Kumba (Busch Gardens Tampa)

Roller coaster in the United States


Watch the on-ride POV
Kumba
Busch Gardens Tampa
Location Tampa, Florida, USA
Coordinates 28°02′22″N 82°25′23″W / 28.039548°N 82.423057°W / 28.039548; -82.423057
Park section Congo
Status Operating since April 20, 1993
Rider height 54 inch minimum
Statistics
Manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard
Product Sitting Coaster
Designer / calculations Ing.-Büro Stengel GmbH
Type Steel
Riders per train 32
Hourly capacity 1,700
Propulsion Chain lift hill
Height 143 feet
Drop 135 feet
Top speed 60 mph
Length 3978 feet
Inversions 7
Duration 2:54
G-Force 3.8
HELP

Kumba is a steel roller coaster located at Busch Gardens Tampa in Tampa, Florida, USA. At the time of its opening in 1993, was said to have "set the industry standards". It had the record for the most inversions on a roller coaster and tallest vertical loop until 1995, when Dragon Khan opened at PortAventura Park. The ride was built by Bolliger & Mabillard.

History

In November 1992, Busch Gardens Tampa announced the addition of Kumba.[1]

Kumba opened on April 20, 1993. It was the first roller coaster with a dive loop and interlocking corkscrews.[2]

Design

Elements

Kumba features a pre-drop, a small drop designed by Bolliger & Mabillard to reduce strain on the chain lift.

Kumba contains the first dive loop and interlocking corkscrews on a Bolliger & Mabillard roller coaster.

The lift hill passes through the middle of the vertical loop.

Ride experience

After leaving the station, the train makes a right-hand, 90 degree turn to the right and begins to climb the 143-foot-tall chain lift hill. After the chain lift hill, the train makes a small pre-drop. The train then goes down a 135-foot (41 m) drop to the left, after this, the train enters the first inversion a 114-foot-tall vertical loop which wraps around the lift hill. After the vertical loop, the train enters the next inversion a dive loop. After the dive loop, the train enters a third inversion a zero-g roll. After the zero-g roll, the train begins to enter the fourth inversion a Cobra roll, after it exits the cobra roll, the train enters a mid-course brake run. After the mid-course brake run, the train enters some interlocking corkscrews. The train enters the tunnel before upward clockwise helix and hits the final brakes, before making a right-hand turn and returning to the station.

Color scheme

Kumba has a light blue track and maroon supports. The ride received a fresh coat of paint for the 2019 season from Baynum Painting.[3]

Trains

4 trains with 8 cars per train. In each car, riders are arranged 4 across in a single row, for a total of 32 riders per train.

Name

Kumba means Roar in the African Congo Language. When the train traverses the track, it makes a very loud roaring sound. This is caused by the hollow square-shaped track.

Images

References

  1. "KUMBA COASTING TO BUSCH GARDENS".
  2. "Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Confirms Vintage Coaster Kumba Not Closing Following Rumors".
  3. "Kumba". Baynum Painting Inc. Retrieved January 19, 2021.

External links

  • Kumba on the Roller Coaster DataBase.
Most inversions on a roller coaster (7)
tied with
Goudurix
Great American Scream Machine
ShockWave
Viper

April 1993 - May 1995
Preceded by
Vortex
Most inversions on a roller coaster (7)
tied with
Goudurix
Great American Scream Machine
ShockWave
Viper

April 1993 - May 1995
Succeeded by
Dragon Khan
Tallest vertical loop
April 1993 - May 1995
Preceded by
Unknown
Tallest vertical loop
April 1993 - May 1995
Succeeded by
Dragon Khan


Articles on Busch Gardens Tampa