cajun encounters

We were picked up from a street corner just a couple of blocks from our hotel and driven for around 40 minutes north to the swamp location. On the way the driver was telling us about the different locations and areas of New Orleans, including the damage and after effects caused by Katrina, which was interesting. Upon arriving at the site we had to join a long queue to register or check in, which seemed an inefficient way to do it as they had already marked our names off as we boarded the bus. It felt like maybe 45 minutes after arriving before we were invited onto the boat. The boat tour itself was great, as was our guide Captain Troy. We were on the 'big' boat but it could still go into small and narrow areas of the swamp thanks to the skill of the Captain. The tour felt unrushed and the commentary was informative. Returning to the office once again we had to wait around maybe 20-30 minutes before boarding our bus back to the city. Maybe they were hoping we would buy something from the gift shop or snack shop. Overall you should allow about 4.5 hours from pickup to drop off. I would definitely recommend this tour as a great way to get out of the city and see a bit of Louisiana's nature. The bus drivers and the captain were all friendly and knowledgable. I just wonder if they could think of a more efficient way to process the large numbers of guests arriving and then leaving the venue.

What a great way to see the swamps outside New Orleans. Two hour tour through the swamps where we were able to see alligators, elegant, Wildboar, and the beautiful cypress trees. Just The right amount of time to do this

We really enjoyed the noon tour with Captain Greg on March 3rd. It was a nice warm day and very peaceful. Captain Greg was very knowledgeable and very funny. He had lots of funny stories and was very respectful and attentive to our questions. We saw some alligators, snakes, racoons, various birds and a family of wild pigs was very amusing. We also visited a community of riverside residences. The location and washrooms were very clean. Approximately 1 hr and 45min tour. We felt very safe and would absolutely recommend this tour. Ask for Captain Greg, he especially made the tour a lot of fun with his humor and stories. Thank-you for a most enjoyable afternoon. Certainly a highlight on our trip to NOLA

We were so worried that our trip would be a waste when the only day we could go on the tour it was a torrential downpour. We had talked to people a few days before who saw plenty of alligators, but it was a sunny day for them. We knew ahead of time that this time of year if it was bad weather, we might not see much. The tour was a highlight of our NOLA visit! We got a pick up at our hotel, he was right on time. We picked up a few more people and headed out. Our driver spoke a few times about what we were seeing on the way. Then, in the middle of the downpour we went out with Captain Ryan. He was great! He was funny, but not silly. He backed the boat up when another captain told him about a small alligator. We saw two small alligators, lots of wild pigs, snakes hanging from trees, egrets and a blue heron. The plant life and wild life will be much better as the weather gets warmer. We really enjoyed ourselves and took tons of pictures.

This is good place to find alligators, snakes, hogs, raccoons and a variety of exciting beasts… in Cajun country. Very safe, even for kids and elderly. We even met people from our long forgotten past. This is Cajun magic.

Although we did not see alligators (too cold but we knew that) the trip was definitely worthwhile and loads of fun. Guide was excellent and the two hours passed too quickly. Ever watch someone feed marshmallows to wild pigs and a raccoon? Good value for your money.

The service is great, so the guide and the tour.But we barely see a couple of small alligators (just the heads)I guess this tour would be great in a few monthsWe drove there, it's a safe short drive and no problem to park onsite

We went on a cold day and knew we wouldn't see alligators. It didn't matter. We saw feral hogs, snakes, pelicans and racoons. Guide Gary was great! He grew up nearby and shared so much information with us. The boat was a flat bottom, not a pontoon which we had ridden with a different company. We were able to go through very narrow channels and get up close to the animals. We also saw many fishing cabins and house boats. I would like to go back in the Spring when the flowers are blooming. There were iris all around. Well worth the time and money!

A good tour of the honey Island swamp plenty of everything to see. The best time to go is may-June. Most of the flowers are blooming and the creatures are out

We loved the swamp tour. We were picked up at our hotel in the French Quarter and driven about 45 min to the tour. The bus driver was Renee and he did a great job pointing out places on our way. He was very informative. We took the smaller boat which had 8 of us on board and Capt Greg was our driver. He was awesome and made our experience that much more enjoyable. The time of year we went (Jan 29th) is not the best time of year to see Gators but we saw two small ones any way. We were lucky and hit a warm day. The wild pigs were a highlight for us most of all. They love marshmellows! We also saw a Racoon and Turtles. I would highly recommend this tour and try and get Capt Greg.

Hi Tush4!Thank you for coming on tour with us and for your detailed review. We appreciate the chance to have shown you a bit of our culture, as well as the beauty of the Honey Island Swamp.We're happy to hear you were able to catch views of wild pigs, gray heron, turtles, and even a snake! That seems like a great deal of activity during the two hour excursion, even if the gator you mentioned "didn't wait." The animals guests encounter on tour are at their truest element - free and in the wild - which is important to us, as an eco-based company. Though we do not guarantee sightings for animals, we do promise guests a fun, informative view of our way of life and an excellent view of the swamp. We stand by this promise, which makes us concerned to hear your note regarding the captain appearing fatigued. We haven't had any other reports of this manner, so it's difficult to pinpoint who you had toured with. Would it be possible for you to email us with this information? We would like to address it right away, to ensure the quality of our excursions is of the highest standard, and to make sure our captains receive everything they need to be at their best.We are happy to hear that you enjoyed a visit to another swamp, as well. The Louisiana wetlands are gorgeous!!Thank you, again, for your note. We hope the rest of your visit to New Orleans was wonderful!

We loved this swamp/bayou tour. We were picked up at the hotel. The driver was pleasant, friendly and professional, wearing a headset pointing out places of interest on our way to Slidell for the swamp tour. He seemed to enjoy the job which came across in his presentation. The tour itself was the highlight of our trip to NOLA. We rode a small boat designed to hold up to 10 people which allowed us a close-up tour with alligators and wild pigs. Scenery was beautiful. The tour guide Captain Ryan was terrific and knowledgeable about the swamp habitat. My only regret was that we had not signed up for other tours with this company. Should we ever return to NOLA, we are planning on taking the nighttime swamp tour for an ultimate experience!

Our group really enjoyed the swamp tour and even though it was in January our tour guide did an excellent job of talking through all the amazing wildlife, plants, and different times of the year. Highly suggest getting Captain Troy if you go, as he grew up in the area. Also, he calls the wild pigs, which were a huge hit on our boat since it was too cold that day for gators (high 40s/low 50s). Highly suggest this tour! And don't forget the AAA discount. :)

Very good swamp tour that shows you more about the local environment and culture.The guide gave us very good explanations about the local fauna and flora.

Small boat run by Capt. Greg, great sense of humor, very knowledgeable and overall fun time! Though we didn't see any gators, we had a great time with Capt. Greg! Highly recommend requesting HIS boat!