Billie's Swamp Safari.......What an amazing place to visit. Billie Swamp Safari is located on the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation.It consists of 2,200 acres of untamed Florida Everglades preserved in its pristine state by the Seminole Tribe of South Western Florida.
To learn more about the tribe click here: http://www.semtribe.com/
There is such as an abundance of wildlife roaming free on the reservation. It is such a nice place to visit because the animals are well cared for while being in their natural habitat.Big Cypress Swamp has more than 1,600 animals that roam wild on the property.
Continue reading below to see pictures and find out about our personal encounters at the safari...............
We made a few stops on our way down to the safari.......There were so many new things to see. So different than traveling in PA. The further south we went the less stores and traffic. It was great. There were so many diffrent canals filled with beautiful birds and reptiles.We also passed plenty of cattle ranches and orchards.
In the picture below is a canal with hundreds of cracked egg shells along the shore line. We were told that they might have been from birds. When I fist saw them I was afraid that they might have been from baby alligators. Yikes!!
When we pulled up to the safari it was surprisingly empty, must have been the off season.
When we got there the first thing we did was hop onto a swamp buggie.
The ride was pretty cool. We rode around and got to see some of the animals on the reservation. The tour guide also told us some history about the tribe.
This little fellow here is the ostrich that almost bit me while pecking away at the bars on the swamp buggie.
We were planning on spending the night until we actually saw what our rooms looked like. We probably would have stayed if we were a little more prepared and if the huge alligator pictured below wasn't right in back of our bungalo.
After the swamp buggie and walking around a bit we decided to go on an air boat ride.....
And last but not least......This is the little baby alligator I got to hold. The kids chickened out so mom had to do it. You would be surprised how soft an alligator actually is.....
( Unfortunately my actual picture got deleted ) O Darn!!!!
WATCH THESE VIDEOS FOR SOME COOL FOOTAGE FROM BILLIE"S SWAMP SAFARI
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/nat-geo-wild/full-episodes-1/swamp-men-1/ngc-panther-down/
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/nat-geo-wild/full-episodes-1/swamp-men-1/ngc-panther-down/
Stay tuned for additional episode of Swamp Men
in the Fall!
YOUR JOB MAY HAVE YOU SWAMPED, BUT
EVERY MAN HOLDS HIS OWN IN THE WILD!
Nat Geo Wild Follows Professional Swamp Men Who Rescue, Relocate and Rehabilitate Wildlife Deep in Florida’s Everglades
Nat Geo WILD’s new series Swamp Men, premiering Monday, May 3, at 10 p.m. ET/PT, rides along with Ed and his staff as they work to maintain safety at the Safari. They are considered among the best wild animal wranglers, and each day brings new tests of their skills with bears, alligators, wild hogs and panthers that inhabit the Everglades. Ed’s dedicated staff includes Paul, expert alligator catcher; Cory, animal trapper; and newbies Matt, Lawrence and Shea. All share a passion for wildlife and a willingness to get down and dirty, as they face new swamp adventures every day.
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“This is part of the Everglades.
This is a dangerous place.
If you ain’t careful, you could get
hurt real bad out here.”
— Ed Woods
