You have your ticket. You have your eVisa. Now comes the question every AFCON 2027 fan travelling to Tanzania will face at some point . What do I actually pack? Tanzania in June and July is warm, dry and spectacular, but it spans three very different host cities with different climates, dress codes and practical needs. This list covers everything.
Documents — The Non-Negotiables
Before you think about clothes or gadgets, get your documents sorted. Pack physical copies of everything and store digital backups in your email and cloud storage.
- Passport — valid for at least 6 months beyond your return date
- Tanzania eVisa approval — print it. Also save to phone. Do both.
- Match tickets — printed and digital copies
- Travel insurance certificate — including the emergency phone number
- Return flight confirmation
- Hotel/accommodation booking confirmation
- Yellow fever certificate — required if arriving from an endemic country
- International driving licence — only if you plan to rent a car or scooter
Keep originals in your bag at all times. Leave copies at your accommodation. A photographed copy of your passport stored in your email has saved thousands of travellers from serious problems.
Clothes — Pack for Three Climates
This is where AFCON 2027 in Tanzania gets interesting. Dar es Salaam is hot and coastal. Arusha is cool and highland. Zanzibar is warm with a Muslim dress code in Stone Town. You may visit all three.
Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar beaches (25–30°C, humid)
- Lightweight breathable shirts — linen or technical fabric
- Shorts for the beach and casual evenings
- Swimwear
- One smart-casual outfit for better restaurants
- Comfortable walking sandals
- Flip flops for the beach
Zanzibar Stone Town (same temperature — different dress code)
- Long trousers or a long skirt — cover knees when walking around Stone Town
- A light shirt with sleeves — cover shoulders as a courtesy in this predominantly Muslim area
- This is not strictly enforced but is appreciated and respectful
Arusha (15–26°C, cool evenings)
- A lightweight fleece or hoodie — essential for evening matches and early mornings
- Long trousers for evenings
- Closed shoes — it gets properly cold after dark at 1,400m altitude
For all stadiums
- Your team colours or Tanzania kit
- A cap or sun hat — afternoon matches at 14:00 EAT are very hot in open stands
- A light rain jacket — occasional evening showers possible in DSM
Health and Medicine
See your travel doctor or clinic at least 4 to 6 weeks before departure. Tanzania has a genuine malaria risk and several recommended vaccinations.
- Malaria prophylaxis — prescribed by your doctor. Doxycycline or Malarone are common options. Start before travel.
- DEET mosquito repellent — 50% concentration minimum. Apply every evening.
- Rehydration sachets — essential for any stomach upset from food or heat
- Imodium — traveller’s stomach is real. Pack it.
- Paracetamol and ibuprofen
- Antihistamines
- Sunscreen SPF 50 — UV is intense even in dry season. Reapply every 2 hours at outdoor matches.
- Any personal prescription medication — bring enough for the full trip plus a week extra
- Small first aid kit — plasters, antiseptic wipes, blister pads
Tech and Electronics
- Universal power adapter — Tanzania uses Type D and G plugs (3 pin). Essential.
- Power bank — large capacity (20,000mAh minimum). Power cuts happen. Charge at every opportunity.
- Unlocked smartphone — you will buy a local SIM on arrival. Make sure your phone accepts foreign SIMs.
- Charging cables — bring backups. They break.
- Headphones — long travel days between cities
- Camera or phone with a good camera — you will want to remember this
- Offline maps downloaded — download Google Maps offline for Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Zanzibar before you leave home
Money
- USD cash — $200 to $400 in mixed notes. Post-2009 notes only — older notes are often refused. Small denominations for street food and tips.
- Debit card for ATMs — notify your bank before travel.
- Credit card for hotels — Visa and Mastercard accepted at most international hotels.
Do not rely solely on cards. Markets, fan zones, street food, dala-dala and bajaj all require cash. You will be surprised how quickly you run out if you are not prepared.
Apps to Download Before You Leave
- Bolt — the most reliable ride-hailing app in Tanzania. Set up your account and payment method before arrival.
- Google Maps — download offline maps for all three cities
- XE Currency — live exchange rates for TZS, KES, UGX and USD
- WhatsApp — how Tanzania communicates. Your hotel, guide and contact will likely reach you here.
- CAF official app — for fixtures, results and any tournament updates
What to Leave at Home
- Valuables you cannot afford to lose — expensive jewellery, secondary passports, irreplaceable items
- Drone — requires permits in Tanzania and is not worth the hassle for a short trip
- Too many shoes — two pairs maximum. One smart, one comfortable walking shoe.
- Heavy luggage — if you are moving between DSM, Arusha and Zanzibar, a 20–25kg bag becomes a genuine problem. Pack light.
The One-Bag Test
Before you close your bag, do this: pick it up and walk around your house for 5 minutes. If it feels too heavy now, it will feel impossible after a 12-hour journey, a hot customs queue and a crowded bus terminal. Cut something. You can buy most things you forget in Dar es Salaam — there are excellent supermarkets and markets at the city centre.
For everything else you need to prepare for AFCON 2027 in Tanzania — visa requirements, SIM cards, health advice and emergency contacts — visit our complete practical guide. And for what to expect in each host city, see our Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Zanzibar city guides.