Enjoy an African Safari Experience at Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay

What used to be a hospitality facility for the Tampa Anheuser-Busch brewery turned into one of the most popular theme parks in the USA. Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay offers visitors a chance to experience an African safari environment right in the heart of Florida. It is considered as the number one tourist destination in the bay area, drawing millions of visitors annually for its world-class zoo and fantastic roller coasters. Busch gardens is about a two hour drive from Orlando and a nice side trip for those who want to see a little more of the Florida

Busch Gardens has become more popular because of its roller coasters, guaranteed to bring an exhilarating experience to visitors. The Scorpion, which is created by renowned roller coaster designer Anton Schwarzkopf, can run at more than 50 miles per hour and has a 360-degree vertical loop. For those who don’t mind getting wet, Congo River Rapids is a thrilling white water rafting adventure complete with a mysterious water cave, waterfalls and deep plunges. The Gwazi, considered as one of the fastest and largest wooden roller coasters in the world, can cross as fast as 100 miles per hour. It is one of the park’s most favorite attractions. The Kumba is a legendary coaster considered as one of the world’s best.

Other rides in Busch Gardens are Cheetah Chase, Montu, Rhino Rally, Scorpion, Sheikra, Stanley Falls and Tanganyika Tidal Wave.

Of course, Busch Gardens wouldn’t be the world-famous park that it is today without the wild animals. There are eight animal attractions to see, and they are definitely all worth checking out.

Watch the colorful beauty of 500 tropical birds at the lush, garden habitat of Bird Gardens. If you want to see a ferocious Bengal Tiger at close range, visit Jungala, which provides animal interactions and live entertainment. Serengeti Plain takes you on a safari experience aboard the Serengeti Express Railway, the best way to enjoy the sights of a wide-open African wilderness. Another bird habitat, Lory Landing, allows you to view the very colorful Lorikeets and feed them fresh fruit nectar from a cup.

Monkey lovers will have a splendid time at the Myombe Reserve, a forest habitat for chimpanzees and gorillas. If rhinos are more your thing, then check out Rhino Rally, which also houses other African wild animals such as giraffes and elephants. For more exotic African animals, join the walking safari on Edge of Safari.

The shows in Busch Gardens entertain people of all ages. They showcase animal and musical talents perfect for wholesome, family fun. Critter Castaways is a comedy show features shelter and rescued animals trained by the park’s expert trainers. Dance to the Music is a song-and-dance disco show that takes you back to the fun and energy of 70s music.

Katonga is an African-inspired show that narrates a colorful story of animal folklore. For those who want a taste of Moroccan music, check out the Mystic Sheiks of Morocco, an eight-piece marching brass ensemble that has been performing since the 70s and has long been the symbol of Busch Gardens.

For great 4-D action, watch Pirates, which stars comic genius Leslie Nielsen. The awesome multi-sensory effects never fail to entertain audiences to the hilt. If you are more of a rock fan, then you should definitely see Rock a Doo Wop, which features singers and dancers performing the greatest hits of the 50s and 60s.

If you still haven’t had enough of the attractions above, there are still more for you and your kids to try out. Land of the Dragons is an interactive children’s playground that features rides for small kids, outdoor theatre and climb/crawl play area. If your kid loves the thrill of treasure hunting, check out King Tut’s Tomb, where there lots of sand covering replicas of treasures. To get the most spectacular view of the park, enter the Skyride and enjoy a sky-high trip that will provide you a beautiful, flying experience.

Guests who want to maximize their Busch Gardens adventure experience should definitely try the park’s Guided Adventure Tour and Elite Adventure Tour. The Guided Adventure Tour is a VIP package that lets you see everything in the park with the help of an expert guide. You get to sample everything the park has to offer and get to most of the major rides in the park without having to stand in line. You will also get reserved seats at the KaTonga show. This package is available for adults and children ages 5 to 9.

The Elite Adventure Tour allows you to get treated as the park’s guest of honor, where you will be assigned a personal guide to an exclusive adventure. You will have a day-long private tour that gets you reserved seats at the KaTonga show and easy access to most of the major rides. You will also get a delicious meal at Crown Colony Restaurant, where you can dine while enjoying an overlooking view of the Serengeti Plain and its exotic animals.

Busch Gardens also offers several camps and classes aimed to give students and teachers the most wonderful animal habitat experience. The Busch Gardens Adventure Camp provides camps for students ranging from pre-schoolers to college kids. They will get to experience the different aspects of the park, from the roller coasters to animal habitats. The park also arranges field trips where students tour around Busch Gardens with a professional educator in tow. They will get to learn about the latest veterinary techniques and the basic needs for survival, among many others. There are also programs for teachers where they can learn more about animals and their habitats through workshops and other resources.

If you want to give your kids the best time of their lives, arrange for a sleepover at the park, where they can have the experience of waking up in the wild. They will spend the night doing up-close animal encounters and other unique discoveries. You can also give your kid the best birthday ever by having it at Busch Gardens, where they can have real animals as their special guests. The event will be supervised by a Busch Gardens Educator.