Montu is a steel inverted roller coaster in the Egypt section of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida. Designed by Werner Stengel and built by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard, it opened on May 16, 1996, and sends riders through seven inversions at 60 mph across nearly 4,000 feet of track — all with legs dangling freely beneath open-air cars suspended below the rail.
Named after the ancient Egyptian hawk-headed god of war, Montu was the world’s tallest and fastest inverted coaster when it debuted, and the first inverted coaster ever to feature seven inversions or an Immelmann loop. Whether you’re planning your first ride or just want the exact stats, height requirement, and layout before you get in line, here’s everything you need to know.
Quick Answer
Montu is Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s B&M inverted coaster in the park’s Egypt section: 150 feet tall, 60 mph, 3,983 feet of track, and seven inversions in about three minutes. Riders must be at least 54 inches tall, there’s no single-rider line, and there’s no floor beneath your feet — you ride with legs hanging free the entire time.
Stats at a Glance
Park: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Tampa, Florida. Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M). Designer: Werner Stengel. Opened: May 16, 1996. Height: 150 ft (46 m). First drop: 128 ft. Top speed: 60 mph (97 km/h). Length: 3,983 ft (1,214 m). Inversions: 7. Max G-force: 3.8. Ride duration: about 3 minutes.
Trains: 3 trains, 8 cars each, 4 riders per row, 32 riders per train. Minimum height: 54 inches (137 cm). Inversion lineup: two vertical loops, an Immelmann loop, a zero-g roll, a batwing (two inversions in one element), and a corkscrew.
The Ride Experience
Riders board trains with cars suspended beneath the track — there’s no floor, so your feet dangle free from the moment the over-the-shoulder restraint locks into place. After cresting the lift hill, the train plunges down a 128-foot first drop and accelerates into a relentless sequence of inversions: two vertical loops, an Immelmann loop, a zero-g roll, a batwing, and a corkscrew.
The batwing — a signature element on B&M inverted designs — snaps riders through two consecutive inversions in rapid succession, generating up to 3.8 Gs. The immersive Egypt-themed environment adds to the intensity, with the track weaving around towering obelisks, stone archways, and buried temple ruins throughout the layout.
Height Requirement and Who Can Ride
Montu’s minimum height requirement is 54 inches (137 cm). Because riders’ legs hang completely free with only a rigid over-the-shoulder harness for restraint, this is one of the more physically demanding coasters in the park — guests should be comfortable with sustained inversions, hard positive and negative g-forces, and a lack of lap or leg support.
As with any high-intensity inverted coaster, Busch Gardens posts standard health advisories for guests who are pregnant or have heart, back, or neck conditions. Check the posted signage at the ride entrance or ask a team member if you have any health concerns before riding.
Where Montu Is Located at Busch Gardens Tampa
Montu sits in the park’s Egypt section, one of the most heavily themed areas of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. The queue winds through a recreated Egyptian temple complex, complete with hieroglyph-covered walls, stone archways, and excavation-site set dressing that builds anticipation before the lift hill.
Cobra’s Curse, the park’s spinning coaster themed around a giant snake statue, sits directly across from Montu in the same section, and the Egypt area connects easily to Cheetah Hunt and the rest of the park’s central pathways — making it simple to pair Montu with nearby attractions during a visit. For current park hours and ticket information, check the official Busch Gardens Tampa Bay site.
A Record-Setter With Staying Power
When Montu opened in 1996 it held the dual titles of tallest and fastest inverted coaster in the world, and it introduced two firsts for the invert format: seven inversions in a single layout and the Immelmann loop element. Sister park Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s Alpengeist surpassed it on height and speed less than a year later, but Montu’s unusually long track and dense inversion count have kept its reputation intact.
Montu has repeatedly placed among the top-ranked steel and inverted coasters in Amusement Today’s annual Golden Ticket Awards polling over the years, and it remains a consistent favorite in enthusiast rankings nearly three decades after opening — a rare feat for a coaster of its era still running its original layout.
Montu vs. Other B&M Inverted Coasters
Montu belongs to B&M’s inverted coaster family, the same lineage that includes Alpengeist (Busch Gardens Williamsburg), Raptor (Cedar Point), Banshee (Kings Island), and Afterburn (Carowinds). Within that group, Montu ties Banshee for the most inversions on any B&M invert at seven — though Banshee’s 4,124-foot track edges out Montu’s 3,983 feet as the longer of the two layouts.
Where Alpengeist wins on raw height and speed, and Afterburn leans into a compact, inversion-dense layout, Montu combines a long, sustained ride time with back-to-back airtime and inversion moments — giving it one of the most complete inverted-coaster experiences still operating in North America.
Tips for Riding Montu
Front row delivers the clearest views of the drop and the Egypt theming below; back row amplifies the whip through the loops and corkscrew, especially on the batwing. Loose articles aren’t permitted in the restraints — bring only what fits securely in a zippered pocket, or plan to store bags and phones before boarding.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay does not offer single-rider lines on any ride, including Montu, so everyone queues through the standard line. Quick Queue — the park’s paid line-skip pass — is the main way to reduce wait times on Montu and other headliners; check the official Quick Queue page for which rides are currently included. Montu can also produce a rough, jolting sensation for some riders during the closing corkscrew compared to newer B&M inverts, so first-timers sensitive to abrupt transitions may want to start with a middle-train seat.
Montu roller coaster FAQs
How tall do you have to be to ride Montu?
Riders must be at least 54 inches (137 cm) tall to ride Montu.
How many inversions does Montu have?
Montu has seven inversions: two vertical loops, an Immelmann loop, a zero-g roll, a batwing (which counts as two inversions), and a corkscrew. That ties Banshee at Kings Island for the most inversions on any B&M inverted coaster.
How fast does Montu go, and how tall is it?
Montu stands 150 feet tall with a 128-foot first drop and reaches a top speed of 60 mph.
Is Montu a rough ride?
Most riders find Montu smooth through its main sequence of loops, but some feel a jolting sensation in the closing corkscrew, which is a known characteristic of B&M’s older inverted-coaster designs compared to newer models like Alpengeist.
Does Montu have a single-rider line?
No. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay does not offer single-rider lines on any ride, including Montu. Quick Queue is the park’s paid option for skipping the standby line when it’s offered for the ride.
What is an Immelmann loop?
An Immelmann loop is an inversion that combines a vertical loop with a half-roll, sending riders up and over before flipping them right-side up again. Montu was the first inverted coaster in the world to feature one.
Is Montu still the tallest or fastest inverted coaster?
No. Montu held both titles when it opened in 1996, but Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s Alpengeist surpassed it on height and speed less than a year later. Montu still ties for the most inversions on a B&M invert.
Where is Montu located in Busch Gardens Tampa?
Montu is in the park’s Egypt section, across from Cobra’s Curse and within easy walking distance of Cheetah Hunt.
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