Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Reviews (Tampa, Florida)

Best Park in Florida

Orlando, Florida

March 10, 2010

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Reasons why this is the best park in Florida:- Several roller coasters (7 or 8, If I'm not mistaken)- Lines are much smaller than other parks (mainly when compared to Disney's parks)- I visited the park in February/2010; if you go during week days, ...Read more

A Zoo of Coasters

by airynfaerie

St. Augustine, Florida

December 21, 2009

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Best of IgoUgo Although themeparks normally aren't my favorite places to visit, one of them that I do enjoy every now and then is Busch Gardens. There are two Busch Gardens in the nation - one in Williamsburg, VA and one in Tampa Bay, FL. Both are very differently ...Read more Although themeparks normally aren't my favorite places to visit, one of them that I do enjoy every now and then is Busch Gardens. There are two Busch Gardens in the nation - one in Williamsburg, VA and one in Tampa Bay, FL. Both are very differently themed, but both packed with great coasters and animals.

The one I visited most recently was the Tampa Bay location, which is a 335acre African themed park. Originally opened in 1959 as a manufacturing plant of the Anheuser-Busch brewing company. The company offered free tours of the grounds and free beer tastings. Through the years it evolved to a full tropical garden complete with exotic animals, rides, roller coasters, entertainment venues, shops and restaurants.

The Tampa Bay park is divided into several sections all with a different African theme from Morocco and the Congo, to Nairobi and Egypt. To see the entire park thoroughly, plan an entire day. There's an open passenger train system taking guests from one part of the park to the next, or you can follow the carefully marked walkways. One of the best things about this park is that it's as much of a zoo as a themepark and will satisfy the animal-lovers as much as the thrill-seekers.

Stop by the bird gardens, or the "Serengeti Plain" where you'll find plenty of animals and animal shows to keep you occupied. The array of species is quite impressive, from elephants, giraffes, zebras, and gazelles, to lions, hippos, gorillas, and eagles. There are also a couple of children's play areas with tree houses, petting zoos, and zip lines.

For the more adult rides there are several record-breaking roller coasters from the floorless "Sheikra" and award-winning "Kumba" to the inverted Montu. There are water rides and a 4-D movie theatre show as well. Be sure to check teh daily schedule for live entertainment like the Busch Gardens band to the reptile presentation. On holidays throughout the year there are several special events like the "Howl-O-Screem" October nights.

Before leaving, be sure to take the brewery tour, check out the famous Busch Clydesdale horses, and sample some beer.

• http://www.buschgardens.com/Bgt/default.aspx
• 10165 N McKinley Dr, Tampa, FL 33612
• 1-888-800-5447 • $12 parking, $74 general admission (special discounts available)
• Hours vary by season Close

From journal Excursions in Central Florida

Good, But Not Great

by Fiver29

Barrow in Furness, United Kingdom

September 4, 2009

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Best of IgoUgo Even though we were in Orlando we decided to visit Busch Gardens Bird GardensThe main attraction in this area is the Land of the Dragons which is a children's area consisting of a playground and theatre, it's quite a small playground is probably ...Read more

From journal 9 Days In Florida

Bush Gardens...

by jaygami1986

London, United Kingdom

August 11, 2009

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Best of IgoUgo History of Bush Gardens Africa (Tampa Bay): Bush Gardens is the name of two of the biggest theme parks in America, one in Tampa Bay, Florida, and the other one in Williamsburg, Virginia. Bush Gardens is currently owned by Busch Entertainment ...Read more

Take the Elite Adventure Tour!

by timburke41

Naples, Florida

April 14, 2009

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I recently visited Busch Gardens and decided to spend the extra money on the Elite Adventure Tour. If you have never been and want to see the park in one day I suggest this option. You do have to pay extra for it but it is well worth the money. Our ...Read more

A Fun Walk-Through Attraction

by Troobabiee7

Brooklyn, New York

February 8, 2009

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Tut's Tomb is a fun walk-through attraction located in the Egypt section of Busch Gardens Tampa. An exact replica of the real King Tut's Tomb that was uncovered by Howard Carter in 1922, it's a unique experience to walk through the winding halls ...Read more

From journal Busch Gardens Tampa: It's a Wild World

Sheikra: One of the World's Most Unique Roller Coasters

by Troobabiee7

Brooklyn, New York

February 8, 2009

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Best of IgoUgo Sheikra was a main draw to Busch Gardens for us. The park's newest coaster, it's also one of the most unique roller coasters in the world. Painted in deep reds and blues, Sheikra brings riders 200-feet off the ground before sending them plummeting ...Read more

From journal Busch Gardens Tampa: It's a Wild World

Serengeti Express: A Train Ride Through the Wilds of Africa

by Troobabiee7

Brooklyn, New York

February 5, 2009

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Best of IgoUgo The Serengeti Express is the train ride through Busch Gardens. It's not just a typical train ride though, it's a train ride through the Serengeti Plain in the middle of the park. The Serengeti Plain is the home of the park's lions, tigers, ...Read more The Serengeti Express is the train ride through Busch Gardens. It's not just a typical train ride though, it's a train ride through the Serengeti Plain in the middle of the park. The Serengeti Plain is the home of the park's lions, tigers, giraffes, zebra, ankole cattle and more. If you're there for the animals, this is where to find them. You can get an up-close look at the same animals from the Edge of Africa walk-through attraction, but this is a great way to be directly in the center of the action. You can get up-close and personal with some of the biggest and most majestic animals in the world, without having to see them through glass or off in the distance.

The open-air train makes stops in the Nairobi, Congo and Stanleyville sections of the park. You're free to get off at any of the stops if using the train for transportation, but staying on for a full-loop will give you the best views of the animals and surrounding theming. A big clock near the entrance of each station tells you when the next train will arrive and four or five people can fit in each row of the train. Each train is also huge, leaving loom for lots of guests to embark on each ride.

Our trip was definitely a fun one. When the train left the station we made our way over to Egypt and went right over the Montu tracks. It was awesome seeing the coaster fly by below us. We then went through a small tunnel, and when we emerged we were in the middle of the African savanna. What an amazing view! I've been on a lot of safari rides and this was by far the best. There wasn't some big elaborate storyline or anything, but we got unbelievably close to the animals. We had to stop a few times to wait for the rhinos to cross the tracks, the giraffes were just lounging in the grass, and the zebras were practically at arms length. It was a great experience.

The Serengeti Express takes around 40-minutes to travel through in a complete loop. It's definitely worth taking the time to complete the loop as it gets you closer to the animals than anywhere else in the park. Close

From journal Busch Gardens Tampa: It's a Wild World

Myombe Reserve: An Amazing Encounter With the Great Gorillas

by Troobabiee7

Brooklyn, New York

February 5, 2009

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The Myombe Reserve was one of my absolute favorite parts of Busch Gardens Tampa. Home of the chimpanzees and gorillas, it's an exotic and magical walk-through attraction where you can come face-to-face with these gorgeous creatures in a unique and ...Read more The Myombe Reserve was one of my absolute favorite parts of Busch Gardens Tampa. Home of the chimpanzees and gorillas, it's an exotic and magical walk-through attraction where you can come face-to-face with these gorgeous creatures in a unique and inspiring atmosphere. Have you ever dreamed of trekking through the jungles of Africa, mist billowing through the trees and humidity filling the air, as gorgeous gorillas frolicked through their natural habitat? I know I have, but a trip to Africa is still a long way off for me, so the Myombe Reserve was as close as I was going to get. And I wasn't disappointed.

The Myombe Reserve is located near the front entrance of the park, in it's own uniquely themed land. There's nothing else in the Myombe section of the park outside of the reserve, making your experience seem even more realistic. No, it's not as authentic as an actual trek through the jungles of Africa, but it really is close. Lush, exotic forestry surrounds the trails as smoke billows around every corner and the sound of chirping birds and far-off waterfalls fills the air. The chimpanzees are playful and an absolute blast to watch, while the gorillas are large and majestic, although usually resting quietly. The highlight of our trip through the reserve was when one of the Gorilla's laid right up against the glass of their habitat, giving us a face-to-face view of an animal most people only dream of getting so close to.

The Myombe Reserve is not to be missed. It's a truly majestic and exotic part of Busch Gardens, and no trip to the park is complete without it. Since it's a walk-through attraction you don't have to worry about crowds, and the flowing layout keeps crowds low anyway. Plan to spend at least a half-hour in the area in order to watch the animals and take in all the special touches and theming. The chimpanzees and gorillas are most active early in the day and the reserve closes at sunset (usually around 6:00) so be sure to visit as early as possible. It's a great experience! Close

From journal Busch Gardens Tampa: It's a Wild World

Montu: A Fun But Old-Fashioned Coaster Through Egypt

by Troobabiee7

Brooklyn, New York

February 5, 2009

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Best of IgoUgo Montu is a fun upside-down roller coaster located in the Egypt section of Busch Gardens. Painted in deep blues and bright whites, the coaster fits perfectly in the Egyptian landscape of that section of the park, shining brightly amongst the golden ...Read more Montu is a fun upside-down roller coaster located in the Egypt section of Busch Gardens. Painted in deep blues and bright whites, the coaster fits perfectly in the Egyptian landscape of that section of the park, shining brightly amongst the golden artifacts scattered around the area. Montu is the name of an Egyptian War God, setting the stage for the theming of the ride. Montu was built in 1996 and was meant to be the biggest, fastest and most thrilling coaster in the world, and it was for several years. The roller coaster not only flips, twists and turns, but it also dips down into several trenches and goes through dark tunnels, leaving rider's feet dangling only inches from the ground.

As exciting as Montu is, it's old. It's gone from being the most exciting coaster in the world over 12 years ago, to being just another run-of-the-mill ride. That's not to say that it's not still fun, and it's a great introduction to upside-down coasters for young riders. Since Montu is one of the older rides in the park, it stays relatively uncrowded throughout the day, especially in the morning. The line never really gets longer than 10-minutes, except on especially busy days. There was a 10-minute wait on the day of our visit, but unfortunately there were technical difficulties. The car in front of ours got stuck on the lift hill for fifteen-minutes, but we waited it out and the ride was up and running again in no time.

Montu is a fun, if slightly old-fashioned, roller coaster. There is a 54-inch height requirement so make sure that all riders are tall enough to ride before getting on line. There's nothing worse than a child getting excited for their first big roller-coaster ride, only to be turned away at the platform. There are also specialty seats for larger guests, which provide double-seat belts and is something I've never seen offered on a roller coaster before. You can't bring loose items with you due to the thrilling nature of the coaster, but free lockers are provided on the platform for you to safely store your belongings for the duration of the ride. Close

From journal Busch Gardens Tampa: It's a Wild World

IgoUgo

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Avg. User Rating:

User Reviews

Best Park in Florida

A Zoo of Coasters

Good, But Not Great

Bush Gardens...

Take the Elite Adventure Tour!

A Fun Walk-Through Attraction

Sheikra: One of the World's Most Unique Roller Coasters

Serengeti Express: A Train Ride Through the Wilds of Africa

Myombe Reserve: An Amazing Encounter With the Great Gorillas

Montu: A Fun But Old-Fashioned Coaster Through Egypt

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

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Nearby Things to Do

Popular Tampa Hotels

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Avg. User Rating:

User Reviews

Best Park in Florida

A Zoo of Coasters

Good, But Not Great

Bush Gardens...

Take the Elite Adventure Tour!

A Fun Walk-Through Attraction

Sheikra: One of the World's Most Unique Roller Coasters

Serengeti Express: A Train Ride Through the Wilds of Africa

Myombe Reserve: An Amazing Encounter With the Great Gorillas

Montu: A Fun But Old-Fashioned Coaster Through Egypt