Bayou Bienvenue: The Vanishing Swamp in the Lower 9th Ward
There used to be a 30,000-acre cypress forest five minutes from the French Quarter. By the time Katrina hit in 2005, almost all of it was gone. What’s left is a stretch of standing dead trees you can see from the Lower 9th Ward levee, and we paddle here on purpose. This is why. Where…
Louisiana Swamps: A Complete Guide to the Cypress Wetlands
Louisiana has more freshwater swamp than any other state in the country, and most visitors here see exactly one of them, on a 90-minute tour, and leave thinking they understand the place. The real story is bigger and more interesting. This is the long version, written the way we’d tell it to a friend who…
How Alligator Farms Source Their Eggs
In the sun-drenched expanses of the Southern United States, where bayous meander and cypress trees cast long shadows, lies an industry that intertwines commerce with the mysterious allure of reptilian wonders. Alligator farms, hubs of conservation and economic activity, harbor the secrets of alligator egg acquisition—a process as intricate as the swamp ecosystems that these…
Rebuilding Nature’s Defenses: The Oyster Reef Restoration Revolution
In the dynamic realm where the Gulf of Mexico meets Louisiana’s coastal marshes, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has been a silent guardian, actively working long before the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to rejuvenate the health of this vital ecosystem. Oyster reefs, once prolific and teeming with life, faced numerous challenges—fishing practices, dredging, habitat loss, water…
The Rise of Regenerative Tourism: Empowering Travelers to Give Back to Nature and Local Communities
In recent years, a new form of tourism has emerged that goes beyond the traditional notions of sustainability and responsible travel. Regenerative tourism, with its focus on restoration, resilience, and community empowerment, has captured the imagination of travelers seeking meaningful and transformative experiences. This article explores the concept of regenerative tourism and its profound impact…
New Orleans Bird Watching Tours
New Orleans is a great place for birding, with a variety of habitats including swamps, marshes, bayous, and forests that support a wide range of bird species. Some of the common birds you might see in the city include Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Green Herons, and Anhingas, which can be found around the wetlands and…
New Orleans Alligator Tours
Baby Alligators are back out sunning themselves! It’s spring and the baby alligators are back out to enjoy some sunshine! We tour past them with our kayaks and can get up pretty close without motors. Some stunning footage of these reptiles as they sun themselves on a fallen cypress tree.
FREE Bayou St. John Kayak Cleanup
CLEAN UP ON AISLE BAYOU! New Orleans Kayak Swamp Tours has decided to inspire eco-heros! Join us as we scour the Bayou St. John to round up the wildlife killer culprits; plastic straws, bags, fishing line, & beer cans. Give back and get that good feeling. COST: Free – $5/ if your feeling…
FREE SWAMP TOUR CLEAN UP & PIZZA PARTY
CLEAN UP ON AISLE SWAMP! New Orleans Kayak Swamp Tours has recently adopted a mile stretch of swamp-front highway along the beautiful Manchac Greenway in LaPlace. The goal is to clean up the trash and debris along our adopted section of roadway before it has negative environmental impacts on the area (ie birds choking…