Wild Yorkshire Untamed

Recently I was most amused to read John Thorp describe Flamingo Land as "a kind of Busch Gardens for Hull" disturbingly this is quite an accurate observation

The travelling rides and depressingly claustrophobic concrete zoo cages have been uprooted to make way for smart new themed attractions and animal displays. A lot of the former large concrete areas have also been ripped up and replaced with stylish new pavements that have themed pattern insets. Although it may be Busch Gardens on a budget, it's certainly a very impressive change.

Velocity is the parks newest launched coaster, a Booster Bike ride from Vekoma, rather than sitting in a seat you straddle a mock motorbike, while this is still a relatively odd concept, it just adds a little bit of novelty to the ride experience, providing a roller coaster that's a little bit different without been extreme or offensive

The speedy but not too brisk launch is surprisingly gentle and accelerates the train over a small hill, zooming around some smooth spiral turns prior to a bunny hop into brakes, simple, fun, effective!

Flamingo Land's second spanking new Vekoma stunner is Kumali, an 'SLC2' model inverted coaster, which begins with quite an intimidating climb to the top of the lift, the intimidation factor is as high as the open gap between your feet and the ground far below

Kumali's first drop is a wonderful swooshing spiral that really pulls a lot of Gs as it bottoms out into the again, simple but fun and effective, vertical loop, up over, catch some air as you soar through a sensational Cobra Roll over the lake into a fabulous Zero G Roll followed by a spiral helix into the brakes which is a great end to the coaster

On my visit to the park, as you can see in the photos below, the on-ride photos hadn't been installed right and you could purchase a lovely photo of your feet enjoying the ride!

Stock favourites such as a Wild Mouse and Corkscrew coaster nicely help pad out the extensive collection of rides, which is also fuelled by a great assortment of flat rides including Cliff Hanger the lighthouse themed S&S combo tower and Navigator a larger model Zamperla Disc'o spinning ride

Lost River Ride is a unique spillwater ride, which meanders past real animals including lions, giraffe and hippo, before splashing down the chute soaking everybody onboard. Real live animals have also been incorporated into the Tractor Ride, as part of the new Muddy Duck Farm children's area, the farmyard themed car track ride drives past real goats and chickens!

Flamingo Land has reinvented itself, its softer, smartly presented theme park rides and themed animal exhibits really have been a positive turn around for the better, it will be most interesting to see where they go next and how the park is developed in the future.

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