Coaster Force


Busch Gardens Africa, Tampa Bay, Florida, USA

Kumba | Montu | Gwazi | Sheikra | Python | Scorpion | Stanley Falls | Congo River Rapids
Tanganyika Tidal Wave | Rhino Rally | Pirates! 4-D | Cheetah Chase

    

Sheikra is a next-generation Dive Machine. The Dive Machine started out life at Alton Towers as Oblivion. The ride was labeled as little more than a gimmick and, bar a clone in Taiwan, was not seen again for 7 years. Busch Gardens could have chosen any new type of coaster for their latest thrill, but they decided to chose the type of coaster everyone thought was dead.
   
SheiKra's announcement both shocked and surprised the coaster world. People wondered why Busch would choose a Dive Machine, they wondered if the ride would deliver, or end up being a flop.
  
SheiKra combined new and old elements - SheiKra employed the same 8-across cars as its predecessors, but added an extra car per train (to make three cars per train). It featured the same holding brake at the top of a sharp transition, but the first drop was made 90 degrees (as opposed to the 88 degree drops of the other two coasters). SheiKra also added its own touches - an Immelman became the first inversion on a Dive Machine, a second near-vertical drop followed the first Dive Machine MCBR, and, perhaps SheiKra's most unique element, a water splash launched large blasts of water twenty feet into the air.
  
All in all, SheiKra more than proved that Dive Machines weren't dead - it proved that Dive Machines are capable of being world-class thrill machines. In 2007, shortly after Griffon opened at Busch Gardens Europe, Sheikra received Floorless trains after having previously operated with the standard sit-down trains found on the original Dive Machines.
 
And it's not named after a Colombian singer songwriter, it's named after an African species of bird that dives down to catch it's prey. Clever, eh?


 

Type: Dive Machine
Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard
Height: 200ft
Length: 3188ft
Speed: 70mph

Opened: 2005

  
Photos
Click Caption to Enlarge


Second Drop

 

Banked Turn

 

First Drop

 

Immelmann Loop

 

Banked Turn

 

Train in Banked Turn


Videos
Point of View | Off-Ride
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Reviews & Comments
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Force Factor

Average Member Rating Out of Ten


Actual Rating: 9.000

Members Who Have Been on and Rated Sheikra: (13)
Ratings in Brackets


Brad(10), bezzzzzer(10), DropZone99(10), AmandaPanda(10), Intaminfanatic(10), KarlThrillDude(9), 
eddy1282(9), james6(9), theme park fan(9), Ghostmage(9), jacoaster(8), marc(7), Nemesis Inferno(7), 


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coasterC


Posts: 1
Location: 
I can't even BEGIN to say how amazing this is... the reason being I haven't been on it yet. Will do though. In May.
ilikecolons


Posts: 1
Location: 
montu is wayyy better i was there when it first opened and there was a floor and nobody was in line same for the next
year when i went and there wasnt floors
mjc83


Posts: 1
Location: 
This ride is brilliant the drop is amazing and the fact it goes into a loop is so much different. The second drop is
still good. The fact that it is floorless adds that extra element to it!
coasterfan95


Posts: 0
Location: Miramar, Florida
incredible ride i bet its way better than the griffon
holly 09


Posts: 3
Location: Manchester,UK
amazing!!!
PhoebeI


Posts: 0
Location: 
Loved it.
holly 09


Posts: 3
Location: Manchester,UK
my fave ride in florida
holly 09


Posts: 3
Location: Manchester,UK
better than oblivion cos it is longer and has two drops and a loop.great coaster
mat0903


Posts: 1
Location: 
This is better than Oblivion
ihaveafatcat1590


Posts: 0
Location: 
pplz griffon is so much better
omar95


Posts: 0
Location: Indiana
it was freat the firt drop was like the best part of the coaster it was awesome!!!!!
el_toro_maniac


Posts: 0
Location: 
this rides first drop is incredible. best drop ever. i just wish the rest of the ride was better
MikeyBoy1986


Posts: 2
Location: London, UK
I am yet to try this after its conversion to floorless, but judging by how amazing it was before, it is amazing, now its
floorless, it must be sooooooo much better!!!!
ashleyB2961


Posts: 1
Location: 
:D
ashleyB2961


Posts: 1
Location: 
i mean kingda ka wont be the fastest
ashleyB2961


Posts: 1
Location: 
on the 7/11/2009 this wont be the fastest rollercoaster! Nürburgring are opening a rollercoaster that does 0 - 134.8
mph in 2.5 seconds :) manufactured by s&s. spread the word
MUPPER06


Posts: 5
Location: 
i think its a bit overhyped coz i dont think the first drop is that good and the immelmann and the second drop goes too
fast
stevo


Posts: 4
Location: stoke-on-trent
i went on this ride in 2008 and it was amazing but that was with the floor in but im going in 2010 so i will go on it
then and see if there is any difference with no floor.
relhak


Posts: 0
Location: 
Very fun, but very short. You dive and go straight into an immelman. There's a second dive after that, but it's
nothing compared to the first one. The ride feels like it's over after the one loop. Every row has a great view, but
the front is still significantly better. The floorless aspect is fantastic; if you ride from the edges, it feels like
there's no track at all. Riding in the back row actually lifts you up into your shoulder restraint as you start the
drops. The lift hill is very steep; it feels like you're going up on your back. It also faces directly into the
afternoon sun, so bring a pair of sunglasses that you won't mind loosing. The water scoop is an amusing feature.
Every once in a while, some unsuspecting noob will wander into the drench zone to watch the coaster go by. The look of
panic when the wall of water is flying at them is priceless. I went on a winter (80F) Tuesday and could walk right on
until about 4pm.
ashleyB2961


Posts: 1
Location: 
o LOL
marty2k8


Posts: 2
Location: 
sorry ashley lukin at sum1 elses comment
marty2k8


Posts: 2
Location: 
ashley jst to let u no oblivion has no 90 degrees drop you can clearly see
matt1994


Posts: 0
Location: 
Great ride.
Lou


Posts: 0
Location: Ireland
i can't wait to go on this next May!! looks amazing although i probably will be terrified. but thats what roller
coasters are all about overcoming your fears and having the best buzz!!
ashleyB2961


Posts: 1
Location: 
great! although quite short
The Grape Wizard


Posts: 848
Location: Stoke. It's not as bad as you think.
Cant wait to ride this!
LGMHorus


Posts: 22
Location: 
The first drop is great, and overall the ride is pretty smooth. I just wanted some more interesting elements, because
it's basically the two 90º drops.
gmoney11


Posts: 0
Location: 
Omg i love this roller coaster sooooo fun
ashleyB2961


Posts: 1
Location: 
this ride is floorless! just thought i would let you people know if you didnt already. the pics only show it with
flooring
ashleyB2961


Posts: 1
Location: 
i agree if not it is the best oblivions look scarier but this defanitly is better
adot17


Posts: 1
Location: 
one of the best drops on earth.
Florida-fanatic


Posts: 0
Location: 
The best ride i have ever been on! awesome drops and giant immelmann! :D
danthecoasterman


Posts: 750
Location: Burntwood, Staffordshire
Woooooo!! :D
m3


Posts: 18
Location: England
The second drop is 81 degrees not actually vertical but near enough ;)
ashleyB2961


Posts: 1
Location: 
ITS NOT A COPY OF OBLIVION the only thing thats even similar is the drop!
wash


Posts: 337
Location: Location Location
Awesome. Best ride in the park. Try to get the far right seat in the back row- its the best. Also, ride it at night,
there are some great views from the top. 10/10
m3


Posts: 18
Location: England
I'm not going on this - turns out our flextickets aren't for busch gardens :(
CMonster


Posts: 754
Location: Tampa, Florida
Its a very graceful ride and the drop is great but it could be longer.
postaatyler


Posts: 10
Location: 
its awsome but not better than montu
ashleyB2961


Posts: 1
Location: 
both drops are vertical! griffon fans say its not ive got the 2005 coaster fact book and at that point it was the only
one with two 90 degree drops SO THERE
edkenton


Posts: 0
Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, England
Fantastic ride. Went on it 4 times front row last december. Mine and the other half's #1 ride!
rollgeek2020


Posts: 7
Location: northallerton uk
it a good ride . me and my friend went on it get the pic of me
rafanadal21


Posts: 0
Location: 
Omg Shiekra Is Amazing Best Ride I Have Ever Been On 1 Of A Kind
bradleyhart


Posts: 0
Location: 
UNBELIVABLE RIRE, BEEN ON OBLIVION AND THIS AND OBLIVION DOESNT COMPARE. 10 THE ONRIDE VIDEO WAS COOL USWELL
blaze123


Posts: 0
Location: 
no i think it is because with oblivion you get the thrill from all the theming around the whole part of the park,(yes ok
the whole park is themed the same with the ride here) and staring into the hole in the ground you dive into. im not
saying this isnt superb, its just that oblivion is best
Kendal Kinrade


Posts: 15
Location: 
just a copy of oblivion
ashleyB2961


Posts: 1
Location: 
no blaze 123 ive been on oblivion it maybe the first but its not the best
blaze123


Posts: 1
Location: 
oblivion is the original and the best of the dive machines
Boomerang201004


Posts: 20
Location: 
I thought this was a minor letdown. it has so much hype, but the drop was not very intense. the most intense part was
the Immelmann.
thrillsbeyondfear


Posts: 36
Location: Wales, UK
this made my trip to florida, great ride with a great build-up and drop and that immelmann just finishes this great
diving machine off, this is so amazing






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