Busch Gardens Roller Coasters

About the Busch Gardens Parks

The two Busch Gardens theme parks – Busch Gardens Africa in Tampa, Florida and Busch Gardens Europe in Williamsburg, Virginia – are beautiful destinations with plenty of rides and attractions the whole family can enjoy. Not only do the parks have thrilling roller coasters, but they also offer classic amusement rides, world class entertainment, attractive gardens, delicious food, and more. While the parks are similar in terms of hospitality and guest appeal, they each offer unique experiences for visitors.

As classic theme parks, each Busch Gardens park is infused with cultural elements from its namesake continent. Whether it’s African tribal decorative accents or classic European architecture, guests who visit the Busch Gardens parks will be surrounded by well designed buildings, gardens, and attractions suitable to the park’s theme. In fact, even the roller coasters follow the parks’ respective themes.

Inside the Busch Gardens Roller Coasters

While some amusement parks seek to attract guests simply by building new rides, the Busch Gardens parks take the extra step to thoroughly integrate each coaster into the park’s landscaping, décor, and theme. Those extra touches make these amazing thrill rides even more exciting.

Busch Gardens Africa

The Busch Gardens theme park Tampa location is home to six widely varied roller coasters.

Cheetah Chase

• Cheetah Chase: This speedy wild mouse design was relocated from Busch Gardens Europe and opened in Florida in 2004. While the coaster only travels 28 miles per hour, the sharp turns and unexpected drops have the speed of a cheetah’s quick reflexes.
• Gwazi: This dual coaster has both Lion and Tiger sides and is the incarnation of an African legend about a mythical creature that was made up of both great cats. Six near misses are strategically positioned throughout the twisting wooden track as the two coasters duel for dominance.
• Kumba: This seven inversion steel looping coaster hugs the jungle terrain in the park’s Congo section. Reaching speeds up to 60 miles per hour, guests are whipped through sharp turns, loops, and dives as the coaster lives up to its name, which means “roar” in the African Congo language.
• Montu: Named after an Egyptian god, this inverted coaster takes riders on a vicious flight through seven inversions, including the unique batwing dual inversion element. At speeds up to 60 miles per hour, guests will fly around the ride’s tomb theming and graceful curves.
• Scorpion: The park’s oldest coaster, this small but powerful ride opened in 1980 (the previous oldest ride, Python, was closed in 2006). The initial dive and single loop surprises riders with powerful forces more than three times the force of gravity, just as shocking as a scorpion’s sting.
• SheiKra: This floorless diving coaster is the park’s most unique ride but lives up to its connection to an African diving hawk while plummeting riders straight down at 70 miles per hour.

Busch Gardens Europe

In Virginia, Busch Gardens Europe offers guests five unique coasters to try.

Big Bad Wolf

• Alpengeist: This massive inverted coaster first takes guests nearly 200 feet above the ground before soaring through six inversions while exploring the mythology of a rampaging beast that terrorizes a remote hamlet. Appropriately enough, “alpengeist” means “ghost of the Alps” in German.
• Apollo’s Chariot: Europe is home to much ancient mythology, and this steel coaster brings the flight of Apollo’s golden chariot to life through fast-paced hills, dips, and drops at speeds greater than 70 miles per hour.
• Big Bad Wolf: Riders don’t need to be afraid of this mythical beast, though the startling drop and quick turns of this suspended coaster can be frightening in a fun way. The dual lift design gives riders a quick respite before plunging into the fantastic finale.
• Griffon: One of the park’s newest rides, this soaring coaster is over 200 feet tall and plunges riders straight down. As a floorless coaster, Griffon treats riders to an unrestricted open air experience as it flies through two inversions at top speeds of 71 miles per hour.
• Loch Ness Monster: Named after one of the oldest legends of Europe, this coaster is also the oldest at Busch Gardens Europe. The two picturesque interlocking loops are a classic and immediately recognizable ride element that riders challenge at 60 miles per hour.

Riding Tips

With so many fabulous Busch Gardens roller coasters to choose from, guests may have a hard time fitting each ride into their busy day at the park. Riding tips to maximize the fun include:

• Ride the newest, most popular coasters very early or very late in the day while the lines are shortest.
• Leave all loose articles behind with a non-rider or in a locker to avoid losing or damaging items.
• Practice appropriate roller coaster safety tips to ensure a safe, fun ride.
• Do not be discouraged if coasters close briefly due to maintenance or poor weather; most rides will reopen as soon as safely possible.

Contact Information

For more information about the Busch Gardens roller coasters or the other fun attractions at the Busch theme parks, prospective guests can visit the official website at BuschGardens.com, or contact each park directly.

Busch Gardens Africa
P.O. Box 9158
Tampa, FL 33674
Tel. 1-888-800-5447

Busch Gardens Europe
1 Busch Gardens Blvd.
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8785
Tel. 1-800-343-7946