We came as a walk-in which worked out great! We did call in advance to make sure they had room and they did. You pay for tickets and check in at the shop and then sign some waivers. This is my second time doing this. The first time was a few years ago in December and it was cold so naturally not a lot of gators were out. This time around, it was a hot sunny day - perfect conditions to see some gators! It was a nice ride, so many birds and wildlife out! We didn't see a ton of gators for the amount of population in the lake, but I did see more than last time (4!) so I say it is a win! We even heard the hiss of a mama gator protecting her babies. This is a lot of fun to do, especially out of towners that want to experience some "Florida Shit." Perhaps the next time, more gators will be out! read more

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Black Hammock is super for airboat rides!!!! Sometimes you can find a discount on Groupon. It's lovely gliding over the lake & muddy shores feeling the wind, a real RUSH! Lots of beautiful birds & alligators, nature. read more

Black Hammock Adventures - Sunshine - Boating Near Me - Oviedo, Florida

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It couldn't have been a better day to get out on Lake Jesup with Black Hammock Adventures. I'd definitely recommend booking your tickets online ahead of time, it makes things much easier, especially if you're going with a group. They also have a restaurant and bar on site, which is perfect for grabbing a drink before or lunch after your airboat ride. Quick heads up: if you grab a seat in the front row on a windy, choppy day, you're basically in the splash zone. A light waterproof jacket isn't a bad idea. We had two guides on our boat, one of whom was still in training. Both were great... friendly, knowledgeable, and certified captains so you feel completely safe out there. They told us Lake Jesup has one of the highest concentrations of alligators anywhere. The lake covers about 25 square miles and is home to roughly 13,500 gators. On a sunny day, you'll see plenty of them stretched out along the shoreline. It's pretty incredible. I didn't time the ride exactly, but it felt like around 45 minutes, a solid tour with lots to see. We took the noon ride and then headed into the restaurant for lunch. They do offer gator on the menu, but I played it safe and went with a Cuban sandwich and fries, along with a couple cold beers. Everything was really good. Our group of six had a fantastic afternoon. Great weather, great guides, and a fun way to experience Florida up close. read more

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I went on an air boat ride here last weekend. We saw 3 gators on the swamp tour. The air boat captain was funny and informative on the tour. The price was good. We got to hold a baby gator with a taped mouth after the tour and take photos. This is a great place to take family, friends or tourists visiting from out of town who want to see gators. There is a decent gift shop too with gator items in it. read more

Black Hammock Adventures - Gator on air boat swamp tour - Boating Near Me - Oviedo, Florida

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Friendly, helpful staff. Knowledgeable airboat drivers. Just a great trip. Lots to learn and look at. When people come to visit, this one of the places I make sure I take them. read more

I went a year ago and it was the bomb. My sis and I went and we loved the adventure. So much so we hope to repeat the trip in a couple of weeks for my 75th Birthday! read more

What an epic day!!! We saw soooooo many gators and sure was fun to have a cocktail before we took off! Thanks so much Black Hammock Adventures!!! read more

Black Hammock Adventures - Little cutie!!! - Boating Near Me - Oviedo, Florida

I've been to Black Hammock AirBoat Rides in Oviedo a few times and it's always been a nice experience. They have a couple of small enclosures with medium sized gators for viewing and they also have a large bird enclosure with various types of birds such as: Parrots, Macaws, Doves, and African Grey's. There is a gift shop, restaurant, and a bar as well. I usually do the 30-minute airboat ride and notice that the earlier I go, the more animals (especially Gators) I get to see. You can even take pictures holding a baby gator after the ride or you can feed gators for a small fee. read more

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Big fans! We have been several times. To eat, drink, check out the gators and do an airboat ride. The kids love feeding the gators, everyone is super friendly, the vibe is fun and the airboat rides are so neat! It can get super hot or super cold on the boats so keep that in mind! read more

Black Hammock Adventures - Boating Near Me - Oviedo, Florida

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Pretty much one of my favorite adventures ever! We decided to come on by and go for an airboat ride on our summer break. Since this was during the pandemic, we were literally the only ones there. You are able to pre-purchase tickets online, but we did this last minute and had no issues buying tickets there. I wish I remembered our tour guide's name. He was very knowledgeable and quite funny. Our whole trip out on the water was exciting and thrilling! The pure speed of an airboat is unlike anything I've ever experienced! They do offer earphones to muffle the sound which are sanitized, but we brought our own which worked fabulous. After the boat tour, our guide brought out a baby gator and we were able to take pictures with it. I highly highly recommend Black Hammock Tours for a great time with friends and family. read more

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Captain J gave us a great tour and meet and greet with a baby gator! It was a beautiful day, and we saw gators, a bald eagle, blue heron and lots of other birds. read more

Black Hammock Adventures - Boating Near Me - Oviedo, Florida

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I've taken all out-of-town guests here for years. This time, it was friends visiting from New Zealand. We all had a great time. The boat ride itself is fun but we saw plenty of birds and alligators. Kudos to Captain Jay for knowing where the gators hang out and making sure we got close for great photos. After the ride my friends got to hold a baby gator. My friends had just visited the Keys and took a Caribbean cruise. Their favorite spots for nature viewing were Blue Spring State Park and Black Hammock. Go Central Florida! Highly recommend! read more

Had a great boat ride today on the 4:15 air boat ride. Captain and first mate did an awesome job. Great way to spend some time

Ok, so I had high hopes for this place because a friend of mine had a really great experience so take that with what you will. We spend over an hr drive to come here with high hopes of seeing thousands of gators since that what my friends experience was. We came from Az for my sons birthday and this was part of his gift that he requested. We were let down as we saw one tiny baby alligator that was sunbathing on the deck. The boat part was still cool but for what this place cost it by far was the biggest disappointment and waste of time and money. For $159 + for 30 min and 1 baby gator I would not recommend coming here unless it's mating season. The other people in our group said that's it ? The new tour guid said yes, Sorry this isn't a good time of year and we don't see many gators around here. We looked at each other confused as they boast themselves for being the #1 place in a Florida with the most gators. They really should update there web page in order to avoid people being disappointed and leaving less than stellar reviews. It just felt like a bait and switch for what their web pg says vs what you get. read more

"Grub and Gators", well at least the grub is a definite, not good but a definite. BHA has a pretty nice setup where you can not only take an airboat ride but you also go through some marsh areas looking for alligators while you see many other animals. Obviously, since the reptiles are wild animals, sightings are never a guarantee. The upside is the airboat captain is very knowledgable about the area, wildlife and vegetation so not all was lost. The area where you board the airboats is fun and Caribbean like with outdoor bars and colorful decor. The restaurant was not good, based on my experience. We were approaching our airboat reservation time and had enough time to grab an app. We ordered the onion rings and they were horribly cooked. I think the oil wasn't at the proper temperature because the rings were doughy on the inside and saturated with oil. When we picked them up they drained oil for about 10-20 seconds. There are several gators held captive at BHA which always concerns me as far as treatment and should a wild animal actually be held in a 12x20'ish or even worse, a smaller aquarium. read more

Per the instructions, we arrived early, but there was no one there but us until right before our time to go out. I don't know if that's common. They were quick getting us checked in. The airboat ride was fun. The guide shared good history & information. We took the early morning ride in hopes of seeing some gators, but didn't get to see a single one. We will try during mating season. Apparently that the only time you're guaranteed to see action. read more

We had a great time on our tour with John today. We saw tons of wildlife. Take a double margarita to go from the bar on your tour. Visit Andrea in the gift shop, she's so friendly! read more

Black Hammock Adventures - Tour boat, we had a great time! - Boating Near Me - Oviedo, Florida

Now this was fun! Hauling ass on an airboat zip zapping through a lake and then flying through the wetlands was an awesome family experience. The boat captain was knowledgeable bout the terrain, environment and the wildlife, and we even had a chance to see some gators in their habitat. It's a bit out of the way from Orlando but not too far out that it is an inconvenience. The place has a restaurant and bar as well as a gift shop, but watch out for the Macaws as one of them was in a bad mood!! read more

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It's such a relaxing place while still having fun sightseeing. Also felt very safe area so don't worry. The restaurant has a good menu selection. read more

Excellent voyage! Definitely request Captain Dave. So knowledgeable and off the charts funny!

Thank you so much Captain Tim. Our group loved the fun and scenic air boat tour. Tim was informative and I enjoyed hearing about the local area and wildlife. But the most fun was when we got to cut loose just a bit and really enjoy the ride. This place is just under an hour from Daytona Beach and worth the drive. So many gators and birds. And in the end grab some gator ... Yummy! #memorable-experiences read more

Black Hammock Adventures - Boating Near Me - Oviedo, Florida

What an awesome way to spend the afternoon. Took an air boat ride onJesup lake looking for gators . We found them . It's great fun whipping across the lake. Afterward you can get to touch a gator. If you're in the mood for a drink and a bite to eat you can sit outside enjoy yourself doing just that. read more

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I took my family on an airboat tour while they were here from Michigan. We had a BLAST! We had Captain Tim and he was the BEST. He was super knowledgeable about the gators and wildlife on the lake. I definitely recommend taking a airboat ride with Tim! That place is great, definitely worth checking it out!! read more

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Hard to review when you book tickets online and take an Uber 45 minutes away, pay 2 tolls and get there to see that they are closed on Mondays ‍ not sure why I was able to purchase tickets when they are closed. No apologies but at least I got my money back. Well not for the Uber or tolls. Not be a good way to run a business! read more

Went here with my sexy wife and some of her co-workers. The ride itself was very fun and the captain was friendly and knowledgeable! We saw a shit ton of gators as well as many types of birds. The boat ride itself was also enjoyable! After the ride we were able to hold a small gator and take some photos. Also after the ride we stopped in the bar and had a few drinks served by a bartender named Brandi. She was very friendly and helpful! We split an order of hush puppies with a spicy sauce, these were also very good. This is a fun quick little adventure I would recommend for both adults and kids. read more

If you register online, don't expect to go at your reservation time - the receipt time is irrelevant. We got there 15 minutes before airboat time and waited an hour for the ride. Captain of the airboat was very good! read more

This was such a fun excursion and definitely unique to Orlando and FL. We went here as recommended by a cousin from winter park and called ahead about the wait. They run tours every 30 minutes so we drove out and signed up for the next one. They have two restaurants on site, one has a limited menu and is closest to where you buy tickets. That area was chill and had a ton of seating along the pier you could chill at. Around the property they also have gators and parrots in cages. The lake where they have the tours is the most gator filled in all of FL. This lake is where they put all of the 'nuisance' gators from backyard ponds, swimming pools etc. On your tour you are taken through a wide area of the lake and get to see a variety of large and small gators. It's not always a given but I went during egg laying season so we saw quite a few. The tour was about 30 minutes in length and had about 10-15 ppl on it. You can also rent a smaller boat for 4-6 if you want to pay more. A great and fun experience to have if you're in the Orlando area! read more

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I have lived in Florida for over 15 years and this is the first time I have been on an air boat ride. I know, sad! Well, let me tell you, it was pretty damn cool. We had a living social voucher for a 30 minute air boat ride for two. We made reservations for a Saturday, which seems to be there busy day. I recommend calling early for your reservation time and getting there at least 20 minutes early to "secure" that time slot. When we first arrived to check in the girl working the counter seemed a bit frazzled and took a while to get to us, but after that it was smooth sailing. The boat left promptly at 12. Our tour guide was very informative and filled us in on the history of the lake. The ride itself is very fun, but load. You will see lots of Florida wildlife including, gators, cranes and even bald eagles. Each tour is obviously slightly different. Since it was getting warmer, we didn't get to see many gators, but it was still very cool This is definitely worth checking out if you are visiting, a Florida native, or a transplant like me! #Yelp100 read more

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I take all of my out of town guests to Black Hammock for an airboat ride but the other day I realized that my own boyfriend had never set foot on an airboat! Sacrilège! From the moment we got to Blck Hammock I could see him light up- this was the old florida authentic experience he was looking for! As we waited for the captain we noticed a large gator lounging in the sun not 20feet from us... Disney this was not... The airboat ride is a blast right out the gate! Before we ever set eyes on another gator we where all laughing giddily with excitement and adrenaline from the fast ride across Lake Jesup. When we slowed down the captain used his incredibly spotting ability to get us close to some amazing prehistoric giants. We ended up seeing multiple gators up close and a few babies and everyone was grinning from ear to ear. Make sure not to bring a hat that isn't secured as we lost one on the way. Afterwards, head over to the bar for some hush puppies and fried gator bites (writing it now seems a bit morbid...). read more

Captain Sammy lead us on our awesome voyage today, what a great ride. We saw a handful of gators and learned a bit about the birds and gators from Sammy, who was very knowledgeable, what an asset to the business. Highly recommend this for something exciting to do if you're on vacation in Florida. thank you Captain Sammy for your time, we'll see you next time! read more

Black Hammock Adventures - Captain Sammy !! Thanks for the awesome ride! - Boating Near Me - Oviedo, Florida

No disrespect to Mikey G, who didn't see a gator on his trip, but I've done quite a few eco tours/boat tours/wildlife tours in my time. No one will guarantee that you'll see your gators/dolphins/manatees/sea turtles/whales/puffins on the respective tour. They troll you out to the high wildlife activity places and hopefully you'll see some cool stuff. Sometimes you hit the jackpot and sometimes it's a nice ride- but fruitless in the way of cool animals. Hopefully, whether or not you see the advertised wildlife, the ticketing staff is nice, the on-board staff is well trained and informed, the equipment is in good working order, there are enough life jackets, the safety equipment is up to par, the vessel is sea worthy and the on board accommodations are comfortable. Black Hammock Adventures succeeded in all of those areas. They also had nice, clean, safety sound suppressors (looks like head phones) so we all left the tour with our hearing in tact. Our tour guide and airboat captain, Captian Jamie, was personable, friendly and a safe captain. The last part is kind of important, as a lake with 9,500 gators is not where I want to be swimming. Especially on a cool, windy day in the winter months. With my visiting 65 year old father in law. We saw lots of baby gators sunning, big turtles, great blue herons, white herons, along tons of ducks and lots of other water fowl in the shallow grassy areas adjacent to shore. The Air boat allows you to get into the shallows where there are only a few inches of water, impossible in a regular boat without your prop up or risking running aground. We cruised around the shallows by Black Hammock and then crossed Lake Jessup to hit the shallows on the north side, before circling back across Lake Jessup around Bird Island and then back to the Black Hammock rec area and boat launch. All in all, a very nice ride even on a breezy and cool day. If you missed out on seeing some "big" gators, they have several 6 footers penned together and then "Hammy" off by himself, who looks to be about 12-13 ft. He's big. I'm rating Black Hammock a 5 stars, as there is no 4.5 stars. I do think the regular tour price is a bit pricey. We had a discount which made the trip a 5 star experience. Be sure to keep your air boat tickets to enjoy a 10% discount off lunch or dinner at the restaurant that day. This is a fun experience for locals and visitors alike. If you want a chance of more gators, go when it's warm and not too breezy. read more

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Do your research... the tour lasted... maybe maybe 25 min.. it took us longer to drive there than the whole tour was. Disappointed read more

I've always loved Black Hammock, until this weekend. I had family in from out of town and we wanted to do an airboat ride. The website states that after 5pm, there is a $20 group fee for airboat rides. Fair enough. We drove 45 mins and got there at 5:10pm. The women working the counter immediately got defensive and said the captain would not honor this. I pointed out how far drove, how my two kids ages 3 and 5 were excited and that the website clearly stated it would be a $20 charge, which we were prepared to pay. The workers said "oh, that's at the captains discretion," while another said, "that's maybe like for the summer." Again, the website says none of this and I point that out. It's at that time the one worker said very condescendingly that "you can come back in the morning." At that point we walked out, showed the kids some of the live gators and then left. We've been patrons of black hammock for many years, but we won't be returning anytime soon. read more

I once followed a family around the airport like a creeper when I overheard they were going to Orlando just so I could tell them to go here. It's AMAZING! I did Disney, but this was by far my favorite thing! At Black Hammock you get to hold gators, se gators, take an awesome airboat ride and eat gator! The prices were also good and the staff informative and nice. I would do this over and over! GO DO THIS. read more

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We had a great time with Captain Steve on the lake and the scenery was beautiful. The gators were out here & there so we saw a few but nowhere near the reportedly 9500 ones that are out there! Captain Steve stopped here and there to tell some of the history of the lake and even show off and talk about some of the more recognizable gators in the lake like Bubba. It's kinda hard to hear over the giant fan behind you but, that's why you're on an airboat! He's skilled with maneuvering and it was pretty cool to ride over some of the plant life and slide with acceleration! This was totally worth it and even my video gaming 11-yr old had a good time which is always a plus! They give you tickets which have a 10% discount tab on them for the restaurant. The restaurant has very reasonable prices and a decent amount of choices. Locals were there eating as well as the handful of us who were there to take an airboat ride - which is a good sign. read more

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Went on an airboat ride with Captain Steve, it was an awesome time. Saw a ton of gators and really enjoyed the whole experience.

Oh, HELL yes, son! Dad wasn't getting the standard gift card for Father's Day this year. Instead, I treated him to an air boat ride at Black Hammock and it was SO MUCH fun! Bring the friends and family and get ready for a kick ass ride. The professional, courteous staff will make the trip worthwhile. We saw a small gator right after leaving the dock! I don't know who enjoyed themselves more - me or Dad. You can enjoy a 30-minute ride as a walk-in. I recommend going early on a Saturday or Sunday. The website has a $2 off coupon you can redeem at the gift shop. Best of all - I got to hold a baby alligator shortly after the ride. Now, I can check that off my bucket list (lol). This was a great way to start off a Sunday morning and we're already talking about going back - soon. read more

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I was looking for a break from the Orlando traffic, a place near the country with some beautiful nature and a little adventure. My Dad and I made the trip to Lake Jessup from Orlando Int'l in about 40 minutes. We were greeted by beautiful Scarlet and Blue and Gold Macaws, gators, herons, wild Bald Eagles and airboats on arrival. Lake Jessup is estimated to have between 9 and 12 thousand alligators and we saw over 11, three of which were over 10 feet long not including the live baby we held. The 30 minute jetboat ride entered small channels teaming with birds, turtles and gators and thousand year old trees in the water with Spanish Moss hanging. The captain was professional, informative and had a great sense of humor. We really enjoyed our experience. See our pics and go! read more

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We were looking for gators and this was pretty much the only one open and we weren't disappointed. We did a online special that came with lunch and the ride . The ride was awesome and I expected a little meal for the lunch but it was a pretty big size . To top it off everyone there was really friendly . read more

Needs new management. We visited in 2021 but the staff very much did not care to interact or explain anything to visitors. We had to keep asking questions as we had reservations for boat ride and to feed birds & gators. The boat captain was snarky and 45 mins late. New arrivals without reservations were let in ahead of us after waiting so long and having reservations. The restaurant looked scary, like not too be trusted so nobody in our little group wanted to stay to eat. The area to board boats could use some better safer steps or platform. read more