Just an hours drive from Orlando, heading out toward Tampa, you will find Bush Gardens. A fantastic zoo and theme park rolled into one. There are five big roller coasters and three water rides to wet your appetite, along with plenty of family shows and a huge zoo, with over 2700 animals.
Sheika is Bush Gardens newest roller coaster and features a terrifying 200 foot vertical drop. Sheikas unique tiered seating system means every row feels like you are sitting in the front. After reaching a top speed of 70 mph there is yet another smaller vertical drop. This is a fabulous new ride with the only draw backs being it is very popular, so expect to queue as there are no fast passes here, and the ride itself only lasts for forty seconds.
Montu is the longest roller coaster in Bush Gardens covering nearly 4000 feet of track. It has seven inversions at speeds exceeding 60 mph, with a G force of 3.85, and a ride time of just under three minutes. Definitely worth the wait. This is the best coaster in the park and definitely one of the best in Florida. Height restriction is 4ft 6inches.
Kumba is another terrifying roller coaster, reaching speeds of 60 mph, with a diving loop which plunges riders 110 ft, and a huge 108ft vertical loop. Height restriction is the same as for Montu.
There are also two small roller coasters, Scorpion and Python , for those guests not quite brave enough or tall enough for the big three.
Scorpion features a 62ft drop and speeds of 50mph and lasts just 2 minutes. Height restriction 3ft 6 inches. Python is very similar in speed and loops but lasts just 70 seconds. Height restriction here is 4ft.
As well as all these fantastic roller coasters Bush Gardens is also a huge open zoo which has over 2700 animals. It boasts more than 320 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and spiders. For a small additional charge you can take a behind the scenes tour and get up close and personal with many of the animals. Or you could take the free Rhino Rally tour, which is an 8 minute off road jeep safari come raft adventure. You will encounter elephants, rhinos, crocodiles and antelope on this whirlwind adventure. But you need to get here early to beat the queues. Height restriction is 3ft.
All in all an excellent park with plenty to do for all ages. Highly recommended.
Bush Gardens
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