Top Wildlife parks in New Orleans, United States

We had an exceptional experience with John whose knowledge and passion for the area was infectious. We learnt all about the history and ecology of New Orleans and left with all our questions answered. We would highly recommend booking the eco-tour, it was the highlight of our time in New Orleans.

This tour was amazing! We learned so much history about New Orleans, slavery and plantation life, and even some history of the swamps. Whitney Plantation is an incredible museum bringing so much dark history into the light. It is a sobering and thought-provoking experience for which i will be forever grateful! Then the boat tour was incredible. The swamp was so full of life and energy. We saw alligators, frogs, birds and were in awe of the amazing cypress trees. The peacefulness and life of the swamps was truly rejuvenating. I would highly recommend this all-day tour experience!

We had a truly life enhancing experience with Beyond the Bayou Tours. We booked the 12 hour private tour. The tour included an opportunity to hear a Grammy award nominated Zydeco musician in his home studio. It also included a boat tour in the ecosystem of Lake Martin to observe wildlife and better understand the terrain. Both portions of this tour are exceptional and unmatched in authenticity. And did I mention it included delicious breakfast and lunch with local food in local restaurants?

It started with a 7 am pickup at our hotel. John Stewart was our fantastic guide for the day. On the drive out to Lafayette he talked with us about the history, critical components of the unique and fragile ecosystem, and cultural richness of this southern part of the state. And he is NOT boring! He is very personable, engaging, and extremely informative.
We chose this tour company because it is NOT a jet boat tour loaded with lots of folks. They observe natural wildlife and do not bait gators. They don’t promise you alligator sightings but we saw PLENTY of them in their habitat. They talk about the challenges and beauty of the land and water you are seeing. Sean, our boat guide maneuvered the small boat through the swamp in tiny channels and pointed out so many birds, gators, turtles, and flowers. It was magical.
Equally compelling was the musical component of this tour. Nathan Williams invited us into his home studio which is very professional. He was so cordial and understated. And can he play! He shared with us his story and played us his music with his son, Naylan, on percussion. He played songs from Zydeco to Cajun to Blues and helped us hear the differences. He thoroughly captured us with his music and stories.

When my husband first suggested this tour I just laughed and said, “why would I spend an entire 12 hour day outside of New Orleans when my time is limited?” Well, it truly was the highlight of our trip and we gained a deeper understanding of this entire region. Highly recommended.

This small group eco friendly tour was a highlight of my vacation and one of the best tours I have ever had. I searched a lot and it was the only company that does eco tours (ie don’t feed or lure wildlife otherwise), takes you far in the bayous west of New Orleans, including a visit to Whitney plantation, the only plantation that tells its history from the perspective of the enslaved people. Our guide, John, was very knowledgable (he is doing active research in the environmental and socioeconomic political history of the area), friendly and kind. The bayou tour was super informative, we saw gators, birds, ducks, friendly frogs and fishing spiders. Our guide was a local, very knowledgeable, and friendly, and the tour was done in a relaxed manner, no rush. You really felt their commitment to preserving and passing on the environmental history of the area, much of which shaped and was shaped by the human factors and politics, and draw attention to its current challenges.

We went on the bayou tour and it was the highlight of our New Orleans vacation. The guide was knowledgeable and his love for the swamp was evident. I appreciate that this tour leaves the wild things wild (no feeding of animals). We saw alligators, turtles and lots of birds, and the guide knew what each one was and how each animal lives in this environment. He also taught us about the local plants. We learned a lot and had both a peaceful boat ride (slowly through the swamp) and a fun, faster ride back. Thanks for everything.

We had a fantastic and powerful day with Beyond the Bayou. John was phenomenal and I am still resonating and reflecting on the things I leaned from him. This is absolutely the way to see the bayou and the plantation. I would not normally choose to visit a plantation but the Whitney is different and you will leave there inspired as well. I am changed forever from this day. Just do it!

Absolutely incredible! Six of us did the Whitney Plantation and Swamp Tour while visiting New Orleans, with Al as our guide during the swamp tour portion, and John as our amazing “host” during the rest of the day. Al has the eyes of a hawk and was a fantastic guide through the swamp; and John provided background information on the area and great conversation while driving us to and from the various locations, also seeing to it that we were all well taken care of the entire day. Our visit to the Whitney Plantation - consisting primarily of a self-guided audio tour - certainly left an indelible impression, and provided enough time to take in the majority of the exhibits. All in all, an incredible day from start to finish - one of the most memorable of our entire trip! Highly recommended!

We did the full day Last Wilderness swamp and plantation tour. It was great! Brian was our tour guide and has lots of fun and informative stories. We had Dean as our boat captain and you can tell he is very passionate about conservation of the swamps and forests. The Whitney Plantation is also very well done and is the only plantation museum focusing on the lives of enslaved people and the aftermath of slavery. This is the only tour like this that I found- if you want to see the bayou but you’re looking for a more eco-friendly option this is it!