Kumba.

[-Kasbian-]

So I have planned to take down one of my fears, "Kumba", not this week coming but the one after. But I heard the craziest thing. The g-forces on this ride are 3.8g and space mountain in florida (The kiddie coaster) pulls out a sudden 3.5g?
Anywho, I want to do this but I am a little scared (but that just made me more calm^), what are your opinions on it.
I have done dueling dragons in the past but not in the last like 4-5 years because I am still a little scared of it.

[jackalope11]

kumba. kumba is totally fine
you got nothing to worry about, g-force wise. kumba was my first B&M above the track and I loved it. if yer like
totally freaked out from inversions, don't ride it
:up:

[-Kasbian-]

Actually, I am always scared of the first drop.
Dueling Dragons first drop was a horror for me.
I couldn't even scream anytime I went on it.

[The Trooper]

Well, the usual advice would be to go for it because you'll probably love it and want to go on again. Strange case with you since you've been on big coasters before.

Maybe you just don't really like rollercoasters lol. Just go for it anyway, you've been on others and know there's no danger. It's an experience, there are scarier rides out there anyway.

[Obi_Wan_Cannoli]

Kumba is amazing. My bro in law, who has serious claustrophobia and a fear of roller coasters. Hadn't been on anything but Thunder mountain for 10 years! I convinced him on Kumba last time we were there, he went, loved it, and went on everything in the park. :up: Chin up, it's a GREAT ride.

[-Kasbian-]

I love making them in RCT3 and starring at their beauty, but I am always afraid of the first drop.
Dueling Dragons was great except for the drop.

[The Trooper]

Well, they're meant to scare you, it's good in a way. If you enjoy the rest of the ride, it's worth the fear lol.

[-Kasbian-]

BUT I HATE THE FIRST DROP IF IT FEELS LIKE I AM FREE-FALLING!!!:cry:

[The Trooper]

Man up, you're not going to fall out.
Or close your eyes or something, really simple solutions.

[-Kasbian-]

Hahaha.
I really don't know how I got on DD.
All I remember saying was it looked cool....Then came the first drop.:cry:
But if I can do kumba then I have no problem with doing the Hulk right?

[TPM INC]

Well the way I get over that is riding the ride over and over and over again. That way your body will adjust to the free falling experience. Have you ever ridden a shot tower?? My tips are to start small and work your way up to Kumba.

You should ride the big ones as followed:

Cheetah Chase
Scorpion
Montu
Kumba
SkeiKra
Gwazi (left side freaked me out when I went but the ride side is WAY more intense)

Gwazi is either tied or more intense then SkeiKra. But Kumba is like right in the middle so you should feel alright.

Hahaha.
I really don't know how I got on DD.
All I remember saying was it looked cool....Then came the first drop.:cry:
But if I can do kumba then I have no problem with doing the Hulk right?

I've never rode Hulk but what I've seen and heard it's great and okay for you.

Another tip. Watch POV vids of the coasters on YT. It helps to know what your gonna ride before actually riding it.

[-Kasbian-]

Dr Doom's fear fall once this year.

[TPM INC]

How was it? Compare that to a roller coaster and if the tower was worse then Kumba's not a problem.

[Obi_Wan_Cannoli]

Well the way I get over that is riding the ride over and over and over again. That way your body will adjust to the free falling experience. Have you ever ridden a shot tower?? My tips are to start small and work your way up to Kumba.

You should ride the big ones as followed:

Cheetah Chase
Scorpion
Montu
Kumba
SkeiKra
Gwazi (left side freaked me out when I went but the ride side is WAY more intense)

Gwazi is either tied or more intense then SkeiKra. But Kumba is like right in the middle so you should feel alright.



I've never rode Hulk but what I've seen and heard it's great and okay for you.

Another tip. Watch POV vids of the coasters on YT. It helps to know what your gonna ride before actually riding it.

I don't quite agree. I'm going to list them by intensity, not "scariness" as that's relative.

Cheetah Chase
Scorpian
Sheikra (sheikra is NOT intense at all, just feels crazy!! lol)
Kumba
Monta
Gwazi (still scares the bejesus out of me every freaking time)

That's them listed by intensity, but Kumba is not scary either. The drop swoops too, so it's not really a "freefalling" feeling at all.

Don't pass it up, ride it, and all the other coasters in BG, you'll love em'.

[-Kasbian-]

You're kidding me. Sheikra's drop will be the end of my coaster loving experience!!
where I looked I heard it pulled 5g!!

But a swooping sounds better that what DD's drop was like.

[TPM INC]

Where have you looked this stuff up exactly??

[-Kasbian-]

Theme park insider.
they did a list of florida's greatest coasters.

[Obi_Wan_Cannoli]

You're kidding me. Sheikra's drop will be the end of my coaster loving experience!!
where I looked I heard it pulled 5g!!

But a swooping sounds better that what DD's drop was like.

LOL! 5 gs. haha. That's crazy. I've been on it many times, I can promise you, it's less intense on the stomach than Monta, Kumba, and Gwazi!

Spoken from someone who's been on all these coasters a lot. I do live in Florida you know. ;)

[TPM INC]

I've been on all of theme except for SkieKra and yeah no way it can pull 5 G's.

[-Kasbian-]

LOL! 5 gs. haha. That's crazy. I've been on it many times, I can promise you, it's less intense on the stomach than Monta, Kumba, and Gwazi!

Spoken from someone who's been on all these coasters a lot. I do live in Florida you know. ;)
I do to.
I just live near universal.;)
I've been on all of theme except for SkieKra and yeah no way it can pull 5 G's.
I have never been on it so I just took their advice.

[tycooner55]

Ride it! Kumba is one of the best coasters out there. You'll be glad you rode it.

[-Kasbian-]

But i'm still afraid.

[TPM INC]

Again watch videos and prepare yourself. once you ride it ride it again and again to get the feel of the drop. I used to do that when I rode Superman (Bizarro now) and now I can ride any coaster without noticing the weird feeling.

[-Kasbian-]

I just watched like 8 different ones.
The first drop doesn't look bad at all.
I seems very mellow but makes the cars a little bumpy.

[ytivarg]

Kumba was tons of fun, but it greyed me out every time I rode it at the bottom of the first drop. Could barely see through the entire vertical loop, finally regaining full vision going up into the dive loop. Same thing, each ride, front, middle, and back of the train.

I'm sure the HOT sun the day we went, and the beers with little else in my tummy contributed to this immensely... but it didn't detract me from riding it again. It's a really fun ride. The setting it's in is gorgeous... Ride it!

[jackalope11]

conquer yer freakin fears man. yer gonna love it.
:]

[Squid2]

Couple of notes... I would rate the coasters at BGT this way...

1. Cheetah Chase
2. Scorpion
3. Gwazi
4. Kumba
5. Montu
6. Sheikra

Based on your descriptions, that is the order you should ride them... the first 4 are normal "sit on the tracks" style coasters, while Montu is like DD and Sheikra is like Kraken at SWO, but more intense due to the two vertical drops and the hold at the top of the 1st drop.

As an experienced rider, there's no way those coasters are pulling 5 Gs... Mindbender at SFOG pulls just over 4 Gs for less than a second, (bottom of the dive loop, around 4.3 for about 1/5 of a second) and the Florida coasters are all less intense in feeling than that.

As for Hulk... well, Hulk's different. There's no conventional 1st drop. What seems to be scaring you is the waiting and the anticipation of that 1st drop. Hulk doesn't make you wait... once you go around the 1st curve out of the station and onto the lift hill.... you're gone. Hulk launches you out of the station at about around 40 mph, into a heartline roll, and then into the 1st drop. From personal experience... there's no time for you to be scared of the drop before you're in it.

Squid2

[luke_1990]

Yeah, I'd definitely give them all a shot, I don't know where you live or if your going on holiday, but you never know when you'll get another chance. I remember bricking it in the queue-line for Oblivion, but that queue-line is made to make you feel that way, then the second time it was just like any other ride. So yeah, I'd go for it, if you don't like it you don't have to go on it again.

[-Kasbian-]

No way in hell will I go on Gwazi.
Unless they let me put a pillow suit or something on.
Haha.
I have been on scorpion like 30 times already.
Scorpion I only found intense on the last helix.

[Avian]

Don't go on scorpion, the loop attempts to rip you in half! Very rough coaster... Kumba is very fun, a slight bit rough but not very, and only on parts of it. Relax, as the drop's really smooth, as I remember. Also, Shei-kra is the best ride in the park, hands down... It may as well be taboo to go to Busch Gardens and not ride it.

[-Kasbian-]

Haha. I'll REALLY have to think about it.

[randomperpie]

^^Scorpian was a surprise for me, no seatblets, that's a bonus.

Kumba is an amazing ride, maybe not as good as Montu, but nonw the less, it's amazing.

[-Kasbian-]

Haha. Montu will scare the bejesus out of me with those tunnels.

[Obi_Wan_Cannoli]

Montu is my favorite at the park. Kumba in a close second, sheikra in third. They are all amazing though.

[Wild 1]

No way in hell will I go on Gwazi.


Ride it, its not that bad really, people just complain about it and if you ride in the front seats you should be fine!

[ytivarg]

I only rode one side of Gwazi, and that was enough for me to not even want to bother with the silly "credit" of riding the other side. That thing was terrible. I would have loved to have ridden it when it was new, but.. it's no fun now.

[-Kasbian-]

Ride it, its not that bad really, people just complain about it and if you ride in the front seats you should be fine!
I did.
Every second of it sucked.
My butt hurt for the rest of the day.:sour:
I only rode one side of Gwazi, and that was enough for me to not even want to bother with the silly "credit" of riding the other side. That thing was terrible. I would have loved to have ridden it when it was new, but.. it's no fun now.
See... I rest my case!!

[jackalope11]

well, I mean gwazi is on the "rough side" of GCI's. When I went on it lion was closed, but I did tiger 4 times.
Itsa pretty good coaster once you get pass the rough.

[The Ghost]

^ Wierd, when I went on Gwazi 2 years ago it wasn't rough at all. Must have been because it was the morning or something.

Now, if you want a REALLY rough GCI, you should have ridden Wildcat at Hershey before they put the millenium flyers in. That was one hell of a rattler.

[ytivarg]

I rode the second to last seat of the turquoise train. Lion? I don't recall.

[Brawlstar032196]

Turqoise it Tiger, I'm pretty sure.

Kasbian, just try closin your eyes down the first drop, and im agine you're flying..... or something along those boundaries.
Whenever I ride rides that I'm scared of, which NEVER happens anymore, It was only with my first upside down coaster when I was like, 7. But the closing your eyes thing works, well, for me at least.


Good luck.

[Obi_Wan_Cannoli]

Gwazi is crazy as hell, but it remains an old favorite of mine. It's just so damn fun! :D

[TPM INC]

Gwazi is crazy as hell, but it remains an old favorite of mine. It's just so damn fun! :D

The best ride at BG in my books. Then comes SheiKra and Kumba.

[jackalope11]

I guess when I did it it wasnt running to well.

[randomperpie]

Gwazi ain't bad, it may be the worst GCI, but it's the Worst of the Best.

My order:
Montu (#1 overall),SheiKra, Kumba, Gwazi, Scorpian, Cheetah Chase

Enjoy them all, cause all but Cheetah Chase are good rides.

[jackalope11]

I came 6 DAYS before sheiKra opened.

[TPM INC]

I came 6 DAYS before sheiKra opened.

That stinks. I've been there when it was open but I didn't feel like riding it that day (just wasn't up to it).

[The Trooper]

I came 6 DAYS before sheiKra opened.

Wow, you like rollercoasters a little too much methinks...

[-Kasbian-]

Not to go of topic but I heard T-Express and (I believe the name is..) balder were very rough.

[jackalope11]

where did you hear that??

[iDelphi]

Best Coaster at Busch Gardens, its blows SheiKra away.

[Cedar Point]

Wow, you like rollercoasters a little too much methinks...
/thread

[SnooSnoo]

This thread was over about 15 posts ago.

[Cedar Point]

This thread was over about 15 posts ago.
/thread

[-Kasbian-]

How about a theme park/ rollercoaster review thread?
I mean it sounds like a good Idea.;):up:

[jackalope11]

you can create it.

[-Kasbian-]

The Write-Up Block (http://www.ataricommunity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=682689)

[RCTfangirl]

I know exactly how you feel. When I broke my 200 ft + virginity last year on Behemoth, I almost cried while waiting in line watching it go. I closed my eyes on the lift hill because the anticipation was just unbearable. But going down the first drop I tried to scream and ended up laughing hysterically non stop for the rest of it. And before I knew it, it was over and I was still laughing.

If you feel really scared, just scream, it will make you feel better and gets the adrenaline rushing. And remember whatever you do, DON'T hold your breath. Scream, laugh, yell or whatever. Holding your breath is definately not the best thing for a high g force ride. (I know that cuz I learned that the hard way with Titan and Flight Deck)

[jackalope11]

But going down the first drop I tried to scream and ended up laughing hysterically non stop for the rest of it.

you shoulda seen me on millenium force.

[-Kasbian-]

Strap in for a ride on the best steel looper on the planet. I’ve reviewed the rest of my top ten (http://www.thecoastercritic.com/2006/04/top-coasters.html), for my 300th post I figured it’d be fitting if I reviewed my favorite roller coaster. These days there’s nothing special about a roller coaster with seven loops. The way Kumba at Busch Gardens Africa (Tampa, FL) integrates it’s twisted layout with the lush tropical terrain makes it a world-class roller coaster and my favorite of the 100-plus that I’ve ridden. Welcome to the Jungle
Tucked away back beyond the tiger pits, deep in Busch Gardens Africa’s Congo section lies Kumba. You’re welcomed to this corner of the park by Kumba’s roar, the sound the yellow trains make as they traverse the twisted teal steel. Fittingly, Kumba means ‘roar’ in an African Congo language.

After boarding the comfortable trains, you exit right out of the station.The trains starts its ascent and you can’t help but notice the enormous tear drop-shaped loop that you pass through as you climb. Tension builds as you reach the crest and the train dips a bit as it leaves the chain lift. Next, the train takes a swooping 13-story drop to the ground below. The train roars to top speed along the ground, setting you up for the first of your seven inversion trip. The train rockets back toward the sky into the once record breaking vertical loop. If you take the time to look upward you can see the lift hill that you’re flying over.
The Dive Loop & Zero-G Roll
The underrated dive loop really shines on Kumba. The seldom mentioned positive g-forces as you exit this loop and return to the ground are brief, but forceful. Next, you rise back up and into steel coaster bliss. The zero-g roll (or camelback as B&M calls it) is a buttery smooth maneuver where the train makes a fighter jet like spin. As it’s name suggests there’s a moment of weightlessness. This is arguably one of the most popular or types of loops out there and here it’s executed for probably one of the first times ever, flawlessly. After the roll, the train drops back to the earth and rides along a straight section of track in a ravine.
Cobra Roll With a Purpose
The cobra roll is another run of the mill inversion by today’s standards, but was beautifully executed on Kumba. It consists of two nearly back-to-back inversions and is typically feels a little thrown in to up the loop count. On Kumba, the cobra roll wraps around a path bridge. Passerbys are frozen in their tracks as they look up and marvel at the beast that just roared overhead twisting in the air and then disappearing back into the jungle.
Interlocking Corkscrews & a Dark Finale
By now, most coasters would be over. You’ve already been spun upside-down five times, but thankfully Kumba’s not through with you. You have just a moment to catch your breath as you enter a mid-course brake run. Next, the train dives into a set of corkscrews (or flat spin as B&M calls them). Instead of the typical way of executing two back-to-back corkscrews resulting in a bit of dizziness and disorientation (not that’s there’s anything wrong with that), the train enters a transitional curve. Then you roar through the second corkscrew which is final inversion on your trip. The train dives below a walking path and then flies right by the station giving perspective riders a glimpse at their future. Kumba finishes strong with a brief, but dark and rocky tunnel and a upward helix with some surprising g-forces.
Kumba: A Piece of History
In 1993, this was Bolliger & Mabillard’s (http://www.thecoastercritic.com/search/label/bolliger%20and%20mabillard) first foray into seated steel loopers. Oddly, they had created a number of stand-up coasters before venturing into other types. Busch ordered two steel loopers, one for Busch Gardens Europe (http://www.thecoastercritic.com/2007/02/busch-gardens-europe-theme-park-reviews.html) and one for Busch Gardens Africa. B&M declined the Williamsburg project and Busch pursued Drachen Fire (http://www.thecoastercritic.com/2007/11/drachen-fire-busch-gardens-defunct.html) with Arrow. B&M would go onto create countless thrill rides and crowd-pleasers, many of which use inversions first seen on Kumba. Hulk at IOA (http://www.thecoastercritic.com/2008/02/incredible-hulk-coaster-islands-of.html), Medusa at Great Adventure (http://www.thecoastercritic.com/2007/07/six-flags-great-adventure-theme-park.html). But in my opinion, they haven’t topped Kumba’s perfect pacing, beautiful tropical atmosphere, inventive layout that interacts with the track and surroundings.
For the fun, re-ridable, and thrilling adventure that Kumba offers, its my favorite roller coaster. According to the latest Internet Coaster Poll it still fares pretty well for a 15 year old coaster. I highly recommend it the next time you’re in the Tampa area. Final Rating 10.0 (Superior)
Check out this professional onride video of Kumba at Busch Gardens Africa:

August 2, 2009 is the day I face this beast. ^That didn't even help me one bit.:p

[RCInsider]

You should not worry. It will be very smooth considering it is a B&M, and in the end, is not that scary. Especially since my sister who was once scared of coasters looked at Viper and said she would try it, only to find it jumpstarted a coaster addiction!

[-Kasbian-]

I like coasters but I have a phobia of the first drop of the ride.

[RCInsider]

Oh. well, honestly, Kumba does not have that much of a drop, and it twists around taking out the magnitude of the drop. What is your favorite coaster anyway?

[-Kasbian-]

Revenge Of The Mummy.
I have been on Dueling dragons before but I am still scared of the hulk.

[RCInsider]

Well there you go! Reveng eof the Mummy launches into descent sized drops and Dueling Dragons sure doesn't have little drops.

[-Kasbian-]

So what are you trying to prove??

[RCInsider]

Big drops are not so bad since you have a favorite coaster that does indeed not have small drops but rather large ones at that.

[-Kasbian-]

Mummy isn' intense at all to me. Sure a little bumpy but I have a phobia for that free fall feeling.

[Obi_Wan_Cannoli]

You don't get that on Kumba's first drop. The first drop swoops to the left around 240 degrees (me thinks) and there isn't that freefall feeling. It's an amazing coaster, B&M at it's best, and you'll love it.

[-Kasbian-]

Well thanks for your encouragement Obi_Wan!
Since I just scared my friend to death he said he's gonna drag me on no matter what. :p

[DwadeMelo]

How was it! :p

[-Kasbian-]

Due to the bad weather I didn't get to do it.
They would close the rides everytime there was a storm five miles away.
I didn't even get to do Gwazi.
Just Tidal Wave (Sucked), Scorpion (Mediocre), The Wild Surge (Best Ride There since nothing else would stay open), Tiger Exhibit (Best Because Of The Pop-Up!!)

[Gilo]

I was about to comment and say how much I hate this thread. It's the same thing over and over.

Although I know how suckish it is when it rains hard at Busch. I was stuck in the middle of a thunderstorm last week for 2 hours in Kumba's station.

The wild surge is awesome :D I think Jungala's rides are cool.

[Oriolesmagic]

Well Drop Towers are my fear. I have no problem with any roller coasters. Coming from a guy who rode TTD 3 times that last time I was there. Just know that riding a roller coaster is way safer then say, driving a car. Which we have no problem with right?

[-Kasbian-]

Well Drop Towers are my fear. I have no problem with any roller coasters. Coming from a guy who rode TTD 3 times that last time I was there. Just know that riding a roller coaster is way safer then say, driving a car. Which we have no problem with right?
I love drop towers.
I just don't like some of the high negative and postive g's I get on some of the rides.