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AFCON 2027 Tanzania Travel Tips

Visas, money, SIM cards, transport and safety — everything to sort before you fly, so match days are pure football.

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Visas & Entry

African Nationals

Many African passport holders enter Tanzania visa-free or receive a visa on arrival. East African Community citizens travel freely. Confirm your nationality's status before booking.

Everyone Else

Tanzania runs an official eVisa system — apply online before travel and avoid airport queues. Ordinary tourist visas cover the tournament window comfortably.

Zanzibar Note

Zanzibar is part of Tanzania — one visa covers both. The islands also require proof of valid travel/health insurance for visitors, purchasable online before arrival.

✅ Apply for your eVisa well before the tournament — processing times will stretch as hundreds of thousands of fans apply in the same weeks. Use only the official government eVisa portal (visa.immigration.go.tz).

Money

Currency

Tanzanian Shilling (TZS). ATMs are plentiful in all four host cities; notify your bank before travel. USD is widely accepted for hotels and tours (newer notes only).

Mobile Money

M-Pesa, Tigo Pesa and Airtel Money run daily life here. With a local SIM you can pay for almost anything — including bajaji rides and street food — like a local.

Budgeting

Street meal: ~2,000–5,000 TZS. Restaurant meal: 15,000–40,000 TZS. Bajaji hop: 2,000–5,000 TZS. Expect match-week prices in host cities to run higher than normal.

Getting Between Host Cities

RouteBest OptionTime
Dar es Salaam ↔ ZanzibarFerry (Stone Town) or 20-min flight~2 hrs / 20 min
Dar es Salaam ↔ DodomaSGR electric train~3–4 hrs
Dar es Salaam ↔ ArushaFlight to Kilimanjaro (JRO) or luxury bus~1.5 hrs / 8–10 hrs
Arusha ↔ Nairobi (Kenya legs)Shuttle bus or flight~4–5 hrs / 1 hr

Book flights and SGR seats early around match dates — capacity is finite and demand won't be. Renting your own vehicle or hiring a driver? See our car hire guide for self-drive vs. chauffeur options.

On the Ground

SIM & Data

Grab a Vodacom, Airtel or Tigo SIM at the airport with your passport. Data is cheap and fast in cities — a tournament-length bundle costs a few dollars.

Language

Swahili is the national language; English is widely spoken in cities and tourism. Learn "Jambo" (hello), "Asante" (thanks) and "Karibu" (welcome) — you'll hear that last one constantly.

Safety

Host cities are generally welcoming and safe with normal precautions: use registered taxis or ride-hailing at night, keep valuables low-key at crowded venues, and use hotel safes.

Health

Check routine vaccinations; yellow fever certificates are required if arriving from endemic countries. Malaria prophylaxis is recommended — consult a travel clinic. Drink bottled or filtered water.

Weather in June–July

Dry season nationwide: Dar & Zanzibar ~27–29°C and sunny, Arusha cool at ~20–23°C days and cold nights, Dodoma warm days and cool nights. Pack layers for the highlands.

Match Tickets

Buy only through official CAF channels when sales open. We'll link official ticketing here the moment it goes live — bookmark this page.

Serve Traveling Fans?

Airlines, transfer companies, SIM retailers, insurers, tour operators — fans need you before they even land. Get in front of them while they're planning.

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