Florida Nature Safari

Limited to 14 Travelers
A very important feature of our Florida Nature Safari is the small group size, as nature encounters are best experienced in the more intimate context of a smaller group. Traveling in Nat Hab's specialty North American Safari Trucks, we divide our group into two vehicles, each with a guide, further enhancing our low-key presence.

Take this trip on a private basis, traveling exclusively with your immediate family, multi-generational family or group of friends. Click here for details and pricing.

Accommodations, services of Nat Hab's professional Expedition Leader(s) and local staff, scenic seaplane flight to Dry Tortugas National Park, transportation in Nat Hab's North American Safari Trucks, all meals from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on final day, most gratuities, airport transfers for those arriving by air on Day 1 and departing on the final day, all activities and entrance fees, all taxes, permits and service fees.

Travel to and from the start and end point of your trip, alcoholic beverages, some gratuities, optional activities, items of a personal nature (phone calls, laundry, Internet access, etc.), airline baggage fees, airport and departure taxes (if any), optional travel protection and medical evacuation insurance.

Easy to Moderate
Our Florida Nature Safari does not require a high degree of physical fitness, however there is a wide variety of physical activities included. Guests will have opportunities to hike in varied habitats including wet sloughs, to travel by boat to remote islands and walk ashore on the beach, and to swim and snorkel over coral reefs (with snorkeling equipment provided). Walks typically range from 1-2 miles over uneven, often muddy terrain, though guests should be able to walk at least 2 miles without assistance. Multiple walks will depart early in the morning. Weather may be hot and humid. A flatwater guided kayaking trip in tandem kayaks through the mangroves is suitable for those with little to no paddling experience, and instruction will be provided. Several small-boat adventures are included, and while most take place in calm waters, guests should come prepared if seasickness is a concern, as we may be exposed to waves and swells. Please note that during breaks ashore on some boat excursions, bathroom facilities are limited, and guests may need to find a private spot in the bushes. Several activities, such as the airboat ride, require getting into and out of motorized vehicles. Our itinerary includes a scenic seaplane flight from Key West to the Dry Tortugas in a small, non-pressurized low-altitude seaplane flying at approximately 500 feet above sea level. Most boat tours will include snorkeling, but no prior experience is required to participate and our Expedition Leaders will offer instruction for anyone in need of guidance. Since we drive across a good portion of southern Florida, the itinerary at times requires long hours of sitting in vehicles, but we never fill our vans to capacity, and each traveler gets a window seat.

We travel with two Expedition Leaders, which allows us to divide the group at times according to different physical abilities, ensuring that travelers can move at the pace, and cover a distance, that suits their preference. Please note that all activities are optional, and travelers should only participate in activities  they are comfortable with. While travelers are not required to participate in all activities, we cannot always guarantee alternatives will be available. Guests who come with a flexible and adventurous spirit will have the best time, no matter what the local conditions might be.

On custom or private departures with smaller groups, our ability to accommodate varying levels of physical abilities or interests is limited, since these trips are staffed with a single Expedition Leader who may be assisted, pending availability, by local guides.

This trip offers nature travelers an encounter with the wild side of southern Florida that most tourists miss. Our naturalist  Expedition Leaders work hard to show our travelers less-visited areas away from heavy crowds, facilitating quiet wildlife encounters and intimate experiences of unique landscapes while maximizing seclusion. Depending on weather and local conditions, activities may run in a different order from what is presented in the itinerary. 

Please arrive in Fort Myers by 4 pm on Day 1 in order to join your group for a 6 pm orientation and welcome dinner. If your flight to Southwest Florida International Airport arrives on Day 1 of the trip, you will be met by our representative and transferred to our hotel in Fort Myers, about a 20-minute drive.

Guests are free to depart Key West any time on the final day of the trip; however, we recommend flying out before 1 pm, especially if you have connecting flights to meet.