AFCON 2027 Tanzania tours let you watch Africa's biggest football tournament and then go on safari a few hours from the stadium. The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations runs from 19 June to 17 July 2027, co-hosted by Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. Tanzania's match cities are Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Zanzibar. Arusha is the starting point for the Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Kilimanjaro, and the tournament falls in the dry season, when the Great Migration is in the Serengeti.
This guide covers what is confirmed so far, how far each match city is from the parks, visas, tickets and five trip ideas, from one spare day after a match to two weeks of football, safari and beach.
Key takeaways
- AFCON 2027 runs 19 June to 17 July 2027 across Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, the first AFCON with three host nations.
- Tanzania's planned venues are Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, the new Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium in Arusha and Zanzibar. CAF has not yet published the final venue list or fixtures.
- Arusha is the best base for a match plus safari: Tarangire is about 2 hours away and Ngorongoro about 3 to 4 hours.
- June and July are dry-season months with excellent game viewing, and the migration is in the western and northern Serengeti.
- Tickets are not on sale yet. Book your trip with a flexible match day and buy tickets only through CAF's official channels.
AFCON 2027 at a glance
AFCON 2027 is the 36th Africa Cup of Nations, and the first co-hosted by three countries under the joint "Pamoja" bid. Here is what is confirmed, and what is still open, as of November 2026.
| Detail | Status |
|---|---|
| Dates | 19 June to 17 July 2027 (confirmed by CAF) |
| Host nations | Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda |
| Teams | 24 national teams |
| Tanzania match cities | Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Zanzibar (provisional) |
| Fixtures and venues per match | Not yet published by CAF |
| Finals draw | Date not yet announced |
| Match tickets | Not on sale yet; no official ticketing site announced |
Check the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for official announcements. We update this article when fixtures and ticket details are released.
Tanzania's AFCON 2027 host cities and stadiums
Tanzania is preparing three match cities. Each one pairs with a different kind of trip, so the city your team plays in shapes the holiday you can build around it.
Arusha: Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium
Arusha is building a new stadium of about 30,000 seats at Olmoti, named after President Samia Suluhu Hassan. It is the venue closest to Tanzania's famous parks. Arusha is the gateway to the northern safari circuit, so you can watch a match one evening and be watching elephants in Tarangire National Park the next morning.
Fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), about an hour's drive from Arusha town. Arusha sits at about 1,400 metres, so June and July evenings are cool. Pack a warm layer for night matches.
Dar es Salaam: Benjamin Mkapa Stadium
Benjamin Mkapa Stadium is Tanzania's national stadium, with about 60,000 seats. Dar es Salaam is the country's largest city and has its main international airport, Julius Nyerere International (DAR). For safaris, Dar is the gateway to the southern parks, such as Nyerere National Park and Mikumi National Park. To reach the northern circuit, take a flight of about 1.5 hours to Kilimanjaro or Arusha instead of the long road trip.
Zanzibar
Zanzibar is preparing venues for the tournament, including upgrades at Amaan Stadium. A Zanzibar match is the easiest way to end a safari with a beach stay. Stone Town, white-sand beaches and Indian Ocean diving are all close by. See our Zanzibar beaches guide to pick your coast.
CAF's official guide states that final stadiums and host cities are still to be confirmed. Treat the venue details above as the current plan, not a guarantee.
Why June and July are a great time for a Tanzania safari
AFCON 2027 falls in the best part of Tanzania's safari year. June and July are dry-season months. The grass is short, animals gather near rivers and waterholes, and game drives are dusty but rarely rained out.
- The Great Migration. In June the herds are usually in the western Serengeti, where they cross the Grumeti River. In July they move north toward the Mara River, and the first river crossings often begin. Read our Great Migration guide for the month-by-month pattern.
- Kilimanjaro. June to October is the main dry climbing season, with clearer skies on summit night.
- Zanzibar. The island is dry, sunny and less humid than at other times of the year.
One trade-off: this is peak season. Lodges near the migration fill early, and an influx of AFCON fans will add demand in July 2027. Our guide to the best time to visit Tanzania explains the seasons in more detail.
Travel times from the match cities to the parks
Tanzania is large, and the roads into the parks are slow. Use this table to see what fits around a match day. Times are typical and depend on traffic, road works and stops.
| Route | Distance | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) to Arusha | About 50 km | 1 hour by road |
| Arusha to Tarangire National Park | About 120 km | 2 hours by road |
| Arusha to Lake Manyara | About 125 km | 2 hours by road |
| Arusha to Ngorongoro Crater | About 180 km | 3 to 4 hours by road |
| Arusha to central Serengeti | About 320 km | 7 to 8 hours by road, or about 1 hour by light aircraft |
| Dar es Salaam to Arusha | About 640 km | About 1.5 hours by air; 10 hours or more by road |
| Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar | About 75 km | About 2 hours by fast ferry, or 20 minutes by air |
| Arusha to Zanzibar | About 600 km | About 1.5 hours by air |
A simple rule: do not plan a long drive on match day. Arrive in the match city the day before, and start your safari the morning after.
AFCON 2027 Tanzania tour ideas, from one day to two weeks
Most AFCON trips in Tanzania follow one of five patterns. Each one below starts from a trip we already run, which we adjust to your match dates.
| Time you have | Best match city | What you see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 spare day | Arusha | Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Arusha National Park or Materuni waterfalls |
| 3 to 5 days | Arusha | Tarangire and Ngorongoro Crater |
| 6 to 8 days | Arusha | Serengeti and the Great Migration, plus Ngorongoro |
| 8 to 10 days | Arusha | Mount Kilimanjaro summit climb |
| 7 to 14 days | Arusha or Zanzibar | Safari followed by a Zanzibar beach stay |
1. One spare day: a day trip from Arusha
If you only have a match ticket and one free day, Arusha still gives you real wildlife. The Tarangire full-day elephant safari is the classic choice in the dry season, when large elephant herds gather along the Tarangire River. For the Big Five in one day, the Ngorongoro Crater full-day safari is a longer day but a remarkable one.
Prefer something gentler before an evening match? Try the Arusha National Park wildlife and canoe safari, or the Materuni waterfalls and coffee plantation walk on the slopes of Kilimanjaro.
2. Three to five days: match plus the northern circuit
With three to five days you can see Tarangire's elephants and the wildlife-packed Ngorongoro Crater, without long transfers. Our 5-day Ngorongoro and Tarangire safari fits neatly before or after an Arusha match, and it works well for families travelling with young football fans.
3. Six to eight days: match plus the Serengeti migration
This is the trip most fans should take if they can spare a week. June and July put the herds in the western and northern Serengeti. The 6-day Great Migration Encounter follows them, while the 8-day Ultimate Northern Circuit adds Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro for a full Big Five safari.
A short flight back to Arusha means you can watch a group-stage match, fly out to the Serengeti, and still be back for a knockout game.
4. Eight to ten days: match plus Kilimanjaro
June and July are prime months to climb Africa's highest mountain, at 5,895 metres. Climbs take 5 to 9 days on the mountain, so you need to plan around the fixtures. Climb first and watch the later rounds, or watch the group stage first and then climb. The 7-day Machame route and the 8-day Lemosho route give your body the most time to adjust to altitude. Compare all routes on our Kilimanjaro page, and read the Kilimanjaro climbing guide before you choose.
Leave at least one rest day between the climb and a match. Your legs will thank you.
5. One to two weeks: safari plus Zanzibar
Combine a safari in the north with a match and beach time in Zanzibar. A direct flight from Arusha to Zanzibar takes about 1.5 hours. The 7-day Serengeti and Zanzibar safari is a good starting point. We can extend the beach part so it covers your match dates on the island.
AFCON 2027 tickets: what we know so far
AFCON 2027 tickets are not on sale yet. As of November 2026, CAF has not announced the sale date, prices or official ticketing website. The finals draw, which decides which teams play where, also has no date yet.
- Buy only from official channels. Use CAF or its named ticketing partner once announced. Be cautious of anyone selling AFCON 2027 tickets today.
- Book a flexible itinerary. Plan your safari around a match window, not a fixed date, so we can adjust it once the fixtures are published.
- Follow your team. If you support one nation, wait for the draw before booking flights between host countries. Your team could play in Kenya or Uganda instead.
Visas and entry requirements for Tanzania
Most visitors need a visa to enter Tanzania. Apply online through the official Tanzania Immigration e-visa portal before you travel, and allow several weeks for processing.
- Cost. A single-entry tourist visa costs US$50 for most nationalities. US citizens receive a multiple-entry visa for US$100.
- Passport. Your passport should be valid for at least six months after you arrive, with blank pages for stamps.
- Yellow fever. You need a vaccination certificate if you arrive from, or transit through, a country with yellow fever risk. Check the latest advice on the CDC's Tanzania travel health page.
- Kenya and Uganda. The East Africa Tourist Visa covers Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda only. It does not include Tanzania.
The three host governments have discussed a single visa that would let AFCON fans move between Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. It is still a proposal and has not been confirmed. Until it is, plan on a separate visa for each country you visit.
Where to stay during AFCON 2027
Hotels in the match cities will be in high demand, and June and July are already peak safari months. In Arusha, a lodge on the edge of town keeps you close to the stadium and on the road to the parks. Moivaro Arusha Lodge, set in a coffee plantation outside town, is a calm base between match days. Inside the parks, the best-located migration camps in the Serengeti often sell out a year ahead.
We recommend booking 9 to 12 months before the tournament. Many lodges allow date changes, which helps once the fixtures are confirmed.
Practical tips for AFCON fans in Tanzania
- Arrive the day before your match. Allow for flight delays and match-day traffic, especially in Dar es Salaam.
- Arrange transfers in advance. A private driver who knows the stadium routes saves time and stress on match day.
- Carry some US dollars and Tanzanian shillings. Cards work in hotels and lodges, but cash is useful for tips, markets and small purchases.
- Protect yourself against malaria. Speak to a travel doctor about tablets, and use repellent in the evenings.
- Pack for two climates. Bring light clothes for Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, and a fleece for Arusha nights and early game drives.
Frequently asked questions about AFCON 2027 Tanzania tours
When is AFCON 2027?
AFCON 2027 runs from 19 June to 17 July 2027. It is co-hosted by Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.
Which Tanzanian cities are hosting AFCON 2027 matches?
Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Zanzibar are Tanzania's planned match cities. The main venues are Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam and the new Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium in Arusha. CAF has not yet confirmed the final venue list.
Can I combine AFCON 2027 with a safari?
Yes. Arusha is the gateway to Tarangire, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti, so a safari can start the day after a match. Even one spare day is enough for a full-day safari in Tarangire or the Ngorongoro Crater.
Will the Great Migration be in the Serengeti during AFCON 2027?
Yes. In June the herds are usually in the western Serengeti around the Grumeti River. In July they move into the northern Serengeti, where the Mara River crossings often begin.
Are match tickets included in AFCON 2027 tour packages?
Not yet, because tickets are not on sale. Buy tickets only through CAF's official channels once they are announced. We build your safari around the matches you hold tickets for.
How early should I book an AFCON 2027 Tanzania tour?
Book 9 to 12 months ahead if you can. June and July are peak safari months, and AFCON will add demand for lodges, flights and drivers.
Plan your AFCON 2027 trip to Tanzania
AFCON 2027 is a rare chance to see world-class football and the Serengeti on the same trip. Start with the match city that suits you. Then pick the trip length that fits your time: a day trip, a short northern circuit safari, the Great Migration, Kilimanjaro or Zanzibar.
Tell us your dates and the matches you hope to see, and our Arusha-based team will plan a private itinerary around them. Plan your AFCON 2027 safari or contact us with your questions.
