Riding the school bus again is still a few weeks away for most of Florida's school children, except in Charlotte Harbor.

This time of year, school buses are not what kids want to see rolling through their neighborhood.

"I thought it wouldn't be a school bus," said Tommy Sprung, a visitor from Utah.

Yet, as the Sprung family discovered in Charlotte County, this is more than a school bus.

"It's painted in camouflage, and they took out the windows," said Ben Sprung.

But don't call it a bus. Just climb aboard and hold on.

The 91,000 acres of the Crescent B Ranch await exploration while bouncing around.

"Keep all of your body parts inside my buggy at all times," said Terry Covert, the driver.

It’s good advice since the 2.5-hour tours bounce through several different ecosystems.

"We're going to travel up the tallest hill we have here in Florida, and it's going to change our ecosystem very quickly," Covert said.

Drivers haul passengers through the working cattle ranch dating back to 1914 where you’ll find a mix of natural creatures.

"Sandhill cranes have beautiful red heart-shaped crowns on top of those heads," Covert said.

Even relics from eras gone by can still be found here.

"As we enter Telegraph Cypress Swamp, you will see a telegraph line strung, used by the International Ocean Telegraph Company," Covert said.

On this ride, you're allowed to stand up to greet the stars.

"It was cool when it flopped in the water," said Tommy Sprung.

Just when you think you can't get any closer, Covert actually turns the buggy off and everybody evacuates to take a closer look at what is hiding in the woods.

Salo is a southern cougar. Passengers disembark the buggy and meander down a long boardwalk for a close up look at the cougar.

"I got to see a cougar up close, right next to me," Ben Sprung said.

Upon climbing back aboard, Covert has a new friend – a baby alligator.

Buses depart Babcock Ranch Tuesday through Saturday during July. 

Each safari lasts about 2.5 hours.

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