| We decided to throw the traditional Thanksgiving day | | | | King who is best friends with Pumba the Warthog. |
| traditions out the window and go to Busch Gardens | | | | The park employees then told us that they were |
| in Tampa, Florida. Our plan was to enjoy the day at | | | | heading over to the lion exhibit and we should come |
| the park when it surely would not be crowded and | | | | along if we wanted to watch the feeding. I always |
| then return home to a scaled down Thanksgiving day | | | | enjoy a theme park more when I encounter warm |
| feast. We were a bit surprised to learn that Busch | | | | and friendly employees. The African Lion exhibit was |
| Gardens had raised their admission price to $64.95 | | | | totally impressive. I love wild life and being able to |
| per person. We were pleased that they offered a | | | | walk up to a huge glass wall and stare face to face |
| $10.00 discount off each ticket if they were | | | | with 2 huge lions was exciting. The male lion walked |
| purchased online, which we did. | | | | up to the glass and was examining the small crowd |
| Tickets in hand, we traveled to Tampa via interstate | | | | of visitors as if he was trying to decide which of us |
| I-275 which was unusually void of vehicular traffic. | | | | was to be his morning meal. I had seen lions in zoos |
| The nice thing about Busch Gardens is that it is easy | | | | before but seeing one this close gave me a better |
| to find from all points in Florida. We traveled from the | | | | understanding of why they are called "king of the |
| South so we exited off I-275 at the Fowler exit (exit | | | | jungle" The lion is a big, muscular, and obviously |
| # 51) and then we traveled East on Fowler to the | | | | powerful beast with large fangs and enormous paws. |
| park which is extremely monstrous and it cannot be | | | | I was fully expecting the park employees to throw |
| missed as you drive down Fowler Avenue. There is a | | | | the lions full slabs of steaks but they only dropped in |
| McDonald's and a Dunkin Donuts on Fowler, right | | | | small pieces one at a time. |
| across from the park in case you need to stop for | | | | The rest of the Edge of Africa exhibit consisted of |
| food or coffee before embarking on your adventure. | | | | scenic habitats of hippos, hyenas, vultures, a Nile |
| Another really nice feature of Busch Gardens is their | | | | crocodile. |
| parking lots. The lots are close to the park entrance | | | | Next we boarded the Skyride for a scenic trip over |
| and they have a steady flow of trams to and from | | | | the park to Stanleyville. The Skyride takes you high |
| the main gates. The $9.00 parking fee is a bit | | | | above the Serengeti Plain where you can look down |
| excessive. Why not include free parking with the | | | | upon zebras, water buffalo, and an array of other |
| increased park admission? Some would argue that | | | | African animals. This view gives an impressive view |
| the $9.00 fee enables them to have the employees | | | | of the vast area that is the Serengeti plain. The |
| and trams needed to get the visitors to and from | | | | Skyride dumped us off at Stanleyville which is home |
| the park with little wait time. | | | | to SkeiKra, Stanley Falls Flume, and Tidal Wave. |
| Having bought the tickets online paid off because we | | | | This area is the lair of Busch Gardens most feared |
| entered the main gates quickly by showing our | | | | roller coaster, The SheiKra. Here is how Busch |
| printed tickets and scanning them at the turnstile. I | | | | Gardens describes the ride - The name SheiKra |
| was a little surprised at the large crowd at the front | | | | evokes the power and speed of an African hawk as |
| gates at 10am. I had imagined the park void of all but | | | | it twists and plunges - giving riders a 70 mph, |
| a handful of visitors. We did as most park visitors do, | | | | adrenaline-pumping experience like no other. At 200 |
| we made a dash for the roller coasters. | | | | feet, SheiKra takes the crown as Florida's tallest roller |
| Busch Gardens is renown for it's beautiful animal | | | | coaster. What blows me away about the SheiKra is |
| exhibits and it's out of this world roller coasters. | | | | that the ride takes you 200 feet up and then drops |
| These roller coasters are not for those with queasy | | | | you 90 degrees straight down. |
| stomachs or fear of heights. The Montu, Kumba, | | | | Busch Gardens recently renovated the ride and now |
| & the Shiekra are fast, high, and scream-inducing | | | | the cars that you ride in have no floors so your feet |
| roller coasters like many have never seen before. I | | | | and legs dangle in the air. I took one look at this ride |
| personally do not like roller coasters so I usually do | | | | and knew that it was not for me. The SkeiKra has to |
| not ride them when I go to Busch Gardens. I have | | | | be the most impressive roller coaster that I have |
| ridden the Kumba, Montu, & Gwazi in the past | | | | ever seen. Only 2 members of my party had the |
| and I have to admit that they are exciting and awe | | | | nerve to ride the SheiKra and one of them admitted |
| inspiring. | | | | that he had his eyes closed during the entire ride. |
| We went to Montu first and I gladly waited down | | | | Next we visited the hospitality house where we sat |
| below while my thrill seeking family members waited | | | | by the lagoon and enjoyed 2 free beers. The |
| in a very short line. Here is how Busch Gardens | | | | weather was cool and breezy which made the day |
| describes the Montu - one of the tallest and longest | | | | that much nicer. The wooden roller coaster, Gwazi is |
| inverted roller coasters in the world. Experience the | | | | nearby so we headed there. Here is Busch Gardens |
| thrill of an inverse diving loop and a 60-foot vertical | | | | description of the Gwazi -Gwazi is Busch Gardens |
| loop while you endure speeds of over 60 miles per | | | | Tampa Bay's mammoth double wooden coaster. It is |
| hour and a G-force of 3.85. That makes my stomach | | | | also the Southeast's largest and fastest double |
| queasy just by reading their description of the ride! | | | | wooden roller coaster boasting more than 1.25 million |
| My family rode the Montu and when I encountered | | | | board feet of lumber and over 2 million bolted |
| them afterwards, two of them were not as steady | | | | connections. Named after a fabled lion with a tiger's |
| on their feet as they had been minutes earlier. I | | | | head, Gwazi races riders through almost 7,000 feet |
| always get a kick out of watching people as they | | | | of track and is two distinct coasters intertwined: I |
| exit the roller coasters. | | | | actually rode this roller coaster and it was a lot of |
| Next we walked the short distance to the Edge of | | | | fun. It is a lot faster than it looks and it was a |
| Africa exhibit which gives you an up close view of | | | | rougher ride than I had expected. |
| African animals in enclosures that closely resemble | | | | We were not able to see everything that the park |
| their natural habitat. These are not cages or pens, | | | | has to offer because it is too much to do in 1 day. |
| but rather very large and open air areas for them to | | | | Busch Gardens has something for everyone to enjoy. |
| roam. We were very pleased to find out that arriving | | | | Thrill seekers can spend the day riding some of the |
| at the park early in the morning meant more than | | | | world's best roller coasters and other rides, kids can |
| beating the crowds, it allowed us to see the feeding | | | | enjoy the Land Of The Dragons, animal lovers can |
| of the animals. We arrived and found 2 park | | | | enjoy the many beautiful animals and exhibits, and |
| employees sitting on the ground inside the meerkat | | | | anyone will marvel at the endless array of beautiful |
| exhibit. The 2 meerkats were quite amusing as they | | | | gardens and flowers. We thoroughly enjoyed |
| scurried to and from the park employees who were | | | | ourselves on this Thanksgiving day trip and we will |
| feeding them. For those of you have forgotten, the | | | | return soon. |
| meerkat is the cute animal (Timon) from The Lion | | | | |