Okefenokee Adventures

Incredible view of the Okefenokee with many live animal sighting that live there during our 1.5 hr boat ride. Our guide made the trip very interesting and educational. He was very knowledgeable. I highly recommend this trip. Afterwards, there are many things to see and hikes you can take

Our family had an absolutely incredible experience with Okefenokee Adventures! We stayed at Blackwater Ranch along the St. Marys River, and it was the perfect base to explore this stunning area. The ecosystem here is just mesmerizing the swamp, the river, and the surrounding wetlands are teeming with life. We learned so much about the rain-fed waters, how the swamp works, and the delicate balance of plants and wildlife in this unique environment. The guides were knowledgeable, patient, and really helped us appreciate the history and ecology of the region. Paddling through the slow-moving waters and spotting birds, turtles, and even the occasional alligator was both exciting and educational. It was the kind of adventure that’s fun for the whole family while also giving you a true sense of the natural world here in southern Georgia. We can’t recommend Okefenokee Adventures enough—and staying at Blackwater Ranch made it all feel so private, peaceful, and connected to nature. Definitely a trip we’ll never forget!

The Sunset Tour with Okefenokee Adventures was truly magnificent. Our guide, Rhodes, was exceptional – deeply knowledgeable, articulate, passionate, and thoughtful. His insight elevated the experience beyond a tour into something immersive and meaningful. I’ve wanted to visit the Okefenokee for as long as I can remember, and this felt like arriving somewhere essential. Okefenokee derived from a Creek word meaning the trembling earth is exactly that: a floating, remembering landscape that resists solidity. The blackwater bowl of the swamp is seductive and ghostly, exquisitely balanced, eerie, sacred, and profoundly calming. The experience is visceral and almost hallucinogenic—optical, dreamlike, otherworldly– where time loosens its grip. I left with a deeper respect for this rare ecosystem and sincerely hope it will one day be recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I highly recommend this boat tour. It was an unforgettable encounter with one of America’s most extraordinary places. Thank you Okefenokee Adventures, Rhodes, and the support team.

We did the 1.5hr guided boat tour and had a fantastic time! Our guide, Rhodes, was friendly and informative, spotting out tons of wildlife and stopping the boat so we could get a great view. He was a huge wealth of knowledge and, since we had a small group at 8am, entertained the various questions my wife and I had for him. It was a great time, super informative, and I’d highly recommend the early tour. Learned tons about wetlands and what makes the Okefenokee unique! Many hiking trails around as well with fantastic views.

Title: An Unforgettable Experience with Andy! "We had the most incredible sunset boat tour! What was supposed to be a 2-hour trip turned into 3 hours because Andy was so generous with his time. Since we were the only ones on the tour, he really tailored the experience to us. He is a wealth of knowledge regarding the local birds, gators, and flora. The highlight was spotting an owl—it was absolutely amazing! It was so well-camouflaged that it took me a long time to even see where it was hiding, but Andy’s keen eyes found it for us. As a photographer, I deeply appreciated his immense patience; he never rushed me and made sure I could capture the perfect shots of the wildlife and the scenery. Andy is truly kind, professional, and trustworthy. We will definitely be back for another tour with Andy. Highly recommend!"

Two old friends and I spent Christmas Eve on the Sunset tour. This was my Christmas gift, and my friends' birthday gift to herself. I'd been on swamp tours outside of New Orleans. But this ride, as day was slipping away and the sun was setting, was beyond the usual. We were the only people onboard - a special arrangement which can be made in advance with the Refuge office. My other friend is an avid 'birder'; he was in absolute heaven. The camera did not stop for the entire tour. Few of the photos would have been caught without the incredibly sharp eye of our guide, Andy. We saw tens of tens of alligators big and small, and turtles! But the ibis! The owls! The herons, storks, hawks!...So exciting. All spotted at an unbelievable distance by Andy. What most impressed - almost overwhelmed - me was the STILLNESS. The motor on the boat was not particularly loud. But when Andy turned off the motor, and we just sat amid the wildlife and stillness and quiet...it was like being transported to a primordial time in history. (I should say here that we also spent a couple of days walking trails, which was also very enjoyable. We specifically chose this time of year to visit the Refuge because it wouldn't be hot, or too buggy. The weather was perfect for walking.) I urge you to come to Okefenokee Adventures, in this most wonderful Wildlife Refuge. IMHO, the location at Folkston is the best!!

We took a guided paddle excursion with Ben as our guide and it was wonderful. The swamp in winter is so quiet and peaceful. Ben is a knowledgeable naturalist and excellent wildlife spotter, I learned a lot from him about the wetlands and its inhabitants. He also helped me get back into my kayak from a dock without falling into the water lol. I’m glad we chose the paddle tour instead of a motorized boat trip, those boats are louder & faster and we got to observe the wildlife a lot more closely from a kayak than we would have if we’d taken the boat tour. It was a magical experience and I plan to do it again in the spring when the plants are in bloom and the frogs and turtles are more active.

We went on a 10am boat tour with Bobby and really enjoyed it. During our tour we saw countless alligators, turtles, herons, ibis and a red shouldered hawk. Unfortunately we weren’t able to see the sandhill cranes but we heard them. It was our first time visiting the Folkston Okefenokee area and we will definitely be back soon to explore the area more throughly.

An awesome adventure that almost didn't happen. I'm thankful that the staff was able to rearrange our tour that they thought they were going to have to cancel because of inclement weather. Our Guide was very informative and knew a lot of the history of it was a great experience that I would encourage anyone to do.

We took the Sunset Tour. The tour guide was very knowledgeable. We had a great time! Blankets were provided because of the cooler temps. Would definitely go again!

Tony and I went to Folkston, GA outside of Jacksonville Florida basically across the state line. This swamp is full of Alligators and is a Refuge. The cost is $5 per person and if you take the boat ride it's only $25 each extra. The ride is 1.5 hours long. Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. We were the only ones on the boat, kinda like a personal trip. Very nice! We were on the 930am boat tour on a Wednesday so it wasn't very busy and very enjoyable weather. The bugs didn't bother us much, but we did have on quite a bit of bug spray!!! I tipped him $15 for the trip, we saw a turtle, 2 tiny frogs, several different species of birds, 3 Barred Owls and 4 Alligators. It was very enjoyable and I would definitely do again!! Highly Recommend you detour for the boat tour!!!

Great time very pleased with dealing with Matt in office. Able to purchase one day fishing license same day, rented boat

Booked the bike rental as well as the boat ride. Both were more than I expected. I originally came to Okefenokee Swamp to explore the park and do the boat tour. Arrived earlier and decided to rent a bike. I ended up doing a 7 mile bike ride along the paved paths through the park. Very nice ride and reasonable price. I then did a small hike and it neared the time for my boat tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. Would highly recommend this park and the activities mentioned.

This is a great adventure! Our guide, DJ was so knowledgeable and entertaining! He kept us in stories and scientific facts that just made the journey that much more enjoyable! He made sure we didn't miss anything, and we felt like he took his time with us which we really appreciate it! It was so worth it!

This review is for the state park and visitor's center right outside of Folkston GA. We spent several days in the park hiking, paddling and taking the guided boat tour. This is a wonderful place and the guides are knowledgeable, friendly and know the local history. We rented a canoe for 1 day and paddled out about 5 1/2 miles to a platform, had lunch and came back. Lots of local wildlife: birds, butterflies, alligators and turtles. This is a beautiful slice of nature that you won't find anywhere else.

Professionally run tour and the swamp is a national treasure. Our tour guide Jen knew her stuff. A 90 minute tour into the swamp. It's May and cool temperatures with no bugs.

This is a top-notch operation. We arrived at 1pm for a boat tour, and learned we could book the random "weather-permitting" sunset tour for 6pm. We easily filled the 5 hours driving and walking and checking out the homestead house, ate a great meal at the cafe, and had a spectacular sunset view from deep in the swamp. High five to Gordon, who gave us a fantastic history lesson at the homestead then guided us on our equally awesome sunset tour. Thanks!

I had a great time with two of my friends in the Okefenokee Swamp! We rented two kayaks from Okefenokee Adventures and headed out at around 7:00 am to see some alligators and see more of the swamp. The boats were in great shape, the employees were nice and helpful, and the map and directions were pretty easy to follow. We all had a great time! One thing that would have been helpful is just some instruction on what to do if you run into an alligator. We had never been up close to them before, and it made us a little nervous that we didn't know what to do. But all in all it was a great trip!

After a B&B innkeeper in St. Marys recommended this place, I reserved a private guide (the amazing Jenn!) for a 4-hour kayak tour through the swamp. I was a first-time visitor. PLEASE visit this place in the winter! It is SO peaceful, beautfiful, VERY few people, and perfect weather in the mid-40s to mid-50's with bright sunshine. All the staff at Oke Adventures were friendly & helpful from the start (Matt, Joy (owner), Jenn, and I apologize for not remembering his name but the tall man who got our kayaks ready -- Jimmy?, Randy? And the cafe staff as well!) It is so uncrowded - we literally passed two tourists in one of he motorized boats and a handful of high-schoolers who were out in the swamp platform-camping and paddling to the other side of the swamp. I recommend you arrive a little early and take in the Visitor Center which has educational exhibits, gift shop with great stuff, and a very well-done 15-minute high-quality film about the swamp. Jenn was extremely knowledgeable about the fauna and flora of the swamp. She was friendly, laid-back, knew when to share what she knows but also valued just being still & quiet to take it all in. Jen was also very willing to take photos of me! With the tour price, I was given a cooler bag with plenty of water and snacks, too! Jenn is one of their longest tenured employees and was even a swamp volunteer back in her teens. It was incredible how much she knows about where she works! (I specifically asked for Jenn after seeing other reviews on this site mentioning her.) From plants to wild birds (including the elusive 'bittern' and an owl & pileated woodpecker we were lucky to see) to the gators (big mamas/papas and babies), I was in awe for 4 straight hours! We paddled about 7-ish miles in that time (forewarning: the swamp is flat water so YOU are the propulsion!). The 'water trails' are lined with lily pads and serve as your 'path' to the most amazing plant and animal life. It's like something from prehistoric times or right out of the movies! And just for fun, I even visited a porta-potty in the middle of the swamp which frankly, was one of the cleanest ones I've ever been in! It took some maneuvering to get out of the kayak up on the platform but with Jenn's steadying hand, all remained dry and nothing was lost in the swamp! Easy-peasy! This is one of nature's true wonders that needs to be on your 'bucket list'. Animals we saw included: big & small alligators, owl, cranes, hawks, pileated woodpecker, and that rare bittern bird. I can't even remember how many different plants & trees we saw. There are SO many different wonders to see -- and Jenn was extremely knowledgeable about the history of the swamp and the plant/animal life. Be sure to check out my photos. After the tour, I was pleasantly surprised at how tasty the food was at the cafe. They packed me a grilled chicken wrap on a spinach tortilla with chips & drink, ('to go') and I proceeded to the 8-mile Swamp Drive (where I passed ONE car!) to take in more of the swamp. Take the time to drive or bike this road where you will see more gators & birds. I explored the Chesser Island Homestead which is really neat to see how these amazing folks from the 1800s existed, and -- wait for it -- even came across a BOBCAT on the last hike of the day on the boardwalk trail out to the Owl's Roost Tower. I am definitely going to return for another visit (perhaps a sunset paddle?) and especially since I turned around after seeing the bobcat and need to finish that boardwalk trail! I packed alot in within one day and am so glad I did. Note that the swamp entrance is only a 45-minute very easy and direct drive from St. Marys. I was down there to go camping on Cumberland Island and built in this extra day prior to take in the swamp. Thank you again to ALL the amazing staff at Okefenokee Adventures for creating a memory of a lifetime for me! Hope to see you again!

Had a blast. River your was awesome. Great gift shops. Lots of great things to do. Highly recommended.

We spent our fall break here in the area exploring different things. Taking a 90 minute boat tour or the swamp was great! Even our 8 year old was taking it all in and listening intently to the tour guide. The history of this area was unknown to me, so I learned quite a bit. I had no idea the size of the Okefenokee Swamp. It is HUGE! The water level was high due to the rainfall, so the alligators weren't really around where we were. However, as we were pulling back into the docking area, we were able to see one right next to our boat as we entered the area. Highly recommend checking this place out and taking a boat tour. You will not regret it at all!

Our girls trip to the golden isles somehow landed us in the Okefenokee Swamp. Despite a little apprehension prior to the trip, it was AMAZING! Our guide Alex absolutely made the whole trip. Thanks Okefenokee Adventures for a great time. We will definitely be back for the sunset trip in the future and requesting Alex again!

Lots to come and see. Park is well out together. Loved the train ride that was included in the entry free. Great place, and awesome customer service.

So we started our family vacation in Universal Studios Orlando, and the Atlantic Ocean, but after that, Historic St. Augustine was a BUST for 3 boys in June. The SWAMP TOUR (I billed it as an "American Safari") was a HIT though! A 90-minute guided boat tour for about 20 people, we pick our time of day - 9:15 am was perfect - the kids had to wear life jackets. We saw about 20 alligators of all sizes, and learned some basic history of Okefenokee and about the flora and fauna - had no idea carnivorous plants love the swamp, too! We did not see bears or very many mammals but the birds were beautiful and mosquito repellant was available for purchase. Wear light-colored clothes to also resist the biting flies. Very fun and highly recommend! 100% worth the $$ even for the 5yearold

Awesome place!! My 17 yo daughter and I recently completed a two day overnight trip into the swamp. Chip, our guide, was super knowledgeable about the swamp, past and present, and really enhanced our experience. The swamp was an amazing combination of beauty, solitude, adventure and excitement easily over 50 gators just hanging out, many a mere 15 feet away from you and your canoe!! Chips wife Joy coordinated everything for us. Our trip was perfect! Food, equipment, scenery, people and overall experience just great!! Thanks to y'all!!

I had an awesome weekend trip with Okefenokee adventures and wish more natural areas had groups like this. They were very nice and extremely knowledgeable about the biology, geology, and chemistry of the swamp and were a pleasure to talk to in the ride to the put in. The boats and sleeping platforms are all in great condition and provided me with the opportunity for a great experience. The swamp is a natural treasure that I'm surprised, but thankful, isn't more used. All ages and types could engage on a trip here as the current isn't strong and there are trip lengths to suit anyone.

Yes! They serve food! And it is VERY good! I have never been to a spot run by a government contractor run as well as this. The Cafe is great (try the salad with grilled chicken), although I am surprised they don't serve fried gator tail as they are in abundance (j/k). Worth 1-2 days visit, I spent 2 down here and well worth it.

Joy and Chip clearly love Okefenokee. If we had been able to afford a guided tour of the swamp, we definitely would have done it with Chip! We rented canoes from OA - a smooth process - and Joy answered every single question I had before the trip : how much water, how do ladies pee, and, of course, all about the gators. For active young people, I highly recommend the red trail - Maul Hammock is gorgeous!

My family of 4 took a summer 2010 east coast vacation that included visiting the Okefenokee Swamp. We had a great time with Okefenokee Adventures! All of the staff were friendly and welcoming. Our guide, Chip, was the best! He had an intimate knowledge of the swamp and its seasonal cycles developed over a lifetime. Although it was hot, all of us enjoyed paddling our own canoes. My kids really enjoyed the up close yet safe experience with nature. We saw numerous alligators (surfacing right next to our canoe), birds, and plants. We were awed by the inherent silent beauty of the swamp. Okefenokee Adventures actually operates in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge so the environment is much more pristine than other entrance points. All of us had a great time - it was a memorable family experience. Thank you very much to Chip and the team at Okefenokee Adventures!