Travel insurance is one of the most important things you will buy for a trip to Africa. Medical care in cities can be good, but help may be hours from a safari camp and days from a high mountain camp. A good policy pays for emergency treatment and evacuation, and covers the money you lose if you have to cancel.
Buy it when you bookCancellation cover usually starts the day you buy the policy. Buying it as soon as you pay your first deposit protects you if you fall ill, or something happens at home, before you travel.
What a good policy covers
| Cover | Why it matters | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency medical treatment | Hospitals may ask for payment or a guarantee before treating you. | A high limit, and whether the insurer pays the hospital directly. |
| Medical evacuation and repatriation | Remote parks and mountains may need an air ambulance or a long road transfer. | No low cap, and cover that includes helicopter or air-ambulance transport and flying you home. |
| Trip cancellation and interruption | Camps and flights often have strict cancellation terms. | Which reasons are covered, such as illness, family emergencies or a death, and the limit. |
| Baggage and belongings | Cameras, lenses and phones are valuable and easy to lose. | The limit per item, which is often low, and whether camera gear is covered. |
| Delays and missed connections | Trips with several flights, including light aircraft, are exposed to delays. | How long the delay must be, and whether a missed connection is covered. |
| Personal liability and legal costs | Covers claims if you injure someone or damage property. | The limit, and any activities it excludes. |
Medical evacuation in Africa
Evacuation is the cover most travellers do not think about until they need it. A transfer by air ambulance can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Ask your insurer:
- Does it arrange and pay for evacuation, or only reimburse you later?
- Is there a 24-hour emergency line, and will they speak to the local doctors?
- Does it cover transport home, as well as to the nearest hospital?
Some regions also have regional air-ambulance memberships, such as AMREF Flying Doctors in East Africa. Ask your tour operator whether they provide cover, and whether it replaces or adds to your own policy.
Adventure activities and altitude
Many standard policies treat adventure activities as exclusions, or cover them only with an extra premium. Check each one you plan to do.
- Mountain trekking: many policies stop at a given altitude, for example 3,000 or 4,000 metres. Kilimanjaro reaches 5,895 m, Mount Kenya 5,199 m and Mount Meru 4,566 m. Check that your policy explicitly names trekking up to your summit height, and covers helicopter rescue.
- Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking: usually walking, but check whether your policy covers hiking at altitude in forest.
- Hot-air balloon rides, scuba diving, quad biking and zip lines: often count as adventure activities.
- Self-drive and motorbikes: you may need a licence and a specific add-on.
- White-water rafting and bungee jumping at Victoria Falls: usually need an adventure add-on.
Medical conditions and age
- Declare every existing medical condition. A claim can be refused if you did not.
- Some insurers exclude conditions unless you buy an extra, and some set age limits or charge more for older travellers.
- Carry enough regular medication for the whole trip, in its original packaging, with a doctor’s letter.
Types of policy
- Single trip: covers one journey. Best for one big trip.
- Annual multi-trip: covers several trips in a year, up to a maximum length for each. Good value if you travel often.
- Cancel for any reason: a premium add-on that lets you cancel for reasons the standard policy does not accept, and recover part of the cost.
- Credit card cover: some cards include insurance, but it is often limited. Check the evacuation limit and exclusions.
If you need to claim
- Call the insurer’s emergency line before you agree to major treatment, if you can.
- Keep every receipt, report and prescription.
- For theft or loss, report it to the local police and get a written report.
- For delays, ask the airline for a written statement of the delay.
- Take photos of damaged items.
Your tour operator’s cover
Some operators require you to have insurance with evacuation, particularly for mountain climbs, and may ask for proof before you travel. They may carry their own insurance for their vehicles and staff, but that does not replace yours. Ask what they require and what they provide.
Before you buy
- Compare the cover for medical care, evacuation, cancellation and belongings, not just the price.
- Read the exclusions, especially for activities, altitude and existing conditions.
- Check the excess and what you must do first in an emergency.
- Save the 24-hour emergency number and your policy number on your phone, and keep a paper copy.
- Share the details with someone at home.
This is general information, not financial or insurance advice. Read your policy wording carefully.