Busch Gardens Serengeti Safari, a date with a giraffe named Cupid

Busch Gardens Tampa is more than just thrill rides. For the animal enthusiasts, the theme park offers unique animal encounters that will create lifelong memories. The Serengeti Safari is one of them.

Busch Gardens Tampa

The Serengeti Safari adventure allows guests a chance to be up close and personal with the animals on the Busch Garden Safari. In an open-air touring vehicle, guests travel out to the 65-acre Serengeti Plain. During the tour, guests see animals including, zebras, giraffes, ostriches and more. The tour culminates with a personal encounter with one of the giraffes.

The highlight of the tour being able to feed one of the Busch Gardens' giraffes. On the tour, our family met Cupid. Each guest was able to feed Cupid some lettuce. The giraffe would come to each guest and take a piece of lettuce. At one point, the guests could even pet the giraffe on the neck. The adventure gives guests a very intimate and unique experience with a breathtaking creature.

Here are some facts that guests learn on the adventure.

• To a giraffe, lettuce is like ice cream
• The giraffe has seven bones in its neck, just like a human
• The giraffe's tongue is darker in color to help reduce sunburn.
• A pack of giraffes is called a tower

The Serengeti Safari can be added to any Busch Gardens Tampa ticket admission purchase. Prices start at $39 and are subject to availability. The special tour is recommended for ages 5 and older. A camera or smartphone is highly recommended. Busch Gardens does provide a photographer and these photos can be purchased after the tour.