As rumored earlier, Kumba is indeed closing forever on August 2, 2026 and silencing the iconic roar forever. The park made it official with a release on social media today. This is sad for sure and August 2nd will be a dark day in the coaster community with the closure of both ArieForce One and Kumba on the same day. However, in the sadness there is some intrigue as the park simultaneously announced a new attraction to replace it called Kumba’s Revenge as part of a $100 million project. Could this be the much rumored Giga Coaster for Busch Gardens? Time will tell I guess, but today is a time to reflect and enjoy what we’re losing, we can focus on the future after August 2nd. Kumba was a beast and provided kinetic beauty and iconic sound to the back of the park. Enjoy these last few weeks with Kumba and hope to see you at the park!

After 33 years, it’s time for Kumba to take its final roar on August 2nd…

Debuting in 1993, Kumba set a new standard for thrill rides! It was Florida’s tallest, fastest, and longest roller coaster when it opened, and it featured the world’s tallest vertical loop. From its 7 exhilarating inversions to its iconic roar sound, Kumba has left its mark on Busch Gardens and will be remembered as an icon of the park.

While Kumba may be retiring this summer, Busch Gardens is dedicated to thrilling the next generation of coaster enthusiasts by continuing the Kumba story. As part of our evolution and commitment to delivering innovative attractions, we are happy to announce Kumba’s Revenge! This new attraction is a part of our $100 million investment that will elevate Busch Gardens as Florida’s thrill leader and enhance our guest experience.

Kumba’s Revenge is an extension of an already legendary coaster, and it will allow its spirit to live on as we enter a new era of thrills. The legend of Kumba will continue…Stay tuned for this brand-new adventure! 🎢

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I wanted to give a shout-out to new park President Jon Vigue for how the park handled this announcement once rumors started flying by giving us more advance warning than we did on Scorpion and for providing hope for the future with Kumba’s Revenge! There is no good way to handle a closure of a fan favorite, but I appreciate the transparency both Busch Gardens and Fun Spot have shown in quickly confirming the rumors once they got started. $100 million is a lot of money, but the new coaster is said to be part of the $100 million investment. I assume that total includes the new water ride and new animal habitat being built now with the new coaster probably slated for 2028 and being about $30 million. It’s great to see United Parks investing in Busch Gardens Tampa, but it’s unfortunate it came at the high cost of losing Kumba. Kumba’s Revenge will have a lot to live up to (and hopefully it does).