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Congo River Rapids
River Rapids at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Tampa, Florida. Opened 1982.
- Height
- n/a
- Drop
- n/a
- Top speed
- n/a
- Length
- 1,380 ft
- Inversions
- n/a
- Ride time
- n/a
- Designer
- Intamin
Congo River Rapids is a river rapids ride in the Congo area of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida. Built by Intamin, the 1,380-foot ride opened on May 26, 1982. The Congo section was also home to the Kumba roller coaster until it closed in 2026.
Rafts twirl down a fast-flowing river past waterfalls and through a water cave. Riders should expect to get soaked: spray jets line the course, and guests standing on the banks can fire jets of water at passing boats.
The park lists Congo River Rapids as a kid-friendly water ride. The minimum rider height is 42 inches.
Sources
- buschgardens.com/tampa/rides/congo-river-rapids (Park page: operating water ride themed to the Congo; plunges, waterfalls and a water cave; spray jets, including jets bystanders fire at riders; kid-friendly.)
- buschgardens.com/tampa/rides (Park ride list: Congo River Rapids, whitewater rafting with spouting jets, waterfalls and water caves; 42-inch minimum height.)
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Busch_Gardens_Tampa_Bay ('The 1,380-foot (420 m) Intamin Congo River Rapids ride opened on May 26' (1982); 'Congo River Rapids, an Intamin River Rapids ride, opened in 1982'; Kumba closed in 2026.)
Numbers are from the ride's manufacturer and park where published; "n/a" means we have not confirmed that number yet. Spotted an error? Tell us.