Safaricom is one of the major service providers of mobile and internet services that promise reliable connectivity across the country. Among many useful features Safaricom provides, there is an ability to Sambaza bundles, which allows users to share or transfer internet data bundles from one number to another. This feature is quite convenient when a friend, family member, or workmate runs out of data and needs an instant top-up.

This article shall explain how you can Sambaza bundles on Safaricom, what steps are involved, and any other thing that you would want to know to get the most of this feature.

1. What is Sambaza on Safaricom?

The Sambaza service is an avenue through which Safaricom customers can share their internet bundles, airtime, or talk-time minutes with other Safaricom users. The term "Sambaza" means "distribute" or "share" in Swahili, which explains what it is.

Key Features of Sambaza Bundles
Instant Transfer: You can transfer internet bundles to other Safaricom users instantly.
Minimum and Maximum Limits: There is a minimum and a maximum amount of data that you can share at any given time.
Applies to Prepaid Lines: Sambaza will apply to prepaid Safaricom customers in addition to post-paid users who have sufficient bundle balances.
No Extra Charges: There are no charges over and above your data bundle when transferring bundles using Sambaza, but it will be deducted from your data bundle depending on what you are transferring.

2. How to Sambaza Bundles on the Safaricom Network

There are two major ways you can Sambaza your bundles on Safaricom. Below is an elaborate guide on how you can easily send data to another Safaricom number.

i. Sambaza Bundles via USSD Code

The most commonly used and easiest way to Sambaza bundles is through the use of a USSD code. Here is how you go about it:

*Dial 544# on your Safaricom phone.
From the options, select Sambaza Internet by typing the corresponding number and pressing Send.
Enter the Safaricom number of the recipient you wish to Sambaza bundles to.
Enter the amount of data (in MBs or GBs) you want to transfer.
Confirm the transaction, and it will be sent to the recipient instantly.

ii. Sambaza using MySafaricom App

The other easy way to Sambaza your bundles is through the use of MySafaricom App. This is faster and pretty easy, especially for those who like applications more than USSD codes. Here's how to do it:

  • Download and install the MySafaricom App from Google Play Store or Apple App Store if you haven't already done so.
  • Open the application and log in using your Safaricom number and PIN.
  • Within the application, click on Bundles.
  • Click on Sambaza Internet.
  • Enter in the phone number of the recipient to whom you want to send the bundles, entering the amount you would want to Sambaza.
  • Confirm and Send. The bundles will be delivered instantly.

3. Limits and Restrictions of Sambaza Bundles

While it's helpful, there is some cap and limitation when it comes to transferring bundles. There is the minimum as well as the maximum amount of transfer, for example:

i. Minimum Transfer Amount

The least amount of MB that you can Sambaza is 5MB. If the balance of your bundle is less than this, you cannot Sambaza.

ii. Maximum Transfer Amount

The maximum you can Sambaza in one transaction is 1GB. You are also limited to a maximum of 2GB per day in total, regardless of how many transactions you make.

iii. Bundle Expiry

The transferred bundles take on the bundle owner's expiry date. For example, if your bundle expires after three days, so will the transferred data.

iv. Bundle Types Not Eligible for Sambaza

Only purchased bundles can be Sambaza-ed. Bonus bundles or promotional bundles given by Safaricom, for example, from Okoa Jahazi or special offers, cannot be transferred to another user.

4. Benefits of Sambaza Bundles on Safaricom

i. Convenience

Sambaza makes it pretty easy to help a friend or family member in need of some data, especially in those instances when they cannot access an airtime top-up or need an instant internet connection. It ascertains connectivity without the hustle of physical vouchers or cash transfers.

ii. Ease of Operation

The customers can share data bundles with minimal hustle using the straightforward USSD code or via the MySafaricom App without necessarily visiting a store or purchasing internet packages separately.

iii. Enhances Communication

Sambaza enhances communication, especially for those subscribers in rural or less-endowed areas who may not always have access to mobile banking services or stores for purchasing data.

5. Other Related Features on the Safaricom Network

Safaricom has various services running, some of which are closely related to the Sambaza feature. Here are a few useful ones:

i. Okoa Jahazi for Data

When one runs out of bundles and cannot buy them immediately, Safaricom is generous enough to have a service known as Okoa Jahazi, whereby clients can borrow data bundles. The bundles lent are subtracted the moment one tops up an account or buys more data.

To get data on Okoa Jahazi, simply dial *131#, select Okoa Data, and follow the system to get data depending on your usage history and repayment record.

ii. Lipa Mdogo Mdogo Data Bundles

Another Safaricom service over the years is Lipa Mdogo Mdogo, which enables customers to purchase devices like smartphones on an installment basis. This service also has data bundles for customers at subsidized rates to ensure their livelihood online while paying for their devices.

iii. Data Manager

Data Manager is another useful tool through which Safaricom subscribers can view their data in real-time. Once you connect the Data Manager, this means that you will be using only the purchased bundle without incurring any charge resulting from out-of-bundle browsing. In this case, you are assured that you will not consume airtime when your data bundle runs out.

You can activate Data Manager by dialing *544#, then select Data Manager from the list of options.

6. Frequently Asked Questions About Sambaza Bundles

i. Can I Sambaza airtime instead of bundles?

Yes, Safaricom has also made provisions for one to Sambaza airtime by dialing *140#, selecting the Sambaza option, and entering the recipient's number and the amount you want to share.

ii. Am I charged for Sambaza bundles?

No, Safaricom doesn't charge any extra cost for this Sambaza bundles service. The only requirement is the cut depending on how many megabytes you opt to send.

iii. Can I Sambaza the bundles to other networks?

Right now, this Sambaza bundle service offered by Safaricom can only be utilized within Safaricom. You can't share your bundles with users in Airtel or Telkom Kenya.

Conclusion

Safaricom's Sambaza feature is an important tool that enables users to enjoy convenient ways of sharing data, be it helping a friend, sending data to a family member, or transferring bundles to another device. With the Sambaza service, everyone stays connected.

It has never been easier to share data—just go through a few simple steps either via the USSD code or through MySafaricom App. Safaricom's commitment to simplifying communication, complemented with other related services like Okoa Jahazi and Data Manager, ensures that all users can be at ease with navigating the digital space.