canoe
Florida
National Parks
USA
Our Unforgettable Paddling Adventure with Crocodiles in Florida
12/04/2024Last fall, my wife and I went on a camping trip to Everglades National Park. This sprawling wilderness, covering 1.5 million acres in southern Florida, is my happy place where I like to return over and over again. To put the size of Everglades National Park into perspective, it’s roughly the size of the state of Delaware or half the size of the state of New Jersey. 200,000 alligators and 1,000 crocodiles call the Everglades home, as well as the critically endangered Florida panthers. But make no mistake: the park's biggest badass is the mosquito! Those ferocious creatures can eat you alive, even at the end of the rainy season. Fancy to learn about our canoeing journey in the heart of the Everglades?
While many assume alligators and crocodiles are identical, they're actually quite distinct. The main difference lies in their habitats: crocodiles don’t mind and even thrive in saltwater, whereas alligators stick exclusively to freshwater.
We set up our camp at Flamingo Campground, located at the end of a scenic road that stretches from Florida City all the way into the Gulf of Florida.
The park conveniently offers canoe and kayak rentals, so adventurers like us can enjoy nature a bit more closely.
It’s possible to go on a multi-day journey through the Everglades' vast, slow-flowing waters. Backcountry campsites provide wooden platforms completely surrounded by water. The platform offers just enough space to pitch a tent and has a small restroom – all you need for true happiness.
We, however, are not as adventurous, so we opted for a two-hour relaxing canoe trip through the salty backwaters.
After signing numerous waivers, a necessary precaution, I guess, we set off in our canoe, which honestly looked more like an oversized kayak. A staff member kindly held the canoe steady as we boarded, though I felt it was unnecessary because I canoed in Canada many times before, and I certainly knew how to keep my balance. But why argue, so we obeyed.
As we pushed off from the dock, a large, 3 m / 9 ft long crocodile suddenly appeared alongside our canoe. Caught off guard, I exclaimed, "It's a crocodile!" The staff member's calm response? "Yes, it's a crocodile." I now understood why he was holding our canoe.
My wife, understandably freaked out, ordered me to paddle as quickly as I could, while I itched (unsuccessfully) to capture the big reptile on my camera. We paddled in silence for about 10 minutes, keeping our canoe right in the middle of a channel, a safe distance from the mangroves. Once we calmed down a little bit, we paused to appreciate the breathtaking scenery and take some photos.
On our return journey, we spotted a small tour boat where people were staring at something in the bushes. Guess what? It was another crocodile, albeit a tiny one, about 1 m / 3 ft long. Such a cutie!
Back at the canoe rental, we learned that our initial crocodile encounter was with Frankie, an old resident of the area, virtually harmless since he had plenty of fish and birds to feast on.
When people hear my story, they typically question our sanity for canoeing in crocodile territory. I respond that it’s all about risk management. After all, if it weren't relatively safe, canoe rentals wouldn't be available in such a place. Let’s not forget - we were in America where kids under 12 aren’t allowed to stay home by themselves for safety reasons.
Plus, I know for a fact that wild animals of Everglades National Park thrive in their natural habitat and don't see us, humans as food.
So why not venture into the wilderness of Everglades National Park and create your own unforgettable memories?
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