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For peace of mind and tranquility during your trip to Africa, the best travel insurance coverage should be a vital part of your trip planning.
Whether you’re planning to visit Africa for a wildlife safari, Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, or Gorilla trekking in Rwanda.
Travel insurance is required for all reputable companies that care about their clients’ safety while on safari.
Is travel insurance required before traveling to Africa?
The fact is “YES” not only for visiting Africa but to any part of the world.
Your insurance cover will be your travel shield in times of disasters, illness, lost baggage, injuries, repatriation, missed flight connections, and even trip cancellation.
You should know that traveling to Africa, whether for a safari or trekking, is an investment in your dream holiday, so ensuring the best insurance coverage should be your priority during planning.
Travel insurance companies vary in terms of services and global coverage.
If you’re visiting countries such as Tanzania or Kenya, focus on companies that provide coverage for these countries.
Your priority should be insurance companies that offer coverage exceeding $100,000 for medical expenses that may require repatriation services.
Blessing Safaris is not an insurance company; we do not sell or affiliate with any provider.
We are limited to discussing the terms provided by third parties. As the client, you should consult the insurance company to discuss its policy.
Although we cannot recommend any specific policy or provider, our sole purpose is to provide you with the best information.
We provide the information you need to decide which policy or provider to choose for your trip to Africa.
We have served many clients for years and have worked with a range of companies.
We believe this article will help you understand what to consider before buying insurance for your trip to Africa.
We’ll also suggest a few websites where you can compare these insurance policies before you make your final decision.
Whatever is shared here in this article is given in good faith, but without liability.
We understand personal differences and that your needs differ from others’.
Do your homework and pick the policy that fits your needs.
When is the best time to take travel insurance for an African trip?
The best time to have your policy is soon after confirming your trip with the tour operator.
This will help you cover any cancellations that may arise.
It’s worth checking with the insurance provider to ensure yourself what is covered and when before making the purchase.
We recommend having your policy in place before traveling to Africa for your safari.
5 Things to consider before buying an insurance policy?
1. Medical cover and repatriation
The critical elements to consider when selecting travel insurance are medical coverage and repatriation.
Most safaris in Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya are trouble-free, but it is better to be safe than sorry.
Some trips to Africa, including climbing Kilimanjaro, may involve risks such as altitude sickness, which may require immediate helicopter evacuation.
If your trip is covered, you feel so secure. You can either be posted to a nearby major hospital within the country or sent back to your home country.
It is ideal to choose an insurance policy that is greater than $100 000 for medical treatments and repatriation, either because of serious injury, illness, or accidents that are unforeseen.
You should discuss this in detail with your insurer for Africa to confirm whether you’re sufficiently covered for both.
If you visit Tanzania or Kenya, tour companies like Blessing Safaris, on behalf of their clients, pay for the helicopter or flying doctor rescues within the country.
These evacuation companies provide first aid and transport you to nearby hospitals for advanced medical care.
In return, your insurer covers the cost of the service offered by flying doctors.
Now you understand how critical insurance coverage is for your safety in any part of Africa while on a wildlife safari or Kilimanjaro trek.
2. Lost baggage ( valuables) and legal expense
The best policy should include coverage for legal expenses you may incur while abroad.
Your insurer should also provide coverage for lost baggage or valuable items.
Things happen while traveling; it is common to hear clients report missing their cameras, bags, or even phones.
It feels safe to know that you’re covered no matter what happens while on travel.
3. Your travel cancellation
Many policies provide coverage for trip cancellation to Africa, though they offer limited refunds.
You should check with the insurer to determine exactly how much they can cover without purchasing additional cover.
For example, many policies cover $3,000 to $7,000 per person.
Do your research to determine which cover will fully protect your safari costs when visiting Africa.
4. Pre-existing medical condition
In case you have any pre-existing illness, you should seek advice from the policy provider.
It’s essential to understand whether your policy covers any pre-existing illnesses before traveling to Africa.
Clear up any confusion before you’re caught by surprise and find you’re not covered.
What are the best sites to compare the travel insurance cost?
Every travel insurance policy has its own terms and varies from one insurer to another.
You get what you pay for still makes sense; your preference determines the cost of your cover before traveling abroad.
As noted earlier, we can only offer direct recommendations to our visitors on which policies to rely on, not specific travel insurance companies.
Our sole purpose is to help you establish a solid foundation of knowledge based on the companies we have encountered over the years while operating Safari in Africa.
Many of these websites or directories belong to third parties, Blessing Safaris will not take any responsibility for the information provided.
- The Foreign and Commonwealth Office
- Travel insurance specialists like Aviva, LV, and Insure and Go
- World Nomads, Campbell Irvine, and Saga
A Case Study for Mount Kilimanjaro Insurance Cover in Tanzania
Mount Kilimanjaro is the freestanding mountain in the world and one of the seven summits, standing at 5,895m.
This is Africa’s highest peak and one of its most popular destinations. Perhaps you plan to visit Tanzania to climb Kilimanjaro.
Mountain trekking is the best thing you can do in life, but it comes with the highest risk of acute mountain sickness (AMS), commonly referred to as altitude sickness.
Altitude sickness can be hazardous if you don’t get quick medical attention. Severe conditions could lead to breathing failure and death.
There are many causes of mountain sickness when climbing Kilimanjaro, including route selection, inadequate preparation, and poor knowledge of climbing guides.
We all agree that there is a serious risk, so you need the best policy that covers the high altitude above 6,000m.
Does climbing Mount Kilimanjaro require travel insurance?
The answer is “Absolutely Yes”. It’s mandatory to have travel insurance for any trekking activities.
Mount Kilimanjaro is above 5,000 meters, and you should ensure your policy provides cover up to 6,000 meters, as required for Mount Kilimanjaro climbing.
You should not be allowed to climb Kilimanjaro without showing proof of travel insurance coverage.
The weather is unpredictable, and anyone can fall ill regardless of experience or age.
Trip to Kilimanjaro operates in very remote parts of the world, thanks to technology.
People can now find cellular networks or use walkie-talkies to communicate with base camps for rescue and evacuation.
Does health insurance cover Kilimanjaro climbing?
The answer is “NO”. Most standard policies available do not provide cover for high-altitude trips or more adventurous vacations in Africa.
Neither covers lost baggage, trip cancellations, or missed flights.
You should seek the right policy that suits that type of adventure.
World Nomads Insurance for Kilimanjaro Climbing and Africa Safari
We have decided to select World Nomads to support our Mount Kilimanjaro case study, with no intention of endorsement or advertising.
We are not affiliated with World Nomads in any way and accept no responsibility.
World Nomads is one of the few insurance policies that provide cover for Kilimanjaro climbing and wildlife safaris in Tanzania.
Beyond that, it provides coverage across 140 countries.
World Nomads: Mount Kilimanjaro Travel Insurance
If you visit the World Nomads website, review what they offer, and determine whether it suits you.
As we mentioned before, these companies are a few of the policies we have come across while dealing with our clients for Mount Kilimanjaro
It’s designed for adventurous travelers, with coverage for overseas medical expenses, evacuation, baggage, and a range of adventure sports and activities.
7 things you should know about travel insurance
1. Trusted, reliable underwriters
WorldNomads.com is backed by a suite of strong, secure, specialist travel insurers who provide you with great cover, 24-hour emergency assistance, and the highest levels of support and claims management when you need it most.
2. Value for money with the cover you need
WorldNomads.com provides cover for what’s important for travelers from 140 countries.
By focusing on what you need and leaving out what you don’t, World Nomads offers some of the most competitive online prices.
3. Flexibility when you need it most
Had a change of plans? You can purchase additional cover or submit a claim online while you are away.
You can even buy a World Nomads policy if you’re already traveling.
4. Cover a range of adventure activities
From skiing & snowboarding in New Zealand to whitewater rafting in Colorado,
World Nomads covers a range of adventure activities, giving you peace of mind to get the most from your travels.
5. World Nomads keeps you traveling safely
All World Nomads members have access to up-to-date travel safety alerts, as well as travel safety advice and tips online through the World Nomads Travel Safety Hub.
6. More than just great value travel insurance
All WorldNomads.com members can learn the local lingo through a series of iPod & iPhone Language Guides and can stay in touch with family and friends with an online travel journal.
7. Commitment to exceptional customer service
If you have any questions about your travel insurance or travel safety in general, please
Contact WorldNomads.com directly.
Disclaimer: Blessing Safaris staff are not insurance experts, nor do we recommend or give advice for insurance policies or companies for you to purchase. We use it solely for educational purposes to increase your awareness of what you should consider before buying any travel insurance for your Africa safari.
Frequently Asked Questions for Africa Travel Insurance
Can I buy travel insurance from Blessing Safaris?
No, Blessing Safaris does not sell insurance nor provide advice or recommendations for travel companies or policies.
Why is Blessing Safaris asking for my travel insurance details?
In the event of an emergency, Blessing Safaris and our suppliers will need access to your travel insurer’s name, policy number, and 24-hour emergency/claims number.
We can then provide this information to emergency services so that you can receive the necessary treatment without delay.
I have already paid in full, so do I still need travel insurance?
It is a condition of booking with Blessing Safaris that you organize specialist travel insurance to cover your entire trip.
We reserve the right to cancel any trip if it is not safe for our clients.
Is it possible to review the policy with the Blessing Safaris team?
We are not allowed to review insurance policies or any third-party cover because we are not insurance experts.
We are African safari organizers and not otherwise. It’s best to contact the insurer and review it with them, since they own the policy and will have much more information than we do.
What if I don’t want travel insurance?
Arranging insurance is a condition of booking travel with Blessing Safaris. If you do not take out a travel insurance policy, we reserve the right to cancel your holiday in accordance with our Terms & Conditions.
How to understand travel insurance?
The best way to understand your travel insurance coverage is to read and print the entire policy.
You might think you’re fully covered, but later you realize the policy you paid for isn’t what you wanted. Print your policy!
Conclusion
As we wrap up Travel Insurance for Africa, we hope you learned something from this article about your travel insurance.
We can not emphasize enough how important it is for you to maintain peace and tranquility while in Africa.
Travel like a Queen or King, and let your insurance cover the unforeseen little troubles.
Now you have it. You can now continue with booking your trip to Africa or keep in touch with us today.
The adventure is calling for you in Africa. If you’re ready, book any of these safari packages
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