Monday, May 12th 2008




Sheikra
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
Note: Links will only be active if we have videos for this attraction.



Reviews & Comments
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Force Factor

Average Member Rating Out of Ten


Actual Rating: 9.629

Members Who Have Been on and Rated Sheikra: (35)
Ratings in Brackets


Ultimate Coaster(10), six flags 1(10), jakemac(10), bezzzzzer(10), tycoon11990(10), stevo(10), 
CK(10), clecktown(10), ownage(10), alecelm(10), tarion896(10), MsIsly(10), alecelmboy(10), 
thrillsbeyondfear(10), Sheikra_Luva(10), Rollercoastercrazine(10), valleyfair!(10), Ben(10), mewantcandy2(10), blako(10), 
Steven(10), andyc123(10), Cernuschi(10), PLCP(10), Drinki(10), SnooSnoo(10), bradleyhart(10), 
CoasterKing(10), sheikra182(10), Shockwave(9), kumba830(9), jayjay(8), Boomerang201004(8), Sam(7), 
theRock-steel(6), 


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rafanadal21


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


Posts: 18
Location: 
UNBELIVABLE RIRE, BEEN ON OBLIVION AND THIS AND OBLIVION DOESNT COMPARE. 10 THE ONRIDE VIDEO WAS COOL USWELL
blaze123


Posts: 16
Location: merseyside-not english, scouse
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: 13
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: 16
Location: merseyside-not english, scouse
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: 64
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
theRock-steel


Posts: 107
Location: Florida
I love the wait at the top, I love the straight down, and I love the floorless. Griffon is a little better though.
This one doesn't seem nearly long enough. On a slow day, I did have an 11 ride count.
ashleyB2961


Posts: 1
Location: 
Griffon is s**t its pretty much the same but u have no room on ride and when riding u can very easily get injuredsheikra
is the bes
ashleyB2961


Posts: 1
Location: 
it looks big
Rush


Posts: 1145
Location: Reading
VV Dylan they are NOT the same, use your eyes not your assumptions.V stealth2112, Sam has his own opinion. Sure besides
Oblivion may be better but who gives a sh!t about 2 bloody degrees.
stealth2112


Posts: 1
Location: coasterforce.com
Sam, are you kidding me? Oblivion in my opinion is a great ride. Sheikra is better. Oblivion doesn't go fully vertical
on the drop which is awfully noticeable and it is like two seconds long. It doesn't have half the things sheikra does.
DylanDisaster


Posts: 0
Location: Pocatello, Idaho
Honestly, you can't say Griffon is better than this, because number 1. Griffon has the exact same layouts as ShreiKra,
Because It was also built after SheiKra.
peasaregreen


Posts: 0
Location: 
this should definitely be the no. 1 roller coaster in my opinion...
lazytownollie


Posts: 1
Location: Near Camelot, UK
1st ride of the day.. wow! Enuff said
Sam


Posts: 5711
Location: Liphook, Hampshire
Very dissapointing.... a dive machine should do one thing and one thing only- have a good, intense drop. This doesn't.
The theme doesn't fit, the drop is tame and the bits after the first drop are irrelevant. Oblivion is much better.
MontuLover62


Posts: 7
Location: 
unbelieveable! wwhat a ride! u get a major WHOOSH on both the first drop and the immelman. call me crazy sheikra lovers,
but i really do mlike montu a tad better, but sheikra is my 2nd favorite and kumba is NOT FAR BEHIND!!!!
Griffonfreak!


Posts: 21
Location: Virginia,USA
Looks Ok compared to Griffon.Why aren't there 2 Immelmanns.Also, I've seen it's water splash, microscopic compared to
Griffons splash!
m3


Posts: 22
Location: England
i went on oblivion and florida is on its way - next summer. lets pray i have the guts to go on Sheikra!!!!
veggie-table


Posts: 0
Location: Hamilton, Scotland
How people can compare this to oblivion is beyond me, Sheikra is a 100 times better
tarion896


Posts: 58
Location: 
It isn't very forceful, but the drops and atmosphere of this ride put it in my top 10.
southend_marc


Posts: 966
Location: southend
I was so looking forward to this coaster. I found it no better that Oblivian and to be honest I find the drop better on
Oblivian.
TheTowers


Posts: 67
Location: Somewhere in England
m3 i warn you oblivion is 3 things. Tall. Fast. Scary.
m3


Posts: 22
Location: England
i want to go on it, i'm going to alton towers on thursday and i'm going to florida next summer. my plan is to go on
oblivion, see if i like it and then go on this ride when i go to busch gardens
veggie-table


Posts: 0
Location: Hamilton, Scotland
Amazing Few of the park at the top, great ride made even better by going floorless, million times better than oblivion
-jamzy-1-2-3-


Posts: 0
Location: under oblivien
i love this coaster the beast part is teh loop and the water splash at the end
oliverst14


Posts: 1
Location: 
sorry to disagree and i do think this is a good coaster but it isnt amazing. its quite short and there is no real thrill
factor. its amazing to watch and looks really nice but other coaster give so much more thrill. montu gives more than
this.i like a coaster that gives you alot of feeling in the stomach and one that gives pins and needles at the end of
the ride. this just doesnt do it for me. i love the drops but there is no feeling in the loop. its a big improvement on
oblivion but still needs more. great ride i just dont think it deserves a 10 rating
-Thrill-Seeker-


Posts: 0
Location: 
Amazing! ",) Great banked curves, and drops!
Drinki


Posts: 196
Location: Warrington
My no.1 coaster!
tycoon11990


Posts: 81
Location: 
Great Coaster. Works well with the B&M line-up. Very smooth and I LOVED the water soak...Also the nice airtime on the
MCB drop! Easily 10/10
peasaregreen


Posts: 0
Location: 
sheikra is by far my favourite roller coaster. when i went on oblivion at alton towers i was dissappointed at the length
of the ride...
jakemac


Posts: 0
Location: 
Unbelieveable. Currently my no.1 coaster.
alexmiddle444


Posts: 0
Location: 
amazin' dive coaster
six flags 1


Posts: 60
Location: FL
Definitely my favorite ride in FL. It is so much fun.
Jazz


Posts: 4
Location: 
i give a perfect 10 but it could have been a bit longer
flamebox123


Posts: 16
Location: the dungeon under thorpe park
wish i culd of rode it, gwazi gave me 2 much of a headache
SnooSnoo


Posts: 8991
Location: Youngstown, Ohio
Tigger.. no.. they are not... if you'd ACTUALLY look at the layout instead of assuming.
valleyfair!


Posts: 1128
Location: Minnesota
Very FUN!!! and Smooth
Drinki


Posts: 196
Location: Warrington
WOW!!!!!
Tigger_boxing


Posts: 0
Location: 
SnooSnoo they are exsaclty the same rides nothing different ...............
SnooSnoo


Posts: 8991
Location: Youngstown, Ohio
Griffon is better, but still an amazing ride. Love the atmosphere, the drops, everything. It really is a superb coaster.
sheikra13


Posts: 0
Location: 
the best ride ever!!
Catula


Posts: 4
Location: 
Great ride!!! I rode it yesterday when it came out floorless to the public. I rode front row, end seat, at night. It
was amazing! It was much better than with a floor or during the day. If you are afraid just go for it anyway, you'll
love it. 10/10 must ride!
stevo


Posts: 22
Location: stoke-on-trent
sheikra is going floorless!! it went floorless on the 16th of june i have just come back from florida and i went busch
gardens and i could not go on it cuz it was closed 4 the floorless project i was so sad i could not go on it!!
Tigger_boxing


Posts: 0
Location: 
i give it a 10 easy accually i rate it 60/10 lol thats how good it is should be up there with the top 3!
Tigger_boxing


Posts: 0
Location: 
Brill Coaster should be atleast in the top 3 please coasterforce
Naomehh


Posts: 0
Location: 
I'm going here next year and I can't WAIT! This is going to be GREAT!
stevo


Posts: 22
Location: stoke-on-trent
im going florida and im going bush gardens and when i go on sheikra i am going to enjoy loads!!
Im on drugs


Posts: 0
Location: 
The water splash is a nice feature but u dont get wet. I like the second drop is just basicaly the oblivion drop. 9










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