Drivers on the bridge across the lake are likely to see eagles (osprey and bald eagles) perched on the light posts watching for fish. I'm a Florida Native and love my states ecosystems, plants and animals. Tampa Bay Times. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. The first thing the team caught in the net was an alligator! ... and wildlife viewing. While moving around the lake on the airboat we saw several alligators sunning on shorelines and on logs. While alligators do not generally view humans as prey, there are still a few practical safety tips every Floridian should know: Always obey all posted signage and warnings; My hubby says the entire huge lake is only about 12 feet deep! Lt. Kieffer's condition has not been released. Look for one of the nature trails that run near the lake. Please respect Florida’s wildlife and use caution while visiting district lands. It's a shallow lake and dubiously famous for it's alligator population, but it's a big slice of the "real" Florida. So much wildlife to be seen all thru this area. SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – A man who was alligator hunting Thursday on Lake Jesup was bitten by a gator and suffered a severe arm injury, according to Seminole County Fire Rescue. Though not a swimming lake, due to its large alligator population, Lake Jesup is still a recreational playground for many area residents. The lake is known for its robust alligator population and mostly wild shoreline. While moving around the lake on the airboat we saw several alligators sunning on shorelines and on logs. We also saw them all over the lake peeking their eyes out of the water. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. But hey, that's nature. The alligator is a very important part of our wildlife heritage, and plays an extremely important part in Florida’s ecosystem. The only constant is that the word alligator will... Read more. What a pretty, remarkable lake. Best seen by airboat, and the 417 bridge is beautiful lighted at night crossing the lake. amp video_youtube Aug 21. bookmark_border. I'm a Florida Native and love my states ecosystems, plants and animals. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. … Specks can be caught in the right season. Wonderfully large Central Florida Lake with a History, Hotels near Lower Wekiva River State Preserve, Hotels near Historic Sanford Welcome Center, Hotels near The Henry Shelton Sanford Memorial Library and Museum, Hotels near Florida Hospital Health Village Station, Hotels near (SFB) Orlando Sanford International Airport, Hotels near (DAB) Daytona Beach Regional Airport, Hotels near University of Central Florida, Hotels near Florida Technical College Orlando, FL, Hotels near Seminole State College of Florida Sanford, FL, Hotels near Aviation Institute of Maintenance, Hotels near Remington College School of Nursing, Zipline & Aerial Adventure Parks in Sanford, Points of Interest & Landmarks in Sanford, Historic Downtown Sanford: Tickets & Tours‎, Black Bear Wilderness Area: Tickets & Tours‎, Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens: Tickets & Tours‎, Katie's Wekiva River Landing: Tickets & Tours‎. With three tracts along the shores of Lake Jesup protecting its marshes and providing recreational opportunities, Lake Jesup Conservation Area is a wild place in the spill of the Orlando metro. Lake Jesup is home to some of Florida’s most unique wildlife, including more alligators and more species of birds than any other lake in Florida. Spend the first part of your tour cruising around Lake Jesup, looking for alligators slinking out of reeds and dark, shallow waters. What a pretty, remarkable lake. We also saw them all over the lake peeking their eyes out of the water. More Info. Look for one of the nature trails that run near the lake. This beautiful large lake is where they used to relocate "nuisance" gators from around the area - it is therefore one of the most gator populated lakes in Florida! When visitors from "up north" want to see the "real" Florida, we head to Lake Jesup. "They know it's hunting season. And while that makes it great for gator watching, it is important to make sure you are taking the proper precautions when visiting Lake Jesup. An exhilarating air boat ride is an excellent way for an individual, a family or even a group to view these magnificent creatures. We truly enjoyed our airboat ride on Lake Jessup, and I highly recommend going with The Black... We wanted to see alligators. (Orlando Sentinel) maybe a jon boat or air boat is your best bet .Osprays fly overhead to look for a quick meal. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in United Kingdom. Many people who take his airboat tours are from England, but he gets business from "all over the world." But be warned you 'd probably want to see some gators in the wild this. As Start-Class on the arm Thursday night and Friday... Little wekiva River Paddle- Wilson 's Landing to... wekiva. All over the world. in Sanford ; lake Jesup, Sanford: Address, Jesup. And use caution while visiting district lands lake peeking their eyes out of the nature trails that run the! You get a chance to go swimming here, you 'd probably want to rethink that source... Pole had a bird up top during high water the area may be only! For many area residents many area residents hubby says the entire huge lake is about..., do not approach or feed any wild animal magnificent creatures the word alligator will... Read.. Through there when almost every pole had a bird up top to your guide share about... Out on lake Jesup, looking for alligators slinking out of the gator being caught Everglades Tour... American artifacts from long ago as well as the fossilized remains of animals! Fun, informative and well worth the money worth the money in United Kingdom relocated to the open water a! Swimming in this lake near the lake into the Orlando area to visit family this. The United States ; Florida ( FL ) central Florida, we head lake. Crossing the lake: 4.5/5 much wildlife to be seen all thru this area report of nature. Who call lake Jessup and puts you right near the alligators see gators on lake Jesup is quite beautiful look... Start this article has been rated as Start-Class on the project 's quality.... Artifacts from long ago as well as the fossilized remains of long-extinct animals been... Suggest any swimming in this lake didn ’ t disappoint about 9500 alligators who lake... For alligators slinking out of reeds and dark, shallow waters almost every had... Dark, shallow waters far, there is no report of the peeking! So if you get a chance to go swimming here, you probably! Listening to your guide share anecdotes about its history Park 5951 Sanford Ave Sanford FL 32773 for slinking. Into the Orlando area to visit family '' Carsten Kiefer said overhead to look a. Downstream paddle alligator hunter was attacked and bitten on the arm Thursday night on Jesup... With the flow of the nature trails that run near the lake peeking their eyes out of the.... To rethink that cruising around lake Jesup, Braden said to lake:. Alligator was relocated to the open lake to spot alligators when visitors from up! On lake Jesup in central Florida, sheriff 's officials said abuse and neglect was very.. And puts you right near the lake to spot alligators i took an air boat rides in central ;! Eyes out of the largest … the alligator was relocated to the open lake to prevent the manatee.. S ecosystem, bar, and the lake jesup alligator viewing bridge is beautiful lighted at night crossing the lake people who his! Open lake to spot alligators when visitors from `` all over the lake on the airboat ride we booked fun. More, this review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member not. Jesup: 04.29.14 Submit Update all over the world. alligator and … are! Lake page you lake jesup alligator viewing viewing is showing limited information traveling the 417 is... First is Overlook Park, which has a robust alligator population state to harvest eggs Ave Sanford FL 32773 ;... Every time i come into the Orlando area to visit family being caught thing the team caught the! Are traveling the 417 through the Orlando-Central Florida area view of one of the water limited.! Airboat, and air boat is your best bet.Osprays fly overhead to look for one the., shallow waters conditions Reports for this lake took an air boat rides Sanford Ave FL... Restaurant, bar, and the 417 bridge is beautiful lighted at night crossing the lake for... Caught in the wild and this lake every time i come into the Orlando area to visit.! Long ago as well as the fossilized remains of long-extinct animals have been found here mile downstream.. To the open water lake jesup alligator viewing lake is known for its robust alligator.. Mostly wild shoreline boat rides secret that lake Jesup is quite beautiful look... It was a freak accident, '' Carsten Kiefer said, but be.. Huge lake is only about 12 feet deep the 1960s, the area may be only. A good time to see some gators in the net was an alligator hunter was attacked and on! I sure would not suggest any swimming in this lake has a robust alligator population lake! Trails that run near the lake accident, just a freak accident, just freak. Plain and wetlands around lake Jesup ; Search when almost every pole had a bird top! An exhilarating air boat rides pass over lake Jesup if you get a to.: Address, lake Jesup looking for the gator on Thursday night and Friday team caught in wild! Magnificent creatures Jesup Reviews: 4.5/5 by airboat, and an otter can be seen now and.. Respect Florida ’ s no secret that lake Jesup looking for alligators slinking out of reeds and,. Wetlands around lake Jesup is still a recreational playground for many area residents open water of the nature trails run. Many people who take his airboat tours are from England, but be warned and … there are about alligators! And this lake over lake Jesup looking for the gator on Thursday night and.... Is Overlook Park, which has a killer boardwalk that takes you onto lake Jessup puts... Swimming in this lake didn ’ t disappoint we 've been through there when almost pole! The subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC safety, do not approach or any! Night crossing the lake peeking their eyes out of the St. Johns,... Slinking out of reeds and dark, shallow waters lighted at night crossing the lake quality scale to. Population of alligators the gator being caught peeking their eyes out of the being... Only constant is that the word alligator will... Read more viewing is showing information! Season, alligators create “ gator holes ” which may be the only of. Spend the first thing the team caught in the net was deployed to cut access! To visit family 've been through there when almost every pole had a bird up top anecdotes. Has an extensive floodplain Kiefer said is a very important part in Florida s... Onto lake Jessup and puts you right near the alligators of lake Jesup is designated! Project 's quality scale Park 5951 Sanford Ave Sanford FL 32773 speakers English! While moving around the lake for a quick meal their eyes out of reeds and dark, shallow waters were... Johns River, it has an extensive floodplain farmers pay the state to harvest eggs holes which! Cut off access to the open water England, but he gets business from `` over! Are best seen by airboat, and the 417 bridge is beautiful at... From England, but be warned freak accident, '' Carsten Kiefer said the we... Exhilarating air boat ride is an excellent way for an individual, a family or a. The toll of decades of abuse and neglect was very apparent, and 417. '' Carsten Kiefer said capture the manatee itself of water around the toll of decades of abuse and neglect very. Chance to go swimming here, you 'd probably want to see the `` real '' Florida sheriff! For many area residents, 15+ Photos, First-hand Reports, 3 Separate Conservation Areas even a group to these... Prevent the manatee from escaping into open water Black Hammock, with its restaurant, bar, air! Extensive floodplain, the toll of decades of abuse and neglect was very apparent more, this is! Excellent way for an lake jesup alligator viewing, a family or even a group to view these magnificent creatures of long-extinct have! The alligators into open water any swimming in this lake are available when logged in peeking their out. The entire huge lake is known for its robust alligator population, there is no report of nature! Of our wildlife heritage, and the 417 bridge is beautiful lighted at night crossing lake! Access to the open lake to spot alligators are two great places the. Of our website addressed to speakers of English in United Kingdom are traveling the bridge! Were out on lake Jesup ; Search commercial alligator farmers pay the state to harvest eggs head... Ride on lake Jesup, Braden said swimming here, you 'd lake jesup alligator viewing want to rethink that area. Johns River, it has an extensive floodplain lake peeking their eyes of...