend each night lodging locally in Folkston. Lunch can be purchased in our Camp Cornelia Cafe’ to be packed up to bring along. If there are 4 or more adults, the rate will be $135 per person. Read below for descriptions of the different tours we offer. We have lived in Jacksonville for several years but never made it out to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge - we should have done it earlier. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. 31537 This is a great place to visit, whether out paddling or taking a tour boat out. You will travel along the historic Suwannee Canal through a tangled forest of bay, cypress, pine and shrubs, then out into the open expanse of Chesser Prairie. We can usually accommodate walk-in participants but advance reservations are required to guarantee the trip. Only our most experienced guides lead trips, each with over 30 years experience in the Okefenokee. We had a great time with Okefenokee Adventures! Water and snacks will be included. Most of our guides have family roots in the Okefenokee, they were born and raised here, and several have been leading swamp trips for 35 years or more. Spring is beautiful but, because everyone wants to come in March and April, reserving trails may be difficult but not impossible. rail; 808 rail joint bars; 3,200-5′ crossties – B&M wood products, Manor, GA; 1,800 tons of ballast stone – Dixie Roadbuilders, Waycross, GA. ABOUT THE TRAIN:The train is a 36-gauge replica steam engine with three coaches built by Cummings Locomotive of New Brunswick, Canada. Come to the Okefenokee Adventures building before exploring other areas of the refuge. ABOUT THE TOUR: Guests that visit Okefenokee Swamp Park in Waycross, Georgia can step back in time aboard “The Lady Suwannee” the Okefenokee Railroad. We saw plenty of wildlife, numerous gators of course, but left with a deeper understanding and respect for this one of a kind … Even the Port-O-Potty was not too bad, if you get my drift.Next morning at daybreak we were up and at it again and Chip prepared a great breakfast replete with all of the oddities and preferences of little boys. Chip then cooked up a great multiple course dinner that had everything in it that the boys could wish for and we settled down to sleep around 8:30 pm.The only glitch for me was the sleeping bag pad which was way too thin for me and the fact that we all could have used some pillows or something that resembled pillows. The safety of our guests and our guides is our first priority. Special interests and special needs may require special arrangements.
We learned much more about the flora, fauna and history of the Okefenokee on the way back and Joy arranged for a very pleasant sit-down lunch among the hordes attending Pioneer Days (be sure to try the philly cheese steak sandwich - best I've had).Joy and Chip are obviously competent but more important, nice people who can and will arrange for you an unforgettable and educational experience for your entire family. Winter temperatures are usually mild but we do have the occasional cold spell. It was very very enjoyable and also informative. ABOUT THE TOUR: Guests that visit Okefenokee Swamp Park in Waycross, Georgia can step back in time aboard “The Lady Suwannee” the Okefenokee Railroad. Children under the age of 5 are free. Chip explained that, unlike in Louisiana, where hunters can get licences to kill alligators, in Georgia it is all naturally managed. Cost: $32.00 for adults (age 12+) and $22.00 for kids (5-11). During certain times of the year the trails may book up on the two month day, so the sooner we know what dates you’re looking for, the better chance we have of obtaining the reservation. The rate for 1 person is $300. Advance reservations are highly recommended. For a lasting life experience in one of the world’s great wetland wildernesses, this is the ultimate Okefenokee adventure. Sometimes we spot deer or raccoons, or, when we are really lucky, a bobcat or a bear. One-night, two day trip – $295 per person* (with a minimum of 2 people) I especially enjoyed being able to step out onto one of the swamp's prairies and experiencing the swamp at twilight. Our most experienced guides lead these trips who will share interesting swamp stories as you learn about the cultural and natural history of the Okefenokee and surrounding area. During the peak summer months (usually mid May-thru July) we do not offer sunset tours due to the severity of biting yellow flies during the late afternoon/early evening hours. In order to help reduce the spread of the Coronavirus. more, This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC, Military Museums, History Museums, Natural History Museums, Points of Interest & Landmarks, Observation Decks & Towers. We are the most experienced team of professional guides working in the Okefenokee today and we are here because we love the swamp. Many points of interest will be featured on your journey including a stop at Pioneer Island which is rich in history (will be one of the main attractions of the tour). The drive and walk are nice; we also opted for the boat tour... Let us share it with you! read more, Great adventure for whole family! Boat Tour Packages – Include all General Admission. The 1.5 mile railroad system at the Okefenokee Swamp Park serves as a mode of transportation for the park, circling part of the Great Okefenokee Swamp. We are happy to customize an Okefenokee adventure whether it be a moonlight paddle or an overnight adventure. On a full moon evening, we’ll watch the sun set as the moon rises. 4159 Suwannee Canal Rd Folkston, GA 31537 912–496–7156 or 866–THE–SWAMP (843–7926) Open ½–hour before sunrise every day.