Littlemummy.com

I wasn’t expecting much from Busch Gardens, I hadn’t heard great things and why would you drive an hour and a half for something you can get in Orlando?

You won’t hear me say this often. I was wrong.

Busch Gardens does offer something different, and those rumours?

Unfounded.

Busch Gardens was a highlight of the trip and I’d happily recommend it, in fact it has been the impetus (along with Aquatica) for my wanting to book and get back to Florida asap.

Fact Did you know that included in the ticket price you can catch a shuttle bus to Busch Gardens from SeaWorld, which means you don’t have to worry about driving or parking fees.

At the start of our day we headed for the Myombe Reserve where we were met with a keeper who was feeding Sim Sim. The keeper demonstrated some of the things that they try and train the animals to do so that they are able to administer medical treatment without having to resort to putting them to sleep.

The Elephant Keeper Experience saw us run about like mad women filling giant balls and blocks with treats for the elephants. The animal care team try and do this daily to stimulate the animals, and stimulate it did! After being let out to their enclosure the elephants actually broke into a run (or kind of a trot!) to see what goodies they could find. The elephants had their own favourite treats so while one headed straight to snaffle all the grapes another went searching out the apples. Really fun experience that all the family could enjoy.

Serengeti Safari

Unlike The Elephant Keeper Experience and The Tiger & Orangutan Keeper Experience, The Serengeti Safari has been around for a while. You’re taken out with an animal expert in a jeep like vehicle to see zebra, rhinoceros and giraffe. Shortly into our tour we stopped and had the opportunity to experience the giraffe up close, even feeding them a tasty snack of lettuce.

Tiger & Orangutan Keeper Experience

One of my favourite experiences of the whole trip was the tiger and orangutan experience. We were able to go behind the scenes and see an orangutan being trained. We met Lunabella a very mischevious orangutan who likes painting, playing harmonica….and squirting water over unsuspecting guests. It was enlightening to hear the keepers describe the reasons for the different activities. We were also given an

original Lunabella painting which I’m going to frame for Erin’s room. Afterwards we saw the tigers from various vantage points and also being fed a treat of raw chicken wings.

Finally, we soaked ourselves on a log flume ride where I was made to sit on Liz Jarvis’ lap much to the amusement of Tara and Laura, and we saw the Sesame Street Safari of Fun which is a huge children’s area with rides, climbing and paddling areas.

Overall a fantastic day which I hope to repeat with my family very soon!