yesssss, it's a gator alright. Better stay in the boat!
this smaller version is for private tours
an Airboat tour into the Everglades
US 41 cuts right through the Everglades.
This road, also known as the Tamiami Trail, was completed in 1928 and connected the Gulfcoast cities of Tampa and Naples with Miami on the Eastcoast.
 
After the opening of  I 75 (Alligator Alley) in 1992, traffic on the Tamiami slowed down and the trail became more touristic

Nowadays there are several operators along the road that offer activities into the Everglades, one of them being Everglades Safari Park, just 20 km west of the busy Miami outskirts.
Here you can board an noisy airboat for a guided glide over the endless Everglades wetlands and, when lucky, spot an alligator or crocodile in the wild.
 
Sighting of alligators is guaranteed when you visit their Alligator Show.
 
 
We did all of that when we stopped by here in July 2024.
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eyes open
these gators know the procedure
because we are heading for the Alligator Show
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eyes closed. But do not do this at home!
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a Halloween pennant holds on to the tip of a plant
further out reeds dominate the vegetation
soon we are on our way, gliding over a field of water lilies
we are not interested in the Poles for now
something moves in the water
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the Everglades Safari Park after a refreshing rain
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this is how a fully loaded airboat looks like
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we get instructions from the guide: Watch for gators
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these fruits are sometimes called Alligator Apple
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and then we return to the basis
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