The Elephant Insider Tour allows guests to go behind the scenes on the habitat to meet keepers and see how the animals are cared for in a state-of-the-art facility.
History
The Elephant Insider Tour has been offered at various points giving guests the chance to learn more about the Asian elephants that reside at Busch Gardens Tampa.
In the summer of 2012, the tour was listed as being a 45-minute experience for guests ages 10 and up, costing $19.95 per person. The tour accommodated up to 15 guests. It was advertised as offering guests a chance to observe training techniques and learn more about the care of the elephants at the park.
After a hiatus, the tour returned in March 2014. At that point, the price was $29 per person. The other tour components and restrictions remained the same as earlier.
The tour was not available in the summer of 2017 or spring of 2018 based on the tour offerings listed on the park’s website at those times.
The Elephant Insider Tour returned in 2019 as a 30-minute experience with prices starting at $29.99 per person. The experience was open to guests ages 10 and above, with all participants under the age of 18 requiring an accompanying paying adult. Guests taking the tour on September 21 and 22 of that year got an elephant footprint painting in honor of National Elephant Appreciation Day.
Following the extended park closure in 2020, the Elephant Insider Tour was one of the first to return being offered again as of September 2020.
As of January 2021, the tour was available every day except Wednesdays. The experience was listed as being 30 minutes long and priced at $29.99 per person for all days except Saturdays when it was $39.99 per person. The tour took place at 1:30 p.m. and was available to guests ages 10 and over.
In October 2022, the tour was offered Wednesdays through Mondays at 3 p.m. Pricing ranged from $29.99 to $49.99 depending on the date selected, and pass member discounts applied. It remained a 30-minute experience for guests ages 10 and above; guests ages 13 and under required a paying adult to accompany them on the tour. The tour was listed as being inaccessible for wheelchairs.
Sources:
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay | Jul 20 2012 – accessed 8/8/2016
Busch Gardens Tampa | Mar 8 2014 – accessed 6/24/2018
Twitter – @BuschGardens | Aug 3 3017 – accessed 7/12/2019
Twitter – @BuschGardens | Apr 16 2018 – accessed 7/21/2019
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay | Elephant Tours – accessed 9/18/2019
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay | Park Tours – accessed 9/17/2020
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay | Elephant Tours – accessed 1/2/2021
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay | Elephant Tours – accessed 10/9/2022
Last update: October 9, 2022