⚽ AFCON 2027 · East Africa

AFCON 2027.
The travel guide.

Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania. Three extraordinary countries hosting the continent's greatest football tournament. Here is everything you need to know to plan the trip properly.

🇰🇪 Kenya🇺🇬 Uganda🇹🇿 Tanzania
Get the AFCON CardExplore the cities
The host cities

Three cities. One tournament.

Each host city is worth a full trip in its own right. AFCON 2027 gives you a reason to do all three.

Nairobi
Kenya 🇰🇪

Kenya's capital is East Africa's most international city — sophisticated dining, a thriving arts scene and some of the best spas on the continent. Base yourself in Westlands or the CBD for easy access to Kasarani Stadium and the city's best areas.

Must do
  • Westlands restaurant scene
  • Karen Blixen Coffee Garden
  • Nairobi National Park (only national park inside a capital city)
  • Karura Forest
  • Kazuri Beads workshop
Full Nairobi guide →
Kampala
Uganda 🇺🇬

The Pearl of Africa's capital is one of East Africa's most underrated cities — Lake Victoria waterfront dining, Kololo's restaurant scene and a nightlife that goes properly late. Less polished than Nairobi, more authentically East African.

Must do
  • Kololo dining restaurants
  • Lake Victoria sunset cruise
  • Ndere Cultural Centre
  • Kampala night market
  • Boda boda city tour
Full Kampala guide →
Dar es Salaam
Tanzania 🇹🇿

Tanzania's largest city sits on the Indian Ocean and has a completely different energy to the other host cities — more relaxed, coastal and Swahili-influenced. Msasani Peninsula has the best restaurants and hotels. And Zanzibar is a 90-minute ferry away.

Must do
  • Msasani Peninsula dining
  • Coco Beach sunset
  • Kariakoo market
  • Zanzibar day trip
  • Swahili cuisine food tour
Full Dar es Salaam guide →
Planning your trip

Practical AFCON 2027 travel info

✈️

Getting between host cities

Nairobi to Kampala is a one-hour flight or an overland journey through western Kenya and Uganda. Nairobi to Dar is 1.5 hours by air. Budget airlines like Jambojet and Precision Air connect all three. Book domestic East African flights early — they fill up.

🛂

Visas

The East African Tourist Visa (available to many passport holders) covers Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in a single application — ideal for AFCON travel. Check current requirements for your passport. Rwanda is adding itself to this arrangement progressively.

💰

Money

Kenya uses Kenyan Shillings (KES), Uganda uses Ugandan Shillings (UGX), Tanzania uses Tanzanian Shillings (TZS). Mobile money (M-Pesa in Kenya, Airtel in Uganda) is widely used. USD cash is universally accepted. The Rahacards AFCON 2027 Card works across all three countries.

📱

Staying connected

Get a local SIM on arrival in each country — all three have strong 4G coverage in the cities. Safaricom in Kenya, MTN or Airtel in Uganda and Tanzania. Alternatively, an East Africa eSIM through providers like Airalo works across all three.

🏨

Where to stay

Book accommodation early — AFCON will fill the best hotels in all three cities. In Nairobi, Westlands or the CBD is central. In Kampala, Kololo or Nakasero. In Dar, Msasani Peninsula puts you close to the best restaurants and the sea.

🌡️

When is AFCON 2027

AFCON 2027 is scheduled for early 2027. East Africa's weather in early year is generally dry season — warm days and cooler evenings. Nairobi at 1,700m elevation can get cold after dark, especially in June/July.

Beyond the football

Why AFCON 2027 is also the perfect East Africa trip

The tournament runs for weeks. You have time to do more than watch matches.

🦁

Safari

Kenya and Tanzania are two of the world's greatest safari destinations. A two-day Masai Mara safari or a day trip to Amboseli from Nairobi is entirely realistic alongside AFCON matches.

🏝️

Zanzibar

Three days in Zanzibar before or after the tournament is the most popular AFCON extension trip. Stone Town, Nungwi Beach, spice tours — it's one of the Indian Ocean's finest islands.

🦍

Gorilla Trekking

Uganda is home to mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. A gorilla trek is one of the world's great wildlife experiences and perfectly combinable with an AFCON trip to Kampala.

🌊

Mombasa and Diani

After matches in Nairobi, the Mombasa coast is 1 hour away by flight. Diani Beach is consistently rated one of Africa's best beaches.

You're already going.
Now do it properly.

The AFCON 2027 Card by Rahacards covers restaurants, spas, hotels and experiences across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

Get the AFCON CardDiaspora travel guide →