Kumba, Steel roller coaster in Busch Gardens Tampa, Florida.
Kumba is a steel roller coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa in Florida that extends about 3978 feet (1213 meters), reaches roughly 143 feet (44 meters) high, and runs at speeds around 60 miles per hour (97 kilometers per hour). The track twists through several inversions and a large loop that wraps around the central lift section.
The ride opened in April 1993 and was then among the first constructions by Bolliger & Mabillard to feature interlocking corkscrew elements. Its design later influenced many other steel coasters worldwide.
The name comes from an African Congo language and means something like roar, fitting the deep sound that emerges when trains rush through the hollow steel rails. Visitors hear this characteristic thunder from a distance and experience it up close during the ride.
Four trains with eight rows each keep the flow smooth, allowing up to 1700 people per hour to ride. Visiting in the morning or late afternoon often means shorter waiting times.
The coaster is among only five worldwide where a vertical loop wraps directly around the lift hill structure. This element is clearly visible from the entrance and draws many eyes.
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