Busch Gardens Tampa is a short road trip from the Magic Kingdom. It’s a classic theme park rich with history, animals and world-class roller coasters! But it’s the animal-related activities that really impress me. From feedings to animal health checkups, there’s something for everyone in the family at this often overlooked gem.
I’ve compiled a list of the Top Five (and Awesome) Animal Encounters that you can do on your next Busch Gardens vacation.
5: Take a Penguin Selfie!
At Penguin Point, you run into a group of wildly social African Penguins.
Spend a few minutes interacting with the penguins as they swim past. But make sure to get your camera ready to take the ultimate selfie with these popular and well dressed birds!
The penguins are very patient and playful. They love having their photos taken with park guests…or so they’ve told me.
4: Feeding the Flamingos
At the Animal Connections area, you can spend a few relaxing moments checking out some of the newborn animals, birds and reptiles. But you can also get up-close-and-personal with a flock of flamingos!
If you time your visit right (usually before 5:00 P.M.), you can help one of the animal care hosts feed the flamingos.
It’s a lot of fun and you can make a connection with one of the curious flamingos. It’s also enjoyable to watch the flamingos jockey for the best nesting spots in the pen. They are quite noisy!
3: Cheetah Run!
Busch Gardens might be more well-known for the exciting Cheetah Hunt roller coaster, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore the Cheetah Run exhibit. Make sure to check for the activity times, since they only do it a few times each day.
It’s really hard to get good shots of the cheetahs as they chase the target. Seeing how fast cheetahs sprint is exhilarating and a great way to get pumped for Cheetah Hunt!
2: Touching a Kangaroo!
At Kangaloom, an Interactive Kangaroo Experience, you can walk through an enclosure with kangaroos, wallabies and wallaroos lounging about. You can choose to feed the animals, but it’s not required to enjoy the walk-about.
Once you enter the exhibit, the kangaroos are on the right. Most of the time, you can find one or two lounging near the fence.
During a recent visit, I did choose to feed the kangaroos and it was incredible to get so close to them. If you do choose to feed the animals, don’t forget to ask about an annual pass holder discount!
Look, mom…I touched a kangaroo!
Yes, this was a highlight of one of my many trips to Busch Gardens Tampa!
1: Busch Gardens Tampa Animal Care Center
If you’re not rushing to ride Tigris or Cheetah Hunt first thing, then you need to head to the Animal Care Center in the morning to check and see if there are any scheduled procedures. Most routine care exams are done first thing in the morning and will be listed.
It might be a bit much for some, but I find this medical center absolutely fascinating. There are emergency sessions that can happen any time and the staff will place a sign in the walkway to alert guests.
There is a large surgical suite and exam room inside the building, as well as a classroom for education and different hands-on experiences.
The animal care experts at Busch Gardens are often called in to take care of injured animals in the area or in Central Florida, in addition to the animals under their care.
During the procedures, the veterinarian or assistant will often explain what’s being done. If there is time after, the vet will answer questions.
The Animal Care Center lets you get up close and see how Busch Gardens cares for their animals. It’s a truly unique experience!
Check out my video featuring the animal experiences you can do at Busch Gardens Tampa
There are so many more animal encounters at Busch Gardens Tampa, but these are my favorite five.
Have you had a chance to visit Busch Gardens Tampa recently? What’s your favorite thing to do at the Tampa theme park?
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