You’ve got to roller with it
Grab the Tigris by the tail in Florida’s Busch Gardens – before meeting all manner of mammals and marine life
ONCE afraid of roller coasters, it’s hard to believe I would ride the tallest launch coaster America has to offer.
Strapped in to the adrenalinepumping, 150-foot high Tigris at Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay, Florida, my old fears didn’t have time to resurface as the nimbly designed coaster reaches a flying 60mph.
The Tigris is like all classic roller coasters; it looks fun from far away and terrifying close up.
But those brave enough to climb aboard will be in for the ride of their life.
In under 60 seconds, the coaster pulls riders back at high speed then catapults screaming thrill-seekers into an inverted heartline roll with a few extra spins and dips thrown in for good measure.
Long over my fear of coasters, I have to admit the roar echoing from the sound system as the ride sets off is enough to strike fear into the heart of most seasoned riders.
Sweaty palms and shaky legs subsided, I chatted with rollercoaster expert and Tigris project manager Andrew Schaffer, whose team constructed the 1800 feet of steel track ride in under two years.
He explained the hopes his team had to thrill park guests.
“We wanted to make this ride bigger, better, faster,” Andrew said. “Our goal was to hit all the elements people want.”
Consider that goal smashed, Andrew.
Nestled among the exhilarating rides at Busch Gardens is a 65-acre Serengeti Plain, home to African mammals, including giraffes which guests can feed by hand.
It feels a bit out of place in this first-class theme park.
And apparently the animals not bred in captivity feel the same. Our tour guide explained how new residents to the plain are played a CD of theme-park noises to get them ready to live next door to the clanking coaster sounds and the screams that come with their new pad. Taking a break from hair-raising rides, our group ventured to Discovery Cove in a bid to lower our blood pressure.
The man-made paradise carved out in the Sunshine State is teeming with exotic animals and offers a taste of luxury with private cabanas, white sand beaches and a lazy “wind-away” river.
Best of all, the park only allows a maximum of 1300 people per day, allowing everyone space to breathe and a ticket comes with all-inclusive dining for the day.
Discovery Cove is best known for its one-to-one dolphin interactions – which I didn’t take part in – but the latest underwater walking tour is by far it’s most fascinating feature. Sea Venture gave me an empathetic insight in to how one of Sea World’s prized animals may feel; being touched by an unfamiliar creature.
After donning a fetching wetsuit and diving helmet, I lowered myself down on to the sandy floor of the tank.
Being the first one in the water, I was anxious waiting for the rest of my group to join me while a black shadow darted around my bare feet.
As the tour began, a large fish slapped my leg with its tail. My weightless jump was not dignified.
The tour guides communicated reassuring and educational notes
to the group and proved very helpful at shooing away a large black eel I spied coiled near us.
But overall, Sea Venture was a great way to get out of one’s comfort zone and a genuinely fun experience; particularly when food was squirted in front of my helmet and a frenzied feeding ensued.
For those more inclined to water rides than dives, Aquatica is the place to be.
Kare Kare Curl is the latest thrill ride at the water park. It holds two passengers per raft and is well worth the queue wait times.
Another must-do is the Infinity Falls water ride, a group ride that spins this way and that down white-water rapids. But please, don’t make my mistake and wear white shorts.
For younger families not seeking the plunging drop of a whirling ride, head over to Sea World where the park have teamed up with Elmo and pals at their Sesame Street Party Parade.
The 10-float parade is situated in the colourful heart of a real-life Sesame Street world which all the little ones loved running about in.
A Sea World Parks holiday may not be for everyone. Training animals to perform dances to earn their dinner feels antiquated.
But while roaming the main Sea World park at night, it’s clear the company are making conscious efforts to move away from animal performance and focusing on building the latest thrilling rides for older guests and bringing a nice balance of excitement and entertainment for those with younger kids. Take, for example, their family-friendly Electric Ocean Party, where neon clad dancers get families on the dance floor while sea creature puppeteers dance overhead to the choreographed DJ set.
And before stalking off to bed, the Ignite pyrotechnic show is the perfect way to end the day at the ever-evolving Sea World.
Meanwhile, construction has begun on a new hybrid coaster arriving next year. When it opens, the ride will become North America’s tallest hybrid and the fastest, steepest hybrid coaster in the world. The latest addition at Busch Gardens will be a wood and steel hybrid coaster design, featuring a maximum height of more than 200 feet. The ride will feature all-new thrill elements, as well as restored elements of Gwazi, a wooden roller coaster which operated in the park from 1999 to 2015.