ARUSHA: MINISTER for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Mr Paul Makonda, is expected to grace the high profile Cape to Cairo Arusha International Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, May 31, 2026.
Organizers have announced that Minister Makonda will serve as the guest of honor at the highly anticipated second edition of the annual marathon, which will be staged at Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium in the heart of Arusha City.
“We are delighted to announce that the Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Mr Paul Makonda, will be the guest of honor at this year’s Cape to Cairo International Marathon,” said Tim Mdinka, Chief Executive Officer of the event.
Mr Mdinka also unveiled a pre event activity set to take place at Makuyuni Wildlife Park in Arusha, where international runners will enjoy a special walking safari experience led by renowned indigenous celebrity guide from Selous Game Reserve, Didi Kambangwa.
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“This will offer international athletes a unique opportunity to experience the beauty of Tanzania ahead of the Cape to Cairo International Marathon, courtesy of the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA),” he said.
Meanwhile, regional wildlife conservation and tourism leaders have expressed strong support for the upcoming Cape to Cairo International Tourism Festival in Arusha, describing it as a bold initiative aimed at revitalizing intra African travel and promoting sustainable tourism across the continent.
The endorsement comes from the Lusaka Agreement Task Force, whose director, Edward Phiri a seasoned wildlife conservationist from Zambia praised the initiative as a visionary platform for encouraging Africans to travel within the continent.
“This is a brilliant initiative,” Phiri said. “Tourism in Africa has historically relied heavily on visitors from Europe, the Americas and other parts of the world. However, intra African tourism is equally important because it allows Africans to explore each other’s countries, cultures and wildlife, contributing significantly to both economic and social development.”
The Lusaka Agreement Task Force coordinates efforts among several African countries to combat illegal wildlife trade, placing the organization at the intersection of conservation and tourism development.
“Africa’s natural and cultural richness is unmatched — from Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania, to Victoria Falls and South Luangwa National Park in Zambia, as well as Kenya’s iconic wildlife reserves,” Phiri noted. “Initiatives such as this not only promote tourism, but also strengthen incentives to protect our natural heritage.”
The second edition of the Cape to Cairo International Tourism Festival will take place from May 28 to June 3, 2026, at Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium in Arusha, with organizers expecting more than 3000 delegates and participants from across Africa and beyond.
The week long program will feature cultural exhibitions, sports tourism activities and a high level summit bringing together private sector leaders and policymakers to explore tourism trade and investment opportunities within the East African Community.
The festival will culminate in the international marathon on Sunday May 31.
Organizers say the event is intended to reposition Tanzania as a unified tourism and investment destination.
“We want tourism revenue to benefit ordinary people from boda boda riders and food vendors to cultural performers and small hotel owners,” said Tim Mdinka, Chief Executive Officer of Sports and Tourism Events Promotions (SATEP) and a veteran tour operator with Land Africa Safaris.
With the festival coinciding with East Africa’s peak tourism season, Arusha strategically located between Cairo City and Cape Town City is positioning itself as both a symbolic and practical anchor for broader continental integration.
In a strategic partnership, the marathon week will coincide with the Karibu Kili Fair, organized by Kili Fair Promotion Co., extending visitors’ stays in Arusha City into early June and effectively creating a two-week tourism and business corridor.
The city was recently recognized by CNN Travel as one of the world’s top 20 destinations to visit in 2026, further strengthening its reputation as more than just a safari gateway.
For Dr Phiri and the Lusaka Agreement Task Force, the festival represents more than tourism promotion.
“It is about Africans visiting one another, celebrating our diversity and promoting sustainable economic growth while protecting wildlife,” he said. “I am proud to endorse this initiative and participate in May.”
Framed within the African philosophy of Ubuntu, the Cape to Cairo Arusha International Tourism Festival aims to strengthen regional collaboration, boost tourism driven livelihoods and showcase Africa’s cultural and natural wealth to African travelers themselves.