NEW YORK — Beginning April 30, 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."