See Ya Later Alligator: Blackwater Kayaking

Strolling up to my first swamp kayaking adventure, I couldn't get the scary thought out of my mind of alligators with teeth bared swimming right for me. I've kayaked in the ocean before, but a swamp brings out new creatures and worries. Our instructor told us that the swamp was filled with alligators, so I was a little on edge. I didn't want to end up as a reptile's afternoon snack. At least he said they were small gators, right? I decided that perhaps my apprehension was Hollywood-driven, so I pushed my fears aside to enjoy the experience.

Starting at 10:30 in the morning, we embarked on our four hour Wambaw Swamp kayak endeavor with the help from Nature Adventure Outfitters in McLellanville, SC. The location is about 45 minutes away from both Charleston in one direction and Myrtle Beach in the other. The spot we dropped in the water was located in a protected national forest and was a couple miles into the woods.

As we glided along the water we enjoyed watching the crabs skitter on the sandy banks and the minnows swim in circles around our kayaks. We saw huge wasps nests up in the trees, beautiful flowers growing on mid-swamp rocks, and tall cypress trees growing where land meets water. The locusts were buzzing in the grass, the birds were chirping above us, and the water was as smooth as ice. Even hawks were out circling for a tasty treat over the undisturbed land.

About an hour into the trip we did have our first and only alligator sighting. It was a three footer, and was more scared of us than we were of him. I was relieved when he dipped down into the murky water.

Two hours in we reached a fallen cypress tree that covered the swamp from end to end. We beached our kayaks on the tree truck and had a snack. After our nourishment, we turned back the way we came and continued to enjoy the peace and beauty of the wilderness. We even decided to have a little fun - we engaged in kayak racing, and we ventured down smaller creeks to see what they had in store -all the while singing some of our favorite songs. Void of waves and strong currents to fight, our arms never felt fatigued from paddling. Four hours were up before we knew it.

As I reflect on the trip, I've come to realize that swamp kayaking isn't something you can do just anywhere. The Lowcountry has some of the best swamps in the US to explore and most are only a short drive from coastal communities. Although the beach and boating are great weekend adventures, it was nice to explore a new kind of water - blackwater.

My Saturday was a success thanks to Nature Adventure Outfitters. NAO also has various other kayaking spots in the Charleston area including ocean tours and excursions along abandoned rice fields.

You can also enjoy swamp and blackwater kayaking along the coast of South Carolina including trips down the Edisto River (the longest undammed blackwater river in the US) with Blackwater Adventures. No matter which swamp you choose, you're sure to be in for a real treat...let's just hope you don't become the treat!