Congo River Rapids vs Stanley Falls Flume in Busch Gardens: Beat the Heat with a Big Splash!

A visit to Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida—especially on a warm summer day—is the perfect excuse to check out the park’s water rides. Two of the most popular are Congo River Rapids and Stanley Falls Flume. Let’s look at both and see how they measure up to each other!

Congo River Rapids

The Congo River Rapids is not for the faint of heart.

This one is a true drencher, soaking you to the skin as if you just took a dip in the Gulf of Mexico. With jets and waterfalls, along with a water cave, this ride is a perfect choice if you’re really looking to cool off! Just be aware of any spectators watching the rides—they have the ability to spray you with the jets along the way!

The ride starts out calmly enough, picking up momentum as you get closer to the end. After you pass through the cave (which echoes with the sound of water churning overhead), the ride gets bumpy and twisty. You’ll then be well on your way to passing the waterfalls, which signal the grand finale.

The beauty of the Congo River Rapids is that it will never feel like the same ride twice. Every time you ride, the bumps and splashes will be in different places, adding to the anticipation of riding it multiple times within a single visit to the park. (And if you plan to do that, then you may want to consider purchasing the Quick Queue Pass from the park!)

To experience Florida’s best water rides, you’ll definitely want to take the plunge and ride the Congo River Rapids! It made history for being the state’s first river rapids ride.

History of the Congo River Rapids

The launching of this ride signified Busch Garden’s new Congo section, which debuted in 1982. The ride was designed to bring a taste of the Congo River to the park’s visitors. The Congo River is the world’s deepest, and its entirety is spread out through nine countries. It is also only number two on the list of Africa’s longest rivers.
Of the river’s three regions, Congo River Rapids was designed to simulate the lower region, which is where the falls and gorges can be seen.

Other Congo Rides At Busch Gardens Tampa

After you’ve ridden the Congo River Rapids, a great way to get dry is to hop on the Congo section’s other rides. One of them is the Kumba Roller Coaster, which includes a 360-degree loop and a 135-foot drop.

The other is the Serengeti Express Train. It’s a great way to catch your breath and enjoy some views of the park. In addition, your train trip is part safari, as you’re likely to spot giraffes, and if you look closely, possibly even antelopes! The train will also take you to the Stanley area of the park so you can experience a slower-paced water ride. (Phew!)

If you decide you want to go back and ride the Congo River Rapids again, the Serengeti Express Train will take you directly to the station that puts you near this popular attraction.

Incidentally, the middle of the Congo River used to be referred to as the Stanley Falls, which is where the park’s other major water ride attraction gets its name from.

Stanley Falls Flume

Compared to Congo River Rapids, the Stanley Falls Flume is a much calmer ride. If you have kids in your party, this one may be a better choice. It takes you through a jungle setting to a splashdown where you will drop 40 feet. With a waterfall and geyser, it’s impossible to avoid getting wet—which is the mark of a good water ride!

The Stanley Falls Flume made history as Busch Garden Tampa’s first-ever water ride when it debuted in 1973. At that time it was called The Barrel Flume Ride and had the distinction of being the park’s first thrill ride, taking visitors on a journey through a jungle-like setting. It’s undergone some refurbishments over the years, but the ride has always remained extremely popular with park visitors.

Since Stanley Falls Flume is still such a popular ride, the wait for it can be long. But the good news is that—just like for Congo River Rapids—you can use the park’s Quick Queue Pass to get to the front of the line quickly. The pass will cost you, but most visitors agree that the time it saves makes it worthwhile, especially if you plan to ride more than once during your time in the park. (Note that there is also a version of the Quick Queue Pass that you can purchase for any children in your party.)

Like Congo River Rapids, the Stanley Falls flume was designed to resemble a real-life water attraction, Bayoma Falls, whose original name was Stanley Falls. It runs for 60 miles through the Congo.

Which Ride Should You Choose?

Before you plan to hop on either ride, it helps to know the height requirements. For the Congo River Rapids, the minimum height for riders is 42 inches, but for the Stanley Falls Flume, it is 46 inches.

It should be noted that if you have children that are too short for the ride, Busch Gardens Tampa does offer child swap passes so you and your adult companions can experience the ride anyway.

In addition to the height requirement, stop and consider how wet you are willing to get. If you don’t mind getting soaked, Congo River Rapids is the ride for you! But if you’d rather not be waterlogged the rest of the day, you may prefer the Stanley Falls Flume.

Either way, you’ll be waiting for a while to ride as these are both among the park’s most popular attractions. This is why the Quick Queue Pass is recommended for both rides.

Whether you choose to ride one or both, you’re sure to have a great time! These two rides are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what Busch Gardens Tampa has to offer!

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