See Orlando's 'Gators by Airboat
Florida Alligators Up Close on a Boggy Creek Ride Near Kissimmee
Florida's wildlife is more exciting than any Orlando theme park. A Boggy Creek Airboat Ride near Kissimmee gets visitors close to gators, bald eagles, osprey and more.
Seeing Florida's alligators and other wildlife up close is more exciting than any Orlando theme park. A Boggy Creek Airboat Ride near Kissimmee gets visitors close to those 'gators, bald eagles, osprey and many other creatures.
"Breakfast of Champions," says guide Martin Wallace as an osprey flies over the airboat, a fish in its claws. It's early morning on Boggy Creek. It may not have the most romantic name, but if you want to get up close to some Florida wildlife, including the 'gators that everyone wants to see, it's hard to beat. And it's less than 20 miles from Kissimmee and Orlando, with the Magic Kingdom's resort hotels about 25 minutes drive away.
Donald Duck isn't out this morning but there are thousands of coots covering parts of Lake Toho, on which Boggy Creek stands. "They fly here from Novia Scotia," says Martin Wallace, as the coot scatter in their crazy way, half-flying and half-running across the surface. "Let's see if we can find a bald eagle," Martin says, and guides the airboat along the shore to show a bald eagle perched on top of a tall cypress tree. "There are ten bald eagle nests around the lake," Martin explains. "This is the headwaters to the Everglades. You could take this boat and go a hundred miles, all the way to Lake Okeechobee."
No-one needs to go to the Everglades, though, as there's all the wildlife you could want right here. Martin's own eagle-eyes have spotted something by the water's edge. "Three small 'gators on the shore over there," he points out. "They're about 2-3 years old. They're about 5 inches long when they hatch and they're kinda cute when they're this size, but when they're 17 feet and in your pool, they're not so cute."
Later there are more alligators. "They're just ittle bitty guys, one or two weeks old. There were probably 30 or so of them when they hatched but snakes, herons and other 'gators all eat baby 'gators."
It's a constant quest for food out in the wild, and on a post a snail kite is eating a snail. "Escargot for breakfast," Martin says. "That's the rarest bird on the lake. There are probably about 20-25 of them. They like it because round here the snails get as big as apples."
A belted kingfisher flies by, there are two more bald eagles in the treetops, and then a sandhill crane standing at the water's edge: "the biggest bird in Florida." There are a few fishermen out on their boats, enjoying the peaceful early morning sunshine. Spanish moss hangs from the branches of the cypress trees. Martin cuts the engine and there's total silence.
Back at the boat-house Martin says that he came out to Florida from Colorado in 1989. "Went from being a ski bum to being a boat bum." And a twinkle in his eye tells you he doesn't regret it one bit. He looks as content as an osprey that's just caught the Breakfast of Champions.
Information
For more details visit the Boggy Creek Airboat Rides website
The best time for wildlife is March-May but there's something happening all year round. Night rides are best if you want to see alligators.
Read about the Canoe Escape near Tampa here.
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