Exploring Seminole Culture at Billie Swamp Safari
August 2007
The Billie Swamp Safari Experience
Today, we drove three hours to the Florida Everglades, a vast and unique “river of grass” ecosystem, to visit the Billie Swamp Safari on the Big Cypress Seminole Reservation.
The Seminole Tribe of Florida created the safari as a way to share and preserve their heritage, a culture they call “unconquered” due to their successful resistance against forced relocation in the 19th century.
We had a fantastic time, starting with the swamp buggy tour, which took us through wetlands and dense cypress forests. Our guide pointed out native village chickees, the traditional open-air, palm-thatched homes of the Seminoles. The airboat ride was a high-speed glide over the water, offering an up-close look at the abundant wildlife, including alligators, which can grow over 10 feet long in the Everglades. We also attended a critter show featuring animals like raccoons and pigs, as well as a separate reptile show that taught us about the local snakes.
