Rhino Rally
| Company type | Amusement park attraction |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment, Theme park ride |
| Founded | May 23, 2001 |
| Defunct | September 1, 2014 |
| Headquarters | Tampa , United States |
Area served | Busch Gardens Tampa Bay |
| Products | Safari-themed ride |
Rhino Rally was a safari-inspired ride located in the Nairobi area of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida. It opened to guests on May 23, 2001, and offered an experience lasting approximately five to six minutes. The attraction ceased operations on September 1, 2014, primarily due to persistent maintenance challenges. The storyline centered around visitors embarking on what seemed like a standard safari expedition that quickly transformed into a mission to find a missing driver named Scooter Roberts.
History
On May 11, 2000, Busch Gardens revealed plans for Rhino Rally, promoting it as a safari-themed adventure that combined land rover exploration with a river ride component. The announcement featured a presentation by Jack Hanna. By March 2001, the ride's construction was nearing completion, and a media preview was held on March 20. The attraction officially welcomed the public on May 23, 2001.
After opening, Rhino Rally attracted long queues, leading the park to implement a temporary virtual queue system designed to grant guests expedited entry; this system was discontinued in 2002.
Initially, the ride incorporated an extensive water-based section from its launch until May 1, 2010. This segment was permanently closed to facilitate the development of Cheetah Hunt, prompting a narrative shift that emphasized the search for the lost driver Scooter Roberts.
The water portion was often the source of mechanical failures; during these times, the land segment remained operational but followed a reversed route detour. Once the water section was removed in 2010, vehicles consistently traveled along the right-side path.
Busch Gardens officially announced Rhino Rally’s permanent shutdown in January 2015. The former ride area was later transformed to accommodate Serengeti Flyer, an S&S Screamin' Swing attraction.
Characteristics
Situated within the Nairobi section of the park, the attraction featured a water ride component produced by Vekoma.
Incidents
In June 2001, a vehicle overturned when its driver attempted to cross a narrow track segment, resulting in minor injuries for several passengers and hospitalization for two individuals. Following this event, Busch Gardens temporarily closed Rhino Rally for extensive upgrades that included widening track paths and redesigning the ride vehicles.
See also
- Kilimanjaro Safaris, a comparable safari-themed attraction at Disney's Animal Kingdom