Travel Insurance for an African Safari: Coverage Options & Costs

Do I need safari travel insurance?

These popular safari destinations do not legally require travel insurance to enter:

• Botswana
• Kenya
• Malawi
• Namibia
• South Africa
• Tanzania
• Uganda
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

Even though travel insurance is not required for these countries, that doesn’t mean you should forgo purchasing coverage. Due to the long travel distances, remote attractions, limited medical facilities and risk of injury, it’s extremely wise to buy a policy. Most tour companies even require you to purchase coverage before embarking on your safari tour.

If you plan to visit Rwanda on your safari trip, you are legally required to have travel medical insurance to enter the country. If you don’t get a policy beforehand, you will be required to purchase one upon arrival.

Are African safari trips safe?

African safari trips are considered safe as long as you follow your guide’s instructions and don’t take any unnecessary risks. Never leave camp alone or get closer to animals than your guide recommends. Remember, too, that many safari tours travel on private game reserves where the animals are used to a certain amount of human interaction, so they’re not so easily spooked. That said, having safari trip insurance in place is a safeguard against all those “what if” scenarios.

What to consider when choosing safari travel insurance

To find the best travel insurance for your African safari, consider your budget, your personal needs and these key factors.

Travel destinations

Africa is a big continent, and different countries may have specific requirements and safety considerations. Safari trip insurance policies should include coverage for every destination you’ll visit during your exploits, even if you have a complex itinerary that takes you from Kenya to Tanzania to Botswana and beyond.

Adventure activities

Another reason to insure safari travel is because of the activities you’ll be participating in as part of your adventure. Some excursions, such as hot-air ballooning and rock climbing, are inherently dangerous. Others, such as observing a herd of zebras or scoping out hippos by the local watering hole, seem peaceful but can have underlying risks.

If you plan on participating in hunting activities during your safari, know that there are additional legal and insurance requirements you must explore and adhere to. This includes knowing where and what you’re allowed to hunt and what’s permitted in terms of taking “trophies” out of the country.

Personal items and liabilities

Look for policies that cover damage to or loss of personal items, including costly, specialized gear purchased especially for your safari. Personal liability is a major concern, too, in case you get into hot water with the local authorities or run into other issues abroad.

Pre-existing conditions

Pre-existing conditions are commonly excluded from travel insurance policies. If you have a chronic illness or injury that may require attention while abroad, you need an insurance policy with the appropriate pre-existing condition coverage or a waiver specific to your needs.

Age limitations

Review age restrictions not only for the entire policy, but for each subsection and/or separate clause. You might need to pay extra to cover individuals in age groups not included in the policy (typically young children and/or elderly individuals).

Severe weather conditions

Depending on your destination and the season, the weather on safari can quickly shift from hot and sunny to torrential rain with flooding. In case of weather-related cancellations or damage to your belongings, safari insurance with a weather clause may help with things like rescheduling flights, changing your safari to another location or helping you find new lodging if your current accommodations become unsafe.

Covid-19 coverage

Covid-19 coverage is often purchased separately from and on top of regular medical insurance. That’s because travel insurance policies frequently exclude illness due to epidemic or pandemic diseases. Many countries no longer require Covid-19 insurance, vaccine proof or tests upon entry. But having coverage could help if you’re exposed while traveling and become ill or if your trip is interrupted or cancelled due to an outbreak.

What does safari travel insurance cover?

As you explore travel insurance for African travelers, including those on safari, keep an eye out for these types of coverage.

Travel medical insurance

During your African safari, you’ll often find yourself in remote places where getting medical help is hard and costly.  Your regular health insurance likely won’t cover you abroad if you get sick or injured, so it’s crucial to have an insurance policy that includes travel medical coverage.

Squaremouth’s experts recommend finding a plan with a minimum of $100,000 in emergency medical insurance. You may want to consider increasing those amounts for a particularly action-packed itinerary or if you’ll be traveling to a remote destination.

Medical evacuation insurance

If you get seriously sick or injured during your safari trip, medical evacuation insurance can cover the cost of transporting you to the nearest suitable medical facility or back home if necessary. To be safe, Squaremouth recommends aiming for at least $250,000 in medevac coverage.

Trip cancellation insurance

Spokesperson for World Nomads Lisa Cheng notes that trip cancellation tops the list as the most common travel insurance claim for safari trips.

If issues come up before your African safari, trip cancellation insurance can help cover your trip costs if you have to cancel for a covered reason. Covered reasons often include natural disasters, death in the family, acts of terrorism, and unexpected illness or injury. Make sure to check your policy to know what’s covered.

Cancel for any reason insurance

Cancel for any reason (CFAR) insurance allows you to cancel your trip and get back some of your money, no matter why you’re canceling. CFAR policies often refund about 75% of your prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses.

Trip interruption insurance

If your safari is cut short due to a covered reason and you need to return home early, trip interruption insurance can cover the cost of the unused part of your trip. It can also help with covering the expenses of returning home in case of an emergency.

Trip delay insurance

Unexpected trip delays can lead to missed connections and disrupt your safari plans. If your flight or train is delayed, trip delay insurance can reimburse you for prepaid expenses and help cover additional costs due to the delay, such as food and accommodation. 

Adventure activity coverage

Safari travel insurance seems like it would be geared toward a more adventurous getaway, but that’s not always the case. You can purchase adventure-specific policy add-ons to make sure your encounters with big game and treks across the Sahara are covered.

Baggage insurance

Baggage insurance could cover the contents of your suitcase if it’s lost, stolen or damaged. This coverage also kicks in if your baggage is delayed, giving you funds for essentials until your baggage reaches you.

Live assistance services

Policies with live assistance provide help 24/7. 

Experts can help arrange services like:

• Medical evacuation
• Emergency cash transfer
• Emergency message relay
• Emergency translations
• Legal assistance
• Medical referrals
• Passport replacement
• Prescription replacement

With round-the-clock assistance, you could get help immediately if you lost your travel documents and don’t know where to get replacements or if you’re deep in the wilds of Kenya and misplaced your migraine medication.

What isn’t covered by safari travel insurance?

Even the most detailed safari travel insurance policy may have exemptions. 

Don’t expect coverage for:

• Trips cancelled due to a simple change in plans
• Trip-related anxiety or fear
• Illnesses that could’ve been anticipated
• Loss of personal items due to neglect or carelessness
• Losses or legal situations resulting from illegal activity
• Anything that happens before you purchase your travel insurance
• Preexisting medical conditions
• Normal pregnancy
• Pet illness

When should I purchase safari travel insurance?

You should purchase safari travel insurance as soon as you book your trip and well in advance of your actual travel date. This gives you time to explore your options and have coverage in place for all those nonrefundable deposits before you hit the road.

How much does safari travel insurance cost?

According to our research, travel insurance for an African safari can cost as little as around $1 per day for the most basic coverage. For a comprehensive travel insurance policy, you can expect to pay up to around $54 per day.

See Plans

We obtained price quotes from four top insurance companies to better illustrate coverage costs. All our quotes meet Squaremouth’s standards of having at least $100,000 in emergency medical coverage and at least $250,000 in medical evacuation coverage.

We applied the following criteria to each quote:

• Age: 50
• Trip duration: 20 days
• Average Trip cost: $12,000
• Destinations: Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana
• State of residency: California

This first table displays our quotes for basic travel insurance. Prices range from around $1 to $4 per day.

Example Where Plan Doesn’t Reimburse the Full Trip Cost

The table below shows prices for comprehensive travel insurance, which covers trip cancellations and interruptions. Costs range from around $27 to $54 per day.

Example Where Plan Does Reimburse the Full Trip Cost

Various factors influence the cost of your safari travel insurance, such as:

• Traveler ages
• Trip length
• Trip to Africa cost
• Date of premium payment relative to first deposit
• Whether you have primary health insurance

While these quotes provide some guidelines for pricing, your final cost will be influenced by other factors too, including:

• The length of your trip
• The destinations included in your itinerary
• The total trip cost
• The number of travelers
• Your age
• The coverage limits you choose

For accurate pricing, we recommend getting a personalized quote.

Tips for getting the best safari travel insurance

Use these expert tips when booking travel insurance for your safari excursion.