Is Busch Gardens Removing Kumba? (RUMOR, NOW OUTDATED)

Rumors have surfaced involving a fan favorite- Kumba, the classic B&M sit down multi-looper from Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, might be biting the dust. If so, this would make it the only other B&M coaster to get removed asides from Dragon Challenge. But why would the park remove it? And what could be coming next?

Follow Coaster Studios on social media!
Twitter: @coasterstudios
Instagram: coaster_studios
This is How We Roll is also on Instagram: @thisishowwerollmovie

Want to mail us something? Send it to:
Coaster Studios
P.O. Box 1354
Midlothian, VA 23113

MY GEAR:
Sony a6500
35mm Lens
18-105mm lens
18-135mm lens
70-350mm lens
Sony ZV-1
GoPro Hero 7 & 9
DJI Mavic Pro 2
Sennheiser MKE 600
Zoom H1n
MOZA AirCross Gimbal
AT2020

Thanks to everyone who's helps make Coaster Studios possible!
Production, Filming, & Editing: Sarah Anderson
Logo: Kristopher Werner
Intro: Casey Rentmeester

© Coaster Studios. All rights reserved. No part of this video can be reproduced or redistributed without permission from Taylor Bybee, Coaster Studios owner and creator. For permission requests, see email above. Use without consent with or without credit is in direct violation of copyright law. Cropping out the Coaster Studios watermarked logo is strictly prohibited.

[Tay_Sports]

Kumba is a phenomenal ride due to its speed and intensity. But, I rode it last week and it has gotten a bit rough over the years. Maybe getting the Hulk treatment wouldn't be so bad :)

[evanweston]

Kumba is one of the most important roller coasters of all time and remains one of B&M’s greatest creations to this day. It should be an ACE landmark, not up for removal.

[nickrawlings]

Considering I like Kumba more than Orion I would rather them keep it. It's a beautiful ride, so much fun, and the setting is incredible. Not to mention the roar which is unlike anything else.

[metraking]

I personally don’t feel Kumba will be going anywhere anytime soon as it really wouldn’t be a smart business decision. It still runs fine, doesn’t have much downtime and people still love it. I’d say move the employee lot elsewhere & start using that empty plot of land and put in a Giga & and maybe a GCI Woodie

[ThemeParkAvenue]

I’m sure it’s staying. It just doesn’t seem right for the park to remove a coaster right after Iron Gwazi opened. Maybe in a few years, but not before then.

[jeremyAyeH]

Man this makes me sad to see this speculative video come out - I just rode it for the first time just over a week ago and I got off with my jaw dropped. I have NEVER felt such sustained and wild intensity as that beast of a coaster. Made sure to ride it immediately at least one more time after before I made my way back to the front of the park because it was that special and insane of an experience. I'll be sad if I never ride it again.

[FeedYourGreed]

Kumba has always been larger than life to me. Really love how photogenic it is. Still a great ride too - wouldn’t be mad with a retrack, but would make total sense for Busch Gardens to just remove and replace with something new and flashy. Either way, it’s a classic, there’s no doubt.

[KoasterKrieger]

Busch Gardens Tampa already made it official today that Kumba is NOT being removed

[rapunzel]

Yeah, Kumba is pretty old but BGTB takes great care of her. Every time I ride I think, ok, that wasn't as rough as I expected.
Whatever coaster they replace her with, please leave room for a nice dark ride.

[mr.rollercoasters]

Busch Gardens Tampa confirmed itself that it's staying

[HyperionRSK]

Honestly, this past weekend I rode Kumba twice and I didn’t get the head banging that other people talk about. But Montu almost knocked my head clean off in the front row.

[jaysoncowan]

The park commented on a post suggests it’s closing saying ‘why the fake news tho’ 😂

[rue]

I wouldn't mind a Hulk treatment for Kumba, so long as they manage to keep the iconic roar. Hulk's roar was weakened by the retrack if I remember correctly, but it's a major reason why Kumba is a staple at Busch Gardens. I hope they don't get rid of it completely; it was one of my first big boy credits, I don't want it joining Python and Dueling Dragons in the nostalgic scrap heap.

[PigsRMyFrens]

I can’t imagine it being gone. It’s an icon for the park.

[abesan]

They should do the Hulk treatment, and later on, put a new roller coaster behind Jungala. Make the closed restaurant Orang Cafe the entrance and put the ride near the water in the back, there’s a lot of space.

[TonyKimtheamusementparkfan]

WHAT??? KUMBA BEING GONE???? This is one of B&M's most intense and best coasters, and I can't see this ride gone. It's so popular with the guests, and this ride has been so reliable for almost 30 years now, which is insane. Busch Gardens has kept this ride strong and has had no major issues, which is amazing for a 30 year old ride, and this news sounds like a lie :(

[george-pimo]

i really hope they retrack it like hulk and nemesis rather than remove it :/

[ameadowz]

A giga would be cool, but the city of Tampa has a height limit on the park, the only way they can build a giga would be to have it on a much lower elevation than the rest of the park, and that’s not realistic down here in Florida

[crocky]

When I rode Kumba in 2019 I personally found it really rough, but I know lots of people enjoy it so it would be sad to see it go

[ItsSiebay]

I don’t think they’d remove this any time soon given its popularity.