Kenya Teams Up with South Africa, Morocco, Mauritius, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Zimbabwe as Mastercard Launches Priceless Africa to Unlock Exclusive Curated Travel Experiences Across the Continent

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Africa’s tourism industry has received a major boost as Kenya joins South Africa, Morocco, Mauritius, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Zimbabwe in Mastercard’s latest travel initiative, bringing the continent’s diverse destinations to global travelers through the launch of Priceless Africa on Priceless.com. The new platform enables Mastercard cardholders worldwide to access carefully curated travel experiences that showcase Africa’s cultural richness, wildlife, gastronomy, adventure tourism and authentic local communities. The expansion comes as Africa continues to strengthen its position as one of the fastest-growing tourism regions, supported by rising international visitor arrivals and growing demand for immersive travel experiences backed by secure digital payment solutions.

The new platform goes beyond traditional tourism by combining exclusive destination experiences with travel benefits such as hotel discounts, flight offers, airport lounge access, vehicle rentals, e-hailing services and seamless online booking. Mastercard’s latest initiative also aligns with changing traveler preferences, where visitors increasingly seek meaningful cultural connections and sustainable tourism opportunities. Through the “You Have To Be Here” campaign running until December 2026, Mastercard aims to position Africa as a leading global destination while strengthening partnerships across nine participating countries and expanding additional travel experiences throughout the year.

Mastercard Expands Priceless Platform Across Africa

Mastercard has officially introduced Priceless Africa on Priceless.com, extending its global lifestyle and travel platform to nine African destinations.

The participating countries include Kenya, South Africa, Morocco, Mauritius, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Zimbabwe. The platform gives Mastercard cardholders worldwide access to exclusive travel experiences that combine local culture, culinary traditions, wildlife encounters and outdoor adventures with secure payment solutions.

The initiative supports Africa’s growing tourism economy while encouraging travelers to explore authentic destinations beyond traditional sightseeing.

Countries Featured in Priceless Africa

Travel Benefits Available for Mastercard Cardholders

Beyond destination experiences, Mastercard has integrated several travel-focused benefits to improve the overall journey for international visitors.

Africa’s Tourism Growth Supports the Expansion

The launch arrives during a period of sustained tourism growth across Africa.

According to UN Tourism, Africa welcomed approximately 81 million international visitors during 2025, representing an eight percent increase compared with the previous year. The growth reflects increasing global interest in cultural tourism, wildlife safaris, heritage travel, culinary tourism and sustainable travel experiences.

Mastercard believes these evolving traveler preferences create new opportunities to connect international visitors with authentic African experiences while ensuring secure and convenient payment options throughout every stage of the journey.

Experiences Focus on Culture, Nature and Adventure

Priceless Africa has been developed around four major travel themes that appeal to a broad international audience.

These include culture and creativity, culinary experiences, nature and wildlife, and adventure tourism.

Visitors can enjoy unforgettable activities including wildlife safaris in Kenya, mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda, cultural heritage tours in Ghana, desert dining in Morocco, island adventures in Mauritius, marine experiences in Tanzania, rhino conservation in Zimbabwe and wildlife protection activities in South Africa.

Each experience has been selected to promote local communities while highlighting Africa’s unique tourism assets.

Mastercard Campaign Promotes African Tourism

The launch is supported by Mastercard’s continent-wide “You Have To Be Here” campaign.

Running from June 18 through December 2026, the campaign combines destination storytelling, digital marketing and curated travel experiences designed to inspire more international travelers to visit Africa.

Mastercard also confirmed that additional destinations and new experiences will continue to be introduced across the participating countries during 2026 as the Priceless Africa platform expands.

What Priceless Africa Means for Global Travelers

The launch positions Africa as an increasingly accessible destination for travelers seeking immersive experiences rather than conventional vacations.

By combining authentic local experiences with premium travel benefits and secure payment technology, Mastercard is helping simplify travel planning while encouraging visitors to explore multiple destinations across the continent.

As demand continues rising for experience-led tourism, Priceless Africa is expected to strengthen Africa’s competitiveness within the global travel industry while generating additional opportunities for local tourism businesses and communities.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Priceless Africa?
Priceless Africa is Mastercard’s new travel platform on Priceless.com offering curated tourism experiences across nine African countries.

2. Which countries are included in Priceless Africa?
Kenya, South Africa, Morocco, Mauritius, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Zimbabwe are currently included.

3. Who can access Priceless Africa?
Mastercard cardholders around the world can access eligible experiences through Priceless.com.

4. What kinds of experiences are available?
Travelers can enjoy wildlife safaris, cultural tours, culinary experiences, adventure activities and heritage attractions.

5. Does Priceless Africa include travel discounts?
Yes. Benefits include hotel discounts, flight offers, airport lounge access, car rentals and travel booking services.

6. Why did Mastercard launch Priceless Africa?
The initiative supports Africa’s growing tourism sector while connecting travelers with authentic local experiences through secure digital payments.

7. What is the “You Have To Be Here” campaign?
It is Mastercard’s tourism campaign promoting African destinations through storytelling and curated travel experiences until December 2026.

8. Will more destinations be added?
Yes. Mastercard plans to expand experiences across all participating countries during 2026.

9. Why is Africa becoming more attractive to travelers?
Growing interest in authentic cultural experiences, wildlife tourism and sustainable travel continues to increase international demand.

10. How does Priceless Africa benefit local tourism?
The platform promotes local communities, supports tourism businesses, encourages longer visitor stays and showcases Africa’s diverse cultural and natural attractions.