For the first time ever, the Africa Cup of Nations is being hosted by three countries at once — and Tanzania is one of them. If you are planning a trip for AFCON 2027 Tanzania, you have picked a very good summer: the matches land in the middle of the dry season, the national parks are at their best, and Arusha is finishing a brand-new stadium. You will, of course, need to explain to someone at home why “a quick trip to watch one match” now includes the Serengeti.
This guide covers what is confirmed so far, where to stay in Arusha, how to fit a safari between matches, and the practical details people usually discover while standing at immigration. We are a hotel in Arusha, so yes, we have opinions about where you should sleep — but we have written this to be useful whether you stay with us or not.
Last checked: November 2026. CAF has confirmed the tournament dates. The full match schedule and the exact stadium for each fixture have not been published yet. We will update this page as soon as they are.
AFCON 2027 at a glance
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | 19 June – 17 July 2027 |
| Hosts | Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, under the “Pamoja” banner (Swahili for “together”) |
| Teams | 24 |
| Tanzania’s host cities | Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Zanzibar (as currently planned) |
| Arusha’s stadium | Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium, about 30,000 seats, built for the tournament |
| Season | Dry season in northern Tanzania, one of the best times of year for safari |
AFCON 2027 Tanzania: dates, host cities and what is still to be confirmed
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has set the tournament for 19 June to 17 July 2027, with the opening match on the first day and the final on the last. It is the first AFCON shared between three nations, and it brings the competition to East Africa on a scale the region has never seen.
Tanzania’s plans centre on three cities:
- Dar es Salaam — the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, the national stadium, with around 60,000 seats.
- Arusha — the new Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium, with around 30,000 seats.
- Zanzibar — the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar City, plus a new stadium at Fumba.
Dodoma, which appeared in early proposals, is reported to have been dropped from the plan. What we do not know yet: which groups and knockout games each stadium will host, and where the opening match and the final will be played. CAF has said those details will come later, so keep an eye on the official CAF website before you lock in flights.
Arusha’s new stadium: the Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium
Ground was broken on the Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium in April 2024. It is being built in the Olmoti area on the western side of Arusha, with room for roughly 30,000 fans, a grass pitch and space for athletics and rugby once the football is over. It is Arusha’s headline project for AFCON 2027 and the reason the city expects a lot of company in June and July.
For visitors, the useful detail is geography. The stadium sits on the same western side of the city as our hotel in Burka Olasiti, and the same side as Arusha Airport. That means you can get to a match without crossing the city centre — and anyone who has met the traffic around Arusha’s Clock Tower at five o’clock will understand why that matters. Once kick-off times are published, ask our reception team about match-day transport.
Where to stay in Arusha for AFCON 2027
Arusha is not a huge city, but it spreads out along the main road, and where you sleep decides how much of your trip you spend in traffic. Here is how the main areas compare for football fans.
City centre
Walkable, lively, full of restaurants and money changers. Also noisy, and on the opposite side of the centre from the stadium. Good for a night or two if you want to soak up the atmosphere; less good if you want to sleep before a 06:00 safari departure.
Njiro and the eastern suburbs
Leafy, residential and calm, with plenty of guesthouses. The catch for AFCON is distance: match days mean a drive right across town and back.
Usa River and Tengeru
Lovely lodges with garden views, closer to Arusha National Park and Kilimanjaro International Airport. Expect roughly 30–45 minutes to central Arusha, and longer to the western side on a busy day.
Burka and Olasiti (west Arusha)
This is where we are, so take our enthusiasm with a pinch of salt — but the logic is sound. The west side is quieter, greener, close to Arusha Airport (about 7 km from our gate) and on the same side as the new stadium. It is also the side of town the safari road leaves from, heading west towards Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater, so early departures do not start with a city-centre traffic jam.
Why football fans stay at A1 Hotel and Resort
- Rooms for every kind of squad — single and double rooms, triple rooms for friends, and private cottages for families or the person in your group who snores. Compare our rooms.
- A pool facing Mount Meru, for recovery after a defeat or celebrating a win (the pool does not judge).
- Breakfast from early, plus packed lunches for safari days and dinner at our restaurant.
- A bar with live sport, for the matches you are not attending in person.
- Free parking, free WiFi and a 24-hour front desk, plus an airport shuttle and a tour desk that can book your safari.
Booking tips for AFCON 2027
- Book as soon as your plans firm up. June and July are already busy safari months in northern Tanzania. Add a football tournament and good rooms will go early.
- Ask about flexible terms. The fixture list is not out yet. Most hotels, including us, can talk you through options if you send a booking request rather than guessing.
- Travelling as a group? Say so. Adjacent rooms, triple rooms and cottages are easier to arrange early than the week before kick-off.
- Tell us your match dates. We can plan airport pick-ups, match-day transport and safari days around them.
Safari between matches: the best Tanzania tours for AFCON fans
Here is the happy accident of AFCON 2027 Tanzania: June and July are dry-season months in the north. The grass is shorter, animals gather around rivers and waterholes, and roads are in better shape than in the rainy months. In other words, the best football you have watched in years might come with the best wildlife viewing too.
The Great Migration usually spends June in the western corridor of the Serengeti, where the herds face the Grumeti River, and starts drifting north towards the Mara River from July. Nature does not publish fixtures either, so treat those as typical patterns rather than promises.
| Time you have | Best option | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Half a day | Coffee farm walk or Arusha town and the Cultural Heritage Centre | Easy, close, and back in time for an evening match |
| 1 day | Arusha National Park or Tarangire National Park | Giraffes and colobus monkeys near Mount Meru, or elephants and baobabs about two hours away |
| 2 days | Tarangire plus the Ngorongoro Crater | Two very different parks, the classic short northern circuit |
| 3–4 days | Serengeti and Ngorongoro (drive or fly) | Big cats, big skies, and a real chance of migration herds |
| Rest day | The pool, Lake Duluti or a bicycle ride around Burka | Your legs have walked to a stadium; let them recover |
Our advice, learned the hard way by other guests: do not book a 06:00 Serengeti departure for the morning after a late kick-off. Put the long drives on non-match days, keep the closer parks for in-between days, and you will enjoy both. Our safaris and experiences page has more ideas, and our guide to an Arusha National Park day trip is the easiest place to start.
Following your team around Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda
Because AFCON 2027 is shared by three countries, some fans will follow their team across borders. A few things worth knowing before you plan your route:
- Dar es Salaam to Arusha: about 1.5 hours by air, into Arusha Airport or Kilimanjaro International. By road it is more than 600 km — a full day, scenic but long.
- Zanzibar: short flights from Arusha and Dar es Salaam, or the fast ferry from Dar es Salaam, which takes around two hours.
- Nairobi: shared shuttle buses run between Arusha and Nairobi via the Namanga border, usually five to six hours. There are also short flights.
- Kampala and Uganda: easiest by air, usually via Nairobi or direct to Entebbe.
Each country has its own entry rules. The East Africa Tourist Visa covers Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda — it does not include Tanzania, so you will need a separate Tanzanian visa if your nationality requires one.
Practical tips for AFCON 2027 in Tanzania
Visas and entry
Many nationalities need a visa for Tanzania, and the simplest route is the official Tanzania e-visa portal. Apply well ahead — approval can take time, and the last week before a major tournament is not when you want to test anyone’s patience. If you are arriving from, or have transited through, a country with a risk of yellow fever, carry your vaccination certificate.
Weather in June and July
Arusha sits at about 1,400 metres, so days are pleasantly warm and evenings are cool — often around 12–15°C after dark. Bring a warm layer for night matches. Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar are at sea level and stay warm and humid.
Money and phones
The currency is the Tanzanian shilling. Cards work in hotels and larger shops; markets, taxis and tips run on cash. Local SIM cards are easy to buy at the airport with your passport, and mobile money is everywhere.
Health and safety
Speak to your doctor about malaria advice before you travel, and pack insect repellent. On match days, travel light, keep valuables out of sight and use hotel transport or registered taxis, especially after night games.
What to pack
- Your loudest jersey and a scarf (useful for both chanting and chilly evenings).
- Neutral-coloured clothes for safari — tsetse flies are oddly fond of dark blue and black, so save the navy kit for the stadium.
- Sunscreen, a hat, binoculars and a power bank.
- Printed copies of your tickets, visa and hotel booking. Batteries die; paper does not.
A sample 7-day AFCON 2027 and safari itinerary from Arusha
- Day 1 — Arrive. Land at Kilimanjaro International Airport, transfer to Arusha (read our Kilimanjaro Airport to Arusha guide), swim, early night.
- Day 2 — Settle in. A slow morning, then coffee farms or the Cultural Heritage Centre. Our list of things to do in Arusha has more.
- Day 3 — Match day. Lunch, then off to the Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium. Celebrate or commiserate at the bar.
- Day 4 — Tarangire. Elephants, baobabs and a picnic lunch.
- Day 5 — Ngorongoro Crater. An early start for the crater floor.
- Day 6 — Rest or Arusha National Park. Pool day, or giraffes and colobus monkeys close to town.
- Day 7 — Next match. Fly to Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar to follow your team — or home, sunburned and happy.
Frequently asked questions about AFCON 2027 in Tanzania
When is AFCON 2027?
The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations runs from 19 June to 17 July 2027, co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Which Tanzanian cities are hosting AFCON 2027 matches?
Current plans name Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Zanzibar. CAF has not yet published which matches will be played at each stadium.
Where is the AFCON stadium in Arusha?
The new Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium is in the Olmoti area on the western side of Arusha. It is designed for around 30,000 spectators.
Where should I stay in Arusha for AFCON 2027?
West Arusha — Burka, Olasiti and the areas near Arusha Airport — is on the same side as the new stadium and the safari road, so it avoids city-centre traffic on match days. Book early, because June and July are peak safari season.
Can I combine AFCON 2027 with a safari?
Yes. The tournament falls in the dry season, which is excellent for wildlife. Arusha National Park and Tarangire work as day trips, and the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti suit two to four free days.
Do I need a visa to watch AFCON 2027 in Tanzania?
Most visitors need a Tanzanian visa, which you can apply for on the official e-visa portal. The East Africa Tourist Visa does not cover Tanzania.
How far is Arusha from Dar es Salaam?
About 1.5 hours by plane. By road it is more than 600 km, which is a full day of driving.
Planning your AFCON 2027 Tanzania trip and want a base on the right side of Arusha? Send us your dates or ask our team anything — we will help you plan the football and the safari, and we promise not to talk about penalties at breakfast.
