Busch Gardens Park Planner
Overview
History
Busch Gardens opened in 1959 as an animal exhibit and gardens connected to Anheuser Busch's Tampa Brewery. It's now a full theme park called Busch Gardens Africa. The park is made up of 8 themed areas: Morocco, Bird Gardens, Stanleyville, Congo, Jungala, Timbuktu, Nairobi and Egypt.
Attractions
Busch Gardens is popular with coaster lovers, and has great examples of all the major coasters: wooden, corkscrew, inversion. Three water rides will cool you down on hot Florida days. The park is also one of the largest zoos in the country with animal exhibits cleverly designed to get you really close.
Get there early!
The animals are most active in the morning, and the ride lines are shortest then too. So whatever your interest is, get there early. The Holiday Inn & Suites free shuttle is the quick, easy way to access the park. Before we drive you over to the park, you can save money on breakfast by dining here at the hotel where kids eat free.
Plan to walk
The animals have lots of room to spread out and enjoy life, which means you should plan on doing a lot of walking. Waits for the Skyride that crosses the park can be long. As you explore the park you’ll see why Busch Gardens is known for its superior gardens and landscaping. If you're planning to hit the water attractions, crocs are a good plan for kids' shoes.
Food & Fun
Food options are above average for a theme park, with the Crown Colony a standout for lunch (the incredible view and air conditioning help too!) Shows and special events keep things lively for all guests. Land of the Dragons and the Jungala expansion add lots of fun attractions for young guests.
