Honey Island Swamp Tours
The Honey Island Swamp Tour was on my list of things to see in the area. By now, I have seen several swamp areas but decided to do this tour. The site of the tour was a little over an hour from my campsite. The cost was much lower than any other tours I’ve done at $29 per adult. I arrived around noon for the 2:00 pm tour. They only took cash or checks. I had to get cash at a local bank.
There was a carwash close to the bank and I cleaned the car inside and out. There was a small hospital across the street and suddenly a lot of police cars, ambulances and fire trucks descended on the hospital. At first, I thought it was an active shooter situation. A communication truck showed with antennas. It seemed to actually be a fire alarm. I couldn’t understand why I didn’t see any patients but a lot of the staff was standing out in the parking lot.
After all the excitement, I drove back to the swamp in a clean car. There were many people sitting around waiting for the tour to begin. I paid for my space on the tour and found a seat out on the porch.
The Honey Island Swamp Tours in Slidell, LA is for anyone interested in the natural beauty of Louisiana. The tour takes you through the winding waterways of the Honey Island Swamp along the Pearl river, a pristine ecosystem that's home to a variety of wildlife. The trip started roughly around 2:00 pm. Our guide, Chris, was related to the owners and had studied marine sciences. He was a wealth of information.
There were probably twenty people on the boat which travelled down that Pearl river at high speed to get us to a secluded swamp area.
One of the most unique features of the Honey Island Swamp is the homes that are built right on the river. These structures are built on stilts, with the first floor hovering above the waterline. It's fascinating to see how the residents of the swamp have adapted to living in this beautiful but challenging environment. We slowed down several times to avoid creating a wake for the building on the river. The waters do rise several feet and most of the homes get flooded.
Getting off the river we glided along the water way, and were greeted by the sight of raccoons scampering among the trees. We saw a diamond back snake curled beside a tree near the water and a larger black snake wound its way over the water. We saw several alligators near the boat. I was surprised that they feed the raccoons and alligators mini marshmallows. They told us it doesn’t impact their eating habits, but they clearly came to us when they heard the boat.
Our knowledgeable guide pointed out the unique features of each animal we encountered, sharing fascinating facts about their behaviors and habitats. We learned that the swamp is a critical breeding ground for many species of birds, including the elusive prothonotary warbler and the great blue heron. We watched as a heron poked a fish in the water. The fish was so large that the bird couldn’t fly. As we were looking at some cypress trees, we saw a heron poke a bass and pull it out of the water. Unfortunetly my photos weren’t tack sharp. The bird tried several times to fly off, but the fish was too heavy.
Overall, the Honey Island Swamp Tours offers a captivating and educational experience that's perfect for nature lovers. The tour provides a unique glimpse into the delicate ecosystem of the swamp, and the chance to see some of the creatures that call it home. This was a fascinating tour.