Our friend Rachel joined Sarah and I for a day of exploration and fun at Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay, Florida.
Busch Gardens combines the thrills of a theme park with the natural wonders of a zoo. We had a wonderful time riding the rides and seeing the animals.
Rachel and I feed some lorikeets	Sarah and Rachel hatch from eggs in the Land of the Dragons
There were several new attractions at the park that I hadn't been on before. One of those was Rhino Rally, a jeep safari that takes you on an off-road adventure past a variety of animals and, when a bridge "collapses" beneath us, floating down a raging river.
Another new attraction was the 3D film The Haunted Lighthouse, about two children discovering two ghost children waiting for the return of their parents in an old lighthouse. It was very disappointing and the visual effects were lackluster and tedious... and soggy. At every opportunity, the audience was sprayed with water.
Click below to see video of our day at Busch Gardens: Lower Quality Video (.97mb) Higher Quality Video (7.4mb)
The highlight of our day was Busch Gardens' newest show, Katonga: Tales from the Jungle. It is a Broadway-style show that takes you on a journey to the heart of Africa in a musical celebration of animal folklore.
Katonga "follows a day in the lives of aspiring storytellers, called Griots, as they strive to become masters of their craft. To accomplish this rite of passage, the performers evoke traditional African stories that mesmerize and entertain."
	With its use of clever puppetry, African-inspired choreography, dynamic music and an outstanding cast, Katonga was a sensational show, far beyond the caliber of traditional theme park entertainment. We were mesmerized and immensely entertained. It was a wonderful finale to a fun day.
Click here to visit the Busch Gardens website:
Posted: 10/03/04