Safaris & side trips

Africa's most famous game reserve. Lions, elephants, cheetah, leopard and the start of the Great Wildebeest Migration all happen in June–July — exactly when AFCON takes place.

• Fly into the Mara for ease — Wilson Airport (Nairobi) to Mara airstrips is 45 minutes
• 2 nights minimum to do it justice — 1 night is rushed
• Book camps early — AFCON plus safari season means very high demand
• Governors' Camp, Ashnil Mara and Sanctuary Olonana are reliable options

Mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. One hour with a habituated gorilla family — widely regarded as one of the most profound wildlife encounters on Earth. Permits are strictly limited.

• Book your gorilla permit through Uganda Wildlife Authority — permits sell out months ahead
• The trek itself is 2–8 hours depending on where the gorilla family is located — be reasonably fit
• Fly Kampala–Kihihi or Kampala–Kisoro for convenience; overland takes all day
• Combine with Bwindi Lodge or Mahogany Springs for a complete experience

White sand beaches, turquoise Indian Ocean, UNESCO-listed Stone Town and some of the best seafood in Africa — all 35 minutes from Dar es Salaam by fast ferry.

• Book ferries early during AFCON — Azam Marine and Kilimanjaro Fast Ferry fill fast
• Spend 2 nights minimum: 1 night Stone Town (history and food), 1 night at a beach resort
• Nungwi and Kendwa are the best beaches for swimming year-round — no seaweed
• Don't wear swimwear in Stone Town — it is a predominantly Muslim community

The world's greatest wildlife spectacle. 1.5 million wildebeest moving across vast plains, with all major predators in attendance. June–July means the Great Migration is in the Western Corridor — the most dramatic part of the annual cycle.

• A 3-night fly-in safari is the minimum to do the Serengeti justice
• Central Serengeti (Seronera) is closest to the main airstrip — best all-round wildlife
• Western Corridor in June/July for river crossing spectacles
• Combine with a night at a luxury tented camp — Singita, andBeyond or Four Seasons

White-water rafting and bungee jumping at the Source of the Nile — one of the best adrenaline day trips in Africa, just 2 hours from Kampala. Great for a non-match day.

• Nile River Explorers and Adrift are the main rafting operators — both excellent
• Grade 5 rapids are intense but manageable — no experience required with a guide
• The bungee platform over the Nile is 44 metres — Nile High Bungee runs it
• Jinja is also a great base for a relaxed overnight — good restaurants on the river

The only national park in the world within a major capital city. Lions, rhinos, giraffes and buffalo with the Nairobi skyline behind them. A 3–4 hour morning game drive fits easily around match schedules.

• Early morning (6–9am) gives the best wildlife sightings and avoids the midday heat
• Rent a vehicle through the park or book a guided half-day tour from your hotel
• Black rhino are regularly spotted here — one of the best places in Africa for rhino viewing
• Combine with the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage next door (10am baby elephant feeding)