Photo Diary: Busch Gardens Tampa

I always like walking around Busch Gardens. Not only is the landscaping lovely, but there is always a variety of animals to see, some of which the Zoo Tampa doesn’t have.

They are in the midst of a big remodeling, with the “African Plains” area being expanded and some new rides being added.

Some photos from a visit. It was cloudy and windy and drizzly so many of the rides weren’t running—which doesn’t bother me because (being old and wrinkly and creaky) I go for the critters, not for the rides. (I do like the choo-choo train though—which wasn’t running.)

Lovely landscaping

Iron Gwazi roller coaster. Originally done in wood, it had begun to rot in the Florida humidity and was recently remade in iron rail.

This portion of the African Plains just re-opened. There used to be a colony of Shoveler Ducks who spent every winter here, but it looks like when they showed up this year there were lots of humans stomping around and tearing things up, so they seem to have relocated someplace else.

A couple of Giraffes out on the newly re-done African Plains, with some gazelles in the background

The local Cattle Egrets like it too

Zebra

The Meerkats have been moved to a much larger enclosure specially-built for them --they used to be in the old African Porcupine enclosure

Egyptian Goose. This flock is supposed to be here—there are also some feral flocks scattered around Florida, mostly down south towards Miami.

One of two Cheetahs

Kangaroos

Flamingo pond. You can see some ubiquitous local White Ibis in the background.

Some of the local Mallards have made themselves at home