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Busch Gardens Tampa

Tampa, Florida

Last edited by Robert Niles
Location: Busch Gardens Tampa is located in Tampa, Florida. You can obtain driving directions by clicking the park's link on Theme Park Insider's Google map of U.S. theme parks.

History: Busch Gardens Tampa opened in 1959 as an animal exhibit and gardens adjacent to Anheuser Busch's Tampa Brewery. It was later developed into a full theme park called Busch Gardens: The Dark Continent. The Park is comprised of eight themed areas including Morocco, Bird Gardens, Stanleyville, Congo, Jungala, Timbuktu, Nairobi, and Egypt. It is meticulously well-maintained and features several major roller coasters, the requisite water rides, plenty of kid-sized attractions, some midway amusements, high quality live shows, expansive animal exhibits, themed shops, and above average theme park dining.

Busch Gardens Tampa is currently operated by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, a division of The Blackstone Group.

Hours: http://www.buschgardens.com. Busch Gardens is open 365 days a year.

Tickets: Buy online. Always try to buy your tickets in advance, to save time when you get to the park.

Reservations: Busch Gardens offers a variety of guided tours for both animal exhibits and rides. You can book these tours online.

Strategy: If you want to see animals, they tend to be more active in the morning. If you're there for rides, the lines for the major coasters and water rides get longer as the day goes on (except at around an hour before park closing, then the lines are mostly nonexistent everywhere). If you want to see it all, check the show schedules online before you arrive (www.buschgardens.com), arrive early and start at the back of the park, working your way to the front.

Coming In 2011: Busch Gardens will debut a new show, Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy, as well as a new roller coaster-with-an-animal-exhibit, Cheetaka.

Theme Park Insider Discussion Board: Reader trip reports, reviews, questions and discussions about Busch Gardens Tampa

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Attractions

(Rating)(Height)
Cheetaka
Bird Gardens(Rating)(Height)
Bird Gardens Theater8
Sesame Street Safari of Fun8
Lory Landing8
Aviary7
Walkabout Way7
Congo(Rating)(Height)
Kumba954
Congo River Rapids842
Ubanga-Banga642
Egypt(Rating)(Height)
Montu954
Edge of Africa8
Skyride8
King Tut's Tomb6
Jungala(Rating)(Height)
Tree Top Trails7
Jungle Flyers748
Wild Surge638
Morocco(Rating)(Height)
Gwazi748
Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy
Nairobi(Rating)(Height)
Myombe Reserve8
Animal Nursery8
Serengeti Express Railway7
Rhino Rally739
Stanleyville(Rating)(Height)
SheiKra954
Tanganyika Tidal Wave848
Stanley Falls746
Timbuktu(Rating)(Height)
Phoenix848
The Sandstorm842
Scorpion742
Cheetah Chase746
Carousel Caravan6
Pirates 4-D5

[Add a missing attraction]

Dining

Egypt(Rating)
Crown Colony Restaurant9
Crown Colony Pizza7
Jungala(Rating)
Bengal Bistro8
Orang Cafe8
Morocco(Rating)
Ice Cream Parlor9
Sultans Sweets8
Zagora Cafe6
Nairobi(Rating)
Kenya Kanteen10
Stanleyville(Rating)
Stanleyville Smokehouse9
Timbuktu(Rating)
Desert Grill Restaurant8
Oasis5

[Add a missing restaurant]

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