Beginning April 30 2001, visitors to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Tampa, Fla. will be able to climb aboard special, 18-seat Land Rover Defender 110s for "Rhino Rally," billed as the world's boldest off- road safari and wild-river adventure. The fully-operating, customized Land Rovers will take guests on an innovative tour through 16 acres of the park's world-renowned "Serengeti Plain," giving them a close-up look at free-roaming rhinoceroses, elephants, Cape buffalo, crocodiles, zebra, flamingoes and other exotic African species.
"Land Rovers have been universal symbols for off-road adventure and safari for over 50 years," said Howard Mosher, president and CEO of Land Rover North America, Inc. "These fully-operating Defender 110s, customized in-house by Land Rover, will add greatly to the authenticity and excitement of the Busch Gardens 'Rhino Rally' experience. We're proud to be an integral part of the adventure."
Rhino Rally is an eight-minute or longer, two-part adventure ride that lets up to 17 guests view more than 100 exotic African animals in an on-land safari -- that is, before their Land Rover Defender is swept away in a raging flash of whitewater from which it must "escape."
"Rhino Rally cannot be compared to any other attraction in the global theme park industry," said Mark Rose, vice president of design and engineering for Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. "The up-close animal experiences, coupled with the Land Rover journey and surprise elements, including a water ride, make Rhino Rally the most innovative attraction in the world."
The working Land Rover Defenders used in the Rhino Rally are modified extensively to seat up to 17 passengers and one driver. Their 110-inch wheelbases have been stretched to 147 inches to accommodate the passengers. Four roof-mounted fog lamps illuminate the terrain of the park's "Serengeti Plain." A full complement of off-road equipment, including spare tires, a tire jack, ladders and full brush bars add to the authenticity of the vehicles.
Snorkels -- elevated air intake mounts attached to many Land Rovers used in extreme off-road adventures -- allow the vehicle's engine to take in air during the wild-river portion of the Rhino Rally adventure. The Defender vehicles, of which 16 were built for Busch Gardens Tampa Bay's Rhino Rally, were manufactured in the United Kingdom by Land Rover and modified in-house by Land Rover Special Vehicles, an operation that builds specialty one-off and fleet vehicles for individuals and government or organizations, including militaries.
Complete Rhino Rally information, including ride and animal facts, bit streaming animation and video can be found at www.rhinorally.com .
Since it opened in March 1959, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has been a pioneer in wildlife conservation and preservation. More than two dozen endangered and threatened exotic species from around the world reside at the park. In 1965 it became the world's first zoo featuring free-roaming herds of majestic African species. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is one of the Anheuser Busch Adventure Parks.
