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See the animals at night on Busch Gardens Tampa's Serengeti Night Safari

By Robert Niles
Published: October 19, 2010 at 1:23 PM
Busch Gardens Tampa is taking reservations for its Serengeti Night Safari, an after-hours tour that includes food, drinks and opportunities to get up-close with some of the park's animals.

The event, which does not require a park admission, begins after sunset with appetizers and "adult" drinks at the park's Safari Club. Then it's out to the Serengeti Plain for a two-hour walking tour to see the giraffes, rhinos, zebras and other African animals. (The park uses special red lighting and night-vision monoculars to enhance night-time viewing.)


Photo courtesy Busch Gardens

Visitors also will have the chance to meet some of the park's animal ambassadors before wrapping up the evening back at the Safari Club with coffee and desserts.

The Serengeti Night Safari is offered Nov. 5, 13, 20 and 27 and Dec. 4, 11 and 18. You must be 21 or older to participate, given the available alcohol. Cost is $60 per person, and can be booked online or by calling 1-888-800-5447.

If you go, we'd love to read a trip report.

Readers' Opinions

From Raul Araoz on October 19, 2010 at 6:01 PM
Sounds terrific... and at a reasonable price point at that. Especially compared to the ridiculous cost of the new Wild Africa Trek that Disney is offering at the Animal Kingdom. Prices there start at $129 and it doesn't include price of admission? You must be joking. Oh, there's more? You mean I can't bring recording devices either? Haha! That's funny! So how will I document my adventure? Oh, I see. Photopass workers will be there to gouge more money from me. Thanks WDW management. This is definitely much better than that Night Kingdom niche park you originally had planned.
From David Sutter on October 19, 2010 at 7:04 PM
Amen. Couldnt agree more. But Busch has done this before. And I never understood Disneys need to copy anothers park success. And just a note just because its got the Disney name doesnt always make it the best. I could sight examples but. Every reader here knows what Im taking about.
From Daniel Etcheberry on October 20, 2010 at 8:52 AM
At Lowry Park Zoo one can also get very close to the giraffe for free! where you feed them.
From 153.9.81.135 on October 20, 2010 at 12:07 PM
I've never gone on the night safari, but I did the Serengeti Safari tour two weeks ago and loved it. They were running an unadvertised special because not many people had signed up that day, so it was only $42 for me and my wife to do it. (With our Platinum passholder discount; normally it's $34 per person.)

Personally, I would enjoy the night one, but I like the day one more because you really get some wonderful photos to remember it by.

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