Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Florida

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is the ultimate family adventure park offering an array of fascinating attractions based on exotic encounters with the African continent.

A unique blend of thrilling rides, one of the country's premier zoos featuring more than 2,000 animals, live shows, restaurants, shops and games, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay provides unrivaled excitement for guests of every age.

DINING HIGHLIGHTS:

Crown Colony House Restaurant: Relax in air-conditioned comfort and take in a panoramic view of the Serengeti Plain while you enjoy courteous full table service, authentic African roadhouse ambiance and a diverse menu that includes delicious upscale entrees, refreshing salads and hearty sandwiches all house-made with the freshest ingredients by our culinary team.

Dine with Elmo and Friends: Families can share breakfast or lunch with Elmo and Friends on select days at an outdoor dining facility in Sesame Street Safari of Fun. Fill up on hugs from everyone’s favorite characters, delicious food served buffet-style and family together time during these unique dining experiences. The menu includes items sure to please both adults and kids alike!

Bengal Bistro: Sit back, relax and enjoy a delicious lunch as your young adventurers explore Jungala. Bengal Bistro—the newly remodeled Vivi Restaurant—is the perfect place to view Jungala’s village. At this cafeteria-style bistro, the Busch Gardens’ culinary staff prepares your lunch fresh, offering Catch of the Jungle fish, wraps and sandwiches, salads and vegetarian options.

Orang Café: Watch endangered Bornean orangutans swing across their habitat from the patio of Orang Café. Whether it is snack items or entrees, Orang Café’s menu is designed to be “kid-siderate.” Children will appreciate the family-friendly menu items like “dirt sundaes,” chicken “stripes” and bug candy. The menu also includes assorted fresh fruit, wraps and other entrees.

Zambia Smokehouse: Witness the power of SheiKra —America’s first dive coaster—as you dine on delicious barbeque. The new 500-seat indoor/outdoor Zambia Smokehouse makes guests part of the action, as diners sit directly beneath the wings of the new roller coaster.  Entrees include chicken, beef brisket and the park's famous ribs, all slow-smoked for hours over real hickory and oak.

Desert Grill: Palatial architecture, exotic entertainment and air-conditioned comfort come together to make your meal at the Desert Grill truly unforgettable. Watch a live performance while you dine on outstanding entrees like Baby Back Ribs or Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo — all served fast and fresh. You'll also find specialty salads, hot and hearty sandwiches, delectable desserts and a complete kid's menu.

Sultan’s Sweets: Start your day at Busch Gardens with a steaming cup of gourmet coffee and muffins, cinnamon buns and pastries made fresh daily in the park. Stroll through the shop and feast your eyes on an incredible array of sweet treats including hand-made candies, cakes and the deliciously decadent Wild Indulgence Fudge.

RIDES:

SheiKra: North America’s first dive coaster sends riders through a breathtaking three-minute journey 200 feet up, then 90 degrees straight down — and that's just the beginning. “Floorless” cars give riders an unobstructed view of the 70 mph rush, and SheiKra was the first dive coaster to incorporate an Immelmann loop (a simultaneous loop and roll), a second, 138-foot vertical drop into an underground tunnel and a water feature finale, all packed into a half-mile of steel track.

Kumba: After the blood-curdling thrill of an initial 135 foot drop, you will plunge from 110 feet into a diving loop, feel a full 3 seconds of absolute weightlessness while spiraling 360 degrees, and tear through one of the world's largest vertical loops.

Montu: Feel the ultimate rush on one of the tallest and longest inverted roller coasters in the world! Experience the thrill of an inverse diving loop and a 60-foot vertical loop while you endure speeds of more than 60 miles per hour and a G-force of 3.85.

Gwazi: Challenge the dueling forces of Gwazi: two wooden tracks intertwined into the Southeast’s largest and fastest double wooden roller coaster. Boasting more than 1.25 million board feet of lumber, Gwazi’s Lion and Tiger tracks offer two distinct ride experiences.

Cheetah Chase: Families will love the curves, drops and corkscrews of Cheetah Chase, a five-story “wild mouse” style coaster in Timbuktu. With its top speed of 22 mph and 46” height requirement, Cheetah Chase is the perfect ride for a child’s first coaster experience.

Air Grover: A junior coaster full of fun turns, mini-dives, perfect for parents and kids to ride together.

Scorpion: Feel the “sting” of Scorpion's terrifying 60-foot drop and 360-degree loop at incredible speeds.

The Wild Surge: Launch out of a 35-foot mountain crater up above a towering waterfall for a thrilling view of Jungala’s village below.

Jungle Flyers: Young adventurers choose from three different flight patterns to soar 50 feet above Jungala’s village.

Rhino Rally: This wild jeep tour transports guests aboard an off-road adventure through the wilds of Africa, blending up-close animal encounters with an unpredictable safari competition.

Congo River Rapids: Encounter the swift-flowing white water of the Congo River Rapids. Spin through a geyser and face an ominous waterfall and other thrilling obstacles in a 12-person raft.

Stanley Falls: Our Log Flume whisks your whole family through a splashing trip ending in a 40-foot drop that's sure to get you soaked!

Tanganyika Tidal Wave: Watch out when your seemingly tranquil jungle journey aboard a 20-passenger boat ends with a sudden plunge down a 55-foot drop, creating a tidal wave that gets everyone sopping wet.

SHOWS:

“KaTonga: Musical Tales From the Jungle” takes you on a journey to the heart of Africa in a 35-minute musical celebration of animal folklore. The show follows a day in the lives of aspiring storytellers, called Griots, as they strive to become masters of their craft. To accomplish this rite of passage, the performers evoke traditional African stories that mesmerize and entertain! Masterful puppet design, magical folklore, energetic original music and spectacular African-inspired dance combine to create the first theme park show of Broadway-production caliber.

Rock A Doo Wop: This all-new show at the Marrakesh Theater features the greatest hits of the ’50s and ’60s, performed by eight talented singers and dancers. Guests will enjoy favorite songs like “This Magic Moment” and “Sherry” as they travel back in time to the doo-wop era.

Mystic Sheiks of Morocco: Snap your fingers and move your feet to the music of this high-energy brass and percussion marching band.

Sesame Street presents “Lights, Camera, Imagination!” Elmo, Cookie Monster, Big Bird and other lovable Sesame Street characters try to save the Sesame Street Film Festival. Their adventures are brought to life with zany 4-D gags and special effects like wind, water and jump-out-of-your-seat surprises. Showing daily in Timbuktu’s 4-D Theater.

“Critter Castaways” Using the same encouragement-based training philosophy our animal trainers use throughout our parks, a cast of unlikely characters – including dogs, cats, ducks and doves –  comes together to create a side-splitting show with surprise twists that will have the whole family laughing.

ANIMAL ATTRACTIONS:

Serengeti Plain: This habitat features hundreds of exotic African animals that can be seen from the Serengeti Express Railway, Skyride, Serengeti Safari and various walkways. The 65-acre environment includes expansive berms, the largest of which is four acres; tiered and open landscapes covered with native and African grasses, scrub trees and shrubs; rock outcroppings and bluffs replicating natural formations; and naturalistic creek beds and mud banks.

Jungala: Four acres of fun filled with up-close animal interactions, a three story maze of rope bridges and nets for kids to climb, two signature rides and live entertainment. Come face-to-face with orangutans and test your strength in a tug of war with a Bengal tiger. It’s an unforgettable adventure and an extraordinary mix of discovery and fun in the only jungle in the world that plays with you.

Animal Connections: A 30-minute VIP experience where you get to be the star of an animal show. The guest shoots a head shot, is escorted through wardrobe and makeup, then stars alongside a furry friend, which could include a lemur, owl monkey, macaw or other exotic species. After a few minutes to rehearse a script, guests read from a teleprompter in a studio with green-screen technology. Then take a DVD of the “show” home. The cost is $29.99 per taping.

Myombe Reserve: Enter the lush forest where gorillas and chimpanzees can be viewed in this naturalistic rainforest habitat. Tour the Great Ape Domain amid waterfalls and through shrouds of mist and fog to get an up-close look at these majestic primates.

Edge of Africa: This habitat offers an intense walking safari where guests can experience hippopotamus, lions, lemurs, meerkats, crocodiles and lappet-faced vultures in natural habitats themed around an abandoned African fishing village.

Jambo Junction: The former Busch Gardens’ Nairobi Field Station now allows greater interaction between guests and the park’s animal ambassadors. The new area is called Jambo Junction, a name inspired by a Swahili greeting. At Jambo Junction, you can participate in animal feedings, lessons in husbandry and behavior training. Featured animals include Caribbean flamingos, lemurs, cuscuses, sloths and opossums. 

Bird Gardens: Soar over to our Bird Gardens area to check out almost 500 tropical birds from around the globe. You can enjoy the Wild Wings of Africa show, see our feather-filled aviary, and experience the powerful presence of bald and golden eagles in Eagle Canyon. After the show you can talk to conservation educators about how to attract birds to your own backyard.

Lory Landing: The domed habitat showcases a variety of brilliantly colored birds including several species of parrots, including lorikeets, as well as hornbills and pheasants in both free flight and observational environments.

OTHER ATTRACTIONS:

Tree Top Trails: With climbing nets, bridges, crawl tubes and a multi-level maze for bigger kids, plus a water-play area for younger children, this 3-story family play area in Jungala allows visitors to explore the different levels of jungle life.

Serengeti Express Train: See the beauty of the Serengeti Plains as you make a round-trip journey from our Nairobi train station on the Serengeti Express Train.

King Tut’s Tomb: Travel back in time to the mysteries of King Tut's Tomb. You'll get to visit a realistic replication of King Tut's burial site as it was being excavated in the 1920s. The park’s Egypt area also includes an area for kids to do their own digging.

Skyride: View the spectacular scenery as you fly through the air in a cable car that runs between the Crown Colony area and the Congo on the opposite side of the park.

UP-CLOSE TOURS:
Up-Close Tours for Animal Lovers
Serengeti Safari: For animal enthusiasts, we offer half hour Serengeti Safari tours daily. This open truck tour offers guests a unique look at our Serengeti Plain habitat and the opportunity to feed giraffes and antelopes by hand! Encounter African wildlife up close with a Busch Gardens education specialist as your guide. Cost of the tour is $33.99 per person plus tax in addition to park admission.

Serengeti Night Safari: Start your nighttime safari in the Edge of Africa witnessing feedings and the active nocturnal behaviors of hippos, lions and hyenas lit only by moonlight and lanterns. Then, on the Serengeti Plain, use night-vision monoculars and special filtered lighting to view free-roaming herds of giraffes, zebra, rhinos and other intriguing African animals. The tour begins and ends in the exclusive Safari Club, with savory appetizers and beverages and a night cap complete with coffee and desserts. The Serengeti Night Safari begins after sunset on select Friday and Saturday nights and costs $59.99 per person, plus tax. Park admission is not required for this experience. Guests must be 21 years of age or older to participate.

Sunrise Safari: The first Serengeti Safari tour of the day. Start off with a continental breakfast and then travel out onto the Serengeti Plain habitat accompanied by a Busch Gardens’ education specialist as your guide. Encounter African wildlife up close and hand-feed giraffes and antelopes by hand!! This 45-minute tour is offered daily for $39.95 per person plus tax in addition to park admission.

Sunset Safari:  As the sun sets over the Serengeti Plain and the day’s adventure draws to a close, experience an animal encounter unlike any Busch Gardens has ever offered on the park’s 65-acre Serengeti Plain, where participants will hand-feed giraffes and encounter other African wildlife while indulging in Anheuser-Busch’s world-class beers. This 45-minute tour is offered daily for $39.95 per person, plus tax, for ages 21 and older with proper identification.

Jungala Insider: Get an insider’s look and discover how the world-class attraction was designed to be immersive for guests and naturalistic for the animals. Go behind the scenes and meet the keepers and observe how they care for endangered Bengal tigers and Bornean orangutans. Cost is $24.95 plus tax per person, ages 5 and up.

Tiger and Orangutan Keeper Experience: Go deep into the heart of Jungala with this 90-minute behind-the-scenes tour. With a knowledgeable zoo educator as your tour guide, you will quickly become an animal expert as you go face-to face with endangered Bengal tigers and Bornean orangutans. On this walking tour, you will also witness behavior training and interactions led by the keepers. Cost of the tour is $199.99 per group up to 6 participants.

Endangered Species Safari: During this 45-minute safari, guests can meet giraffes up close, observe some truly wild behavior from our white rhinos, and then meet our famous black rhinos. Talk to zookeepers who are working to save these endangered species, and learn about the different conservation efforts that SeaWorld &
Busch Gardens Conservation Fund is making to protect wild places. Cost of the tour is $39.95 per person plus tax in addition to park admission.

Keeper For A Day: Go behind-the-scenes and get a crash course in Zoo Keeping 101! This program gives you the opportunity to experience one of the coolest careers in the world — be a zookeeper at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Your adventure begins early in the morning by assisting zookeepers feed, train and care for the animals that inhabit the Serengeti Plain; including birds, antelope and giraffes. Cost of the tour is $249.95 each and tax, park admission and lunch are included. An elephant-focused version of Keeper For A Day is also available. During this tour, you’ll spend the day working side-by-side with the keepers who take care of the park’s endangered Asian elephants. The Elephant Trainer For A Day is a 90 minute tour and costs $199.95 per group up to 6 participants.

Busch Gardens Adventure Camps: Busch Gardens’ education department also offers many summer classes, sleepover opportunities, residential programs and adventure camps for kids of all ages, as well as the whole family. For information, call (877)-BGT-CAMP or e-mail education@buschgardens.org.

Up-Close Tours To Rides and Shows
Roller Coaster Insider: Get an insider’s look at how we build and maintain our roller coasters on this 45-minute behind-the-scenes tour. Enjoy a different view of Montu’s almost 4,000 feet of track and unique elements, including its record-breaking seven inversions while on the 80-foot-high braking platform as the coaster zips by at more than 40 miles per hour. Then, get a first-hand feel for how these elements combine for one intense ride with front-of-the-line access and front-row seats on Montu. Plus, enjoy front-of-the-line access to another coaster at Busch Gardens to see how they compare. Cost of the tour is $24.95 per person for ages 14 and older, plus tax and admission.

KaTonga Insider: Get an insider’s look at how Busch Gardens creates the magic of KaTonga. This exclusive tour begins with priority seating at the award-winning show, and then offers the chance to meet cast members and take an exclusive look behind the scenes. Examine the detail of the remarkable costumes. Learn how technicians change scenes and manipulate the backstage to produce this Broadway-caliber show. Tour is Approximately 60 minutes in length including show and behind the scenes. Cost of the tour is $24.95 plus tax per person ages 5 and up, plus tax and admission.

Love it All?
Elite Adventure Tour: This unique, 8-hour private tour begins with you and your private tour guide creating your day’s adventure. Then, you are off to experience it VIP style with front-of-the-line access to most major rides, reserved seating to the world-class Katonga show, lunch at the upper-level Crown Colony Restaurant and a one-of-a-kind experience hand-feeding a giraffe on our Serengeti Safari tour. Cost for both adults and children are $199.99 each plus tax.

Tour components and prices are subject to change without notice. Tours must be canceled a minimum of 48 hours in advance or total payment is forfeited and a tour voucher will be issued. Park admission is required, but not included. For reservations, call (813) 984-4043 or (813) 984-4073, or e-mail Bgt.viptours@buschgardens.com