Private Photography and Birding Safari
Departs Early Mornings and Late Afternoons for the Best Lighting
The Best Tour for Photographers, Birders and Their Gear
Stable, Flat-Decked Boats for Tripods
$499.95 for up to two guests ($100 additional guests)
Departs Chokoloskee Island (3 miles past Everglades City
Reservations are Required. 2.5 to 3 hours in duration
Photograph areas seldom reached by others. Most of the 1.5 million acres in the Everglades National Park are flooded and essentially out of reach for average photographers and birders. Not on this private everglades boat tour experience.
The whole area and your photography/birding opportunities change with the seasons, therefore so do our tours. Sometimes we need to run deep into the Park's interior to reach a shoot location or species. Other times, the wildlife is close by. Every trip is different.
Lighting considerations can influence a shoot and many photographers wish to shoot early in the mornings or late in the evenings. Commonly, in the mornings, we will start out at bird roost/rookery. Literally 100’s and 100’s of birds rest there during the night. In the morning, they will “fly-off” in large groups in search of the day's forage. It is quite the spectacle. We then work our way west, with the sun over our shoulder looking for individual photo opportunities
In the evening the birds return, but in small groups. There are plenty of opportunities to track and shoot flying birds. You may be surprised how heavy your camera can feel.
Tidal considerations can be very important, especially for shooting wading birds as they need shallow water of the low tides to feed. Many photographers enjoy shooting while standing in the water or on a remote sand beach. We encourage our guests to stay overnight locally as we arrive back at dark on the afternoon tours and leave at dawn in the mornings.
All private photography boat tours are customized based on your desires, the season, the wildlife and the weather. You and your guide will discuss your needs, wants and the possible options prior to your tour.
The use of a power boat typically provides the most flexibility for photographers. A flat-decked boat is your shooting platform and has room for one tripod and two guests (three guests if smaller framed). An electric trolling motor may be used to maneuver the boat into position for your shots and to silently approach the wildlife. Larger parties can be accommodated on our larger boats, however.
