There’s a new reason to venture into the wild at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. The park officially opened its all-new Lion & Hyena Ridge on Saturday, July 25, giving guests an immersive new opportunity to get up close with two of Africa’s most fascinating predators. The 38,000-square-foot habitat is the newest addition to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s award-winning collection of animal experiences and is part of the park’s ambitious $200 million, five-year investment plan. And while the experience is designed to give guests unforgettable views of the animals, the habitat was also carefully created with the animals’ physical, social and mental well-being in mind.
Meet the Lions and Hyenas
Lion & Hyena Ridge is home to five lions and two hyenas, including what Busch Gardens describes as the largest coalition of lions in an Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA)-accredited facility in the United States. Guests can experience the animals from a variety of viewing locations throughout the habitat, offering different perspectives on the lions and hyenas. One of the highlights is the expansive 270-degree glass viewing areas, which allow visitors to get remarkably close to the animals while remaining safely separated from them. The habitat also features interactive cave spaces and overhead bridges, giving guests the chance to explore the area while discovering new vantage points.
Lion & Hyena Ridge isn’t simply about putting animals on display. Busch Gardens designed the environment to encourage natural behaviors and give the animals plenty of choices throughout the day. The habitat includes naturalistic rock formations, varied terrain, climbing structures, and water features. Specially designed rocks can also be heated or cooled, giving the animals comfortable places to relax depending on the conditions. The lions and hyenas can rotate between different areas of the habitat, providing them with variety and enrichment while also giving guests the possibility of seeing the animals in different environments. And despite sharing the new attraction, the lions and hyenas won’t actually occupy the same habitat areas at the same time. That’s because the two species are natural rivals in the wild. Keeping them separated allows Busch Gardens to recreate aspects of their natural environments while prioritizing the animals’ safety and well-being.
One of the things that makes Lion & Hyena Ridge stand out is the number of ways guests can experience it. Rather than simply viewing the animals from a traditional enclosure, visitors can move through the area and discover different perspectives along the way. Rockwork, water elements, and elevated viewing opportunities help create a safari-inspired environment that feels much more immersive. For families, the experience also provides an opportunity to learn more about these incredible predators and the importance of conservation. It’s a chance to see lions and hyenas up close while gaining a better understanding of the animals and the environments they call home.
Part of a Major Transformation at Busch Gardens
The opening of Lion & Hyena Ridge represents more than just the addition of a new animal habitat. It’s one of the first major pieces of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s ongoing transformation, which is backed by a $200 million investment over five years. The investment is expected to bring additional attractions, animal habitats, park enhancements and improvements to the overall guest experience in the years ahead. That makes Lion & Hyena Ridge an exciting preview of what’s still to come at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.
A New Reason to Visit Busch Gardens
For animal lovers, families and longtime Busch Gardens fans, Lion & Hyena Ridge adds another unique experience to an already impressive lineup of animal encounters. The combination of immersive viewing areas, naturalistic environments and opportunities to see five lions and two hyenas makes this a welcome addition to the park. And because the lions are still young, guests visiting Busch Gardens over the coming years will have the opportunity to watch them grow and mature. With more additions planned as part of the park’s $200 million investment, it looks like the future is getting even wilder at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.
Clint Gamache is the owner of ThrillGeek. He started ThrillGeek to share his love of theme/amusement parks and pop culture with the world. You can find him at Halloween Horror Nights. Also, be sure to follow him on Twitter/X, Instagram @iamcg83