Busch Gardens Tampa Bay: Africa-Themed Thrills & Wildlife
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is a 335-acre (136 ha) zoological theme park in Tampa, Florida, owned by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. Opened 1959 as a hospitality venue for Anheuser-Busch; evolved into a top-tier "adventure park" blending world-class coasters with one of North America's largest zoo collections.
Animal Collection (3,000+ animals, 200+ species)
- Edge of Africa: Lions, hyenas, hippos, meerkats, vultures — walk-through habitats.
- Nairobi (Serengeti Plain): 65-acre free-roaming veldt — giraffe, zebra, rhino, antelope, ostrich. Viewable via Serengeti Express train, open-air truck safari, or Skyride.
- Myombe Reserve: Gorillas, chimpanzees — indoor/outdoor.
- Bird Gardens: Flamingos, parrots, raptors, lorikeet feeding.
- Animal Care Center: Public view of vet procedures, nutrition, rehab.
Signature Coasters & Thrill Rides
| Ride | Type | Stats |
|---|
| Iron Gwazi | RMC Hybrid Hyper | 206 ft, 76 mph, 91° drop, 12 airtime moments — North America's tallest/steepest/fastest hybrid |
| SheiKra | B&M Dive Coaster | 200 ft, 70 mph, 90° drop, floorless — first US dive coaster |
| Cheetah Hunt | Intamin Launch | 0–60 mph in 3.5 sec, 4,400 ft track, 3 launches, terrain-hugging |
| Montu | B&M Inverted | 150 ft, 60 mph, 7 inversions — benchmark invert |
| Kumba | B&M Sit-down | 143 ft, 60 mph, 7 inversions, diving loop, cobra roll |
| Scorpion | Schwarzkopf Looping | Classic 1980 — single vertical loop, low-to-ground intensity |
| Tigris | Premier Sky Rocket II | 150 ft, 62 mph, forward/backward launch, heartline roll |
Water Rides & Family
- Congo River Rapids (raft), Stanley Falls (flume), Tanganyika Tidal Wave (shoot-the-chutes).
- Sesame Street Safari of Fun (kids area), Jungala (family coaster, zip line, rope course).
Accolades & Attendance
- Consistently top-10 US attendance (~4M/yr).
- 2021 Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement (Iron Gwazi, animal care storytelling).
- AZA accredited; conservation breeding (black rhino, gorilla, cheetah, okapi).
Practical
- Parking: $30–$35. Quick Queue (Fast Lane) $50–$100.
- All-day dining plan ~$45.
- Adjacent Adventure Island water park (separate ticket).
Busch Gardens Tampa = unique fusion: Serengeti-scale zoo + coaster capital of Florida.
Wanderlust World