Kumba (roller coaster)

Kumba was officially announced in November 1992 as a record-breaking Bolliger & Mabillard roller coaster set to become the park's signature attraction.{{cite news|last=Vaughan|first=Vicki|title=Kumba Coasting To Busch Gardens|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1992/11/16/kumba-coasting-to-busch-gardens/|access-date=July 8, 2013|newspaper=Orlando Sentinel|publisher=Tribune Company|date=November 16, 1992}} The ride officially opened to the public on April 21, 1993.{{Cite news |last=Lammers |first=Dirk |date=November 11, 1992 |title=Busch Gardens plans to build Southeast's biggest roller coaster |pages=1 |work=The Tampa Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107370926/busch-gardens-plans-to-build/ |access-date=August 11, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |last=Jackson |first=Tom |date=April 21, 1993 |title=A scream come true |pages=2 |work=The Tampa Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107375391/a-scream-come-true/ |access-date=August 11, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}} When Kumba opened, it featured the world's tallest vertical loop, and was also the tallest, fastest and longest roller coaster in Florida.{{Cite RCDB|coaster_name=Record Holders|location=Tallest roller coasters in Florida|access-date=July 8, 2013|url=http://www.rcdb.com/rhr.htm?m=2&l=3180}}{{Cite RCDB|coaster_name=Record Holders|location=Fastest roller coasters in Florida|access-date=July 8, 2013|url=http://www.rcdb.com/rhr.htm?m=2&l=3180}}{{Cite RCDB|coaster_name=Record Holders|location=Longest roller coasters in Florida|access-date=July 8, 2013|url=http://www.rcdb.com/rhr.htm?m=2&l=3180}} In 1995, Kumba conceded the title of ride with the world's tallest vertical loop to Dragon Khan at PortAventura Park which features a {{Convert|118|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}} vertical loop.{{cite RCDB|coaster_name=Dragon Khan|location=PortAventura Park|rcdb_number=760|access-date=July 8, 2013}} In 1996, it conceded Florida's titles of tallest and longest roller coaster to Montu, a B&M inverted coaster in the Egypt section of the park. In 1999, it conceded the fastest title to Islands of Adventure's The Incredible Hulk Coaster, yet another B&M sitdown coaster.

{{Stack|File:Kumba at Busch Gardens Tampa.JPG}}

The {{convert|3978|ft|m|adj=mid|-long}} Kumba stands {{convert|143|ft|m}} tall and has a drop of {{convert|135|ft|m}}, with a top speed of {{Convert|60|mph}}. The ride features seven inversions including a {{Convert|114|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}} vertical loop, a dive loop, a zero-g roll, a cobra roll and two interlocking corkscrews.{{cite RCDB|coaster_name=Kumba|location=Busch Gardens Tampa Bay|rcdb_number=94|access-date=July 5, 2013}} The vertical loop featured on Kumba wraps around the lift hill. This element was later seen on The Riddler's Revenge at Six Flags Magic Mountain and Banshee at Kings Island.{{cite web|last=Stilwell|first=Andrew|date=March 17, 2014|title=A-Z Coaster of the Week: Kumba|url=https://www.coaster101.com/2014/03/17/z-coaster-week-kumba/|access-date=September 13, 2021|publisher=Coaster101|archive-date=April 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424195813/https://www.coaster101.com/2014/03/17/z-coaster-week-kumba/|url-status=live}} Kumba was the first ride in the world to feature a number of now-common roller coaster elements, including interlocking corkscrews and a dive loop.{{cite RCDB|coaster_name=Roller Coaster Search Results|location=Interlocking Corkscrews|access-date=July 8, 2013|url=http://rcdb.com/r.htm?ot=2&el=8877&page=1&order=10}}{{cite RCDB|coaster_name=Roller Coaster Search Results|location=Dive Loop|access-date=July 8, 2013|url=http://rcdb.com/r.htm?ot=2&el=8879&page=1&order=10}} Riders of Kumba experience up to 3.8 times the force of gravity on the 3 minute ride.

Kumba features four steel and fiberglass trains, each containing eight cars. Each car seats four riders in a single row for a total of 32 riders per train. The block sections only allow for three trains to be on the track at any one time, meaning the ride can still operate at full capacity when one train is undergoing maintenance. With all three trains operating, the ride can achieve a capacity of 1,700 riders per hour.

The name Kumba was derived from the translation of the word "roar" in the African Kongo language.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=y_ENAAAAIBAJ&pg=4989,393462&dq=kumba+busch+gardens|title=Thrill of 'Kumba' to roar into park|last=Strengle|first=Bernice|date=November 11, 1992|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|publisher=Times Publishing Company|access-date=July 21, 2009}}

File:Kumbas zero-g roll 2.jpg]]

The ride begins with a right-hand, 90-degree turn out of the station which then begins to climb the {{convert|143|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}} chain lift hill. After reaching the peak, trains go through a small pre-drop. The ride then goes down a {{convert|135|ft|m|adj=on}} drop to the left into a {{convert|114|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}} vertical loop that wraps around the lift hill. After leaving the vertical loop, the ride rises up into a diving loop, followed by a zero-g roll, where riders experience a feeling of weightlessness. A straight section of track and a small hill leads to a Cobra roll. After exiting the cobra roll, the trains rise up into the mid-course brake run. The exit from the brake run leads into a pair of interlocking corkscrews. The train then dives into a tunnel and exits into an upward clockwise helix. The train then hits the final brake run, before making a right hand turn and returning to the station.{{cite web|last=Alvey|first=Robb|title=Kumba Roller Coaster POV Front Seat Amazing 1080p HD Footage Busch Gardens Tampa FL|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x0U5BLvMOA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/0x0U5BLvMOA |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|work=Theme Park Review|publisher=YouTube|access-date=July 8, 2013|authorlink=Robb Alvey|date=November 10, 2011}}{{cbignore}}

Kumba has generally been well received. Robb Alvey of Theme Park Review stated Kumba was his favorite ride in the Florida area, describing it as "an old-school, intense ride" that he has been on hundreds of times.{{cite news|last=Boedeker|first=Hal|title=Orlando expert travels world in 'Coaster Wars'|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/blogs/tv-guy/os-orlando-expert-travels-world-in-coaster-wars-20130606,0,7440266.post|access-date=July 8, 2013|newspaper=Orlando Sentinel|publisher=Tribune Company|date=June 6, 2013}} Dewayne Bevil of the Orlando Sentinel gives Kumba ratings of 4 out of 5 for both thrill and theming.{{cite news|last=Bevil|first=Dewayne|title=Central Florida Roller Coaster Guide|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/orl-thrillometer-roller-coasters-guide,0,5170965.htmlstory|access-date=July 8, 2013|newspaper=Orlando Sentinel|publisher=Tribune Company|date=May 31, 2013}}{{cite news|last=Bevil|first=Dewayne|title=Kumba, Busch Gardens|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/orl-roller-coaster-kumba-022409,0,3552994.photo|access-date=July 8, 2013|newspaper=Orlando Sentinel|publisher=Tribune Company}} Keith Kohn, also of the Sentinel, described the ride as "an amazing experience".{{cite news|last=Kohn|first=Keith W.|title=Fans Eager To Loop And Twist At Gardens|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2004/06/17/fans-eager-to-loop-and-twist-at-gardens/|access-date=July 8, 2013|date=June 17, 2004|newspaper=Orlando Sentinel|publisher=Tribune Company}}

The opening of Kumba had a significant impact on park attendance figures. In its debut year, park attendance increased approximately 15% to an estimated 3.8 million visitors.{{cite news|last=Cronan|first=Carl|title=Busch Gardens coasts into summer with Egypt|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=y89PAAAAIBAJ&pg=4516,555266|access-date=July 4, 2013|newspaper=Ocala Star-Banner|date=August 2, 1996|agency=Halifax Media Group}}{{cite journal|last=O'Brien|first=Tim|title=Kumba's marketing momentum to carry Busch Gardens Tampa into '94 season|journal=Amusement Business|date=February 1994|volume=106|issue=8|page=18}} The park expected that trend to continue into 1994. In 1995, Joe Fincher, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay's general manager, described Kumba as a "superstar roller coaster" that "has been terrific for us".{{cite news|last=Doolittle|first=Leslie|title=New Roller Coaster Planned In 1996 As Busch Gardens Goes Egyptian|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1995/05/11/new-roller-coaster-planned-in-1996-as-busch-gardens-goes-egyptian/|access-date=July 8, 2013|date=May 11, 1995|newspaper=Orlando Sentinel|publisher=Tribune Company}}

In Amusement Today{{'s}} annual Golden Ticket Awards, Kumba has consistently ranked highly. It is also one of only seven roller coasters to appear in the top 50 every year since the award's inception in 1998. It debuted at position 4 in 1998, before dropping to a low of 42 in 2016.

{{GTA table

| type = steel

| access-date = September 14, 2015

| 1998 = 4

| 1999 = 5

| 2000 = 7

| 2001 = 13

| 2002 = 19

| 2003 = 22

| 2004 = 22

| 2005 = 22

| 2006 = 21

| 2007 = 21

| 2008 = 27

| 2009 = 27

| 2010 = 24 (tie)

| 2011 = 31

| 2012 = 23

| 2013 = 27

| 2014 = 36

| 2015 = 38

| 2016 = 42 (tie)

| 2017 = 41 (tie)

| 2018 = 37

| 2019 = 40

}}

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{Official website|http://seaworldparks.com/en/buschgardens-tampa/Attractions/Rides/Kumba}}
• {{RCDB|94|Kumba}}
• {{Commons category-inline|Kumba (roller coaster)}}

{{S-start}}

{{succession box | title=World's Tallest Vertical Loop| before=unknown | years=April 1993–May 1995| after=Dragon Khan}}

{{S-end}}

{{Busch Gardens Tampa Bay}}

{{BGT Coasters}}

Category:Roller coasters in Tampa, Florida

Category:Roller coasters introduced in 1993

Category:Roller coasters in Florida

Category:Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Category:1993 establishments in Florida