The new Lion & Hyena Ridge at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is part of a 5-year investment, anchoring Busch Gardens’ ongoing transformation, with additional new attractions, park enhancements and more planned for the future.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay officially opened the all-new Lion & Hyena Ridge recently. As part of a $200 million planned five-year investment, calling the habitat one of the world’s most immersive animal habitats and the newest addition to the park’s award-winning zoological collection.
Featuring America’s largest coalition of lions in an Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) accredited facility and a pair of playful hyenas, the highly anticipated habitat inspires conservation and curiosity for visitors of all ages. At 38,000 square feet, Lion & Hyena Ridge transports guests to the heart of Africa with immersive viewing areas and naturalistic environments, while supporting the physical, social and mental well-being of the two of Africa’s most iconic species.
“This immersive experience brings guests face to face with these incredible animals while showcasing our continued commitment to exceptional animal care and creating unforgettable experiences for our guests,” said Jon Vigue, Park President of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. “Opening Lion & Hyena Ridge marks an exciting new chapter for Busch Gardens Tampa Bay as part of our $200 million enhancement plan and delivers an extraordinary new reason to visit this summer and beyond.”
Designed to deliver an immersive safari-style experience, Lion & Hyena Ridge features expansive, 270-degree glass viewing areas that offer guests remarkable face-to-face perspectives of the animals. Guests can also explore interactive cave spaces and cross overhead bridges, creating unique vantage points throughout the expansive habitat.
The habitat includes climbing structures, water elements and specially designed heated and cooled rocks, providing the lions and hyenas with opportunities to play, explore and choose comfortable areas throughout the day. The animals can also rotate between different areas of the habitat, offering enrichment and variety while allowing guests to experience both species.
Because lions and hyenas are natural rivals in the wild, the animals do not occupy the same habitat areas at the same time. This carefully designed approach supports the animals’ well-being while providing a dynamic and engaging experience for guests.
“Lion & Hyena Ridge was designed to create a very immersive and interactive experience for the animals,” said Andrew Schaffer, Vice President of Design and Engineering at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. “Lions and hyenas are both incredible predatory animals and getting to see them up close and personal is an amazing experience for our guests.”
Naturalistic rock formations, cascading water elements, varied terrain and multiple viewing opportunities create an environment that encourages exploration and offers guests a deeper connection to the animals.
The opening of Lion & Hyena Ridge is part of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s broader $200 million enhancement plan, a transformational investment that is bringing new world-class attractions, animal habitats and guest experience improvements to the park.
The investment is designed to create more ways for guests to connect with animals, experience innovative attractions and enjoy enhanced spaces throughout Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Central Florida.
The Tampa park said the best way to experience Lion and Hyena Ridge is with a Busch Gardens Annual Pass, which allows members unlimited visits, access to seasonal events and exclusive in-park discounts and benefits all year long.
