Embark on an unforgettable adventure at Zam’s Swamp Tours in Kraemer, Louisiana, guided by the charismatic Lloyd Loupe, a true Cajun boy born and raised in the heart of the bayou. Nestled along the serene waterways of Louisiana’s swamps, this family-run tour offers an authentic glimpse into Cajun culture and wildlife.
The first thing Lloyd Loupe hears in the morning is the quiet gurgling of the bayou Boeuf in front of his house, the wind in the trees, and the occasional roar of an alligator, reminiscent of a motorcycle’s rumble. It’s a mixture of sounds as familiar to him as the screech of cicadas in the midday heat or the distant hum of a boat ferrying tourists through the swamps.
Lloyd is a Cajun, born and raised in Kraemer, a tiny town on the so-called German Coast, deep in the heart of Louisiana’s swamps. Those who live here know the dangers of the wilderness - and how to navigate them. Lloyd loves living amidst this hostile natural environment, teeming with dangerous animals, far from civilization.
The swamp landscape, with its mossy forests, lies not far from New Orleans. The water moves sluggishly, barely perceptible, through reeds, mangroves, and bald cypresses. This region is a vast paradise for waterfowl, fish, and snakes.
A Man of the Swamps
Lloyd is a man only the bayous could produce: a weather-beaten face beneath a long, untamed shock of blond hair, strong hands, and a smile as wide as the Mississippi. He carries the legacy of the French settlers who came to these wet, wild lands 250 years ago, and perhaps also of the German-speaking pioneers who settled here starting in 1721.
Many of these settlers came from the Rhineland and Switzerland, earning the area the name Côte des Allemands. Over time, the German-speaking population blended with the Acadians - French-speaking exiles from Canada expelled by the British in 1755 after their victory in the French and Indian War.
Today, they are all Cajuns, and their home is the bayou. “The most beautiful piece of earth there is,” says Lloyd with his distinctive Cajun accent as he pushes his boat off the dock. For him, the swamps aren’t an exotic adventure - they’re home.
Kraemer, once a thriving rural Cajun settlement, is now a sleepy town. The small post office, now closed, stands as a reminder of what the town once was. The headquarters of Zam’s Swamp Tours has seen better days—now it’s a collection point for old shotguns, antique furniture, alligator heads, and other curiosities.
Behind the house, Lloyd keeps some of his favorites: a giant alligator, a massive turtle, several smaller alligators, and an assortment of snakes. Visitors can touch anything that isn’t too dangerous.
On a Boat Tour with Lloyd
Those who join Lloyd Loupe on a boat tour through the swamps see more than just alligators and mossy trees. Lloyd knows every bend, every hidden nest, every current. “You’re never alone out here,” he says, pointing to a spot where the water flows lazily beneath the gnarled roots of swamp oaks. “There’s bound to be a gator down there.”
Sure enough, a massive, armored body glides through the water, only its eyes and the tip of its nose visible. Lloyd remains calm, steering the boat closer. “It’s maybe four meters long,” he estimates. “And hungry. But don’t worry. Humans aren’t usually on its menu.”
He grabs a bag of marshmallows and tosses some into the water. Suddenly, three, six, nine alligators swim up like battleships. They know the trick - they love marshmallows. “They like the white ones best,” says Lloyd, warning, “Anyone swimming here shouldn’t wear white swim trunks.”
Dangers at Every Turn
Lloyd is an entertainer. Twenty years ago, his family gained brief fame on the Fox reality show Trading Spouses: Meet Your New Mommy. Lloyd’s wife, Dianalynn, a snake charmer and co-owner of Zam’s Swamp Tours, swapped roles with a vegan animal rights activist from California. Their son, Zamariah, caused a stir by startling his host mother with his casual interactions with wild animals.
The bayous are full of dangers: alligators, venomous snakes, and snapping turtles with jaws like bolt cutters. Lloyd recounts encounters that made his heart race. “Sometimes, when you’re wading through tall grass, you hear a faint hiss - then you know there’s a cottonmouth or copperhead nearby.”
When asked what antivenom he carries for snakebites, Lloyd laughs, pulls an old, worn knife from his pocket, and says, “This is my serum. If you get bitten, you cut open the wound and suck out the venom - like in the old Westerns.”
It’s better than nothing, he says. "But it’s best to watch your step."
The Art of Survival
Lloyd is a master of survival. He knows how to catch fish in the swamp, build a crab trap in a few simple steps, and brew a fever-fighting remedy from wild herbs. “A lot of what grows here can heal you - or kill you,” he says, pointing to a plant on the bank. “That one over there is good for mosquito bites. The one next to it - better keep your hands off.”
His greatest admiration is for snapping turtles. “Those creatures are ancient, stronger than you think, and have jaws like a steel trap.” Lloyd isn’t afraid. With a sure grip, he grabs a huge turtle buried in the mud and pulls it out. “You just have to know how to handle it. Otherwise, you’ll lose a finger faster than you can blink.”
Living with the Flood
The Cajun life is a constant dance with water. The bayous are alluvial lands, formed from what the Mississippi has deposited over millennia. “When the river rises, so does our life,” says Lloyd. Houses are built on stilts, and boats are always ready. “We’re master boatbuilders. You won’t get anywhere here without a good pirogue.”
Floods aren’t a catastrophe but part of everyday life. “When the water comes, we pull out the boats, secure the supplies, and wait. After a few days, everything’s back to normal,” Lloyd says with a shrug. “It’s always been that way. We Cajuns know how to live with the swamp - not against it.”
However, major floods have become more frequent. “Now, the water comes every year.” Even in the swamps, where people have learned to live with water, this prompts reflection. “We have to adapt,” says Lloyd. And they do it well.
Cajun Culture: Music, Food, Community
In the evenings, when the sun hangs low over the bayou and the water shimmers golden, Lloyd gathers with friends and family around a campfire. They cook jambalaya and gumbo, made according to time-honored recipes with ham, spicy sausage, and plenty of garlic.
Someone unpacks an accordion, another plays the fiddle, and there’s singing and dancing, as Cajuns have done for generations. “This is our life,” says Lloyd. “Food, music, community - and the swamp.”
Between Wilderness and Change
The world outside is changing - new roads, bridges, and tourists seeking adventure. But Lloyd remains unfazed. “The swamps will always be here. Maybe not exactly as I know them, but they’ll endure.” He gazes at the sluggish water, where Spanish moss sways in the branches and an alligator lurks in the shadows.
For Lloyd Loupe, life in the swamp isn’t an adventure - it’s everyday life, where danger and beauty, survival and pleasure, tradition and change intertwine. “Out here, you learn humility,” he says as he prepares to leave. “You’re never the master of nature, but if you respect it, it gives you everything you need.”
Then he pushes off, disappearing into the mangroves, knife at the ready, eyes alert -a true Cajun, at home in the realm of alligators. Don't miss the unforgettable adventure at Zam’s Swamp Tours in Kraemer, Louisiana, guided by the charismatic Lloyd Loupe, a true Cajun boy born and raised in the heart of the bayou.
Cruise through cypress-lined bayous, spot alligators, turtles, and birds, and hear Lloyd’s captivating stories of life in the swamp. With hands-on encounters at Zam’s Ecological Park and a rustic, unpolished charm, this tour is a must for anyone seeking a real Louisiana experience.
