Busch Gardens Tampa Bay officially opened the all-new Lion & Hyena Ridge on Saturday, July 25th. The new area is massive at 38,000 square feet and houses the largest coalition of lions in an Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) accredited facility. Guests will have the chance to meet lions Pascal, Lou, Hugo, Henri and Herman and hyenas Dazi and Cazi. The exhibit offers incredible 270-degree views of the habitat which mimics an authentic environment with Kopje-style rock formations and naturalistic terrain. Designed to deliver an immersive safari-style experience, Lion & Hyena Ridge features expansive glass viewing areas that offer guests remarkable face-to-face perspectives of the animals. Guests can also explore interactive cave spaces and cross overhead bridges, creating unique vantage points throughout the expansive habitat.

The Roar of the park’s lions Soon to be the Only Roar with the Closing of Kumba

Lions and Hyenas occupy the same area in nature and they do in this habitat as well, however because they are rivals they do not occupy the same habitat areas at the same time. The habitat includes climbing structures, water elements and specially designed heated and cooled rocks, providing the lions and hyenas with opportunities to play, explore and choose comfortable areas throughout the day. The animals can also rotate between different areas of the habitat, offering enrichment and variety while allowing guests to experience both species. Guest will learn about the natural interplay/rivalry between the two species as well as how encroaching humanity affects both species.

Busch Gardens is undergoing massive change as part of a $200 million overhaul. Kumba is closing August 2, 2026 and that follows the recent closure of Stanley Falls and before that of Scorpion. Thankfully though, many of the lost attractions are replaced by something new like the already announced Kumba’s Revenge and a new water attraction replacing Stanley Falls. The rides get a lot of the attention, but the animals are a huge part of the park’s identity. The iconic roar of the Kumba roller coaster will soon fall silent, but just a short walk across the park guests will hear the roar of real lions at Lion & Hyena Ridge. Hopefully in the coming months Busch Gardens will release more details about Kumba’s Revenge and the new water ride so we can see how this massive overhaul will come together.