Wild New Ride Coming To Busch Gardens; Tallest, Fastest Of Its Kind

TAMPA, FL — Just weeks after its new roller coaster, Iron Gwazi, was named the Best New Roller Coaster of 2022, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay plans on topping itself with the introduction of another first-of-its-kind thrill ride this spring.

The Tampa theme park unveiled plans this week for the Serengeti Flyer, a pendulum ride billed as the tallest, fastest ride of its kind.

Currently under construction, the ride will feature twin dueling arms that soar progressively higher, reaching speeds of 68 mph and a height of 135 feet.

With each swing, riders will soar higher above Busch Gardens' 65-acre Serengeti Plain while experiencing multiple negative-G moments before plunging back toward Earth.

Thrill seekers will be seated back to back in rows of 10 across two gondolas, allowing for 40 guests to experience the ride at once.

“Serengeti Flyer’s thrilling ride experience is bound to provide riders with a pulse-pounding encounter that can only be found at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay,” said Neal Thurman, park president of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. “We believe that Serengeti Flyer will be the perfect high-thrill addition to our world-class portfolio of attractions.”

That portfolio includes 10 thrill rides including the newly honored Iron Gwazi, which received the coveted Golden Ticket Award from Amusement Today for best new coaster in September. Busch Gardens has more thrill rides than any other theme park in Florida.

Started in 1998, the Golden Ticket Awards were established by Amusement Today to shine a spotlight on the amusement park industry and attractions by recognizing the best of the best. Today, it's one of the most sought-after awards among theme parks, amusement parks, family entertainment centers and water parks around the world.

Winners in 23 categories are chosen by vote by Some of the world’s most experienced park aficionados, industry journalists and ride suppliers.

The first roller coaster of its type in North America. the hybrid Iron Gwazi at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay was a shoo-in for 2022 Best New Roller Coaster, said Tim Baldwin, Golden Ticket Awards communications coordinator.

Opened in February, Iron Gwazi is North America's tallest roller coaster and the world's fastest and steepest hybrid coaster, plunging riders from a 206-foot-tall peak into a 91-degree drop and reaching top speeds of 76 miles per hour. Riders experience a dozen airtime moments, including three inversions, while riding the coaster.

Originally scheduled to open in the spring of 2021, the coaster's opening was delayed a year due to the pandemic.

See related story: Iron Gwazi To Open March 11 But Pass Holders Can Ride Feb. 13

Manufactured by Rocky Mountain Construction, the newest addition at Busch Gardens is a wood and steel hybrid coaster design, combining the innovation of a steel coaster and the nostalgia of a wooden coaster.

In addition to receiving a Golden Ticket Award for Iron Gwazi, Busch Gardens reclaimed its title as the Most Beautiful Park during Amusement Today's 2022 awards.

This year, Busch Gardens also ranked fifth on USA Today's 2022 10Best theme parks, ranked fourth on 10Best's list of Best Halloween Eventsfor its annual Howl-O-Scream.

The Iron Gwazi came in at No. 7 for 10Best's new theme park attractions and No. 9 on the 2022 10Best's roller coasters of 2022.

Busch Gardens' live show," Turn it Up," came in at No. 4 on the 10Best list of best theme park entertainment and No. 6 for Zambia Smokehouse on the list of best theme park restaurants.

In addition to the Iron Gwazi, Busch Gardens gets high reviews for:

Montu, which was ranked seventh on the USA Today 2021 10Best. Montu is considered one of the best examples of an inverted coaster (in which the trains are suspended below the track, and passengers’ legs dangle) in the country. Among its features, the ride navigates into underground trenches for some fly-by moments and offers plenty of inversions.

SheiKra, Busch Gardens' floorless diving coaster, has won high praise from coaster fans as well. In addition to diving 200 feet at a top speed of 70 mph, the coaster dangles passengers over the edge for a terrifying moment and then throws in a second dive.

Cheetah Hunt is a nontraditional, 4,429-foot-long coaster that incorporates three launches and reaches 60 mph while offering a smooth ride for the "family."

Kumba has earned screaming points for its monster 135-foot drop, speeds of 60 mph and a 3.8 G-force.