When it comes to taking in the splendor of Sub-Saharan wildlife, there's nothing like an African safari. But taking a safari trip is a major investment which can take months of preparation. How can you find the best safari travel insurance to protect your investment?
Getting the best travel insurance starts with knowing what benefits come with a good trip insurance plan, what situations are covered, and where to find the maximum coverage and access to assistance for your budget. Here's what you need to know when it comes time to start looking for safari travel insurance.
A safari trip can be an expensive investment. The most popular safari destinations - such as Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda, are among the most expensive destinations, with average trip costs ranging from $7,500 to over $17,000, according to data from Squaremouth.com. Squaremouth data also suggests most travelers spend seven months planning their safari trip.
With so much time invested and money on the line, getting safari travel insurance is a good bet. Without a policy, you could lose your money if you cancel, or be forced to pay out of pocket for medical care in case of an emergency abroad.
Not every safari travel insurance plan will protect your investment. Some policies offered by travel agents and tour providers may not offer all the benefits you need. Before going abroad, it's important to compare travel insurance plans to find the right one for your needs and budget. The best travel insurance benefits for African safaris include:
Trouble can begin before you board your aircraft and head for the African plains. If an emergency occurs before departure, Trip Cancellation benefits can help you recover your unused trip costs.
The best safari travel insurance plans include Trip Cancellation benefits, which cover issues at home ranging from getting injured in an accident, a natural disaster catastrophically damaging your home, or the sudden illness or death of a loved one. Trip Cancellation policies can cover all non-refundable trip expenses, including initial trip deposits, prepaid tours, and hotel costs.
Although Trip Cancellation is the most common travel insurance claim, some life situations may not be covered. For example, worries about an unplanned expense ruining your trip, a pet falling ill, or fear of getting COVID-19 on your tour aren't covered by Trip Cancellation.
If you are unsure about taking your trip, consider adding Cancel For Any Reason to your safari travel insurance. Cancel For Any Reason offers the most possible flexibility for travelers, and can still help recover between 50% and 75% of your non-refundable trip costs.
Trip Interruption benefits on safari travel insurance plans offer the same covered reasons as Trip Cancellation, however this benefit applies during your trip instead of before.
First, Trip Interruption benefits may cover non-refundable costs associated with the unused portion of your trip in the event you need to return home early for a covered reason. If you are forced to lose deposits or prepaid costs associated with your tour, safari travel insurance can help you get back some of your cash.
Second, Trip Interruption benefits could help pay for an emergency return trip home. Depending on the policy, Trip Interruption benefits can cover anywhere between 100% and 200% of the insured travel costs.
African safaris often take place in very remote parts of the world. If you were to get sick or injured, finding a doctor or hospital for treatment may be difficult and the cost can be significant. More importantly, your personal health insurance may not cover you while overseas. This is where safari travel insurance medical coverage can help.
Emergency Medical coverage is included within most safari travel insurance plans. This benefit can help travelers get reimbursed for costs associated with medical care during their trip. Common costs covered include ambulance treatment to a hospital, hospital charges, and x-rays.
We recommend travelers purchase at least $100,000 in emergency travel medical insurance when planning for safari travel.
Not all illnesses and injuries can be treated at your destination or nearby. If a doctor orders an emergency evacuation to another facility or back to your home, safari travel insurance can help cover your costs.
Medical Evacuation coverage may help travelers pay for the cost of an air ambulance to the nearest adequate medical facility or even back home if it is deemed medically necessary by the treating doctor.
Due to the potential for a high-cost evacuation while on a safari, we recommend travelers get at least $250,000 in Medical Evacuation coverage.
Trip delays can happen without warning, causing you to miss an important connection, and ultimately a big part of your trip.
Two key benefits of a good safari insurance plan are Travel Delay and Missed Connection. If a common carrier (like an airline or train line) forces a portion of your trip to get pushed back, your trip insurance may reimburse costs incurred during the delay, such as a meal, replacement toiletries, or a hotel room for the night.
If that delay forces you to fall behind on your African safari, Missed Connection benefits could help cover your costs to get caught up. Maximum benefits paying for missed connections range from $250 to $2,000, depending on the policy.
Having luggage delayed or outright lost by an airline or other common carrier is always inconvenient. But if you are in the middle of an African safari, trying to find replacement items can be difficult and expensive.
Safari travel insurance plans often include Baggage Delay benefits, and coverage for Baggage & Personal Items Loss. Baggage Delay benefits may reimburse travelers for essentials they may have to replace while their luggage is in transit, such as clothes and toiletries.
If your bags are permanently lost, safari travel insurance with Baggage & Personal Item Loss benefits could help you recover the cost of replacing those belongings. However, most plans have limits on single items and total loss, meaning expensive items may not be fully insurable under this benefit.
We break down our travel insurance recommendations for the world's most famous safari destinations.
If you already have a policy and have any questions for your travel insurance provider or would like to file a claim, please contact your provider directly. Click here to find your provider's contact information.
There are several ways travelers can get adventure travel insurance for their next
African safari - but not all plans are equal.
We always recommend travelers shop across multiple sources to find the highest coverage amounts for the lowest possible price. Typically, this includes comparing plans from your travel agency or tour operator, comparison sites like Squaremouth.com and other travel insurance companies.
Getting the right safari travel insurance doesn't have to be complicated. If you're unsure which plan is right for your African safari, Squaremouth's experts are available to help you make the right decision for your trip. Start with a safari travel insurance quote today, and pack with confidence knowing your trip is protected.