Your very first step on any visit to Busch Gardens Africa is to pick up a copy of the park map at the main entrance. One side contains a full-color map of the park; the other side is packed with helpful information, such as an “Entertainment Guide” that lists performance times for the park’s stage shows and the Meet The Keeper “animal enrichment” programs scheduled at various animal exhibits for the day of your visit. You will also find information about any special or seasonal events that may be happening that day.
As you will see by perusing the map, Busch Gardens is divided into eight “themed areas” (nine if, like me, you count Land of the Dragons as a separate area), most of them named after a country or region of Africa. Each area is relatively compact but the entire park is quite large (335 acres), making covering the entire place a bit of a challenge, especially on foot.
In describing the nine areas, I will start with Morocco, the first area you encounter as you enter the park, and then proceed clockwise around the park, ending with the newest themed area, Egypt. I am not suggesting that you tour Busch Gardens in this order (although it would be the most direct route if you were to walk the entire park). Use the descriptions that follow, along with the suggestions given above, to pick and choose the attractions that best suit your tastes and that you can comfortably fit into the time available. Remember that you can use the Skyride between the Congo and Crown Colony to cut down on the walking.
In addition to the attractions listed below, Busch Gardens features a number of strolling musical groups playing peppy music designed to put a bit of bounce back in your step as you stroll the grounds. The Mystic Sheiks of Morocco are a brass marching band outfitted in snappy red and black uniforms that make them look like a military band from a very hip African nation. They are most frequently sighted in Morocco and Crown Colony. The Men of Note offer up the kind of close harmony, a capella doo-wop music more associated with the streets of Philadelphia than the souks of Morocco. Still, they can often be found entertaining departing guests there.
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