Tanzania has long drawn visitors with its vast savannahs, the snow-capped peak of Kilimanjaro, and the turquoise waters of Zanzibar. Now, the East African nation is trying something new: a golf course in the heart of the Serengeti.
Set to open this July, the 18-hole, 182-hectare course sits in the Fort Ikoma area, a transition zone between the Serengeti district and the national park. Golfers will share the fairways with giraffes, zebras, and even cheetahs, while watering holes attract aquatic wildlife. The project is part of a broader strategy to expand Tanzania’s tourism offering beyond traditional safaris and into luxury and sports tourism.
From Safaris to Swings: A New Tourism Chapter
“Tanzania is known as the home of wildlife, but we want to show the world that we are much more than that,” said Hassan Abbasi, permanent secretary at Tanzania’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, in an interview. The country aims to attract a more diverse profile of visitor, particularly high-net-worth travellers who might combine a round of golf with a safari or a beach holiday on the Indian Ocean coast.
Tourism is a cornerstone of Tanzania’s economy, contributing roughly 17% of GDP and more than half of its service exports. In 2025, the country welcomed 2.29 million international tourists, with a target of 8 million by 2030. To reach that goal, the government is not only opening new attractions but also seeking foreign investment in hotels, resorts, and infrastructure. “We invite the world to visit our country, but also to invest in it,” Abbasi added.
Virginia Messina, CEO of the African Travel and Tourism Association (ATTA), noted that “the next phase of development is about diversifying the offer,” and that investment in new products “has the potential to generate growth in new markets and visitor segments.”
AFCON 2027 as a Global Showcase
Tanzania’s tourism transformation will get a major boost in 2027, when it co-hosts the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) alongside Kenya and Uganda. The tournament will draw millions of viewers across the continent and beyond. Officials hope that fans attending matches will extend their stays to play golf, explore the Serengeti, or relax on Zanzibar’s beaches.
“All of Africa and a large part of the world will be looking towards Tanzania,” Abbasi said, calling the championship a platform to promote the country’s attractions beyond safaris. Messina cautioned, however, that “the careful and responsible distribution and management of this development will be key to maximising the economic benefits of tourism, while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the country’s tourism sector.”
The strategy also includes improving air connectivity, with more frequent flights to Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, and the Kilimanjaro region, and promoting lesser-known destinations such as Mafia Island (known for diving with whale sharks), the historic Swahili coast site of Kilwa Kisiwani, and Olduvai Gorge, a key archaeological site for human origins.
For European travellers accustomed to well-established tourism infrastructure, Tanzania’s push into luxury and event-driven tourism mirrors trends seen in Greece, Italy, and Malta, where diversification has driven growth. However, the environmental stakes are high: the Serengeti ecosystem is fragile, and the golf course’s impact on wildlife corridors and water resources will require careful management.
With golf, a major sporting event, and a focus on high-end travellers, Tanzania is trying to redefine its international image. Without abandoning the safaris that made it famous, the country is betting that its tourism offer can encompass much more than wildlife.
