Busch Gardens Tampa - Perfect Family Getaway

The mix of amusement park and zoo is a popular attraction for adults and children alike. One of the most popular venues of this type is Busch Gardens Tampa in Florida, which opened in 1959.  It specializes in African animals and themes with almost 3,000 animals on display. They include hippos, giraffes, lions, hyenas, zebra and black rhinos. There are also alligators, crocodiles, gorillas, chimpanzees and ostriches. A baby hippo is a recent addition. There is also a Bird Garden with swans, pink flamingos, parrots and birds of prey. It's one of the largest zoological collections in the country.

In addition to the exotic animals, there are restaurants, shops and some thrilling rides. There are seven roller coasters in Busch Gardens Tampa and three water rides. The three major coasters are not for the faint hearted. These are the Montu, the Kumba and the SheiKra. The Montu is an inverted roller coaster, sited in the Egypt sector. The ride lasts for three minutes, reaches 60 mph and finishes with a stomach churning corkscrew. The Kumba, in the Congo area, is a coaster with interlocking corkscrews. It too reaches 60 mph, lasts for about 2.5 minutes and has multi inversions. The SheiKra opened in 2005 and was the first vertical drop coaster in the US. It can be found in the Stanleyville area of the park, lasts for 3 minutes, goes over a water pool and has a terrifying 200 foot drop.

For a more sedate experience, there is live entertainment, including the KaTonga show. This is a musical extravaganza featuring puppets and African dance. The shows are a good way to entertain the young kids who are too small for the roller coasters. Busch Gardens Tampa is now known as Busch Gardens Africa, in keeping with the African theme. Similarly, the equivalent park in Williamsburg, Virginia has changed its name to Busch Gardens Europe. There is a collection of animals from Europe there. Previous Busch Gardens, now closed, were in Pasadena and Van Nuys in California and Houston, Texas.

There is also a play area for the children with a tree house, waterfall and rides. The whole family will enjoy exploring the tropical grounds. A fun passenger train and a cable car system connect visitors to different parts of the park. It's a great day out for everyone, no matter what age they are. Busch Gardens Tampa has inspired similar parks across the world and will continue set a high standard.