Best Travel Insurance for Africa

We looked at 13 companies that cover Africa destinations. Our rankings weigh four factors: cost (40%), coverage (30%), claims and service (25%) and financial stability (5%).

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 matters for trips to Africa because of risks that are specific to the region:

• Healthcare Quality Gaps: Cities like Johannesburg, Cape Town and Cairo offer high-quality hospitals, while safari regions and rural areas often require medical evacuation for serious treatment.
• Evacuation Costs: Emergency helicopter or air transport from places like the Serengeti, the Okavango Delta, or remote national parks can run $50,000 to $100,000 without coverage.
• Wildlife-Related Risks: Safari drives, gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda, and close wildlife encounters increase the risk of injury that standard health insurance may exclude.
• Political Instability: Countries such as Egypt, Kenya, and parts of North Africa experience periodic demonstrations, strikes, or unrest that can disrupt flights, tours and ground travel.
• Disease Prevention Requirements: Several African countries require yellow fever vaccination for entry. Travel insurance may cover treatment if you become ill, but it does not pay for preventive vaccines.
• Safari Deposit Protection: Safari lodges often require deposits 6 to 12 months in advance, which makes trip cancellation coverage important if plans change.

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.