Travel Insurance for Africa

A tour to Africa is an experience like no other!

The many fantastic countries offer rich culture, amazing landscapes, and unique wildlife.

But when you venture out into the world, it’s always a good idea to be prepared for the unexpected events that can happen during an adventure.

Therefore, we recommend that you take out travel insurance before you set off – even though it can be tempting to save that money.

What does travel insurance cover?

It is important to have travel insurance because it covers expenses for circumstances beyond your control when you go on a trip. This could, for example, be paying for a hotel room when your flight is delayed, and so on.

What a travel insurance policy specifically covers varies. Therefore, we recommend that you check which areas your travel insurance covers.

Here you can read about 5 things that travel insurance typically covers.

1) Cancellations and delays

No one can completely control air traffic, and delays, cancellations, and unforeseen changes to your travel plans can quickly take the edge off your travel excitement.

With travel insurance, you get coverage and compensation for the extra costs that may arise due to changes in your travel plans. For example, you might need an overnight stay if your flight is delayed.

If you lose or miss your luggage, travel insurance can also cover the cost of necessities such as clothing, medicine, personal care items, or similar items missing from your suitcase.

2) Protection of your belongings

Maybe you’re bringing valuable items like cameras, phones, and wallets on your trip?

No matter where you are in the world, you risk having your belongings stolen. At home, you might have theft or home insurance. When you are travelling, travel insurance can be important to have to ensure your belongings are also insured outside the home.

3) Unforeseen medical expenses

Most people will have a trouble-free trip to Africa.

However, illness is an unpredictable factor on your journey. This is partly because the bacteria you are exposed to can be very different from those in the UK.

You will typically have received the necessary vaccinations for Africa against the most problematic viruses and infections, but you can still be unlucky to suffer allergic reactions, break an arm, or get an infection that requires medical help or hospitalization.

Travel insurance will typically cover these costs so you can quickly recover and continue your adventures. Some travel insurances will also cover your flight home if an accident happens, and you cannot continue your trip due to more serious illness.

4) Access to emergency assistance and guidance

If you need emergency assistance on your trip, such as medical help, medicine, or unforeseen overnight stays, your travel insurance will typically be available to contact.

Many insurance companies have an emergency hotline that you can call if you find yourself in a situation where you need help immediately.

Even if your situation is not urgent, you can still contact the insurance company to get help and guidance.

5) Compensation

Accidents can happen. And it’s not always your fault.

But if an accident happens and you cause damage to another person or their property, some travel insurances will also cover these costs. This could be situations where damaged belongings or accidents involving people require compensation. In compensation cases, you might also need legal support and guidance. Some travel insurances will help you obtain legal assistance and cover these costs.

Pay particular attention to…

Additional insurance

Some types of travel may require extra insurance. This applies especially to sports trips, skiing holidays, or other trips where you are active. If you are climbing Kilimanjaro, it is therefore important that you find out whether your travel insurance provides adequate coverage. When climbing Kilimanjaro, your travel insurance should cover you up to 6,000 meters in height.

It can also be important to investigate how your travel insurance covers pregnant travellers, as there can be differences between various travel insurances.

Prior approvals

Additionally, some individuals may be required to obtain special prior approval from an insurance company before being covered. This applies, for example, to seriously and chronically ill people. Some insurance companies also require approval for people over 65 years of age.

Therefore, always be particularly attentive to reading the insurance company’s conditions thoroughly. If you are in doubt, it can be beneficial to call them for a quick chat about your situation.

Cancellation insurance

We recommend that you also take out cancellation insurance when you book one of our tours.

Cancellation insurance can ensure that you get your money back for the trip if you have to cancel. Cancellation insurance must be purchased on the same day the trip is booked or no later than when the deposit is paid.

Which travel insurance should I choose?

There are a multitude of different travel insurances that can cover you when you are in Africa.

They will typically cover different things depending on which one you choose. Therefore, we recommend that you thoroughly investigate your options before departure, so you get the travel insurance that best covers your needs.

We recommend Staysure Travel Insurance, which specialises in travel insurances. If you are trekking or climbing mountains over 2,500 meters in height, we recommend that you contact Snowcard travel insurance, as Staysure’s standard insurance does not cover activities at that height.

Are you ready to explore Africa?

With travel insurance, you can confidently and safely embark on an adventure to the fantastic continent of Africa, creating lifelong memories.

Do you dream of going on a safari in Africa or climbing Kilimanjaro? We’re here to help you plan every detail of your adventure and support you every step of the way.

TourCompass – From tourist to traveller