Tanzania is planning to host Africa Cup of Nations teams in training facilities set within national parks as part of its preparations for AFCON 2027, Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba has said.
According to Tanzanian outlet Daily News, Nchemba confirmed the government is finalising a blueprint to develop training grounds that combine professional football infrastructure with the country’s natural landscape. The tournament will be co-hosted by Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.
“The intention is for the players to train while enjoying the sight of wildlife,” he said. “It will be an experience they cannot get anywhere else in the world.”
The government said the facilities will only be built in parks that do not host dangerous wildlife, with safety measures put in place to protect players and officials while maintaining conservation standards.
The plan forms part of a wider strategy to use the tournament to promote Tanzania’s tourism sector. Authorities are preparing integrated travel packages that will allow fans and teams to combine match attendance with visits to key attractions.
According to Nchemba, visitors attending matches in Arusha will be able to access destinations such as the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Arusha National Park and Serengeti National Park within short travel times.
“Someone attending a match in Arusha will be able to reach a national park within 20 to 30 minutes and Ngorongoro within 40 minutes to an hour,” he said.
The proposed packages will also include extended travel routes linking multiple tourist sites, with options to end trips in Zanzibar. Other destinations such as Mikumi National Park, now accessible via standard gauge railway services, are also set to feature.
Government ministries, including tourism and trade, are working on the initiative, which will be marketed digitally and through embassies abroad.
Beyond tourism, Tanzania is also targeting economic gains from the tournament through infrastructure upgrades, business opportunities and designated trading zones around stadiums and training sites.
“We are promoting local products, both traditional and modern, and ensuring they are accessible to visitors,” Nchemba said.
A national inter-sectoral committee is finalising the broader strategy as the country ramps up preparations for the 2027 finals.
