June 1, 1959, Busch Gardens opened in Tampa, Florida, as a brewery with attached gardens and parrot shows.
Over the course of its long history, it has managed to combine its soul dedicated to the care and conservation of animal species with its more adrenaline-filled side, offering thrilling attractions for the brave-hearted.
Where is Busch Gardens Tampa Bay located?
As the name suggests, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is located in Tampa, Florida, about an hour’s drive from downtown Orlando.
The park offers a free shuttle service to and from the park from major Orlando attractions. However, this service must be booked on the park’s official website.
When is it open?
The park is open 365 days a year with hours that vary depending on the season and any special events. It typically opens at 10:00 AM and closes at 9:00 PM.
I recommend visiting the park’s official website to check the schedule and download the park app, which will be very useful before and during your visit.
How much does Busch Gardens Tampa Bay cost?
The price for a one-day ticket to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is listed on the official website at $95 per person.
If you prefer to purchase in Euros, with the option to cancel, 3-installment payment, and Italian customer service, you can do so through my website.
What thematic areas is it divided into?
The main theme of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is Africa and it is made up of 11 themed areas:
- NAIROBI
- SERENGETI PLAIN
- MOROCCO
- BIRD GARDENS
- SESAME STREET SAFARI OF FUN
- STANLEYVILLE
- JUNGALA
- CONGO
- PANTOPIA
- EDGE OF AFRICA
- EGYPT
NAIROBI
In this area, alligators and crocodiles can be observed up close.
The area also contains the Myombe Reserve, a tropical rainforest that is home to gorillas and western chimpanzees. In 2012, the Animal Care Center opened, allowing guests to observe actual veterinary procedures and meet the stars of Wildlife Docs, Busch Gardens’ Saturday morning TV show.
This is also where the main station of the Serengeti Express is located, the train that will take you on a journey through the Serengeti Plain.
SERENGETI PLAIN
Opened in 1965, the Serengeti Plain was the first of its kind to offer animals a large and free environment, without cages or fences.
Its uniqueness also lies in the fact that the Serengeti Express runs through this vast reserve, allowing you to get up close to the animals without any barrier separating you from them.
Inside, you’ll find zebras, antelopes, giraffes, rhinos, impalas, ostriches, and storks.
The Serengeti Express also has intermediate stations in the Nairobi and Stanleyville areas, making it a useful transportation system to save energy throughout the day.
At the center of the Serengeti Plain, a rather unusual attraction has recently opened.
The Serengeti Flyer is a massive swing, 42 meters high, that reaches a speed of 110 km/h!
These numbers might sound scary, but it’s truly a super fun and very comfortable ride.
MOROCCO
This land is home to the Myombe Reserve, 12,000 m² where gorillas and chimpanzees found a home in 1992.
Inside the Moroccan palace, it hosts the park’s most famous show, Turn It Up! — the hottest ice show you’ll ever witness in your life.
But without a doubt, the star of this area — and also the main reason for my visit — is Iron Gwazi.
Opened on March 11, 2023, Iron Gwazi is a next-generation hybrid coaster with mind-blowing stats:
- 1,242 meters long
- 63 meters high
- 91° drop angle
- Top speed of 122 km/h
- 2 inversions
- Winner of Best New Coaster in the World
I had the courage to ride it both in the front row and the last row, and I must say that in the last row it’s the craziest coaster I’ve ever experienced in my life.
Unmissable.
BIRD GARDENS
This area features two main attractions.
- Walkabout Way, inspired by an Australian outpost, opened in June 2010. This area allows guests to feed kangaroos and wallabies, and see animals such as kookaburras, magpies, black swans, and tawny frogmouths.
- Lory Landing, an open aviary habitat that invites guests to walk through and be visited by lorikeets.
SESAME STREET SAFARI OF FUN
This is a vast area dedicated to kids, entirely safari-themed.
You’ll be able to meet the characters from Sesame Street and watch one of their hilarious shows, climb inside Elmo’s Treehouse, or try out the family coaster.
STANLEYVILLE
This area features another record that makes Busch Gardens Tampa Bay a cutting-edge park.
SheiKra was the first dive coaster with a vertical drop in North America.
Its stats:
- 61 meters high
- 2 90° drops
- Top speed of 110 km/h
- 972 meters long
Impressive numbers, but the best part of this ride is the water dive toward the end, creating a misty splash that’s a welcome refreshment on Florida’s hot days.
Tigris is not far behind either.
Opened in 2019, this magnetic launch coaster is quite unusual for us Europeans.
At launch, you’ll be propelled forward and backward until you build up enough speed to clear the initial ascent and continue along the intricate course.
It shook me up quite a bit 😅
CONGO
This section, inspired by the jungles of the Congo, features two attractions: Congo River Rapids and Kumba.
Congo River Rapids is the classic “raft” ride, while Kumba is a coaster that deserves respect.
Opened in 1993, this coaster set the bar very high for its category.
Its stats:
- 1,212 meters long
- 44-meter drop
- 97 km/h
- 7 inversions
PANTOPIA
Pantopia is a section originally inspired by African shopping centers and bazaars. It opened in May 1980 as Timbuktu and has undergone many changes to reach its current form.
There are many attractions here for younger guests, as well as the Pantopia Theatre, but the real stars are elsewhere.
Scorpion is the park’s oldest operating coaster.
The craziest feature of this ride, which opened in 1980, is its small loop that, due to the high G-force, allows for minimal restraints! Try it to believe it 😅
Opened in 2014, Falcon’s Fury, at 102 meters tall, is the tallest standalone drop tower in North America!
But that’s not all.
Once at the top, the seats tilt forward 90°, putting you in a diving position like a falcon, before plunging straight down at 100 km/h!
Unfortunately, during my visit, the ride was closed for major maintenance. I hope to return and finally try it.
EDGE OF AFRICA
The flagship attraction of Edge of Africa is Cheetah Hunt, a multi-launch magnetic coaster that opened in 2011.
Its specs:
- 1,350 meters long
- 3 launches
- Top speed of 97 km/h
But what impressed me most is the final stretch, where you find yourself skimming close to the ground through a narrow canyon between rocks and water — very scenic.
EGYPT
Bedouin tents, authentic crafts, and artwork create the feel of an Egyptian marketplace.
The main attraction in the Egyptian-themed area is Montu, a massive and imposing inverted coaster.
Opened in 1996, it also boasts impressive stats for its time:
- 1,214 meters long
- 40 meters tall
- Top speed of 97 km/h
- 7 inversions
- 3.8G maximum acceleration
The color combination also stands out, making it easily recognizable even from a great distance.
The second attraction in the area is not to be underestimated either.
Cobra’s Curse is a coaster with some truly unique features:
- elevator lift up to 21 meters
- spinning cars that rotate on their own, but only from a certain point of the ride, with the ability to spin in a programmed way
- a 24-meter-tall statue of the snake king Venymyss
I must admit I initially underestimated this attraction, but it turned out to be more intense than I expected. The fully indoor and well-themed queue line is also a nice touch.
Tips and Conclusion
As always, I remind you to follow my golden rules, which you can find in this article, but here are a few suggestions that might come in handy.
Reading this article, you’ve probably realized that the real highlight of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is its record-breaking coasters. The animals and immersive theming also add to the wow factor — if you’re looking for thrills, this park is definitely for you!
I didn’t have high expectations, but it truly surprised me. The free shuttle service to and from Orlando is also very convenient.
