Best Travel Insurance for Africa

We evaluated 13 companies across Africa destinations based on cost, coverage, claims service, and financial stability. Rankings reflect MoneyGeek's scoring methodology: 40% cost, 30% coverage, 25% claims and service, 5% stability.

Africa travel insurance costs vary based on trip length, coverage amount, and traveler age. Premiums for Africa trips run higher than European destinations due to limited medical infrastructure, long evacuation distances, and political instability in certain regions. We analyzed pricing across multiple African destinations and found premiums range from $43 to $291 for week-long trips, depending on plan level.

Higher trip costs require more trip cancellation protection, which increases premiums. Budget plans start at $43 for basic coverage, while comprehensive options range from $158 to $291.

Medical and evacuation protection matter most for Africa travel. Remote safari camps sit hours from adequate hospitals, making emergency evacuation your primary safety net. Travel insurance for Africa covers:

Policies exclude certain situations regardless of your destination:

• Pre-existing conditions without a waiver purchased within 14 to 21 days of initial deposit
• Travel to high-risk regions under State Department Level 3 or 4 travel advisories
• High-risk activities like bungee jumping, skydiving, or motorized sports without adventure sports riders
• Pandemics or epidemics, unless specifically included in policy terms
• Civil unrest or acts of war occurring in your destination
• Claims related to alcohol or drug use during covered incidents

Your insurance needs depend on destination infrastructure, political stability and activity types. South Africa's major cities offer quality healthcare, while remote areas of Tanzania and Kenya require higher evacuation protection. Consider these factors for popular African destinations:

Travel insurance is valuable for Africa trips due to several destination-specific factors:

• Healthcare Quality Gaps: Major cities like Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Cairo have excellent hospitals, but safari regions require evacuation for serious medical issues
• Evacuation Costs: Helicopter transport from Serengeti, Okavango Delta, or remote parks costs $50,000 to $100,000 without insurance
• Wildlife-Related Risks: Safari game drives, gorilla tracking in Uganda and Rwanda, and wildlife encounters create injury risks standard health insurance doesn't cover
• Political Instability: Egypt, Kenya, and North Africa face periodic demonstrations, strikes, or civil unrest affecting travel plans
• Disease Prevention Requirements: Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for entry to several countries; policies cover treatment if contracted, but not preventive vaccinations
• Safari Deposit Protection: African safari lodges require advance deposits six to twelve months before travel, making trip cancellation coverage essential

MoneyGeek evaluated 13 travel insurance providers across 42 plans to identify the best options for Africa travel. Our analysis used a 30-year-old California resident traveling to Africa for one week, with trip costs of $2,500, $5,000, and $10,000.

We scored each plan across four weighted factors:

• Cost (40%): Premium quotes for Africa trips. Lower premiums ranked higher on a percentile basis across all plans.
• Coverage (30%): Seven coverage categories, including trip cancellation, emergency medical, evacuation, baggage loss, trip delay, and interruption protection. Higher limits earned better scores.
• Claims and Service (25%): Customer experience including 24/7 availability, phone and email support, claims portals, mobile apps, and online self-service capabilities.
• Financial Stability (5%): AM Best financial strength ratings. A+ ratings received 100 points, A to A- ratings received 95 points.