As the owner of Busch Gardens... I intend on advertising to you why this theme park is a must visit during your stay in the Tampa region or beyond. Whether an addition to your holiday, or the centre piece, Busch Gardens will not disappoint.

Catering for both genders, animal-lovers, adrenalin junkies, show-goers, and all ages alike, Busch Gardens is an ideal day out for any family with a diverse range of characters. Animal-lovers can simply wander around the park taking in the sights of Africa, with animals ranging from white tigers and zebra, to camels and shire horses. With the park tailored to suit a zoological format, paths take appropriate routes through and amidst the animals to optimise viewing angles and heighten the sense of immersion.

For more information regarding the animal offerings, click the following link:

- http://www.buschgardens.com/Bgt/Explore/Animals.aspx
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NOTABLE RIDES:

For the adrenalin junkies amongst you, the ride offerings at Busch Gardens eclipses any other parks in Florida. In total there are 5 main roller coaster rides within the park.

- Scorpion: Scorpion is the perfect beginners roller coaster reaching speeds of 50mph and encountering one inversion. A perfecting stepping stone for some of the other, bigger coasters.

- Gwazi: Gwazi is a double wooden roller coaster, a title that put it alongside a select few on the planet. With a record-breaking 6 fly-bys, and passing speeds of over 100mph, Gwazi is great for any coaster enthusiasts.

- Kumba: With seven inversions, Kumba is a sizable step up from voth Gwazi and Scorpion, but still only the third best at the park. With interlocking corkscrews and reaching speeds of just short of 100kph (97kph) it is still a ride to be ridden.

- Montu: Montu consistently rates as one of the top steel roller coasters in the world since its introduction in 1996, offering 7 inversions including a unique Batwing inversion. Hitting speeds of 63mph and a G-Force of 3.85 Montu is a coaster that can compete with the best.

- SheiKra: The best roller coaster at Busch Gardens, SheiKra not only provides riders with a vertical drop, it doubles it. 2 vertical drops with one plummeting from the 200ft incline allow this ride to reach speeds of 70mph, and hit 5 Gs. Floorless since 2007, it was the first dive machine roller coaster in North America and is the second tallest coaster in the entire Southeast.


Other notable mentions include:

- The Congo River Rapids
- Tanganyika Tidal Wave
- Rhino Rally

For more rides and further information on those noted please visit the following link:

- http://www.buschgardens.com/Bgt/Explore/Rides.aspx?id=597

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DIFFERENT THEMES:

The park itself is separated into 9 different areas, each with their own distinct themes and venues. The areas are labelled as follows:

- Congo: Home of Kumba, Congo River Rapids, and Ubanga Banga Bumper Cars, the Congo is designed like its namesake as a wet, and tropical paradise.

- Morocco: Presented like you in the heart of the Northern African country, amongst Morocco's colourful and vibrant displays lies Gwazi and the Gwazi Gliders.

- Bird Gardens: One of the original areas of the the park that opened in 1959, this area is predominantly gardens and animal exhibits/shows.

- Stanleyville: This section is home to the park's water rides and was renovated in 2005. The rides within the area include SheiKra, the Stanley Falls Flume, and Tanganyika Tidal Wave.

- Jungala: The newest addition to the park, Jungala provides visitors with unique, up-close animal encounters, rope bridges and a water park for children. Jungle Fliers and The Wild Surge can also be found here.

- Timbuktu: This area is theme after the malls and bazaars of Africa and is home to several rides. The Scorpion, Cheetah Chase, Pheonix, Sandstorm, and the Sesame Street Film Festival 4-D are located here.

- Nairobi: Home to only one ride, Nairobi offers great views of a range of animals, including crocodiles, and rhinos. The Rhino Rally ride is a must and provides another, unique, first-hand look at some of Africa's most wondrous wildlife.

- Crown Colony: Crown Colony houses a dining and drinking venue, aptly named the Crown Colony House which is located opposite the Skyride terminal. Since 2009 a Busch Gardens museum has been founded intending to celebrate 50 year since the parks opening. The museum will be open for the rest of 2010.

- Egypt: An Egyptian marketplace has been recreated out using sandstone, Bedouin tents and authentic handicrafts. A fantastic area that immerses you into Egypt by offering a replica of Tutankhamen's tomb as well as the Montu roller coaster.

- The Serengeti Plain: Opened in 1965, the Serengeti Plain was the first of its kind, allowing animals the freedom to roam within the environment. It is home to the Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, bongo, addax, addra gazelle, eland, impala, ostrich, marabou stork, East African crowned crane and sacred ibis.

For a more detailed look at these different areas and their attractions visit the following link:

- http://www.buschgardens.com/Bgt/Explore/ParkMap.aspx

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PRICES:

Prices for admission at the park can be found via the Busch Gardens website or can be bought at the door. It is recommended that you purchase online before hand where you can make fairly substantial savings on a larger party.

- Adult:
---------------------------------------| $74.95 (Entrance)
---------------------------------------| $64.95 (Online)

- Child:
---------------------------------------| $64.95 (Entrance)
---------------------------------------| $64.95 (Online)

Alternatively if you are interested in visiting any of the other theme parks within the SeaWorld Parks & Entertainmment group, which include !SeaWorld (!Orlando), !Aquatica (!Orlando), !DiscoveryIsland (!Orlando), or !AdventureIsland (!Tampa), you can find party tickets that present access to all.

If you are interested in booking online, or enquiring about the party tickets, the official ticket website can be found below:

- http://www.buschgardens.com/Bgt/Purchase/Visitors.aspx

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OPENING HOURS:

Opening hours are seasonal, yet the can range from 9am through 9pm during the Summer. Commonly the seasonal variations coincide with daylight with certain exceptions in and around Christmas and New Year.

Further information regarding opening and closing times can be found on the Busch Gardens official website.

- http://www.buschgardens.com/Bgt/Plan/Calendar.aspx

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The Busch Gardens official website can be found below along with other information regarding the partner attractions:

- http://www.buschgardens.com/Bgt/
- http://adventureisland.com/Ai/default.aspx
- http://www.seaworld.com/orlando/
- http://www.aquaticabyseaworld.com/
- http://www.discoverycove.com/

THIS WEBSITE IS INTENDED AS A SOCIAL FORUM FOR BUSCH GARDENS