For tons of fun and a great value — head to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay! We visited Busch Gardens over our spring break a few weeks ago and boy is it a great family travel destination. I’m not kidding when I say Busch Gardens is a great value. They have what they call “Length of Stay” tickets which entitles the ticket holder unlimited admission to the Busch Gardens theme park plus their Adventure Island water park for up to 14 consecutive days for the great price of $89.95 for adults and $79.95 for children ages 3-9. Save even more my purchasing tickets online. When purchasing online, you can get everyone’s ticket, regardless of age, for the child price of $79.95. This Busch Gardens discount gives you the flexibility to come and go during length of your vacation. Use your Length of Stay ticket at Busch Gardens & Adventure Island. Ticket expires 14 days from date of first visit. I don’t know if I’ve ever encountered a better deal than this. Think about it — if you went all 14 days, that’s just less than $6 a day!
Busch Gardens Africa
The theme of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is Africa. You can explore many areas of the African continent — Egypt, Nairobi, Timbuktu, Congo, Stanleyville and Morocco. There’s also the Bird Gardens and the new area called Jungala — which features Bengal tigers which definitely are not African but very cool none the less. Each area features animals, great roller coasters and more.
Morocco: You enter Busch Gardens park in Morocco. The highlight in Morocco no doubt is the Gwazi which is the southeast’s largest and fastest double wooden roller coaster boasting more than 7,000 feet of track. Riders must be at least 48″. Take in a show or two at the Marrakesh Theatre or the Moroccan Palace Theater also known at KaTonga. While in Morocco, be sure to visit the Myombe Reserve to see gorillas and chimpanzees in a lush forest habitat enjoying life to the fullest as they live and play in a natural environment. Satisfy your sweet tooth at Sultan’s sweet or grab a bit at Zagora Cafe before heading off to Egypt.
King Tut's Tomb at Busch Gardens
Egypt: The big thrill ride here is the Montu which is one of the world’s longest inverted coasters. Riders must be at least 54″ so we didn’t get to try this big boy out as our son is just at 52″. That’s a good reason to return to Busch Gardens. No “trip” to Egypt would be complete without a visit to Tut’s Tomb. Step back in time in this realistic replication on the boy king’s burial site as it was being excavated in the 1920s. Next embark on a walking safari through Edge of Africa and encounter exotic African animals in naturalistic habitats, including hippos, lions, hyenas, lemurs, meerkats, crocodiles and lappet-faced vultures. You can board the Skyride from Egypt to get a spectacular view of Busch Garden and its amazing animals. You’ll soar over the Serengeti Plain and on to Stanleyville–and back again if you choose.
Nairobi: You’ll really feel like you’re on an African safari when you ride Rhino Rally. Hop aboard this wild jeep tour that takes you through the wilds of “Africa.” It’s an off-road adventure that combines the thrill of an African safari with the exhilaration of going up-close with exotic animals. Guests must be 39 inches tall and a minimum of 3 years of age accompanied by an adult to ride Rhino Rally. At Jambo Junction you can literally get your hands on the animals by participating in animal feedings and listening to lessons in husbandry and behavior training. Featured animals include Caribbean flamingos, lemurs, cuscuses, sloths and opossums. Get a peak at some of the planet’s most secretive species in Curiosity Caverns. Catch the train in Nairobi for a quick and scenic trip to Stanleyville.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Timbuktu: This area boasts two coasters and we rode them both. The Cheetah Chase is a “cat and mouse” style coaster with crazy curves and hairpin turns. Riders must be at least 46″ and six years of age. We felt the “sting” of the Scorpion twice. This thrilling coaster boasts a 60″ drop and a 360 degree loop. The line was a little long, but it was worth it. The loop was fantastic. Looking for something besides coasters? Take a voyage on the Phoenix — the brave little ship that flips upside down. For those of you with small kiddos, this is where you will find Kiddie Rides and the Carousel Caravan. Beat the heat and take in a show at Timbuktu Theater before heading to the Congo.
Congo: We decided we wanted to ride the Congo River Rapids and waited in line quite a while. All along the way, there were signs that said, “You will get wet.” For some reason, our little guy did not take that seriously and he was very unhappy when he ended up all wet. Take my advice, if you plan on riding water rides and anyone in your group is uncomfortable walking about in wet clothes — bring a change of clothes. I had to hear about it for a couple of hours. Oh well, moving on. In the Congo, you will find Kumba with 100-foot plummets and 360 degree spirals all at 60 miles per hour. Sadly, our little guy was not quite tall enough. Riders must be at least 54″. Take out your frustration by bumping and dodging your friends on the Ubanga-Banga Bumper Cars.
Treetop Trails at Busch Gardens
Jungala: This is a very cool area. Our 8-year-old son loved the Treetop Trails. He could have ran around up there all day climbing net bridges and crawling through tubes in the multi-level jungle themed maze. I’ll tell that Mom didn’t like this area though. I’m sure he never felt lost, but there were too many times I couldn’t see him. I tried but could not keep up with him. Those net bridges and tubs are not made for adults. A worker assured me there was only one way in and out and I did find him, but it made me nervous. And, before we left the area we found two little children who were separated from their mother. The little girl was really upset. The Mom soon found us and they were from Tampa and came to this attraction often. Final word, be sure to have someone tag team with you to help keep an eye on your kiddos. Have one person plant him/herself at the entrance/exit and the other can try to follow them around. While up in the Treetop Trails ride the Jungle Flyers which is a zip line with three different flight patterns above the treetops. Riders must be at least 48″ and ages 6-13. This is also a nice area to grab a bite to eat. We had chicken tenders in the shade at the Orang Cafe. The coolest thing in Jungala was the Bengal tigers. Our little guy was disappointed that he couldn’t do the tug-of-war with the tiger he’d seen on the website but the keeper explained to him that it’s a behavior the tigers only will do maybe once or twice a day. He cheered up when he got to climb into a clear viewing box to view the tigers. It was almost like you were in the habitat with them. You can get very close to them — looking right at them through safety glass. Also be sure to take a look at the Bornean orangutans.
Busch Gardens Hippo
Stanleyville: Ride America’s fastest dive coaster SheiKra. This thrill ride is 200 feet up and 90 degrees straight down with zero floor. Riders must be at least 54″. Here you have another opportunity to get wet on the Stanley Falls Flume. This splashing trip ends in a 40-foot drop that’s sure to get you soaked. (Remember what I said about dry clothes?) Riders must be at least 46″ or over 2 years and accompanied by someone age 14+. And if you are still not wet enough there’s the Tanganyika Tidal Wave. This jungle journey ends in a drenching 55-foot plunge. Riders must be at least 48″.
Sesame Street Safari of Fun: This is Busch Gardens’ newest land filled with kid-size rides, cool water fun and plenty of memorable adventures. Fly through the desert with Grover. Climb in Elmo’s Tree House. Splash in Bert and Ernie’s watering hole. You can even dine with your child’s furry friends. This might be the only area you visit if your kiddos are under age 5.
Bird Gardens: Don’t skip the Bird Gardens on your way out. Marvel at the breathtaking beauty and cheery calls of some 500 tropical birds from around the world as they paint the sky with a rainbow of brilliant colors in this free-flight aviary. Lory Landing is an interactive, free-flight habitat is home to some of the most brilliantly colored birds you’ll meet. Step inside with a cup of fruit fresh nectar from our stand and you’ll have an instant arm-load of feathered friends.
Important Information
Children’s Wristbands: This is a great resource in the scary event you get separated from your child. These bands are available at the Front Gate Information Booth. You lace your contact information onthe wristband for your child(ren) to wear in case they become separated from the group.
Lockers/Storage: This would be handy to place a change of clothes for after the water rides. There are single use lockers as well as all-day lockers located throughout the park. Just pick up a map and the locations are listed on the back.
Quick Queue: Don’t like spending so much time waiting in line? For $24.95 (or $19.95 if you are a pass holder) you can skip the lines once at each major ride, including SheiKra, Gwazi, Montu and Kumba.
Busch Gardens Tiger
Up-Close Adventures: Want to get a closer look at Busch Gardens animals? Up-Close Adventures allows you to do just that. These behind the scenes expeditions start at $33.95.
Meet the Keepers: A great way to learn more about the animals is to visit during a Meet the Keepers chat. Just pick up a map when you enter that park and the Meet the Keepers times are listed on the back. We attended the Meet the Keepers at the Bengal tiger exhibit and learned a lot about these fantastic creatures. Did you know that the stripes are not only on their fur but also on their skin? So if you shave them, they still have stripes.
For more information on Busch Gardens, visit BuschGardens.com.