Busch Gardens Africa
Encyclopedia
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (also known as Busch Gardens Tampa and Busch Gardens Africa) is a 335 acres (135.6 ha) 19th century African-themed animal theme park
located in the city of Tampa, Florida
. It opened on March 31, 1959 as an admission-free hospitality facility for the Tampa Anheuser-Busch
brewery on the grounds of the manufacturing plant.
After the manufacturing plant closed down some years later, Busch Gardens focused progressively on its tropical landscape, exotic animals, and amusements to draw visitors. Busch Gardens began charging admission as the entertainment became more complex, with extra fees for the thrill rides, such as the roller coasters for which Busch Gardens is now known. Currently Busch Gardens competes with other such parks in Florida and charges comparable fees. The park is operated by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment
, owned by the private equity firm The Blackstone Group. In 2010, the park hosted 4.2 million people, placing in the Top 20 of the most-visited theme parks in the US and in the Top 25 worldwide.
Land of the Dragons was replaced by Sesame Street Safari of Fun on March 27, 2010. It contains all the attractions from Land of the Dragons which are now re-themed. It also contains four new attractions: Telly's Jungle Jam, an interactive play area; Rosita's Djembe Fly-Away, a swing ride; Bert & Ernie's Watering hole, a water play area, and Air Grover
, a children's roller coaster.
at the sister park Busch Gardens Europe
. The section opened up in 1973 with the addition of the Stanley Falls Flume. The African Queen Boat Ride opened in 1977 as Busch's version of Disney's Jungle Cruise
. In 1989, the African Queen Boat Ride was transformed into Tanganyika Tidal Wave with the addition of a 55 feet (16.8 m) drop that generates a giant splash. The section remained unchanged from then until 2005, when SheiKra opened, and the surrounding area was renovated.
This section contains two of the park's more popular rides. In November 2006, Congo underwent major renovation, including the removal of the park's classic Python roller coaster.
Python, an Arrow Dynamics
looping coaster patterned after the original Corkscrew
at Knott's Berry Farm
, previously occupied the site occupied now by Jungala.
opened, replacing the Crazy Camel flat ride.
s and crocodile
s can be observed here up close. In Curiosity Cavern, guests can view mammal
and reptile
exhibits. Visitors to Nairobi can view injured or abandoned newborns at the Nairobi Field Station Animal Nursery. The areas also contains Myombe Reserve, a tropical rainforest
that is home to Western Lowland Gorilla
s and Common Chimpanzee
s. The major ride here is Rhino Rally, an unpredictable off-road safari that ends spiraling its riders down a raging river. The river portion of the attraction was eventually abandoned due to repeated vehicle breakdowns. The main train station at Busch Gardens is located at Nairobi. Another popular attraction here is the Asian Elephant
exhibit, which is also featured in the Rhino Rally ride.
Crown Colony is the smallest section of the park. It features a restaurant, the Cheetah Hunt roller coaster, and the Skyride station. 2009 marked the 50th anniversary of Busch Gardens, so a museum was set up, featuring a timeline of pictures, costumes from previous shows, and old maps of the park. It also has a preserved Python roller coaster seat. The meuseum is still there today.
tents and authentic handicrafts and art create an Egypt
ian marketplace feel. Guests can visit a replica of King Tutankhamen's tomb with the excavation in progress. The primary attraction of the Egypt themed area is Montu, an inverted steel coaster.
A Newer attraction is the launch coaster Cheetah Hunt
, that accelerates to a full speed of 60 mph in seconds. the ride duration is over 3 minutes. it is located just outside of Morocco and Egypt in the Cheetah Run area of the park, and stretches through the Edge of Africa and the Serengeti Plain with gentle turns and one heart-line roll.
Cheetah Run is an animal exhibit where cheetahs are kept. Shows are hosted with the animals where they will run across their enclosure at top speed for simple rewards.
, addax
, addra gazelle, eland
, impala
, ostrich
, marabou stork
, East African crowned crane
and sacred ibis
.
A 3 acres (12,140.6 m²) home for six lowland gorillas and nine chimpanzees located in Nairobi, opened in 1992.
s, two prides of lion
s, a pack of hyena
s, a few hippos
, and a troop of lemur
s.
s, snakes, lizards, tamarins, and sugar gliders in the low-light environment. This attraction offers the true facts about the creatures inside and cracks the myths about them wide open.
s or Pop
to perform classic or contemporary songs.
music acts; there are special culinary offerings along the walkway from the Gwazi Roller Coaster to the gate in Gwazi Field.
and Starship with Mickey Thomas. The park's Independence Day
festivities add fireworks to the entertainment lineup.
In 2010, Busch Gardens added a new nighttime show called Kinetix, the first special effect-heavy show put on in Gwazi Field. Also, they added many new special effects (i.e. Strobe, Lighting, Fog) to their existing rides just for the Summer Nights season.
2009 was Howl-O-Scream's 10th anniversary.
Animal Theme Park
An Animal Theme Park, also known as a Zoological Theme Park, is a combination of a theme park and a zoological park, mainly for entertainment, amusement, and commercial purposes. Many animal theme parks blend classic theme park elements, such as themed entertainment and amusement rides, with...
located in the city of Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
. It opened on March 31, 1959 as an admission-free hospitality facility for the Tampa Anheuser-Busch
Anheuser-Busch
Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. , is an American brewing company. The company operates 12 breweries in the United States and 18 in other countries. It was, until December 2009, also one of America's largest theme park operators; operating ten theme parks across the United States through the...
brewery on the grounds of the manufacturing plant.
After the manufacturing plant closed down some years later, Busch Gardens focused progressively on its tropical landscape, exotic animals, and amusements to draw visitors. Busch Gardens began charging admission as the entertainment became more complex, with extra fees for the thrill rides, such as the roller coasters for which Busch Gardens is now known. Currently Busch Gardens competes with other such parks in Florida and charges comparable fees. The park is operated by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment is a family entertainment company owned by The Blackstone Group. SeaWorld is responsible for the operation and maintenance of eleven theme parks located throughout the United States...
, owned by the private equity firm The Blackstone Group. In 2010, the park hosted 4.2 million people, placing in the Top 20 of the most-visited theme parks in the US and in the Top 25 worldwide.
Themed Areas
- The Serengeti Express (a replica steam train) runs along the back end of the park and makes stops at the NairobiNairobiNairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, CongoCongo BasinThe Congo Basin is the sedimentary basin that is the drainage of the Congo River of west equatorial Africa. The basin begins in the highlands of the East African Rift system with input from the Chambeshi River, the Uele and Ubangi Rivers in the upper reaches and the Lualaba River draining wetlands...
and Stanleyville themed areas. The train track was recently renovated, and its tracks have been changed. - The SkyrideSkyride (Busch Gardens)Skyride is a transportation attraction at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay . It carries passengers from the Crown Colony section of the park to the Stanleyville section . During this experience, passengers get a bird's-eye view of several attractions at the park.The ride consists of a single continuous...
transports guests between Crown Colony and Stanleyville.
Morocco
The park's main entrance is home to the Mystic Sheiks of Morocco brass and percussion ensemble. Treats can be purchased at the Sultan's Sweets and the Zagora Cafe. The Moroccan Palace, a 1,200 seat indoor theatre, is located here as well as the outdoor Marrakesh Theater. Gwazi is the major ride in this area.- GwaziGwazi (roller coaster)Gwazi is a dueling wooden roller coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Florida. The name Gwazi originates from a fabled creature with the head of a tiger and the body of a lion. Accordingly, the two sides are named "Lion" and "Tiger". Often, the two tracks are called "yellow" and "blue",...
, a 90 feet (27.4 m), 50 mi/h dueling wooden roller coasterWooden roller coasterA wooden roller coaster is most often classified as a roller coaster with laminated steel running rails overlaid upon a wooden track. Occasionally, the structure may be made out of a steel lattice or truss, but the ride remains classified as a wooden roller coaster due to the track design...
named after a mythological creature with the head of a tiger and the body of a lion. - Gwazi Gliders, a small hang glider flat ride relocated from the Congo section's defunct Pygmy Village kids area.
Bird Gardens
The original section of the park that opened back in 1959. The area for the most part remains to be mostly gardens and animal exhibits/shows. A staple attraction that once stood in this section was the brewery. However, the brewery closed in 1995 and Gwazi now sits where the brewery was located. The traditional, educational bird show is currently being replaced with a newer, more entertainment-based show, including a number of mammals.Sesame Street Safari of Fun
Former Land of the Dragons children's section of the park.Land of the Dragons was replaced by Sesame Street Safari of Fun on March 27, 2010. It contains all the attractions from Land of the Dragons which are now re-themed. It also contains four new attractions: Telly's Jungle Jam, an interactive play area; Rosita's Djembe Fly-Away, a swing ride; Bert & Ernie's Watering hole, a water play area, and Air Grover
Air Grover
Air Grover is a steel roller coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. The roller coaster opened with the Sesame Street Safari of Fun play area on March 27, 2010. The ride simulates a biplane flight with the Sesame Street character Grover.-Ride layout:...
, a children's roller coaster.
Stanleyville
This section of the park is home to the park's water rides and SheiKra, which was the first and only Dive Coaster in the United States until the addition of GriffonGriffon (roller coaster)
Griffon is a Bolliger & Mabillard diving machine roller coaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. On opening, it was the tallest of its kind in the world at . Griffon originally had two other potential names — "IronEagle" and "Voltare" — before Busch Gardens decided on the name "Griffon". Griffon has...
at the sister park Busch Gardens Europe
Busch Gardens Europe
Busch Gardens Williamsburg is a 383 acre theme park located in James City County, Virginia about 3 miles southeast of Williamsburg, originally developed by Anheuser-Busch and currently owned by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, a division of The Blackstone Group...
. The section opened up in 1973 with the addition of the Stanley Falls Flume. The African Queen Boat Ride opened in 1977 as Busch's version of Disney's Jungle Cruise
Jungle Cruise
The Jungle Cruise is an attraction located in Adventureland at many Disney Parks, including Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, and Tokyo Disneyland. At Hong Kong Disneyland, the attraction is named Jungle River Cruise...
. In 1989, the African Queen Boat Ride was transformed into Tanganyika Tidal Wave with the addition of a 55 feet (16.8 m) drop that generates a giant splash. The section remained unchanged from then until 2005, when SheiKra opened, and the surrounding area was renovated.
- SheiKraSheiKraSheiKra is a Bolliger and Mabillard diving machine roller coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. It is situated in the Stanleyville section of the park. SheiKra was the first dive machine roller coaster in North America. It is tied with Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia as the second tallest roller...
, a 200 feet (61 m) Bolliger & MabillardBolliger & MabillardBolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers is a roller coaster design consultancy based in Monthey, Switzerland. The company was founded in 1988 by Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabillard, with Bolliger acting as president and Mabillard as vice-president...
floorlessFloorless roller coasterA floorless roller coaster is a roller coaster with trains that ride above the track and allow the passenger's legs to dangle. It is a fairly new concept in roller coaster design brought forth by manufacturers Bolliger & Mabillard. The first ever floorless coaster debuted in 1999 at Six Flags Great...
dive roller coasterDive roller coasterThe Diving Machine is a model of roller coaster manufactured by Swiss company Bolliger and Mabillard. It is distinguished from other roller coasters by its vertical drop and wide shuttle trains.-History:...
with a 90-degree vertical drop. This is Florida's first Floorless Vertical Dive Coaster. - Stanley Falls Flume, a log flumeLog flume (attraction)Log flumes originally referred to a special construct used to transport lumber and logs down mountainous terrain to a sawmill by using flowing water. Today, however, the term is also used to refer to an amusement ride consisting of a water flume and artificial hollow logs or boats...
with a 43 feet (13.1 m) drop. - Tanganyika Tidal Wave, a 20 passenger shoot the chutesShoot-the-ChutesShoot-the-Chutes is an amusement ride consisting of a flat-bottomed boat that slides down a ramp or inside a flume into a lagoon. Unlike a log flume, a Shoot-the-Chutes generally has larger boats and one single drop....
water ride with a 55 feet (16.8 m) drop.
Congo
- KumbaKumba (roller coaster)Kumba is a Bolliger & Mabillard sit down roller coaster located at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, in Tampa, Florida. Built in 1993, it stands tall and has a top speed of 60 mph. Kumba is one of the first in a line of multi-inversion coasters built by B&M, and featured B&M's first ever diving loop...
, meaning roar in Swahili, is a 143 feet (43.6 m) steel sit-down roller coasterRoller coasterThe roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
with seven inversions. First built in 1993 by Bolliger & MabillardBolliger & MabillardBolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers is a roller coaster design consultancy based in Monthey, Switzerland. The company was founded in 1988 by Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabillard, with Bolliger acting as president and Mabillard as vice-president...
, it still remains a popular ride today. The ride was repainted in 2010. - Congo River Rapids, a water ride that simulates raging whitewater rapids. The ride opened in 1982.
- Ubanga Banga Bumper Cars, a bumper cars ride.
Jungala
Opened on April 5, 2008, Jungala is a 4 acres (16,187.4 m²) family attraction featuring up-close animal encounters, rope bridges to explore three stories of jungle life, and a water-play area for children. Also located in this area are two family attractions: Jungle Flyers, a zip line that offers three different flight patterns above the treetops of the new area, and Wild Surge, a shot tower that launches guests above a waterfall. Another attraction is Tiger Trail, which is a walkthrough with tigers where there is also a glass turret where you can look out right in the middle of the tiger enclosure. Stiltwalkers perform and interact with guests in the heart of Jungala during several parts of the day.- Jungle Fliers, a zip line ride.
- The Wild Surge, a Moser family launch tower ride.
Python, an Arrow Dynamics
Arrow Dynamics
Arrow Dynamics was a roller coaster and amusement ride design company based in Clearfield, Utah, United States. In 2002, the company went bankrupt but was quickly bought by fellow amusement ride manufacturer S&S Power to form S&S Arrow. During its peak, Arrow Dynamics was responsible for some of...
looping coaster patterned after the original Corkscrew
Corkscrew (Silverwood)
Corkscrew is the name of an Arrow Dynamics roller coaster formerly located at Knott's Berry Farm and currently located at Silverwood. Developed by Ron Toomer of Arrow Dynamics, a Utah based design firm, the "Corkscrew" was the first steel inverting roller coaster open to the public.Many identical...
at Knott's Berry Farm
Knott's Berry Farm
Knott's Berry Farm is a theme park in Buena Park, California, now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, and a line of jams, jellies, preserves, and other specialty food, now part of The J. M. Smucker Company based in Placentia, California....
, previously occupied the site occupied now by Jungala.
Timbuktu
A section themed after the malls and bazaars of Africa. This section opened up in May 1980. The Phoenix was built in 1984 and remains a popular ride to this day. The section was renovated in 2003. Important rides added during this facelift included the Timbuktu Theater, which replaced the park's Dolphin Theater with an indoor 4-D movie theater. In 2004, Das Festhaus was transformed into the Desert Grill, and the park's family-friendly Sand Serpent wild mouse roller coasterWild Mouse roller coaster
A Wild Mouse roller coaster is a type of roller coaster characterized by small cars that seat four people or fewer and ride on top of the track, taking tight, flat turns at modest speeds, yet producing high lateral G-forces...
opened, replacing the Crazy Camel flat ride.
- ScorpionScorpion (roller coaster)Scorpion is a steel looping roller coaster located at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida, United States. It opened in 1980 as a part of the newly added Timbuktu section that gave the park a complete circuit, linking the Congo section to the Nairobi section of the park. Scorpion, to this day,...
, a steel SchwarzkopfAnton SchwarzkopfAnton Schwarzkopf was a German engineer of amusement rides, and founder of the Schwarzkopf Industries company, which built numerous rides and large roller coasters for both amusement parks and travelling funfairs....
-designed sit-down roller coasterRoller coasterThe roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
with one vertical loop. - Sand Serpent, a steel wild mouse roller coasterWild Mouse roller coasterA Wild Mouse roller coaster is a type of roller coaster characterized by small cars that seat four people or fewer and ride on top of the track, taking tight, flat turns at modest speeds, yet producing high lateral G-forces...
. - Phoenix, an Intamin Looping StarshipLooping StarshipThe Looping Starship is an amusement ride manufactured by Intamin AG of Switzerland. The ride is a swinging ship that can spin a complete 360-degree revolution, which can be very scary at times...
themed as an Egyptian cargo vessel. - Sesame Street Film Festival 4-DSesame Street 4-D Movie MagicSesame Street 4-D Movie Magic is a 4-D film theme park attraction located at Universal Studios Japan, SeaWorld San Diego, Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay...
a 3-D short film starring characters from Sesame StreetSesame StreetSesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
. The film is shown in the Timbuktu Theater jointly with Pirates 4-D. - Pirates 4-DPirates 4DPirates 4-D is a 3-D short film produced exclusively for theme park usage. The "attraction" is located at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida, the Luxor casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, Phantasialand in Brühl, Germany, SeaWorld San Antonio in San Antonio, Texas and formerly, Busch Gardens Europe...
a 3-D short film about Pirates starring Leslie NielsenLeslie NielsenLeslie William Nielsen, OC was a Canadian and naturalized American actor and comedian. Nielsen appeared in more than one hundred films and 1,500 television programs over the span of his career, portraying more than 220 characters...
. It was closed in March 2010 to make way for Sesame Street 4-D, but returned on August 5, 2010 and will be shown in the Timbuktu Theater jointly with Sesame Street. - Sandstorm, an orbiterOrbiter (ride)The Orbiter is a fairground ride invented by Richard Woolls in 1976.It has a number of articulated arms radiating from a central rotating vertical axis. Each arm supports a cluster of cars, which are lifted through 90° into the horizontal position once the ride is spinning...
ride with three arms that spins riders around. - Caravan Carousel, a carousel with horses, camels, and chariots.
Nairobi
AlligatorAlligator
An alligator is a crocodilian in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae. There are two extant alligator species: the American alligator and the Chinese alligator ....
s and crocodile
Crocodile
A crocodile is any species belonging to the family Crocodylidae . The term can also be used more loosely to include all extant members of the order Crocodilia: i.e...
s can be observed here up close. In Curiosity Cavern, guests can view mammal
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
and reptile
Reptile
Reptiles are members of a class of air-breathing, ectothermic vertebrates which are characterized by laying shelled eggs , and having skin covered in scales and/or scutes. They are tetrapods, either having four limbs or being descended from four-limbed ancestors...
exhibits. Visitors to Nairobi can view injured or abandoned newborns at the Nairobi Field Station Animal Nursery. The areas also contains Myombe Reserve, a tropical rainforest
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
that is home to Western Lowland Gorilla
Western Lowland Gorilla
The western lowland gorilla is a subspecies of the western gorilla that lives in montane, primary, and secondary forests and lowland swamps in Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. It is the gorilla usually found in zoos...
s and Common Chimpanzee
Common Chimpanzee
The common chimpanzee , also known as the robust chimpanzee, is a great ape. Colloquially, the common chimpanzee is often called the chimpanzee , though technically this term refers to both species in the genus Pan: the common chimpanzee and the closely related bonobo, formerly called the pygmy...
s. The major ride here is Rhino Rally, an unpredictable off-road safari that ends spiraling its riders down a raging river. The river portion of the attraction was eventually abandoned due to repeated vehicle breakdowns. The main train station at Busch Gardens is located at Nairobi. Another popular attraction here is the Asian Elephant
Asian Elephant
The Asian or Asiatic elephant is the only living species of the genus Elephas and distributed in Southeast Asia from India in the west to Borneo in the east. Three subspecies are recognized — Elephas maximus maximus from Sri Lanka, the Indian elephant or E. m. indicus from mainland Asia, and E. m....
exhibit, which is also featured in the Rhino Rally ride.
- Rhino RallyRhino RallyRhino Rally is a safari-themed attraction located at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay an African-themed park located in Tampa, Florida. The ride was opened on May 23, 2001 in the Nairobi section of the park. The ride is a Vekoma Safari Adventure and is the only one ever made...
, a VekomaVekomaVekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment...
River Adventure ride, Riders board inside modified Land RoverLand RoverLand Rover is a British car manufacturer with its headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, United Kingdom which specialises in four-wheel-drive vehicles. It is owned by the Indian company Tata Motors, forming part of their Jaguar Land Rover group...
s through the park's Serengeti Plain habitat, interacting with animals.
Crown Colony Plaza
- Cheetah HuntCheetah HuntCheetah Hunt is a steel launched roller coaster currently open and operating at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida. It opened to the public on May 27, 2011 alongside a new cheetah exhibit - Cheetah Run.-History:...
- the park's first launch coaster, created by Intamin. Debuted in 2011.
Egypt
BedouinBedouin
The Bedouin are a part of a predominantly desert-dwelling Arab ethnic group traditionally divided into tribes or clans, known in Arabic as ..-Etymology:...
tents and authentic handicrafts and art create an Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian marketplace feel. Guests can visit a replica of King Tutankhamen's tomb with the excavation in progress. The primary attraction of the Egypt themed area is Montu, an inverted steel coaster.
- Montu, named after the Egyptian Falcon God of WarMenthuIn Ancient Egyptian religion, Monthu was a falcon-god of war. Monthu's name, shown in Egyptian hieroglyphs to the right, is technically transcribed as mntw...
, is a 150 feet (45.7 m) steel inverted Bolliger & MabillardBolliger & MabillardBolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers is a roller coaster design consultancy based in Monthey, Switzerland. The company was founded in 1988 by Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabillard, with Bolliger acting as president and Mabillard as vice-president...
roller coasterRoller coasterThe roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
with seven inversions.
A Newer attraction is the launch coaster Cheetah Hunt
Cheetah Hunt
Cheetah Hunt is a steel launched roller coaster currently open and operating at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida. It opened to the public on May 27, 2011 alongside a new cheetah exhibit - Cheetah Run.-History:...
, that accelerates to a full speed of 60 mph in seconds. the ride duration is over 3 minutes. it is located just outside of Morocco and Egypt in the Cheetah Run area of the park, and stretches through the Edge of Africa and the Serengeti Plain with gentle turns and one heart-line roll.
Cheetah Run is an animal exhibit where cheetahs are kept. Shows are hosted with the animals where they will run across their enclosure at top speed for simple rewards.
The Serengeti Plain
In 1965, the park opened its Serengeti Plain animal habitat, the first of its kind to offer animals in a free-roaming environment. Over the years, the habitat has expanded from 29 acres (117,358.9 m²) to its current size of 65 acres (263,045.9 m²). It is home to the Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, bongoBongo (antelope)
The western or lowland bongo, Tragelaphus eurycerus eurycerus, is a herbivorous, mostly nocturnal forest ungulate and among the largest of the African forest antelope species....
, addax
Addax
The Addax , also known as the screwhorn antelope, is a critically endangered species of antelope that lives in the Sahara desert. As suggested by its alternative name, this pale antelope has long, twisted horns. It is closely related to the oryx, but differs from other antelopes by having large...
, addra gazelle, eland
Taurotragus
Taurotragus, commonly called Eland, is a genus of antelopes of the African savannah, containing two species: the Common Eland and the Giant Eland...
, impala
Impala
An impala is a medium-sized African antelope. The name impala comes from the Zulu language meaning "gazelle"...
, ostrich
Ostrich
The Ostrich is one or two species of large flightless birds native to Africa, the only living member of the genus Struthio. Some analyses indicate that the Somali Ostrich may be better considered a full species apart from the Common Ostrich, but most taxonomists consider it to be a...
, marabou stork
Marabou Stork
The Marabou Stork, Leptoptilos crumeniferus, is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It breeds in Africa south of the Sahara, occurring in both wet and arid habitats, often near human habitation, especially waste tips...
, East African crowned crane
Grey Crowned Crane
The Grey Crowned Crane is a bird in the crane family Gruidae. It occurs in dry savannah in Africa south of the Sahara, although it nests in somewhat wetter habitats. This animal does not migrate....
and sacred ibis
Sacred Ibis
The African Sacred Ibis is a species of ibis.-Description:An adult individual is 68 cm long with all-white body plumage apart from dark plumes on the rump. The bald head and neck, thick curved bill and legs are black. The white wings show a black rear border in flight...
.
Myombe Reserve
Edge of Africa
Opened in 1997, Edge of Africa is a walk-through attraction where guests can observe African animals. Among the exhibits are meerkatMeerkat
The meerkat or suricate, Suricata suricatta, is a small mammal belonging to the mongoose family. Meerkats live in all parts of the Kalahari Desert in Botswana, in much of the Namib Desert in Namibia and southwestern Angola, and in South Africa. A group of meerkats is called a "mob", "gang" or "clan"...
s, two prides of lion
Lion
The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
s, a pack of hyena
Hyena
Hyenas or Hyaenas are the animals of the family Hyaenidae of suborder feliforms of the Carnivora. It is the fourth smallest biological family in the Carnivora , and one of the smallest in the mammalia...
s, a few hippos
Hippopotamus
The hippopotamus , or hippo, from the ancient Greek for "river horse" , is a large, mostly herbivorous mammal in sub-Saharan Africa, and one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae After the elephant and rhinoceros, the hippopotamus is the third largest land mammal and the heaviest...
, and a troop of lemur
Lemur
Lemurs are a clade of strepsirrhine primates endemic to the island of Madagascar. They are named after the lemures of Roman mythology due to the ghostly vocalizations, reflective eyes, and the nocturnal habits of some species...
s.
Curiosity Caverns
This cavern attraction, formerly known as Nocturnal Mountain, contains animals such as batBat
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera "hand" and pteron "wing") whose forelimbs form webbed wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. By contrast, other mammals said to fly, such as flying squirrels, gliding possums, and colugos, glide rather than fly,...
s, snakes, lizards, tamarins, and sugar gliders in the low-light environment. This attraction offers the true facts about the creatures inside and cracks the myths about them wide open.
Golden Ticket Awards
The following is a list of roller coasters at Busch Gardens that have placed on Amusement Today's Top 50 coasters, along with their highest ranking.| Roller Coaster | Highest Rank |
|---|---|
| Montu | 1 |
| Kumba | 2 |
| SheiKra | 3 |
| Gwazi | 4 |
Real Music Series
From January - March, Busch Gardens hosts a weekly concert series which invites popular bands either in Big BandBig band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
s or Pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
to perform classic or contemporary songs.
Bands, Brew & BBQ
(Previously called Bud & BBQ) For the month of February, Busch Gardens hosts a series of concerts in Gwazi Field, from many classic and contemporary CountryCountry music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
music acts; there are special culinary offerings along the walkway from the Gwazi Roller Coaster to the gate in Gwazi Field.
Viva La Musica!
In March, several Latin Music acts, such as Guyacon, are hosted on the Stage in Gwazi Field. There is a similar culinary setup with special offerings for the concert days as there is for Bands, Brew & BBQ.Summer Nights
In the summer months, the park stays open later and includes concerts by performers like David CassidyDavid Cassidy
David Bruce Cassidy is an American actor, singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known for his role as the character of Keith Partridge in the 1970s musical/sitcom The Partridge Family. He was one of pop culture's most celebrated teen idols, enjoying a successful pop career in the 1970s, and...
and Starship with Mickey Thomas. The park's Independence Day
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
festivities add fireworks to the entertainment lineup.
In 2010, Busch Gardens added a new nighttime show called Kinetix, the first special effect-heavy show put on in Gwazi Field. Also, they added many new special effects (i.e. Strobe, Lighting, Fog) to their existing rides just for the Summer Nights season.
Howl-O-Scream
Every October, Busch Gardens is transformed into Howl-O-Scream. This event contains haunted houses, scare zones, and shows. Howl-O-Scream is one of the top rated Halloween events in the US. Howl-O-Scream has featured some attractions of the park turned into "horrified" attractions at night. This includes Serengeti Safari Tours, which was turned into Evening Serengeti Safari Tours, and Curiosity Caverns, which was turned into Dark Cavern, both in 2000.2009 was Howl-O-Scream's 10th anniversary.
Holidays
In November through December, theaters throughout the park are transformed into Christmas themed shows in celebration of the Holiday season.See also
- Adventure Island (water park)Adventure Island (water park)Adventure Island is an American water park located northeast of Tampa, Florida across the street from Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. The park features of water rides, dining, and other attractions...
- Busch GardensBusch GardensBusch Gardens is the name of two amusement parks in the United States, owned and operated by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, a division of Blackstone Group. One of the parks is in Williamsburg, Virginia, and the other is in Tampa, Florida...
- Busch Gardens Williamsburg
- SeaWorld OrlandoSeaWorld OrlandoSeaWorld Orlando is a theme park, and marine-life based zoological park, near Orlando, Florida. It is owned and operated by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, a subsidiary of The Blackstone Group...
- Incidents at Busch parksIncidents at Busch parksThis is a summary of notable incidents that have taken place at various SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment-owned amusement parks, water parks or theme parks...
- Howl-O-Scream (Tampa Bay)
- List of attractions in Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay