Gwazi (Tiger) Front Seat on-ride HD POV Busch Gardens Tampa

You might have already watched our on-ride video of the Lion side of this great dueling GCI (Great Coasters International) wooden coaster, so here's your chance to check out what the Tiger side was like before it closed in 2012. The park also recently confirmed that the Lion side will be closing in 2015.
Busch Gardens Tampa is located in Tampa, Florida.
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[@le97ah]

Gwazi was my first every roller coaster and was always my favorite. I remember years ago waiting allll the way at the end of the queue to ride this ride and everyone was so excited to get on it. Now all everyone does is talk trash about it because it can't compare to the new steel coasters. It's not a bad ride, and is a great classic from Busch Gardens.

[@PoohBear68009]

I agree.

[@swaggurlmoney]

*claps*

[@deadchannel7812]

I would love it if it didn't cause shoulder pains |-(

[@njrp2000]

I wouldn't exactly call it a classic BG coaster. The classics are Scorpion, Python (Closed), Kumba and then Montu opened up. Gwazi opened up in 1999 followed by Shiekra and then Cheetah Hunt.

[@ivelissequinones8954]

It was my first coaster too, it sucks that they closed it cause not a lot of people were going on it.. and apparently it cost too much to keep it

[@crystalm.223]

R.I.P Gwazi You shall be missed by me, but not my back

[@ciara.xoxo0620]

That looks to rough good thing they shut it down

[@pepinoisdum]

It came in around the 1990s I think

[@kevinthompson6986]

actually this has potential To become a better RMC Than The Stupid hurlers

[@theelementvevo3306]

kukkipop opened 1999

[@burntchickennugget4474]

it’s still there

[@GobulTheGobbler]

Rest in spaghetti never forgetti

[@carvahaunter122]

Ravioli, Ravioli, Give me the formuoli.

[@Shoshii]

Pocketoli pocketoli what's in this ravioli

[@billkeithchannel]

RMC, RMC the formula for revampedoli!

[@user-my7kd3uf1q]

Wth XD?

[@alainmostier3]

@@carvahaunter122 DD déesse D d'DC DD d'DC,💒💒gxffdsdrfddffd🚀🚀🚀🚀💒

[@noblec]

the bump is real.

[@kevinmcwilliams5362]

I always read reviews on how smooth GCI coasters are and Gwazi was a prime example how a few years will turn a GCI coaster into a brutal ride. Maybe smooth by wood standards are the reason why GCI get's so much praise, but I've rode Gwazi and Thunderhead, and both were rough riding to me. Thunderhead is not that bad but Gwazi was unrideable.

[@Kaitos11]

I like to think that the rider holding the camera has the most focused looking face in history as he struggles in vain to hold the camera steady. Gwazi really kicked your ass everytime you rode it! Imma miss it.

[@kyroravestar262]

Well….. the iron Gwazi is worse than Gwazi. It barrel rolls.

[@skyrushyesminderaserno1150]

Gwazi: (the entire POV) Iron Gwazi: Hold my steel

[@LVA119]

😂😂😂 this comment needs more likes!

[@bigblueamusementproductions]

As of today, the amusement industry is going crazy because BGT hinted at RMC Gwazi.

[@CoasterUniverse]

Almost finished

[@dextermorgan1]

Finished!

[@Thepreppyrats245gtttethtjt]

Yea its literelly finishedctuere just testing!

[@silent3291]

@@Thepreppyrats245gtttethtjt lmfao if only you knew it was still not opened by now

[@mrman12w]

Still not open 🙄

[@rsb8380]

I took my poor mother on this roller coaster when I was a kid and we were on holiday, as none of my cousins or other family would ride it. 😂 She had no idea what she let herself in for and I have a vivid memory of her high-pitched screaming and crying, holding onto me for dear life 😂. I also remember being seriously concerned I was going to fly out of the cart at various points, I was a small skinny lad and getting thrown about like a golf ball in a blender.

[@jamesguy132]

Felt like my brain was being shaken out of my head on this!

[@RICASHAY117]

Ikr, it hurt your brain so much but was so good at the same time XD

[@jamesguy132]

Yeah it was fun, but I'm never doing it again lol

[@pmdave05]

Shame they don't send them off the tracks together anymore, made the ride even better

[@David-tp7mc]

They still do

[@zacharyedwards4013]

***** no they don't. tiger side is closed permanently, and BGT claims that they're gonna knock it down to make way for a new coaster next year.

[@le97ah]

I loved high-fiving the other side when they passed each other :(

[@deadchannel7812]

Zachary Edwards What coaster

[@zacharyedwards4013]

Ryan Sadler they don't know, BGT said maybe a giga coaster

[@coolguy13333]

This is called the neck breaker for me

[@sarah.weaver]

This was my absolute favorite coaster. Last time i rode it, both coasters were functioning, and running together so you still got the "about to hit" factor. I just found out they closed it. Im so bummed.

[@thecoastergnome8603]

Look at it now, sometimes good things have to go away to become better

[@Pring1z]

Great to see what they have done to this gem with the all new Iron Gwazi

[@sabrinaj8694]

Florida will always have the best rides were known for them :)

[@303storm]

only someone who never travelled can sound that ignorant.

[@bloby5022]

Dude it’s not ignorant it’s an opinion

[@bloby5022]

Me living here I agree

[@oneandonlysound3453]

what universe is this true in. If not for Seaworld adding in more big stuff and the Fun Spot's actually having wooden coaster's there'd be totally typical stuff to ride anywhere 100%.

[@sofiafreites7951]

sabrina j I’ve been on cheetah hunt/cobras curse/falcons fairy/scorpion

[@Forwardslashhug]

RIP Moistcriticals Rollercoaster career

[@FAUXCUSpd]

the ride that ruined a mans life

[@warriorseamonkey1693]

He should really go over and ride Iron Gwazi

[@TheAidanPodcast]

Lol

[@Legend-vm9uv]

@@warriorseamonkey1693 He can never ride roller coasters again

[@jonathanbishopmusic]

This was my first big coaster. Given nothing else to go off of, it took me another three years to work up the courage to ride Montu, Kumba, or SheiKra, because I thought they'd be proportionally more intense lol. But I always liked Gwazi despite its roughness, and now that it's been gone for a while I'm still not over it. Fun fact: Gwazi was actually built in 1999 in response to Dueling Dragons at Islands of Adventure; that's why it was a dueling coaster (although the two sides weren't often in sync, so the 5 or 6 near-miss moments would often go unnoticed).

[@shineything4444]

lol this thing destroyed my nuts

[@autobotdiva9268]

2008 rider here. Long ride & loved it. Was juz lookn at my postcards post

[@joshtaylor9884]

I first rode Gwazi back in '99 and it was so much fun! But as the years went on the wood didn't hold up in the Florida climate and the last time I rode it in 2010 it was a rickety mess. It's a shame because of how great Gwazi rode in it's early years. It was the talk of Tampa Bay!

[@walmartgum19pack23]

Bush gardens it’s been more than 2years you still owe us iron gwazi

[@notastereotyoe7491]

People ( including myself ) often walk off with whip lash. It was also unsafe. Once the lap bar gave way and I almost flew out. I told ride operators and they closed it down the rest of the day . Like 2 weeks later the ride was permanently closed.

[@RufMixa247]

Actually to everyone that thinks this is rough, I found it quite smooth but thanks to the padding and the flexibility to the new trains. I honestly hate really bumpy wooden rollercoasters but this one tops my chart so far (Due to the fact that I do not travel to out of state theme parks much) thanks to the padding. I've ridden it back row 14 times (7 on either side) in one day and wanted to keep doing it again!

[@lmaomak6205]

this was my first rollercoaster. RIP❤️

[@idkwompwomp7891]

A legend never goes away

[@Howlingburd19]

Wooden coaster 1 looks too intense for me

[@tillymint8331]

Suncream Stall 48 is too busy.

[@calebwashington9781]

*EYE BUCKS AND JERKS THEN PROCEEDS TO WALK OPPOSITE WAY EXPEDITIOUSLY*

[@johnfoltz8183]

I'm not paying that much for Wooden Roller Coaster 1.

[@Howlingburd19]

Darian Zielinsky I cant believe I got a notification for a 4 year old comment! I remember this being unbelievably tough O_o

[@JavanHamiltonTV]

Gwazi was a BEAST! Not your average wooden coaster.

[@naviiedead]

Those clacking noise would scare the shit out of me more than the ride

[@bertiewooster4043]

I rode both of these before they opened back in 99 on the press day. No other people than a group of coaster fans specially invited. Quite a bit of waiting but once it got going we got a nice amount of rides in. Have ridden them many time since then but the first day was the best!

[@365bumpinthat]

I miss gwazi so much😭 I go to BG at least once a month because its a family tradition thing for us to get year passes every Xmas and gwazi used to be one of my favorites!

[@Kingofthesea14]

Gwazi is my favorite ride a Busch Gardens. It's rough because 1) it's old and wooden and 2) the rumbles make it sound like lion/tiger roars when you aren't riding it. Definitely one of the best rides at Busch Gardens.

[@garagethebootyhunter7680]

The best chiropractor in Tampa!

[@jess2617]

this was the first wooden coaster i had been on. i miss it, but not the pain it inflicted on me lmao

[@jezworld]

This was the most frightening and most exciting coaster in Florida by far. We did 2 weeks in Florida and nailed every coaster. This was my fave. Sheer brutality.

[@officialchase02]

Well to be honest gwazi was the company’s earlier coasters so it shows how much they’ve improved over the years

[@IsabelMartinez-ds3mg]

GWAZI I LOVE AND MISS U. UR THE SECOND REAL COASTER I HAVE EVER BEEN ON I LOVE AND MISS U U SHALL BE REMEMBERED

[@deano2160]

shame it has shut. this ride is the only one where I got a rush. simply because you were never really sure if you were going to survive! haha. I could only ride it once in the morning and once late afternoon. thanks for the headache inducing, bone shaking ride, you magnificent migrane machine. great stuff

[@vinity5202]

I can understand why they closed it down, but couldn't they honestly just put a warning sign on the front of the entrance? If you don't want to experience the stuff, DON'T RIDE THE COASTER! Unfortunately, it is too late. I went to busch gardens 2 weeks after it closed. NUUUUU!

[@fierysun4943]

Vinity they closed it because they got tired of checking every individual bolt and the wood was rotting.

[@CALLUMktmRacing101]

this ride is perfectly safe i went on it back in 2011! great vids!

[@CALLUMktmRacing101]

CALLUM ktm Rogers btw im from uk

[@Spud17593]

I regret not riding either side when I went to busch gardens when I was like 6-7, but I was really young and way to scared to ride coasters but now I love em!

[@ravensrulzaviation]

Ouch. Cant wait for Iron Gwazi, was just there a couple weeks ago, have my annual pass.

[@aubrey_fotouhi1326]

All the roller coaster rides are either in Busch gardens or Kennywood. But, that's where all the best ones are!

[@kelseyevans2254]

This ride was amazing! I was shaking from excitement after i got off hahahaha

[@Twiztedgoalie]

It seems like only Hershey Park and a few other places can actually take care of a wooden coaster so it doesn't hurt after riding it. Shame. People just can't seem to realize how much maintenance woodies take. Actually...isn't this the only wood coaster Busch Gardens ever had? That might explain why it was rough compared to others.

[@manta5731]

Why is Hershey your example? I mean, they have two great wooden coasters, but the other one is no better than this

[@Twiztedgoalie]

Which one? Wildcat? Wildcat got a heck of a lot smoother once they changed the train design to be lighter. It's rough, but not headache-rough anymore.

[@themeparkthrills5961]

+AJ Syslo For some reason last summer, I had much better rides on wildcat than in previous years. I wouldn't call it smooth, but it was fairly enjoyable last summer.

[@hkyoko]

Hershey Park is my favorite park c;

[@kevinthompson6986]

Wood Is Cheeper To originally Build and Its because they Get outta Hand I admire a wooden rattle Its Supposed to Shake and Rattle you

[@captainscotland6422]

I barley remember this ride,I wanted to look it up to see what it was like. Thanx.I do remember it being kind of a rough ride as mentioned.I think theyre replacing this one with something new eventually.My son is 10 and really enjoys them,me as well.

[@TrollingCheeseburger]

i love your POV videos! your have earned yourself a sub!

[@shaggyallmond11]

My dad yelled at me after this ride because it made me cry when I was younger and rode it lol

[@Spiritofthegardens]

It is actually from the Busch Gardens Tampa part of Screamscape. They are really up to date with it all.

[@lLadyAszneth]

OMG! I am SO VERY happy that RMC saved and rebuilt this old woody into what will SOON be the AWESOME new IRON GWAZI, working their magick, so this ride could stay for a long time yet to come! ANY day now! I am so excited that RMCs next reincarnated coaster will be in my home park and backyard! COME ON Busch Gardens Tampa! Open up IRON GWAZI 😁😁😁

[@chingamack]

never laughed as much,this ride was so good we stayed on and went round again. all the fun of the fair :).

[@BHStudios01]

Love the brain rattle of a good ole wooden coaster! I still get more of a rush from woodie's than I do most steel coasters, honestly.

[@MicrowavedBurrito1]

Depends on the coaster for me, im not usually a fan of wood coasters but i really really really like the beast

[@chasefarrell2687]

But I like the American eagle at six flags great America, hades 360° with the double down on its chain lift hill and a pitch black tunnel, Zeus at my. Olympus, cyclops at my. Olympus, millennium force at cedar point, steel vengeance at cedar point, maverick at cedar point, Batman the ride 3d at six flags great America, formula Rossa at Ferrari world, Abu Dhabi, the Incredible Hulk coaster at universal studios Orlando, Florida, Hollywood rip ride the rockit at universal studios Orlando, Florida, x-flight at six flags great America, gate keeper at cedar point, rougarou at cedar point, magnum xl-200 at cedar point, raptor at cedar point, intimidator 305 at kings dominion, vertical velocity at six flags great America, raging bull at six flags great America, wildcat’s revenge at Hersheypark, Goliath at six flags great America, el toro at six flags great adventure and rock ‘n’ roller coaster starring Aerosmith with all of the lights off

[@LarissasExotics]

Although I am not a fan of wooden roller coasters, I wish I could have ridden Gwazi. I only just came to busch gardens for the first time and it was fun, I love cheetah hunt.

[@markcornish6393]

So cool to see how it used to look after riding Iron Gwazi. The stations definitely are the same.

[@liljoshi5813]

I wish I could've gotten to ride this. Many people had problems with the ride (being able to feel every movement, hurts head, e.t.c) but I wish I got a chance to ride this ride. I haven't been to Busch Gardens since I was a little kid and when we FINALLY get to go Gwazi closes. Actually, we just got to go to Busch Gardens today (the first time since we were tiny little kids) and I was staring and Gwazi like "I WISH I COULD RIDE THAT..." We rode Montu, Kumba, Scorpion, and a few other rides that were fun but I wish we got to go on this one. Since they've closed it down I've been wondering what they're going to replace it with. Hopefully not a baby ride.

[@cxdets]

they're going to replace it with the same ride, gwazi 2020.

[@jacobkaplan9065]

lil joshi I feel bad you didn't get to experience this. It was by far my favorite one there and I would ride it at least 10 times a day when I went to BG. I don't care what the haters say, woodies aren't supposed to be smooth, they're supposed to be a little rough lol

[@liljoshi5813]

I just rode Iron Gwazi today and it definitely did not disappoint. No dull moments at all and it left me completely speechless. My new favorite roller coaster of all time.

[@Janzelly111]

Now its Iron gwazi

[@abby06.30]

Gwazi was painful and bumpy but it was one of the og’s of my childhood. my first “big” roller coaster. rip

[@IAFB]

Most fun intense coaster I had ever been on!

[@kissmequickkat]

I remember going on this ride when I was about 8 (I'm now 25), and it was the first rollercoaster I ever went on.My dad said it would be a good one to start with as it was a wooden one so would be gentle - boy was he wrong!I think I shut my eyes and cried the whole way round.(I still have the on-ride photo which is hilarious) ... seems funny now when you compare it to all the steel coasters about. Sad really...don't make them like they used to!

[@SeismosVideoCorner]

I'm glad that Busch Gardens is bringing back the ride as Iron Gwazi.

[@Djcris96]

As of April 11th 2013, Gwazi Tiger is still closed,and that there is speculation that the trains of Gwazi will be sent to Busch Gardens Williamsburg for a possible new attraction and that Gwazi is expected to close within the next couple of years to make way for a new coaster opening in 2015 or 2016, according to a park employee.

[@kkxnso]

I pass by this ride all the time when I go there ... it's blocked off by a fence and I never got to go on it before . I always wonder what it could've been if it was kept up or renovated into a steel one just the same model. I bet it would make a great first rollercoaster for little ones or the ones too afraid of the loops on rides like cheetah hunt or Shikrea (I think I spelled it wrong but whatever...)

[@shannenredman9191]

This was the first roller coaster I ever rode. I'm sad that it's gone now.

[@lynnoldfield9521]

Would loved to have had the chance to ride this...an ex from years ago had been on and he said it was absolutely brilliant!

[@kimschultheis82]

It was AWESOME..

[@ttgk8506]

First Rollercoaster I ever went on. I was so scared my dad laughed the entire ride

[@carlzee3230]

Stone cold classic. Excited for Iron Gwazi in a few months but it’ll be hard to top a duel on the old wooden monster

[@mconfive2nine]

I lost a brand new hat on OG Gwazi and reported it missing to lost and found. A few weeks later the hat shows up in the mail in a yellow envelope. The hat was run over by the coaster train and had a perfect grease stripe right up the middle. RIP Gwazi.

[@brianconnors3596]

Rest in Peace, Gwazi.

[@townleyfamflips1475]

I remember braiding that 14 years ago and I just went to Busch gardens and their rebuilding that ride

[@melissagreer4738]

Loved this ride

[@drex8925]

Man this thing used to throw you about like crazy. Was easily the best ride in the park back in the day

[@meganjames1795]

I actually loved this ride! I felt like the rickety feeling gave it so much character and an old feel...the rest of my family hated it "my head hurts" "too bumpy" "owwww my back!". Yeah my head hurt and I was all rattled after riding it, but I kinda loved that!

[@KevinLeroyGrant]

This was my first roller coaster. Sheikrah was my second.

[@sk-uh1xv]

I saw this yesterday, shutdown with plants covering it since it's pretty old. :( I wish I could go on this ride. It looks like the kind of roller coaster I like.

[@phillinsogood]

Ok I'm confused I live in Tampa and pass by Busch Gardens often and I see this ride from the rode. They said the ride was closed down in January. So hopefully they are gunna rebuild it

[@thehamburglar401]

I never got to ride gwazi bc my mom had back problems the years that we got annual passes then we stopped going for a long time and by the time I came back to the ride, gwazi had just closed 2 days before. But, I’m kinda glad bc I would probably have back problems too.

[@ariiim-s2686]

That was my favorite roller coaster at bush gardens. Shame it’s gone now. Although if they’re not going to open it again I think they should build a better ride there because it’s just taking up space💀

[@maddiefr5437]

The rmc is going to make this ride so much better

[@evanpoole4718]

Haven't been on Gwazi,Kumba,or Sheikra. But after watching these VIDS for them, they dont seem so bad :o

[@oiimikerravii6232]

Gwazi was my first coaster, Sheikra was my second, and Kumba was either my third or forth. I was probably 8, so they aren't too bad. But they are my all time favorites, especially Montu.

[@Crazy_Plant_Guy]

Biggest rollercoaster I’ve been brave enough to go on 😂

[@rbebut1]

WHAT! It's over even before it begun. LONGER, MAKE IT LONGER!

[@jenniesherman2595]

I loved this ride, it was my first real roller-coaster, i only went once, cause my mom didn't like it, and when I came back the next year, they had closed it.

[@barryb.benson7909]

This was my favorite

[@jackie12333]

This is the roller coaster i was forced to go on that traumatized me...yall i was in tears as a child

[@anthonyyoung3194]

I went to bush gardens yesterday and it was still there

[@AeonAxisProductions]

im wondering why it was unpopular, was it because it was too bumpy? the wildcat at hershey is bumpy but it regularly has somewhat of a long line (about 30 minutes or so) and lightning racer is pretty similar to this

[@johnflanagan4691]

It hurt a lot of people with the agitated roughness of the coaster.

[@janewardle3414]

Loved this roller coaster. Such a shame it's no longer there.

[@Coaster_Amazon]

Gwazi is still there it's just SBNO (which means Standing But Not Operating). They'll most likely do something with it if they haven't torn it down yet.

[@kingjames7422]

I work at Busch garden I remember riding this one when I was a kid

[@riparianlife97701]

Really good!

[@sydneyskidis7710]

The chain lift sounds different with the GCI trains.

[@frenchfrey65]

Idk if I already asked this, but who do you guys [coasteforce] think are the best wooden roller coaster designers? Personally I like the Gravity Group the best, Hades, Voyage, and the reconstructed Zippin Pippin are great!

[@BladerMario]

i hope it is still there when i go

[@banpunji92]

When i heard this crack, i feel so thrilled and intense, such as final destination 3

[@iSebaSeba]

At the beginning i thought it was like a small ride but when it got to the going up parti was like dayum! Lol

[@ginagonzalez7492]

The original Gwazi never will forget the screaming from me on this ride before getting to the drop

[@FEAROWNAGE]

The cyclone at six flags new england is the most intense wooden coaster I've ever been on.

[@deadchannel7812]

I was hurting coming off but still a decent rollercoaster. They don't need a wrecking ball for tigher tho just termites ;)

[@thyssenkrupp7]

when did they shut tiger down? and also i like to feel the track give a little bit at the bottom of drops.

[@raystxxr]

When i went on that ride it hurt so bad tho that’s probably why the 3rd time i went it was closed down

[@jessicagould2887]

I love this ride

[@dudesgonenuts]

I've ridden smoother GCI wooden coasters. Even with the newer trains it was still pretty bad. Not gonna miss it that much. Hopefully they'll do the sensible thing and give it the iron horse treatment.

[@JLNatale]

Loved the original Gwazi