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Written by Eric
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Saturday, 19 January 2008 |
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Sheikra
Busch Gardens Africa
Review by Comet
 | Once entering the park, I advise you to go right for Sheikra. Standing 200 feet above the Stanleyville section of the park, this ride is easy to find. If it is your first time at the park or you don't know where to go, follow the signs because they lead you right up to the entrance.
The queue for this ride never really does get to long. Mainly due great operations and hourly capacity. Even if the line is long, the queue is pretty well themed and offers a lot of shade for a hot day. |
Towards the end of the queue, you will head up 3 ramps to the loading station. There are actually two separate loading stations, which only helps the ride's already great capacity. You then pick which row you would like, the front, the middle, or the back. I suggest waiting for the back. The line for this row is never any longer than the middle, and is always going to be shorter than the front, although none of the lines are ever long due to eight across seating.
Putting aside the wait time, the back also delivers the best ride experience in my opinion. Don't worry about an obstructed view in the back either, because the stadium style seating takes care of that. I also suggest attempting to get an outside seat if possible.
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 | Once departing from the station you do a quick swoop and rise into the lift hill. This lift hill is an experience in itself, being extremely steep. It also gives outstanding views of the park and even downtown Tampa if you're seated towards the left side of your row. At the top of the lift you turn 180 degrees towards the 90 degree drop.
There is holding brakes at the top of the drop, but they aren't that effective for any row but the front. This is probably the only advantage of the front over the back.
The 200 foot drop is simply amazing. The experience is unforgettable, and is better than almost any other drop in the world.
Before entering the next element, you're picture is taken, so I advise you to be aware.This next element is a giant Immelman which provides some nice hang time at the top. Upon leaving the inversion, you go up a spiraling hill into a brake run.
From this brake run you will drop again at an angle of 90 degrees. This drop is also amazing especially in the back, because it seems as if you are whipped over the top causing some great air. The drop will take you into an underground straightaway.
| At the end of the turnaround you rise up into a hammerhead like turnaround. This turnaround leads into a huge water splash. Although you don't really even notice the splash while on the ride, when watching the ride, the massive wave it creates is impossible to miss.
The water splash also marks the end to the ride, leaving only a slow paced turnaround into the brake run.
You leave the station through a spiral staircase that leads you directly into a gift and on ride photo shop.
|  | Ride Experience: 9/10
Theming: 7/10
Overall: 9/10
Comet's Rank: 3
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