I had a great time kayaking with guide Gerald. Luckily I was the only one in the group on the day I went, so I got the opportunity to pick Gerald's brains about the swamp. Gerald was extremely knowledgeable about the flora and fauna and together we spotted raccoons, turtles, fish, and lots of birds including kingfishers, woodpeckers, and bald eagles, as well as hearing owls calling. We didn't see any alligators--it was a bit cold--but that's the way it goes in nature and it didn't detract from my experience at all. Personally I prefer to be as unobtrusive as possible in wild environments, and kayaking offers just that. Highly recommend!