Moroccan Village, Busch Gardens, Tampa 1978

This authentic 1970s color photograph, captured in 1978, documents a unique street performance within the Moroccan Village at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida. The archival image features a chimpanzee wearing a blue patterned vest and trousers, seated in a specialized saddle atop a dromedary camel. The camel is led by a trainer dressed in a white tunics and purple sash, while a woman in a vibrant orange and blue patterned maxi dress stands nearby. In the background, guests in late-seventies attire are seated at green wrought-iron cafe tables under a yellow-and-white striped canopy. The “Casino de Fedala” building is visible behind the performers, showcasing the intricate Mediterranean and North African architectural details that defined this area of the park. Opened in the mid-1970s, the Moroccan Village served as a highly themed gateway for visitors, offering shops, dining, and exotic animal encounters. While Busch Gardens remains a premier global theme park today, many of these specific live animal street performances have been phased out or modified over the decades. This factual record captures the eclectic and immersive entertainment style prevalent in Florida’s major attractions during the late seventies. All our images are available as royalty-free instant downloads for use in books, media, and creative projects – or make your own prints for home, work, or as a truly unique gift.