SNEAK PEEK: The NEW Wild Oasis Realm coming this spring to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay!

“North America's most immersive kid-friendly adventure realm” is heading to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay this spring with the unveiling of the Wild Oasis Realm in Jungala!

These aren't our words but those of Erick Elliott, VP of Design and Engineering at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

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The park just announced even MORE exciting details about the re-imagination of the Jungala area of the park, and as a mom of a 9-year-old and a tween, I can tell you I'm super excited about this much-needed activity for older kids–that still provides a fun space to play for little kids to.

We went on the hard hat tour and got a chance to speak with the people who are bringing this new realm for kids to life, so let's dive in on all of the details!

Where is the Wild Oasis Realm located in the park?

It's in the Jungala area of the park, which is pretty much as far back as you can walk, but it will be worth every step. And it's right next to the Chick-fil-A at the park, which is a win!

If you've been going to Busch Gardens for a while, you may recall the old Jungla climbing area that closed in 2008—this is a re-imagination of this climbing park.

The bones will remain the same, but the theme is changing, and they are redoing pretty much everything, including introducing new animals and replacing the drop ride.

Ok, so what can we expect exactly?

Wild Oasis is going to be the perfect place to disconnect and play, especially for older kids who are too old for Sesame Street Safari of Fun. It's also a great alternative for older kids who aren't quite ready for the thrills of roller coasters like Iron Gwazi, even if they are tall enough. (No judgment here…I still can't do rides!)

Those who remember the old realm will immediately notice a change in the theme when they walk in this spring. There is a new story being told in this area of the park, with a focus on the jungles of South America and the Amazon.

“We thought this was a really great place to expand and represent more stories, more species, and more animals, so that was one of the huge inspirations to bring those stories to life,” explained Nicholas Pelisek, creative design manager on the project with United Parks.

This new story will be told through new design elements, colors, new animals, and a new ride.

Tell me more about the new ride at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay!

Speaking of rides, Busch Gardens will be replacing the old drop tower ride with the ALL-NEW Tree Top Drop that will ascend you to the tree tops before dropping a thrilling 35 feet.

They'll be incorporating technology with lights, sound, and lasers to make it an even more immersive experience.  The ride will also feature three different storylines, so it could be different each time you ride during your visit.

14 riders will get to ride at the same time, with a row of seven on each side. Kids only have to be 38 inches tall to ride with an adult and 42 inches to ride alone.

There is even a viewing window where parents can take great pics of their kids.

Tree Top Drop is replacing the old drop ride, Wild Surge.

Tree Top Drop will join Phoenix Rising as new rides built with families in mind.

What else can we expect to do in this new realm?

The climbing tunnels will return, and so will the splash pad. But like the rest of the realm, they'll all have a new look. You can also expect to see new animals never before seen at Busch Gardens. Here's what we know so far:

NEW Canopy Climb:

We're super excited about this because we love anything that is active for our kids! The former support structures are there, but they'll get new paint and new rope climbing tunnels that will take you through the tree tops through 200 feet of horizontal climbing trails and vertical climbing trails that will ascend up to 45 feet.

We asked if adults could climb too, and we were told YES, so you can really mean it when you tell the kids…”Don't make me come up there and get you!”

For the younger kids, there will be a new dry play area with a smaller climbing structure where the older–located in the area where the toddler splash pad used to be.

NEW Enchanted Falls:

The splash pad will get a whole new jungle-themed look along with an interactive waterfall, which will be perfect for hot summer days–and hot spring, fall, and winter days because… Florida.

“We’ve got this waterfall, so you’ll be able to get up close to it and engage with the waterfall as part of the play. We’ve also got the splash towers, geysers in the ground, and water going everywhere. It’s going to be great. There are a few interactive components to that splash pad that we are sort of dialing up from the origianl version,” said Nicholas Pelisek, the Creative Design Manager on the project.

Pelisek also tells us there will be plenty of shade and seating for parents and caregivers to sit back and relax while the kids play!

NEW Habitat Hideaway

The animal habitat is also getting a makeover, and new residents! You can expect to see Capybaras, Squirrel Monkeys, Giant Anteaters, and tropical birds.

You'll be able to view from the ground and even on a second-story level, which are all wheelchair-accessible and stroller accessible.

“You are quite literally going to get a bird's eye view of our birds, but also our squirrel monkeys as they traverse the habitats. And then, when you exit the second level and go back to the ground floor, you’ll have the opportunity to see the giant anteaters on the ground, but also the underwater viewing area for the capybara. So, there are lots of really cool opportunities to see animals interacting with their environment as they would normally interact with their environment in the South American ecosystem,” explained Kayla Wendzel, Zoological Curator of Wild Oasis at Busch Gardens.

She tells us they put a lot of thought and research into selecting the animals for this new realm, “It’s actually a collaborative process with our creative design and engineering team. It’s a process of designing that habitat, so it’s a really big part of understanding which animals should and shouldn’t be with us; we are also taking things into account, like climate. We have a really warm climate, so we are looking at what animals will adapt well to our climate.”

She added, “We are also looking at what animals will adapt well to each other, and of course, we want to make sure all of these animals are coming to us in a really responsible way, so we are working with species survival plans across the country and other zoos across the country as well,” she added.

NEW Rainforest Quest

Kids who love a good scavenger hunt will love Rainforest Quest. It will be a chance for them to explore the realm and find clues, but also learn more about the animals of the South American jungle and the animals who call Busch Gardens home.

How to Experience Wild Oasis Realm

Access to Wild Oasis Realm will be included in general admission, Annual Passes, and Fun Cards.

If you want to be the first to explore the all-new Wild Oasis, you can purchase a 2025 Busch Gardens Annual Pass, which includes exclusive access to the attraction before it opens to the public, plus the opportunity to enjoy benefits like free parking, free guest tickets, exciting monthly rewards, in-park discounts, and exclusive experiences.

For a limited time, guests who purchase a 2025 annual pass will also receive an upgrade to the next pass tier level for free.

Rendering courtesy of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay