Best Safari Parks to Visit During AFCON 2027
Combine AFCON 2027 football with world-class safari. The best national parks and game reserves near Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, and Kampala — with travel times and practical tips.
AFCON 2027 lands in the best region in the world for wildlife. Here's how to combine football with safari without compromising either.
Why June–July is excellent for safari
The timing of AFCON 2027 coincides with some of the best safari months in East Africa:
- Kenya: June–July is dry season. Grass is short, animals congregate near water. The Masai Mara's Great Migration of wildebeest is approaching — sometimes arriving as early as late June.
- Tanzania: Serengeti dry season. Excellent predator activity.
- Uganda: Dry season. Gorilla trekking optimal.
The tournament schedule allows for day trips from most host cities and multi-day extensions between matches.
Kenya: from Nairobi
Nairobi National Park
Distance from city centre: 7km | Drive time: 20–30 minutes
The only national park in the world within a capital city. Lions, giraffes, rhinos, and buffaloes against the Nairobi skyline backdrop. A half-day game drive from your hotel — no overnight stay required. An extraordinary and unique experience.
Masai Mara National Reserve
Distance from Nairobi: 270km | Drive time: 5–6 hours | By small plane: 45 minutes
One of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa. The Mara in June–July is at peak predator activity. Lions, cheetahs, elephants, hippos, and the beginning of the wildebeest migration. If you have 2–3 days between matches, this is the choice. Fly if budget allows — the drive is long and dusty.
Amboseli National Park
Distance from Nairobi: 230km | Drive time: 4 hours
Famous for its elephant herds and views of Mount Kilimanjaro (in Tanzania but visible from Kenya). Best for photography. Calmer and less crowded than the Mara.
Tanzania: from Dar es Salaam
Mikumi National Park
Distance from Dar: 283km | Drive time: 4–5 hours
Tanzania's most accessible park from Dar es Salaam. Often called "Little Serengeti" — lions, elephants, hippos, and a genuine bush atmosphere. Good for a night or two between Dar matches.
Serengeti National Park
Distance from Dar: 650km | Best access: fly from Dar or connect via Arusha
The Serengeti in June–July is extraordinary — dry season means grass is low, predator concentrations are high, and the annual wildebeest migration may be moving through. This requires a proper 3–4 day trip and some careful match scheduling — but it is one of the great wildlife experiences on earth.
Zanzibar Extension
Not a safari but worth noting — Zanzibar is 30 minutes by plane from Dar. The combination of AFCON in Dar followed by 2–3 days in Zanzibar (snorkelling, beach, Stone Town) is an extraordinary holiday in itself.
Uganda: from Kampala
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Distance from Kampala: 360km | Drive time: 7–8 hours (or fly to Kihihi airstrip)
Home to approximately half the world's remaining mountain gorillas. A trekking permit costs $700 — the fee directly funds conservation. The experience of sitting with a gorilla family for an hour in dense forest is, by most accounts, one of the most profound things a person can do. Plan this as a 2–3 day trip.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Distance from Kampala: 400km | Drive time: 5–6 hours
Tree-climbing lions, hippo boat cruises on the Kazinga Channel, and beautiful landscape. Less crowded than Kenyan equivalents and genuinely excellent.
Murchison Falls National Park
Distance from Kampala: 300km | Drive time: 5–6 hours
The largest and oldest national park in Uganda. The falls themselves are stunning — the Nile forcing through a 7-metre-wide gap creates some of the most powerful rapids anywhere on the river.
Practical planning
Book safari accommodation early. Quality lodges near the Mara and Serengeti fill up well in advance — especially for June–July when demand is high from non-tournament travellers as well.
Mix your activities thoughtfully. A match day and a safari day are incompatible — you need a rest/travel day between them.
Use reputable operators. In all three countries, there are excellent local safari operators. Look for those affiliated with TATO (Tanzania Association of Tour Operators) or KATO (Kenya Association of Tour Operators).
Cantravu packages can be extended to include safari add-ons — if this interests you, contact us and we'll build the full trip.
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Flights, hotel, match tickets, and transfers — all handled by Cantravu.