Last Wilderness Eco-Swamp Tours

09/29/2024

Today was a beautiful day for a paddle! Even better was the really great crew we got to share it with 🤩

09/27/2024

We are honored to share with you that our Executive Director will be featured during a panel discussion at the 2024 Water and Climate Global Conference in Milwaukee on September 27th.

The Atchafalaya Basin is not only important to Louisiana, it is part of a much larger environment, the world!

09/26/2024

Our cypress supplier had two Alligator Snapping Turtles, male and female, that he caught while pulling sinker cypress this summer. Conscious to reduced population, he plans to relocate them in an isolated swamp where they may not be found.

Alligator Snapping turtles were over harvested in the 60’s-70’s which caused a threat to their population. However, there are now signs of recovery. These snapping turtles can become massive, weighing up to 200lbs! The coolest thing about them is their worm-like tongue— To catch their meal, they lay on the bottom of the water, wiggle their tongue, and wait for a fish to fall for their trick! 🐟

09/24/2024

“Sunday was the first day of Fall, also known as the “Autumn Equinox.” Just as the daffodils bloom in the early months of the year to tell us that spring is coming, red spider lilies, or “Equinox Lilies,” pop up in yards to signal the arrival of fall. Red spider lilies, native to China, Japan, Korea, and Nepal, are cultivated through bulbs and bloom in late summer. Part of the amaryllis family, these spiky looking flowers pop up in areas where they may have been planted years ago—and sometimes, where no house remains. Like their springtime daffodil cousins, they too can show us where an old homeplace used to be. They can also be called “Hurricane Lilies” or “Red Magic Flower.””
- Historic Halifax

09/17/2024

Another peaceful moment in the Atchafalaya Basin ✨

09/13/2024

I couldn’t just pick one. captured this sunset in the basin so beautifully.

09/10/2024

We will be closed on Wednesday, 9/11, due to Hurricane Francine. We are tentatively offering swamp tours on Thursday, being the storm damage is not substantial. For the locals, y’all stay safe!

09/08/2024

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09/08/2024

Check out Last Wilderness Eco Tours’s video.

09/06/2024

Don’t let the rain scare you away from a tour! We will go out, rain or shine! Also, did you see the Louisiana temp forecast for the next 10 days?! 🤌🏼

09/04/2024

08/28/2024

“Wonderfully interesting kayak tour through the calm, peaceful swamp. We learned about the wildlife and habitat from our great guide. Highly recommended.”

Thank you, , for choosing our kayak tour and for sharing your experience!

08/21/2024

Did anyone see the super blue moon last night?! 😍

📷:

08/19/2024

A guest favorite moment is when we turn off the motor and quietly listen to the sound of the swamp. So serene ✨

08/15/2024

This one is getting its extra protein today! 🕷️

08/14/2024

What are the gators up to right now?

The months April- June are the American Alligators mating season. After their eggs are fertilized, they’ll begin building their nests and lay up to 50 eggs! To protect their eggs, they’ll cover them in mud and vegetation. Around this time (mid August) to September, we will see alligator hatchlings.
Keep an eye out for the babies on our tour!! 🐊

08/12/2024

It’s always a fun time with kids on our tour! Our swamp tours are great for all ages!

08/09/2024

BOAT TOUR FAQ:

How many passengers can you accommodate?
We can accommodate up to 6 people per boat, with a total of 12 upon tour guide availability.

What kind of boat do you use?
We use an uncovered outboard motor boat. We use a motor because it is the least invasive option for the swamp. Air boats push out a lot of wind from the fans and knock down bird nests. Also, they are very loud and scare away potential wildlife. Earmuffs are typically used while riding in an air boat. Our goal is to provide a relaxing swamp tour experience while allowing our guests to hear the surrounding wildlife and tour guide.

Do you feed wildlife?
We do not feed wildlife of any kind, especially alligators. Feeding of wildlife creates a reliability to humans for a meal, and taking away the fear factor between alligators and humans, which creates a threat to both the alligator, and person. Besides, the basin provides over 100 species of fish and shellfish they can snack on!

Feel free to ask your question below!

08/09/2024

We are enjoying the dryer air this week on our swamp tour! This weather is 🙌🏼🙌🏼 for August ☀️😎

08/05/2024

If you’ve been on our tour, you probably recognize this flower from the invasive water hyacinth. The water hyacinth is a non native plant that was introduced to the south in the 1900s. The flower is edible and we’ve heard you could cook the green stems.
Comment below if you’ve tried it!

08/03/2024

Meet our team!

Meet Capt. Albert “Al” Wilson, owner of Last Wilderness Kayaks & Rentals. A local through and through, Al has been guiding swamp tours for over a decade. Holding a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Ecology and Management with a focus on Wetland Science from LSU, Al brings a wealth of knowledge to our beautiful swamps. As a part-time commercial crawfisherman, he adds hands-on experience to his expertise, ensuring you get the best possible experience when exploring the Atchafalaya Basin. Al habla Español.

08/02/2024

Meet the team!

Silvia is a full-time mom, marketing director for The Last Wilderness Swamp Tours, and owner of The Last Wilderness Cabins. You can take her out of the swamp, but you can’t take the swamp out of her! She is Dean Wilson’s one of two daughters and has an associate degree in General Studies. Traveling and primitive camping are in her roots, but Silvia also grew up fishing and exploring the Atchafalaya Basin with her dad. When Silvia is not assisting customers or managing The Last Wilderness Swamp tours and cabins, she is gardening, cooking, and spending time with her family. Silvia Habla Español.

08/01/2024

Meet the team!
Dean is the owner of The Last Wilderness Tours & cabins. He became the Atchafalaya Basinkeeper after making his living as a commercial fisherman and hunter in the Atchafalaya Basin for over 16 years.  For many years, he was also the Chair of the Atchafalaya Basin Committee with the Sierra Club. He works to protect the Atchafalaya Basin and Louisiana’s swamps through education, research, and enforcement of our environmental laws. With help from volunteer pilots through SouthWings, Atchafalaya Basinkeeper is the only group monitoring for illegal cypress logging in southern Louisiana and is the main group working to stop the cypress mulch industry. Dean spearheaded the Save Our Cypress Coalition that managed to stop most of the cypress logging in coastal Louisiana. To learn more about Atchafalaya Basinkeeper please go to www.basinkeeper.org. Dean habla Español.

08/01/2024

The Atchafalaya Basin is home to a diverse array of plants and animals, including various types of mushrooms! 🍄😁