Kumba
Website: Busch Gardens Tampa Homepage
Ride Type: Steel Coaster
Ride Status: Running
Average Rating: 4.4118
TPC Overall Rank: #65 out of 2933 rides.
Reviews: 134
Last Review: 1/25/2013 12:29:00 AM
In User Top 10: 209 times.
User Tracker Count: 365 times.
 


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5 Rating
0 Rating Rate Down Rate Up XHP90 on 1/25/2013 12:29:00 AM - User's Top Ride #1
Most amazing ride ever. This was the coaster that started it all for B and M. It had the most inversions out of any roller coaster when it opened and introduced several all-new inversions. I wish that newer B and M roller coasters had the fantastic PACING of Kumba. This ride's top speed is 60mph, and it honestly seems like its going that fast until the final brake run. People aren't as ecstatic about this ride like I am because when a train runs that fast through elements such as cobra rolls, interlocking corkscrews, and helices...there's going to be headbanging. And there is a fair amount of it towards the end of Kumba. However, being above average height and knowing the layout of the coaster minimizes the pain for me.

Highlights of Kumba include a gigantic vertical loop that wraps around the lift hill, the cobra roll which wraps around a park path, an unexpected tunnel, a mid-course brake run that I'm pretty sure is broken (the trains hardly slow down on it), and the distinct loud roar that trains make while they traverse the track. I can't think of any cons besides the headbanging for those under six feet tall. Be sure to ride this piece of history that is still a major contender two decades later.

3 Rating
0 Rating Rate Down Rate Up DDfan on 9/5/2008 3:58:00 PM
Kumba is the frist B&M sit down coaster. This ride is what made B&M famous. Unlike most B&Ms this ride does not start with a small dip. At the top of the one-hundred-forty three foot tall lift there is the small drop that is on most B&Ms. The drop is on a helix that goes under the lift the ride reaches it&#39.s top speed of 60 MPH. (seems like more to me) There is the large vertical loop that goes under and above the lift. This is a very forceful loop. There is then my second favorite inversion a dive loop. This is not as good as the dive loop on kraken though. Then my favorite inversion comes next the zero g roll out of all the zero g rolls i&#39.ve been on this is my favorite. Then there is a little bit of stregiht track that is followed by the cobra roll. This cobra roll can have headbanging usealy minamal though. then there is an upward hill then the mid course breaks. There is then the interlocking corkscrews. There tends to be some headbanging here. There is then a ninety degree curve into a tunnel where there is another curve. Then there is the final helix followed by the final brakes. This ride has a roar sound to it because in African Congo language kumba means roar. There is no themeing to this ride. The crew tends to be horrible there has been times when there is a train in the station and two waiting to get into the station. Worth a no more then a twenty five minute wait.

4 Rating
0 Rating Rate Down Rate Up fergusonat on 5/15/2008 7:22:00 PM
I personally felt honored to finally take a spin on this legendary coaster that jump-started the legacy of Bolliger and Mabillard. To the casual coaster fan, Kumba doesnt look like much. Its got a fairly basic, generic layout...there are no stand-out elements or unique maneuvers. To those more seasoned coaster enthusiasts, however, Kumba is a cherished piece of history that is responsible for the critical development of one of the most successful roller coaster designing companies in the world. When this beast opened in 1993, Kumbas layout was innovative and unique. It was flashy, over-the-top, and completely revolutionary. It put B&M on the map, and since then B&M has not skipped a beat.

Now onto the ride experience itself. After so many years of operation, Kumba still delivers an impressive ride experience. The forces produced during the zero-g-roll in particular were startlingly good. The well hidden underground helix at the end of the ride was also a highlight of the ride. Of course, it runs with age, so its a little rough around the edges, but Kumba still crashes through that legendary course spryly and energetically. It is a very well-paced ride overall, and the elements flow together brilliantly. The MCBR also doesnt punch in very much at all, too, so the coaster plows along powerfully until the final brakes clamp down.

All in all, Kumba is still a solid attraction despite bigger, badder, and more unique B&Ms have been built since its construction. I was impressed that B&Ms first smash-hit still packs such a punch, and I came away thoroughly satisfied.

5 Rating
0 Rating Rate Down Rate Up Steve NY on 5/1/2008 6:40:00 AM
Excellent B&M coaster and I actually like it better than Montu. The gigantic green structure really is quite intimidating when you approach it and Busch gain shows why its a capacity machine with this ride. My main complaint with some B&Ms are that they just arent too forceless. After the first drop, Kumba flies through the massive vertical loop with such grace and the Gs at the bottom were surprisingly powerful. Then came my favorite two inversions each with their own merits- the dive loop and the zero-G roll. The dive loop had extremely powerful Gs throughout, and the zero-G roll gave tons of air time. But did Kumba let up after this? No, it threw out an excellent cobra roll followed by two glass-smooth corkscrews. The whole ride really is a rush and definitely one of my favorite B&Ms thanks to the intensity of the inversions.

4 Rating
0 Rating Rate Down Rate Up randomper on 4/23/2008 4:53:00 PM - User's Top Ride #3
I was surprised on I smooth this was, especailly for its age. I really rated it a 8.8 but I round down so its an 8, I love ths ride, #3 overall.

4 Rating
0 Rating Rate Down Rate Up SFne201004 on 3/24/2008 8:29:00 PM
This had all the makings of an excellent coaster. it was forceful, smooth, and fast. The cobra roll and tunnel were fantastic, and the rest of the ride was good too.

4 Rating
-1 Rating Rate Down Rate Up roxy on 12/26/2007 4:58:00 PM

4 Rating
0 Rating Rate Down Rate Up T-Rex on 12/6/2007 5:44:00 PM
Kumba was the third and final of Busch Gardens trinity of excellent B&M coasters. One of their rare sit-down coasters, Kumba still provides a thrilling ride. The vertical loop was incredible as it was forceful, provided a tad bit of hang-time, and provided a good effect of just dodging the lift hill. All of the other inversions were just as forceful and came in rapid-fire succession. There was a little headbanging on the corkscrews though.

4 Rating
0 Rating Rate Down Rate Up ginzo on 10/20/2007 9:29:00 PM
In 1993 a harbinger of the death of Arrow Dynamics came wrapped up in this bold steel package. Kumba was the first sit down looper attempt by the Swiss team of Bolliger and Mabillard.

In short Kumba does everything that an Arrow looper can do, only better. And this aint no forceless B&M. All the elements are taken at blistering speed, but with no nasty banging of ones head. There is some rattling towards the back of the train. But never will you get your ears boxed on Kumba. Very few Arrow loopers can make that same claim.

The loop over the lift hill is a pretty neat trick, and must have been a pretty neat visual back in 93 when they first opened this puppy to the public. And the dive loop is still my favorite inversion on the planet. Try that on an Arrow.

Im going to say that this is my second favorite ride at Busch Gardens Tamprica, behind Montu. Shakira just doesnt deliver for me in the way that this or Montu do.

5 Rating
0 Rating Rate Down Rate Up razor12 on 8/5/2007 9:39:00 PM - User's Top Ride #4
Kumba was my second favorite ride in the park. It was in amazing shape given its age. Every inversion seemed perfect! I sat on the back right and I swore I skimmed the grass on the last turn. This ride is a must.

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