Attracting over 4 million visitors per year makes Busch Gardens Africa one of the the most visited tourist attraction in the world.
Busch Gardens Africa originally opened in 1959 as an extension to the Anheuser-Busch brewery which occupied the site, allowing visitors to view the animals on show and enjoy a beer! When the brewery closed down it was decided that they would keep the site and focus on attracting visitors for both the wildlife and new amusement rides. Now, although Busch Gardens Africa is still recognised for its animal enclosures and marine shows, the feature attraction is the rides.
There are 21 rides at Busch Gardens Africa, of which five are roller coasters and three are water rides. These include the huge wooden dual roller coaster called Gwazi, the thrilling Kumba which takes riders through 360 degrees, and Montu, one of the tallest and longest roller coasters in the world. The water rides include the Congo River Rapids, the log flume Stanley Falls and the Tanganyika Tidal Wave which soaks both passengers and the people watching!
Busch Gardens Africa animal attractions are dotted throughout the 335 acre park and can be experienced in several ways. The Serengeti Railway takes visitors on a train journey through the Serengeti Plain and also makes a couple of other stops too. The Skyride takes visitors on a ride across the park but up high, giving the chance to see many of the park's attractions from above.
Animals at Busch Gardens Africa include giraffes, hippos, vultures, meerkats, hyenas, gorillas, chimpanzees and nearly 500 tropical birds, and the shows are popular with visitors too. These include Pirates 4D, the Mystic Sheiks of Morocco and KaTonga, a live stage musical.
Busch Gardens Africa is located just outside the city of Tampa in Florida and is within easy reach from Orlando for visitors who prefer to stay there. If travelling to Tampa directly there is an international airport which serves the city.
