25.02.09 – Busch Gardens, Tampa
This year we decided to pay Busch Gardens a visit. Busch Gardens is an interesting amusement park – it features wild animals and really wild roller coasters.
The drive from Orlando to Tampa is about one hour. When we arrived at the park there was already a lot going on.
Busch Gardens has an impressive vegetation and awesome flowers (above are some pictures of beautiful orchids).
Our first stop was at the alligator area.
Then we went on to observe chimpanzees and gorillas. The animals have wonderful enclosures. The picture above on the left shows a Gorilla mother with her baby snuggled on her lap.
On our way to Egypt Gabi could ride her first roller coaster. Unfortunately the boys did not meet the height requirements quite yet.
While Gabi enjoyed herself rotating and twisting we visited a pyramid.
On our way to the “Edge of Africa” the boys and Barbra Bear tried out a safari jeep. We saw a lazy lion and and a fast and elegant moving hippo (under water).
Then we went on the Sky ride. It allows you to view a lot of the park from the air.
Max was so excited he held his arms up during most of the ride.
After that we visited the new tiger enclosure. Well, at that point we also would have liked to lie down and nap a bit in the warm sun.
When we looked at flyers from Busch Gardens the boys noticed that they had a new area called “Jungula” which features something like a glider flight.
There was no holding them any longer when they found the signs leading to “Jungula”. After they were fitted into their gliders they roared through the air. When they came back the lady who helped them asked how they liked it and Max said: “It was totally awesome!”.
The boys enjoyed themselves a bit more climbing high in the sky through tunnels.
Then we encountered some imaginary, wonderful animals and listed to a band performing.
Further we encountered many birds and even discovered a few hatching dragons.
Then the boys drove a bit with Barbra Bear and Max enjoyed a dragon ride.
Busch Gardens is an impressive wonderful park. We watched a nice animal show and went on to the Rhino Rally.
The Rhino Rally combines a jeep safari and a boat ride.
Then we caught the last “Serengeti Train”. It was a wonderful day that everyone fully enjoyed.
On the way out, we went another time on the Gwazi wooden roller coaster. The boys enjoyed another great ride, however we were still shaking from the bumpy ride on our way out.