Theme park · Tampa
Busch Gardens Tampa: coasters and a genuine Serengeti
An African-themed park combining major coasters with a large animal collection.
- The activity
- A 335-acre African-themed park north-east of downtown Tampa that combines one of the largest zoos in North America, more than 12,000 animals across some 250 species, with a roller coaster line-up among the strongest in the United States.
- Location
- Tampa, off Busch Boulevard east of I-275. Roughly an hour and a half west of Orlando and forty minutes from the Gulf beaches.
- Duration
- Opens daily at 10am, with closing times that vary by season and event calendar.
- Best time to arrive
- At the 10am opening. The coasters carry their shortest queues in the first hour, and the animal areas are most active before the heat.
- Admission cost
- Single-day admission covers all rides, shows and animal habitats, with upgrades available for Adventure Island, SeaWorld Orlando and Aquatica, and multi-day or all-day dining options on select tickets. All-day parking is charged separately. The park is cashless throughout, so bring a card rather than notes. Rated across more than 1,600 reviews.
- The rides
- One of the strongest coaster line-ups in the country: Iron Gwazi, Cheetah Hunt, Montu, SheiKra, Falcon's Fury and the family inverted coaster Phoenix Rising.
- The animals
- A large mixed-species Serengeti plain crossed by the park train, plus gorilla, tiger and cheetah habitats. Wild Oasis opened in 2025 and Lion & Hyena Ridge in spring 2026.
What to expect
The coasters are why most adults come. Iron Gwazi, SheiKra, Montu, Kumba and Cheetah Hunt give the park one of the strongest line-ups in the United States, and the queues are shortest in the first hour after opening.
The Serengeti Plain is the other half of the park and is a genuine zoological collection rather than a themed backdrop: giraffe, zebra, rhino and antelope across sixty-five acres, viewed from the train, the Skyride or a paid truck safari.
The animal habitats hold more than twelve thousand animals in total, including gorillas, chimpanzees, elephants, tigers and lions. Feeding and keeper talks run to a schedule worth checking on arrival.
Pantopia and Sesame Street Safari of Fun cover the family rides and the younger children's area, which is what makes the park work for mixed groups rather than thrill-seekers alone.
Adventure Island is the separate water park next door, ticketed on its own or in a combination pass.
The honest takeaway
Well liked by coaster enthusiasts and families alike; criticism focuses on pricing extras and summer heat.
What visitors praise
- Outstanding coaster collection. Repeatedly rated among the best in the country.
- Serious animal exhibits. The Serengeti plain and the great ape habitats are large and well maintained.
- Shorter queues than Orlando. The same money buys more rides here.
- Good value online. Advance tickets undercut the gate by $20 to $30, and a Fun Card gives a year of visits for close to the price of two days.
What visitors find difficult
- Very exposed. Shade is limited and Tampa summers are severe.
- Extras add up. Parking at $25 to $32, Quick Queue from about $40, lockers and food push the real cost well above the ticket.
- Ride closures. Reviewers regularly note one or two major attractions down for maintenance.
- Long from the coast. As a day trip from Orlando it means three hours of driving.
Drawn from the recurring themes in public visitor reviews of the activity and the tours that reach it. We do not reproduce individual reviews or aggregate scores; for current ratings, check Viator or another booking platform directly.
Getting there
The park is off Busch Boulevard in Tampa, just east of I-275, with paid parking on site. From Orlando allow around ninety minutes each way by car; shuttle services run from International Drive.
Arrive at opening and start at the back of the park, which is the standard tactic for the busiest coasters.
How to make the most of the day
- 1Buy online before you travel. The gate is $20 to $30 more, and the Fun Card is worth pricing if you might return.
- 2Ride the biggest coasters first. Waits at the front-of-park attractions build fastest.
- 3Take the train across the Serengeti at midday. It is shaded, seated and a natural break.
- 4Bring a change of shirt. Several rides get you thoroughly wet.
- 5Visit on a Tuesday or Wednesday. Midweek is consistently the quietest, and check for ride closures before you commit to a date.
- 6Rent a locker. Loose articles are not allowed on the coasters and an all-day locker runs about $15.
- 7Look at the Tampa Bay CityPASS if you are staying a few days. It bundles Busch Gardens with the Florida Aquarium and ZooTampa and is valid nine consecutive days.
A little more background
The park opened in 1959 as a garden and hospitality area attached to an Anheuser-Busch brewery, and the animal collection predates the rides by decades. That history explains the unusual balance of the park today, where the zoological side is a core operation rather than a decorative theme. It now draws well over four million visitors a year.
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