Kumba (roller coaster)
| Company type | Steel roller coaster |
|---|---|
| Industry | Amusement rides |
| Founded | April 21, 1993 |
| Headquarters | Tampa , United States |
| Products | Roller coaster attraction |
Kumba is a steel roller coaster located at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida. Constructed by Bolliger & Mabillard, it commenced operations in 1993. The coaster attains a maximum height of and achieves speeds up to . Spanning nearly three minutes, Kumba includes seven inversions. Following the closure of Scorpion in 2024, it became the park's longest-running coaster.
After undergoing significant maintenance beginning in November 2024, Kumba resumed service on September 26, 2025.
Etymology
The name Kumba originates from the Central African Kikongo word kumba, which translates to "roar."
History
Revealed in November 1992, Kumba was developed by Bolliger & Mabillard as a groundbreaking attraction and flagship coaster for Busch Gardens. It officially opened on April 21, 1993. Upon debut, it held the record for the tallest vertical loop worldwide and was Florida’s highest, fastest, and longest roller coaster. The tallest vertical loop record was surpassed in 1995 by Dragon Khan at PortAventura Park. Subsequently, Montu claimed Florida’s tallest and longest titles in 1996, while The Incredible Hulk Coaster at Islands of Adventure took the fastest record in 1999.
Characteristics
Kumba stretches in length and rises to a height of , featuring a drop of . It reaches top speeds of . The attraction includes seven inversions: a vertical loop encircling the lift hill, a dive loop, a zero-g roll, a cobra roll, and a pair of interlocking corkscrews. Notably, it was the first coaster globally to incorporate both interlocking corkscrews and a dive loop. Riders experience forces up to 3.8 Gs throughout the approximately three-minute ride.
The coaster operates with four trains constructed from steel and fiberglass, each consisting of eight cars with four seats arranged in a single row, accommodating 32 passengers per train. A block system permits three trains on the track simultaneously, allowing for a peak throughput of 1,700 riders per hour even when one train is out for maintenance.
Ride experience
The journey begins with a sharp right-hand turn exiting the station, followed by an ascent up the chain lift hill. After a brief pre-drop, riders plunge down a leftward drop into a vertical loop that wraps around the lift hill. Next comes a diving loop and a zero-g roll that produces a sensation of weightlessness. A straight segment with a minor hill leads into the Cobra roll. After navigating the cobra roll, trains ascend to the mid-course brake run, proceed through interlocking corkscrews, dip into a tunnel, then spiral upward through a clockwise helix before reaching the final brake run and returning to the station.
Reception
Within the amusement park community, Kumba has garnered positive acclaim. Robb Alvey from Theme Park Review named it his preferred Florida attraction, describing it as "an old-school, intense ride" he has experienced hundreds of times. Dewayne Bevil of the Orlando Sentinel awarded Kumba 4 out of 5 stars for its thrill factor and theming, while Keith Kohn commended it as "an amazing experience."
Kumba's introduction led to an approximate 15% increase in attendance at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, drawing an estimated 3.8 million visitors during its inaugural year. The park projected further growth into 1994. In 1995, general manager Joe Fincher referred to Kumba as a "superstar roller coaster" that had delivered outstanding results for the park.
In the annual Golden Ticket Awards hosted by Amusement Today, Kumba consistently ranks among the top coasters and is one of only seven to appear in the top 50 every year since 1998. It debuted at #4 in its first year and reached its lowest ranking at #42 in 2016.