One of the most underrated experiences at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is the Serengeti Safari — an up-close animal tour that feels surprisingly different from a normal theme park attraction. Instead of viewing animals from a distance, you ride directly into the massive Serengeti Plain in an open-air safari vehicle alongside giraffes, rhinos, zebras, ostriches, and antelope species.
Here is a breakdown of the key details and practical tips to help you plan the experience.
Key Details of the Serengeti Safari
- The Experience: A 30-minute, off-road expedition across the park’s 65-acre Serengeti Plain. The tour is conducted in a spacious, open-air touring vehicle and is led by an expert education guide.
- Official duration: about 30 minutes;
- In practice: allow closer to 45–60 minutes total once you include check-in and boarding.
- Wildlife Encounters: You will have the opportunity to observe zebras, rhinos, ostriches, and various antelope species in a naturalistic habitat.
- The highlight of the tour is the opportunity to hand-feed the park’s giraffes.
- Hand-Feeding Giraffes is included in the tour and is one of the closest giraffe encounters available at a major Florida theme park.
- Animal visibility varies by weather and time of day, but giraffe interactions are usually the highlight.
- Pricing & Admission: The safari is an add-on experience. Prices commonly start around ~$39.99 per person depending on the date, and a separate, valid Busch Gardens Tampa Bay admission ticket is strictly required to enter the park.
- Memorial Day Sale: Busch Gardens is currently offering a limited-time Memorial Day promotion that lets guests save 20% on the Serengeti Safari experience.
- Important Extra Cost: Park admission to Busch Gardens is NOT included with the safari tour.
- Prices fluctuate depending on season and demand.
- Age Requirements: Participants must be at least 5 years old. Anyone aged 13 and under must be accompanied by a paying adult.
- Check-In Logistics: You must check in at the Serengeti Outpost in Nairobi (located just north of the train station) at least 15 minutes prior to your scheduled tour time.
- Accessibility: The safari vehicles are primarily standing-room only, but they can accommodate one wheelchair per truck. This must be declared at the time of booking.
Essential Tips for Your Tour
Capturing Original Photography
The open-air, barrier-free design of the safari trucks provides completely unobstructed sightlines, making it an exceptional opportunity to capture high-quality, original travel photography. Because the giraffes will lean their heads directly into the vehicle to eat from your hands, a wide-angle lens is highly recommended over a heavy zoom to capture the sheer scale and closeness of the animals.
Make sure your camera is secured with a strap, as dropped items cannot be retrieved from the animal enclosures.
Touring with Family
If you are touring the park with your main travel companion, this 30-minute ride is a great way to escape the crowds and rest tired legs while still staying engaged. Just keep the strict 5-year-old age minimum in mind for any younger travelers.
Optimal Timing
Because the Serengeti Safari tours are exclusively scheduled for the afternoon—with current timeslots at 12:30 PM, 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM, 3:30 PM, and 4:00 PM—your booking strategy should focus on maximizing comfort and lighting. Reserving the latest available slot, such as 3:30 PM or 4:00 PM, is highly recommended. As the late afternoon approaches, the Florida sun begins to soften, providing excellent lighting for your photography and a more comfortable open-air ride.
Alternatively, booking a 12:30 PM or 2:00 PM tour is a strategic way to take a seated, engaging break during the hottest part of the day when the regular park pathways are most crowded.
Advance Booking & Flexibility
Because each truck holds a limited number of guests and the tour is highly popular, time slots frequently sell out. Book well in advance to secure your preferred day. Note that the tours are non-refundable if you miss your scheduled time, so factor in the walking distance from the park entrance to the Nairobi section when planning your itinerary.
What to Bring (and Leave Behind)
Bring sunscreen, a securely fitting hat, and sunglasses. However, outside food and drinks are not permitted on the safari vehicles, so plan to finish any snacks before you check in at the Serengeti Outpost.
Serengeti Safari is much more than just a break from roller coasters. It’s an opportunity to see the incredible beauty of African nature up close and create memories that will stay with you forever. And now is the best time to book: thanks to the Memorial Day Sale, you can save 20% on your ticket. The number of seats on the trucks is strictly limited, so don’t delay – book your afternoon tour today and get your cameras ready for the perfect giraffe shots!
FAQ: Serengeti Safari at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Do I need a separate park ticket for the safari? Yes. The Serengeti Safari is an add-on experience. You must have a valid Busch Gardens Tampa Bay park admission ticket for the date of your tour in order to participate.
How long does the Serengeti Safari tour last? The off-road expedition itself lasts approximately 30 minutes. However, be sure to factor in a little extra time: you are required to arrive at the Serengeti Outpost check-in location at least 15 minutes prior to your scheduled tour time.
Are there any age restrictions for the tour? Yes, all participants must be at least 5 years old. For safety reasons, any guest aged 13 and under must be accompanied by a paying adult who is also booked on the safari.
Can I bring a camera or phone on the safari? Absolutely! The open-air trucks provide incredible photography opportunities, especially when the giraffes come right up to you to be fed. The golden rule is to keep a firm grip on your devices or use a secure strap, as any items dropped off the side of the truck or into the animal enclosures cannot be retrieved.
