BuuPass Partners With SafariBucks to Simplify Cross-Border Travel Payments in Africa

Kenyan travel-booking startup BuuPass is tackling one of the biggest pain points for African travelers: payments. Through a partnership with Nairobi-based digital wallet SafariBucks, BuuPass will now offer seamless cross-border payment options for buses, flights, and transfers across multiple countries.

The integration addresses a critical gap in the travel experience. While booking transportation might be straightforward, actually making payments—especially when crossing borders—can be complex with varying currencies, mobile money systems, and limited card acceptance. This is particularly challenging for tourists and business travelers moving between African nations.

For corporate clients, the partnership offers additional benefits through Gavanpass, BuuPass’ platform for managing group travel and expenses. Companies can now fund employee trips in advance and track spending across multiple currencies with integrated tax reporting—a significant improvement over manual expense reconciliation.

“We’ve spent eight years building the distribution layer for African travel,” said Sonia Kabra, co-founder and co-CEO of BuuPass. “What customers consistently tell us is that payments are the harder half of the problem. Partnering with SafariBucks lets us close that gap without asking anyone to change how they already pay.”

BuuPass currently operates in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and South Africa, integrating with various payment platforms like M-PESA, MTN MoMo, FNB, and Vodapay. The addition of SafariBucks expands its reach while offering a more streamlined experience for travelers.

The partnership comes after BuuPass secured an undisclosed investment from Yango Ventures to scale its operations across African markets. With both companies eyeing the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations as a major test case, they’re positioning themselves to handle the expected surge in cross-border travel between host cities.