Alligator Bayou Tours
Categories: Local Flavor Hotels & Travel Tours Local Flavor, Tours [Edit]
35015 Alligator Bayou RdPrairieville, LA 70769
(888) 379-2677
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
3 reviews for Alligator Bayou Tours
3 reviews in English
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Review from Chris C.
Escondido, CA
3/15/2009 7 photos
Stuck in BR over the weekend on a business trip... my kids back home were telling me to "watch out for the alligators Daddy!". So in response, I decided to take an alligator tour...
The adult ticket price was reasonable, $27 for what I was told would be a two and a half hour experience. When I arrived for my tour, the place was alive with a party-like atmosphere. There were close to 40 people, many of them children, from all over the country. The staff was incredibly friendly and fun, and kept the whole group laughing pretty much nonstop. The "tour" was much more than just a tour alone, so I'll call it an "experience" from here on out.
We started by visiting their alligator and snapping turtle exhibit. It's a "gather round" kind of shallow pool, where you look down into it from above, and the guide walks around talking about the 'gators, answering questions, feeding them, etc. A unsuspecting "volunteer" was enlisted to carry around a 40 pound gator for the kids to pet.
From there, we went into their larger enclosed habitat, where the big 'gators were. We were led onto a covered dock sort of structure that sat above the water where we watched in amazement as they fed the huge beasts chicken halves, luring them out of the water to show their immense size. More volunteers were put on the spot to attempt to feed the 'gators to great comedic effect. After exhausting a large stainless bucket of raw chicken, we boarded the "Alligator Queen" for the remainder of our bayou tour.
The large pontoon boat was equipped with bench seating and a PA system so you could hear the guides as they spoke, even above the rumble of the twin outboards. Our two guides, Tim and Frank made sure that the educational material was interesting and relevant, and mixed with a heavy dose of humor. I learned more than I imagined about the flora and fauna of the swamp, the conservation efforts the people of Alligator Bayou Tours are making, and the natural beauty of a place that most people think of as "dark and foreboding". As the boat wound around the twists and turns of the swamp, we spotted alligators in their natural habitat, as well as cranes, egrets, and nutria. Our guides took the appearance of the nutria as the perfect opportunity to bring out their own nutria in a mock "attack of the nutria" moment. If you've never seen one, it's looks like a giant 30lb hamster, or maybe a giant rat... but the revulsion goes away quickly when you see it grasping a red licorice in it's front paw and munching away happily on it. Everyone was encouraged to pet it and feel it's incredibly soft fur. Afterwards, a three-month old nutria was brought out for the "awww" factor, more petting, and photo ops.
After being treated to more incredible swamp scenery, we stopped and moored at a small dock, where we all stepped out to take in the splendor of the swamp up close and personal. Tim and Frank brought out a few pets, a 50lb alligator named Gucci (ha ha), a palm sized baby alligator, and a six foot colubrid snake. Everyone was encouraged to hold all of the animals, take pictures, and generally marvel at them. After we all had our chance, we boarded the boat for our trip back to the guest center.
When we got back, they had one final animal for us to interact with, a young bobcat that had been left in their care by the local animal control officers. Everyone got to pet him as he clung to Jim, digging his claws into Jim's back for one final source of comedy at the expense of Jim's skin.
In all, this "experience" was a little over three hours, and well worth the price of the ticket. I would gladly have paid more, had I known what I would be treated to. This was the most entertaining, interesting, educational experience of it's kind that I have had since I was a child. In fact, I can't wait to come back with my kids so they can share in this amazing adventure.
If you visit this area, YOU MUST TAKE THIS TOUR! It was by far the highlight of my trip. These people are truly passionate about the Louisiana swamplands and the creatures that inhabit them, and they are working very hard to preserve them for future generations to enjoy.
Whether you're looking to see menacing alligators crunching away on raw chicken bones, learn about the delicate ecosystem of a Louisiana swamp, or just spend a few hours laughing like you're at a comedy club, TAKE THIS TOUR. -
Review from Rachel S.
Seattle, WA
1/27/2009
I'm amazed no one's reviewed this place yet!
I left Louisiana 14 years ago having never really been on any sort of organized bayou tour growing up other than visiting the Tabasco plant and Salt Domes at Avery Island. I never thought I was missing much. My fiance had never been to Louisiana, despite being a TOTAL CAJUN down to his stereotypical Louisiana last name. But he heard about these tours and suggested it while we were visiting my family. I'm totally game for playing tourist anywhere in the world.
We made reservations for the 3-hour tour the day after Christmas. In the first hour, you spend time hanging out near the baby alligator pit and you walk out a some onto the area where the adult alligators hang out. About half were hibernating, but it was unseasonably warm (and they keep the water a little warmer than usual) so some were a bit more spry. They felt completely nonthreatening, which in retrospect is curious but hey, it was fun.
Next, you take a boat down the bayou to check out more wildlife and scenery with one docked stop to check out birds, snakes, turtles and other animals. (There was a baby nutria on board! And a baby alligator. On purpose.) Throughout, the guides mix in a little bit of history, geography and culture. I should point out -- these guys were HILARIOUS and amplified their regional quirks while playing to the "Northern Clientele" crowd without being offensive to someone who grew up in the midst of all that. These guys made the tour. I was afraid it'd be dry but laughed pretty much the entire ride. The whole setup's great for families too. And, I felt like I learned a lot more about conservation efforts going on the area. Warmed my little Seattle-immigrant heart. This area was largely affected by (relative) drought when I was in high school so this opportunity was not there in this form a decade ago, but as most of the country knows, rain and massive storms have been a fact of life recently so the water's back.
This afternoon was the highlight of the week I spent in in Louisiana over Christmas. If you're in the area -- GO. You'll have a great time. -
Review from Steve M.
Gonzales, LA
1/10/2011
This place is no longer open for business
