Orlando Wildlife Safari Hike with a Wildlife Photographer
Description
Get away from the overcrowded airboat tours and come witness the magic of Central Florida's nature scene up close. Led by a local award-winning wildlife photographer and ecologist, this intimate guided hike immerses you in the wild beauty of Florida’s natural landscapes. This area is known for consistent wildlife activity, and sightings of alligators and wading birds are common on most hikes. Journey through forests, swamps, and riverside trails while observing native wildlife and learning how each species plays a role in Florida’s delicate ecosystems. Along the way, your guide will capture professional photos of you and the wildlife you encounter, providing a stunning visual story of your experience to take home and treasure.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Only 30 minutes from Orlando, the Black Bear Wilderness Area offers one of Central Florida’s most beautiful and biodiverse landscapes, nestled along the scenic St. Johns River. The trail winds through hydric hammock forests, cypress swamps, and open marsh edges before revealing sweeping river views. It’s a true glimpse into wild Florida - home to wading birds, turtles, alligators, deer, and, on rare occasions, the Florida black bears that give this remarkable place its name. Guests will hike a portion of the trail at a relaxed, flexible pace, spotting wildlife and learning about the area’s one-of-a-kind ecosystem. As we explore, I’ll capture professional photographs of both the wildlife and of you immersed in this incredible wilderness. The trail features a mix of elevated boardwalks and natural dirt paths, offering an authentic Florida adventure.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Participants should have moderate physical fitness and be comfortable walking 2–3 miles on natural trail surfaces.
Reviews(14)
Highly recommend! Micah provides a great hiking experience and is the best guide. His knowledge of the terrain and wildlife added much flavor to the hike.
Micah is a top notch guide. His passion for Florida wildlife is contagious. We saw alligators, many species of birds, turtles, etc. Micah had deep knowledge of the entire ecosystem and made the whole process so much fun. His photography is amazing. Highly recommend and can't wait to do it again!
This experience is a must do looking to learn about Florida’s wildlife with a super knowledgeable guide in Micah. It’s a beautiful hike through a carved out trail with many amazing photo spots. Micah’s true passion for both nature and photography makes this a very unique experience as he rattles off facts about the wildlife that makes Florida’s ecosystem thrive. Likelihood of seeing gators is certainly high but at no point do you feel any sort of risk, just don’t pet them as much as you might want to…
Micah was the best tour guide. He is so passionate about Florida wildlife that you can’t help but have fun, and learn a lot too. Micah was very knowledgeable about the history of Florida ecosystems and the wildlife we saw! He took some amazing high quality photos of both wildlife and our group. Truly a unique experience of the “real” Florida!
Micah, our guide for this outdoor adventure, made this trip beyond amazing. His patience during the hike, while allowing us to set the pace, answer any questions, and take timely photographs, made this a very custom experience. His vast knowledge of wildlife and the ecosystem not only educated me, but more importantly helped remind me to pause and enjoy the beauty and wonder of nature. I also appreciated his attention to everyone’s safety, as wildlife is not always predictable. Micah’s ability to notice amazing details, identify various birds, and somehow locate gators camouflaged in the water, made this an unforgettable adventure.
This experience is a must do looking to learn about Florida’s wildlife with a super knowledgeable guide in Micah. It’s a beautiful hike through a carved out trail with many amazing photo spots. Micah’s true passion for both nature and photography makes this a very unique experience as he rattles off facts about the wildlife that makes Florida’s ecosystem thrive. Likelihood of seeing gators is certainly high but at no point do you feel any sort of risk, just don’t pet them as much as you might want to…
This was a great hike through the Black Bear Wilderness area. Our guide was very helpful and knowledgeable. Micah answered all sorts of questions about wildlife and the cypress swamps. Very fun! Highly recommend!
The tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and taught our group about all the unique creatures and animals on the tour.
Very fun experience, learned a lot about the wildlife in the area and really got to see what Florida is all about!
Amazing time exploring with the guide Micah, he’s very knowledgeable about all the wildlife. Me and my friends had a 10/10 experience!
