Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is in full build mode on Lion & Hyena Ridge in the park’s Edge of Africa, an expansive new habitat aimed at getting visitors closer to lions and hyenas while giving the animals more room and richer surroundings. Right now the area is an active construction zone as crews pour foundations and shape rockwork, viewing platforms and water features. Park officials say the exhibit is slated to open later in 2026, with preview opportunities for pass members ahead of the full public debut.
What the new habitat includes
According to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Lion & Hyena Ridge will cover nearly 35,000 square feet and feature two multifunctional habitats built around kopje-style rock formations. The layout includes multiple enrichment zones and rotating spaces so animal-care teams can mix up social groupings and keep the animals mentally engaged. The park’s construction update also points to heated and cooled rocks, elevated lookout perches and water-play elements designed to encourage species-typical behaviors.
Who will call it home
Local reporting from WUSF says the Ridge will house five brother lions — Pascal, Lou, Henri, Hugo and Herman — who were transferred from the Oklahoma City Zoo, while spotted hyenas Cazi and Dazi are already part of Busch Gardens’ collection. WUSF also notes the park holds AZA accreditation and that the project follows industry guidance calling for larger, more complex spaces for big cats and other large carnivores.
What visitors will see on opening
Guests can expect wide-open views of the animals. The design incorporates several glass viewing areas, shaded walkways and a protected pedestrian bridge that gives visitors roughly 270-degree sightlines over the terrain, according to Bay News 9. The plan calls for distinct vantage points for guests along with behind-the-scenes staff bridges and access routes that are meant to improve both animal care and the overall visitor experience.
Why this matters to Tampa
The project is part of a broader investment push at the park. United Parks & Resorts, Busch Gardens’ parent company, has outlined more than a $100 million program of park enhancements and singled out Lion & Hyena Ridge as a signature project for the year. The new habitat is intended to keep Edge of Africa drawing both tourists and locals year-round, with pass-member previews and special events expected to accompany the public opening. That spending also supports a steady flow of seasonal hires and contractor work while crews complete the site.
Behind the scenes with reporters
Local TV crews have been getting hard-hat tours to track the build. FOX 13’s Charley Belcher posted a July 6 video walking viewers through the current construction and noting the Ridge will feature “one of the largest groups of lions on display in the country.” Park spokespeople tell media the design emphasizes enrichment, animal choice and guest education, framing Lion & Hyena Ridge as both an upgraded attraction and a conservation-education platform.
