TANZANIA · TOURISM
Key Facts
- —The country Tanzania is an East African country, home to Mount Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti and Zanzibar, and one of three hosts of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
- —What happened On Tuesday 20 October 2026, Tanzania’s natural resources and tourism minister inspected new tourist cottages at Kazimzumbwi Forest Reserve in Kisarawe, near Dar es Salaam.
- —The money The government has set aside Sh2.2 billion (about US$833,000) for cottages, entertainment areas and an entrance gate at the reserve.
- —The works Seven cottages are planned, and one is finished, one is nearly finished and one is under way.
- —The deadline The cottages are due for completion on 15 April 2027, about two months before the football tournament opens on 19 June 2027.
- —Why now Tanzania forest tourism is tied to the football tournament, as visitors can watch matches on large screens in the forest.
- —Still open How much the cottages will cost per night, who will run them, and whether the reserve can handle large match-day crowds.
Tanzania forest tourism is getting Sh2.2 billion (about US$833,000) for cottages, fan areas and a gate at Kazimzumbwi Forest Reserve near Dar es Salaam. The works prepare the country for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which Tanzania co-hosts.
Dr Ashatu Kijaji, the Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, inspected the site in Kisarawe District on Tuesday 20 October 2026, the Daily News reported. For US visitors and investors, the project is a small but early sign of how Tanzania plans to turn tournament crowds into tourism income.
What the Minister Saw in Kisarawe
Kijaji toured the reserve with Deputy Minister Hamad Hassan Chande and Kisarawe District Commissioner Petro Magoti. Emmanuel Kiboko, a deputy conservation commissioner at Tanzania Forest Services (TFS), the state agency that manages forest reserves, also joined.
Three of the seven planned cottages are at different stages of construction, the Daily News said. One is complete, one is close to completion and one is under construction.
A Forest Reserve on Dar es Salaam’s Doorstep
Kazimzumbwi is a coastal forest of roughly 5,000 hectares in the Pugu Hills, about 20 kilometres from Dar es Salaam. It has been a forest reserve since 1936 and sits in Kisarawe District, in the Pwani (Coast) Region.
Its closeness to Dar es Salaam makes it an easy day trip for city residents. The Daily News stressed that the forest must stay protected while Tanzania forest tourism facilities are built.
Why Football Fans Are Part of the Plan
The cottages come with entertainment areas where visitors can follow Africa Cup of Nations matches on large screens. Tanzania forest tourism thus offers fans an outdoor place to watch games without travelling to a stadium.
The Africa Cup of Nations is Africa’s top national football tournament, run by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Twenty-four teams will play from 19 June to 17 July 2027, and Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will host it together for the first time.
Forest Tourism Was Already Getting Funding
Tanzania forest tourism was already getting investment before the new cottages. A six-year forest project that began in 2024 covers nine of Tanzania’s 22 nature forest reserves, including Pugu-Kazimzumbwi.
The Global Environment Facility funds it, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) helps run it with the government. The UNDP said it has built two resting huts and picnic sites at Pugu-Kazimzumbwi and is rehabilitating a 12-kilometre access road.
Money Spent Across the Tournament Map
The Kazimzumbwi budget is small next to other tournament projects. In March 2026 The Citizen reported that Zanzibar plans Sh388.8 billion (about US$147 million) for Afcon City, a sports and tourism complex.
The Daily News said nearby communities should gain from tourism-related businesses around the reserve. It added that the government is promoting lesser-known destinations to widen Tanzania’s tourism.
What It Means for US Readers
American fans heading to Dar es Salaam in June and July 2027 will find more places to watch games. The US State Department rated Tanzania Level 3, Reconsider Travel, on 31 October 2025, citing unrest, crime and terrorism.
A guide to what to do in Dar es Salaam lists current events in the city. Travellers should check the current State Department advisory before booking.
For investors, the project is a small example of tournament-linked spending on ecotourism and lodging, not only on stadiums. The Daily News gave no contract details, so any opening for suppliers is still unclear.
What Is Not Known
The government has not said what a night in the cottages will cost or whether private operators will run them. It has also not published a visitor limit for the reserve or described how match-day crowds will be managed.
The Daily News gave no breakdown of the Sh2.2 billion (about US$833,000) between cottages, screens and the gate. Whether the 15 April 2027 deadline holds for Tanzania forest tourism will show in the months ahead.
More: Tanzania news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kazimzumbwi Forest Reserve?
Kazimzumbwi is a protected coastal forest in Kisarawe District, close to Dar es Salaam, that has been a forest reserve since 1936. TFS, the state forest agency, manages it.
How much is Tanzania spending on forest tourism there?
Tanzania forest tourism at Kazimzumbwi gets Sh2.2 billion (about US$833,000) for cottages, entertainment areas and an entrance gate. Seven cottages are planned.
When will the cottages be ready?
The works are scheduled to finish on 15 April 2027. The Africa Cup of Nations opens two months later, on 19 June 2027.
When and where is the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations?
It runs from 19 June to 17 July 2027 in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, which host together for the first time. Twenty-four teams will take part, according to CAF.
Is Tanzania safe for US visitors?
The US State Department rated Tanzania Level 3, Reconsider Travel, in its advisory issued on 31 October 2025. Travellers should check the current advisory before booking.
Sources: Daily News, funding for Kazimzumbwi tourism ahead of AFCON, 20 October 2026; UNDP, Sustaining Tanzania’s forest legacy, 2026; CAF, one year to kick-off for the Africa Cup of Nations 2027, 19 June 2026; The Citizen, Zanzibar plans Afcon City complex, 14 March 2026; US State Department, Tanzania travel advisory, 31 October 2025; ATC News, threat to Kazimzumbwi forest, 13 May 2012.
Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief · Editorial standards · Report an error