AFCON 2027 is spread across three countries and seven cities. Fans following their team may play in Nairobi one week and Kampala or Dar es Salaam the next. Plan journeys early: flights and buses will fill up.
The host cities
| City | Country | Stadium | From Nairobi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nairobi | Kenya | Raila Odinga, Kasarani, Nyayo | - |
| Kampala | Uganda | Mandela National Stadium | About 1 hour by air; a long day by road |
| Hoima | Uganda | Hoima City Stadium | Via Kampala, then road or a domestic flight |
| Lira | Uganda | Akii Bua Stadium | Via Kampala, then road |
| Dar es Salaam | Tanzania | Benjamin Mkapa Stadium | About 1.5 hours by air |
| Arusha | Tanzania | Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium | About 1 hour by air, or 5-6 hours by road |
| Zanzibar | Tanzania | Amaan and Fumba stadiums | About 1.5 hours by air |
Flying
Flying is the only practical way to cover most of these distances within a tournament schedule.
- From JKIA, Kenya Airways, its low-cost sister Jambojet, and other airlines fly to Entebbe (for Kampala), Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro (for Arusha) and Zanzibar.
- Entebbe airport is about an hour from central Kampala, more in traffic.
- Book early and check baggage rules on smaller aircraft.
See flights from Nairobi and the JKIA airport guide.
By road
- Nairobi to Arusha is the shortest cross-border drive, about five to six hours via the Namanga border post. Shuttle buses run daily.
- Nairobi to Kampala is a long journey via the Malaba or Busia borders - a day or an overnight bus.
- Nairobi to Dar es Salaam by road takes most of a day or more.
Long-distance coach companies run these routes. Travel by day where you can, and allow extra time at borders during the tournament.
By rail
There is no direct passenger rail between the host countries. Within Kenya, the SGR connects Nairobi and Mombasa. See Nairobi to Mombasa.
Visas and borders
- Kenya - the eTA for most visitors; most Africans are exempt. See Applying for an eTA.
- Uganda - a visa-fee waiver for visitors around the tournament has been announced.
- Tanzania - its own e-visa for most nationalities.
- East African Community citizens travel freely between the three.
- The East Africa Tourist Visa covers Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, but not Tanzania.
- A single AFCON visa for all three hosts has been discussed but not confirmed.
Check the official immigration sites for your passport before booking, and carry your match tickets and any Fan ID - they may be asked for at the border.
Money and phones
- Each country has its own currency - Kenyan, Ugandan and Tanzanian shillings. Cards work in cities; carry some local cash.
- Mobile money works across borders in some cases, but check fees.
- Roaming can be expensive; a local SIM or a regional eSIM is cheaper. See eSIMs for visitors.
Health
Malaria is a greater risk in parts of Uganda, coastal Tanzania and Zanzibar than in Nairobi. Take advice from a travel clinic before you go.