At Compass Airboat Safaris, we offer unforgettable airboat adventures deep into the heart of nature - far beyond the edges of lakes and open waterways. Our airboats are designed to navigate areas that larger vessels simply cannot reach, giving you access to hidden parts of the swamp that few ever see.
Each safari is fully narrated, highlighting key points of interest while sharing fascinating insights about local wildlife and the rich history of our beautiful region. From alligators and native birds to unique plant life, every trip offers something new to discover.
We also offer fully customizable airboat safaris, allowing you to tailor your experience to match your interests - whether you're seeking wildlife photography, a peaceful nature escape, or an educational adventure.
Fun fact: The traditional definition of going on a safari has expanded over time. For instance, any journey a person takes to go into the wilderness to observe free roaming wildlife is a safari.
2 HOUR
Our exciting 2-hour safari includes many of your Captains favorite areas to explore. We can customize your trip to spend more time in areas of interest to you. Let us know your interests or desires and we will do our best to make that happen!!!
(Please note) Cash is our preferred method of payment upon your arrival, as it helps keep your costs down by avoiding credit or debit card fees. Thank you! - Management
3 HOUR
Our 3-hour safari would include more fantastic airboat trail time. We would take a break after two hours stopping for lunch or dinner at one of our area's waterfront restaurants of your choice. The historic Yearling Restaurant or the Eagles Nest Bar and Grill. If you wish to incorporate this into your itinerary, please let us know when booking your safari (You are responsible for your own food and beverage costs) all of this turns your safari into a 4 hour adventure. We only charge for 3 hours; the remaining time is on us!! Just a quick note - if you'd prefer to skip the meal option and bring your own snacks, that's totally fine! You can also just go with the three-hour Safari instead.
Let’s work together... We have the flexibility to customize a safari for you. Whether you're a shutterbug, a gator seeker, bird watcher or just want to experience what wilderness has to offer on our beautiful 12,550 acre lake.
We are conveniently located on Orange Lake in Marion County between Gainesville and Ocala, FL at the Old Florida RV Resort: 701 W. Highway 318, Citra, Fl 32113
We are convenient to Ocala, Gainesville, the Villages and the Top of the World communities to mention a few.
Thank you Captain Art for an amazing airboat safari! I had been on an airboat once before but this was a totally different experience. I loved that we were able to customize our trip. Our 4 hour safari took us on little trails where we saw gators, big and small, deer, a turtle, eagles and many other birds. The scenery of the lake and swamp was so beautiful. Cypress, water lily - lovely! We opted for lunch at the historic Yearling restaurant (named for the book). Such an interesting building and the food was delicious. Everyone in our group had such a great time we're planning on booking another safari. Can't wait for another chance to 'get swamped'!
This was the best airboat tour I've ever been on!! Captain Art gave us a great safety briefing before we even climbed in the boat, as well as an idea of the tour we would take. The views were breathtaking! Captain Art was very accommodating and gave us an opportunity to take a closer look at anything we pointed out. He kept us entertained and knew so much about all the birds/fish in the lake. About halfway through the tour, he took us to this restaurant off the lake called The Yearling - it was fantastic! I had the BEST gator bites. The restaurant was a highlight -it was an old converted library that included a 'dead zoo' of taxidermy and restored cabins. The boat dock was easy to get to and the lake was spectacular!
Captain Art gives an amazing tour!! He was very knowledgeable about the area & animals. We saw alligators, an otter, wild pigs, cows, even a bald eagle! He gave us a thorough safety briefing before we embarked and made sure we were all comfortable and enjoying ourselves the whole time. He even provided earmuffs for the ride. He took us to this historic restaurant called The Yearling as part of the tour. The restaurant was right off the lake, we were able to park at a dock and walk right in! - I would highly recommend a tour!
My son and I had so much fun on the Compass Airboat Safari adventure. We received a safety briefing before boarding the boat that informed us of where emergency equipment was located and how to use it if needed. There is also an option to wear sound suppression headphones if you want a quieter ride. Once on the water our boat captain, 'Captain Art', was not afraid to let us feel the 625 hp 7.4 LS marine motor with carbon fiber propellor blades that was truly an amazing one of a kind experience! Soon after we began our ride we saw wildlife. Alligators popped up all over the place, from newborns up to 12 footers. There was countless species of birds and even a few deers. We were shocked to see some of the areas he took us through that you wouldn't even think a boat could access. We breezed through it all effortlessly. Just as we were starting to get hungry, he docked the boat at the Eagles Nest Bar and grill where we enjoyed a delicious lunch. I can recommend their burger. I am definitely planning on taking this tour again with my girlfriend.
Captain Art took us on an airboat ride and we had a blast! It was so much fun and my very first time! I had no idea they go so fast. Captain was very friendly and informational. I would definitely recommend him for anyone looking for a great experience! I will definitely be going on the boat with him again! Thanks Captain Art! You made it a wonderful experience!
From the moment we showed up we were greeted by a very kind, courteous and energetic captain. He got us all situated on the air boat and gave us an in depth overview of the boat and safety precautions. He was extremely informative during the entire ride and pointed out stuff we didn’t see. There were a few deer running around out there which we didn’t see at first. We saw lots of gators. He has a great personality and gave us the ride of our lives. We will definitely ride with Captain Art again!!! If you want a fun and thrilling ride Captain Art is your man!! Thank you Sir!
Captain Art and Compass Airboat Safaris provided my family with a first-class, fun airboat adventure we cannot stop talking about! Captain Art put my family up close and personal with gators, birds, deer, livestock, and areas only accessible by airboat. Before our adventure came to an end, Captain took us by airboat to an old, historic restaurant, The Yearling, where we all enjoyed an amazing lunch before returning back to the boat for the second half of our adventure!
I had a Blast on the Airboat, Captain Art didn’t disappoint, you can tell he’s got a lot of experience going out on the water and having a good time with his crew. Seen a lot of up close action with the wild life, got to see to newly born gators all the way up to the 10 ft monsters. It was definitely a time on the water I haven’t experienced before, something I would recommend to all my friends
It’s been 7 days and I’m still thinking about our Compass Airboat Safari with Captain Art at Orange Lake. It wasn’t what I was expecting. Think Florida Everglades but centrally located. Chock full of birds, alligators, and interesting areas only accessibly by an airboat. Our day airboatingon twitter that was sometimes only a foot deep or gliding over marshy areas was exhilarating and fun. A surprise shop at the yearling Restaurant, founded in 1952, was the icing on a delicious day. Compass Airboat Safaris with Captain Art is an enthusiastic 2 thumbs up!
Our airboat ride with Captain Art was absolutely incredible! The combination of thrilling twists and turns, breathtaking scenery, and plenty of alligator sightings made it an adventure we’ll never forget. Captain Art was not only skilled and knowledgeable but also made the trip feel safe and fun. One of the highlights was stopping at a quaint local restaurant with rich history—such a unique touch to the experience. If you’re looking for an exciting, informative, and scenic adventure, this is the one to book. Highly recommend! Thank you again for such an amazing trip !! Hope to visit again soon! Thanks.
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