Everglades Day Safari from FLL-review

[cricket03]

Post cruise we stayed in FLL for 2 nights and had a whole day to enjoy seeing the Everglades. The company - Everglades Day Safari (ecosafaris.com) will pick you up at your hotel in FLL (we stayed at the 17th St. Rennaisance), between 7 & 8am and deliver you back to your hotel between 5 & 6pm. You travel @200 miles east coast to west coast in a comfotable van which holds 12-14 people.

 

Our driver/guide was Norman Caldwell -- superb! superb! superb! guide -- tells you not only the history and ecology as you are travelling but spots birds by name, knows the flora & fauna of the area, has quite of bit of humor thrown in and has personal connections to the Native Americans who live in the area, having been born and raised there. We stopped several times to check out local sightings of the nesting and resting places of birds. Saw a couple of endangered species - you even get a bird check off list to use. One place we stopped, after explaining to us what we were observing, our guide gave a slight tap on the ground and hundreds of birds launched into in the air for a great photo op.

 

Traveled the Tamiani Trail spotting alligators, birds, and even snakes when we stopped for a look at the fig strangler tree along with more interesting facts. Took at Airboat Ride to a Miccosukee Village where we were informed of the village's way of life, wildlife, etc. I might add here it was 40 degrees the morning we set out but our driver was prepared and brought several very warm fleece jackets for anyone who wanted to wear them on the airboat -- and we did!

 

We did a small "nature" walk where Norman explained about palms, cypress trees, and other birds. He knows where regular habitats are and you won't see any other "van" or tourists in a few of the areas he drives you into. We walked a few feet into a marshy area where we were about 10 feet from a Wood Stork, a Great Egret, an immature Great Egret and an Anhinga swimming in the water. Getting those 4 birds in a photo was a rare treat!

 

Back on the Trail/highway we stopped at an area where we saw Manatee (they aren't always here but were that day) and even got a photo of the back of one as he dove back into the water. We next arrived in Everglades City for lunch (included in the price). Even got a taste of fried alligator. Following lunch we head down to Thousand Islands area for a pontoon boatride which is also narrated. Saw osprey and other birds nesting or resting on markers, the mangroves islands, several dolphins and finally the Gulf area before we turned around to head back.

 

We then headed back through Everglades City and followed 75 back to FLL, resting most of the time travelling back. We had had a full, extremely informative and delightful trip. I logged in over 200 photos there was so much to see.

 

This trip is a definite must if you have a whole day in FLL. You will see and experience so much in such a short time and really get a feel for the area -- (it's nothing like those 2-3 hr trips to alligator farms or parks). The cost is $135 per person but remember you get picked up and returned to your hotel, lunch and a personal guide. My husband, who is on the cheap side for any type of excursion, was so satisfied that he didn't grumble once about the cost during the trip or when we got home.

 

Hope some of you might be able to take advantage of this trip if you want to see and learn about the Everglades. If there are any questions, I'll keep checking back on this thread for a couple of weeks.

[Bequia]

Thanks so much for the review. It sounds quite exceptional, I just might have to try it myself. ;)