BuuPass and SafariBucks Unlock Seamless Cross-Border Payments

BuuPass and SafariBucks Unlock Seamless Cross-Border Payments

Quick Reads

• BuuPass has partnered with SafariBucks to simplify cross-border travel payments across Africa.
• Travellers can now pay for BuuPass buses, flights, and transfers using a SafariBucks wallet.
• The deal extends to Gavanpass, BuuPass’s corporate travel platform, for multi-currency expense tracking.
• Both companies plan to test the integration during the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
• BuuPass has sold over 30 million tickets and processed more than $100 million in 2025.

The BuuPass SafariBucks partnership tackles one of African travel’s biggest headaches: payments. Kenyan travel-booking startup BuuPass has teamed up with Nairobi-based digital wallet SafariBucks. Travellers can now pay for buses, flights, and transfers without juggling currencies. The deal adds a cross-border payment layer to BuuPass’s existing ticketing network. Meanwhile, it builds on the startup’s push into corporate travel.

Under the arrangement, travellers can load a SafariBucks wallet before arriving in a new country. They can then spend it directly on BuuPass services through local payment rails. This removes the need to carry cash or hunt for currency exchanges at borders. According to BuuPass co-founder and co-CEO Sonia Kabra, payments, not bookings, remain the toughest part of travel. She said the BuuPass SafariBucks partnership closes that gap without forcing users to change habits.

The corporate side runs through Gavanpass, BuuPass’s business travel platform launched in April 2026. SafariBucks’ Spend Management tool will integrate with Gavanpass, letting companies track travel spending across multiple currencies. As a result, finance teams can manage tax reporting more easily for cross-border trips. SafariBucks co-founder and CEO Ali Hassan said the collaboration removes friction for tourists and finance teams alike.

Furthermore, both companies are eyeing the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations as a major test. Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda are co-hosting the tournament. With fans expected to cross borders for matches, SafariBucks will handle payments while BuuPass manages logistics between host cities.

Since launching in 2016, BuuPass has expanded to Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and South Africa. It works with over 150 transport operators and has sold more than 30 million tickets to date. In 2025 alone, the company processed over $100 million in travel transactions. The startup also acquired QuickBus in 2024, extending its footprint into Nigeria and South Africa. Additionally, it secured undisclosed investment from Yango Ventures last year to scale operations.

As cross-border travel across Africa grows, partnerships like this one could set a new standard for seamless payments.