Travel Insurance for safaris

We personally never travel without travel insurance on any trip and we would always recommend that you purchase travel insurance before any trip!

As safaris are not necessarily classed as a 'standard' holiday, there are additional considerations that you need to think about to ensure you are adequately covered for your trip!

Here are the things you should consider about purchasing travel insurance for a safari:

1. 'Safari travel insurance' usually refers to comprehensive cover that is specific to the unique risks of going on a safari.

2. Some safari companies will require you to purchase sufficient travel insurance before your trip in order to travel with them. Make sure to read their Terms & Conditions before booking.

3. Ensure that the travel insurance policy you have selected will specifically cover safaris! This is so important. Not all insurance providers will cover them as standard and you may need to purchase an additional 'add on' to ensure you are covered.

4. The most important aspects to consider are the medical cover and repatriation costs. You are likely to be travelling to remote areas of Africa, where the nearest major hospital is sometimes hours, if not days away. You need to ensure you have sufficient cover for these costs, particularly if you need an emergency evacuation in a very remote area for medical attention.

5. Some travel insurance policies will cover 'guided safaris' but not 'self-drive' safaris, so ensure you speak to the providers to ensure that the insurance is adequate for your trip.

   

6. Not all 'safari activities' will be covered on standard travel insurance and may be classed as adventure sports. For example, if you are hoping to participate in walking safaris, white water rafting or hot air balloon safaris, then it is likely you will need additional or specialised insurance to cover these activities.

7. Never travel against your Government's Foreign travel Advice as this will likely make your travel insurance void.

8. Ensure that the destination you are travelling to in Africa is covered. Not all countries are automatically covered as standard insurance polices.

9. If you have travel insurance on a credit card, it is unlikely that this will be sufficient cover for a safari. Be sure to check what your policy and provider cover and ensure you are happy with the cover.