The trains reach speeds of 50 mph for about 2 1/2 minutes as they careen over 15 hills and a dozen hard-angle turns.
"Most wooden coasters feature steep drops and high banks but the competitive element of Gwazi's two trains and six fly-bys make the coaster unique," said Mark Rose, Busch Garden's vice president of design and engineering.
Gwazi is named for a fabled African animal with a lion's body and a tiger's head. The ride's station looks like an African village and was developed by 10 Zulu expert craftsmen from a South Africa-based company.
Gwazi facts: Length of track: 3,500 feet on each track.
Length of ride: 2 1/2 minutes.
Top speed: 50 mph.
Highest hill: 90 feet.
Passengers: 24 in each train.
Capacity: 1,500 riders per hour.
Minimum height to ride: 48 inches.
Lumber used: 1.25 million board feet.
More information on Busch Gardens: 1-800-4ADVENTURE or on the Internet at www.buschgardens.com.
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