Best Travel Insurance for Africa (Safari, Adventure & High-Risk Areas)

Looking for the best travl insurance for Africa? Here are 10 great companies you can use!

One of the most common questions I get asked is: “What is the best travel insurance for Africa?”

The answer depends entirely on your trip – where you’re going, what you’ll be doing, and your comfort with risk.

After 16+ years travelling across Africa and running group tours here, I’ve seen first-hand how the right (or wrong) insurance policy can make a huge difference.

Below, I’ll explain exactly what your travel insurance for Africa needs to cover – and the companies I personally use and recommend.

PS. Did you know that I organise Africa group trips? Click here for details!

Please Note: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which will earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate sales help with the running costs of this site, so thank you for your support!

Table of Contents

Things to Consider When Looking for Travel Insurance for Africa Travel

Quick Summary: What Your Africa Travel Insurance Must Cover

At a minimum, your policy should include:

High medical cover (£1–5 million minimum)
Strong emergency evacuation and repatriation
Explicit cover for all activities you plan to do
Trip cancellation and interruption protection
Travel delay and missed connection cover
Adequate baggage and valuables protection
Clear terms regarding government travel advice and civil unrest

If any of these are missing, keep looking.

1. Does Your Policy Cover Safari and Adventure Activities?

Most standard travel insurance policies will cover:

Game drives on safari (as a passenger)
Guided tours
Domestic flights
General sightseeing

However, many popular Africa experiences are often excluded unless you upgrade your policy.

These can include:

White water rafting
Gorilla trekking
Chimpanzee trekking
Mount Kilimanjaro or other high-altitude hikes
Hot air balloon safaris
Scuba diving
Quad biking
Motorbike riding
Volunteering

Insurers usually classify these as “adventure” or “hazardous activities.” If they are not explicitly listed as covered in your policy wording, assume they are excluded.

If you’re planning an adventure-heavy itinerary, look for a policy that specifically includes adventure activity cover.

Sunset Mokoro Ride in the Okavango Delta

2. Does Travel Insurance Cover Countries Under Government Travel Advice?

If your government advises against travel to:

An entire country, or
Specific regions within a country

Many standard travel insurance policies will not cover you in those areas.

This is particularly relevant in countries or regions where travel advice changes periodically, which can happen anywhere in the world.

If you travel against official government advice, you may need specialist high-risk travel insurance.

Before purchasing your policy, check:

The current travel advisory for your destination (for example, in the UK check the FCDO website and in the US check Travel.State.Gov)
Whether the insurer excludes travel against government advice
Whether coverage applies only to certain regions within a country

Always check the advisory status on the day you buy your insurance.

3. Does Your Africa Travel Insurance Cover Laptops, Cameras and Valuables?

Many Africa trips involve expensive equipment, including:

Laptops
Professional cameras
Safari lenses
Drones
Multiple mobile phones

Standard policies often have:

Low total baggage limits
Strict per-item limits (sometimes £300–£500 per item)
Exclusions if valuables are not carried on your person

If you are travelling with expensive tech, check:

The total baggage cover limit
The single-item limit
Whether gadgets are covered outside your accommodation
Whether you need to declare high-value items separately

Without checking these details, you could lose a £2,000 camera and only be reimbursed a fraction of its value.

Helen in Wonderlust with Najin, one of the last Northern White Rhinos

4. Medical and Emergency Evacuation Cover in Africa

This is one area where you should not cut corners.

Medical facilities vary significantly across Africa. In serious cases, evacuation may be required to:

South Africa/Kenya
Europe
The Middle East

Medical evacuation flights can cost tens of thousands.

When choosing travel insurance for Africa, look for:

High medical cover (at least £1–5 million equivalent)
Strong emergency evacuation cover
24/7 emergency assistance

If you are travelling to remote safari camps or rural areas, evacuation cover is particularly important.

5. Civil Unrest, Terrorism, and Delays

Even in relatively stable African countries, unexpected disruptions can happen, including:

Political protests or civil unrest
Terror-related incidents
Airport closures or airline strikes
Missed connections
Delayed baggage

Civil Unrest/Political Upheaval

Many standard policies exclude civil unrest, riots, or coups, even if the country isn’t on a government “Do Not Travel” list.

Example:

A friend caught in the coup in Madagascar had a Generali/Divers Alert Network policy, but it did not cover civil unrest, leaving her without compensation when she missed a few days of her trip – even though there was no warning before she travelled.

Civil unrest is often only covered if you purchase specialist insurance, or if the country is not under a “Do Not Travel” advisory. Interestingly, if the disruption had been a terrorist act, her policy would have provided coverage.

Terrorism Coverage

Most standard travel insurance policies cover medical treatment resulting from a terrorist attack, but often exclude:

Evacuation or trip disruption due to terrorism (unless specifically added)
Large-scale or war-related events

If terrorism coverage is important, check:

Whether it’s included in your plan
Limits on evacuation or trip interruption
Any exclusions related to location or event type

Delays and Baggage Issues

Most policies do cover standard travel delays, including:

Missed flights due to airline disruption
Delayed baggage
Trip delays within policy limits

Coverage limits, waiting periods, and definitions of “covered delays” vary by insurer, so always check the fine print.

Specialist Coverage and Upgrades

Some insurers offer additional protection for higher-risk scenarios:

Non-medical evacuation for civil unrest, terrorism, or natural disasters
“Cancel For Any Reason” upgrades
Specialist high-risk or hostile-environment coverage

Key Takeaway: Always read the full policy wording carefully. Make sure your plan explicitly covers civil unrest, terrorism, and delays relevant to your itinerary.

How to Choose the Best Travel Insurance for Africa

When comparing policies, ask yourself:

What activities am I doing?
Is any part of my trip under government travel advisory?
What valuables am I taking?
Are the medical and evacuation limits high enough?
Am I comfortable with the exclusions around war and civil unrest?

The best travel insurance for Africa is not necessarily the cheapest policy. It is the one that properly covers your specific trip.

When Should You Buy Travel Insurance for Africa?

One of the biggest mistakes I see travellers make is waiting too long to buy their insurance.

I always recommend buying your travel insurance as soon as you book your trip – not a few weeks before departure.

Travel insurance does not just cover you while you are in Africa. It also covers you before you travel for things like:

Trip cancellation
Illness or injury preventing travel
Family emergencies
Unexpected events that stop you from flying

Insurance only works from the date you purchase it. It does not work retrospectively.

For example:

Imagine you book your Africa trip in January for travel in August. But you decide to wait until the week before departure to buy insurance.

Then in July, you break your leg and your doctor says you cannot fly.

If you haven’t purchased insurance yet, you won’t be covered for cancellation. That means you could lose your flights, safari deposits, permits and accommodation payments — simply because there was no active policy when the injury happened.

Buying travel insurance early protects the financial investment you’ve already made in your trip.

The best time to buy travel insurance for Africa is:

Immediately after booking your flights or paying your first deposit.

That way, you are covered both:

Before your trip (cancellation protection)
During your trip (medical, evacuation, delays, baggage, etc.)

Waiting until the last minute leaves a gap in protection – and that gap can be expensive.

Recommended Travel Insurance Companies for Africa

Below are the travel insurance providers I personally use or recommend most often for trips to Africa, including safaris, trekking, volunteering and adventure activities.

These are companies I have personally used for my own Africa trips or recommended to my clients.

Insurance coverage varies by company, plan level, and country of residence. For example, World Nomads’ Explorer plan includes protection for terrorism-related incidents, but not all their policies do. Always read the full policy wording to make sure your chosen plan covers your specific itinerary, activities, and destinations.

Coverage eligibility is based on where you live, not just your nationality. Most insurers require you to be a legal resident of the country you list on the policy – so you should use your usual place of residence (where you pay taxes, have a home address, or could be repatriated). A handful of insurers, will cover travellers from almost any nationality regardless of where you live, but always check the policy wording before you buy.

Elephant Sands Botswana — Watching Elephants at Elephant Sands

World Nomads

Why I use it: Reliable for adventure travel in Africa, offering wide worldwide coverage including medical, evacuation, trip cancellation, and baggage. Covers over 150 adventure activities and allows you to buy or extend cover while already travelling.
Great for: Safaris, trekking, balloon trips, scuba diving, and multi-activity travel.

Explore World Nomads travel insurance.

Rise & Shield Travel Insurance

Why I use it: Provides “Already Abroad” travel insurance that can be activated mid-trip. Coverage includes emergency medical treatment, evacuation, trip interruption, and baggage.
Great for: Travellers who need insurance after departure or want to extend their trip spontaneously.

Explore Rise & Shield travel insurance.

IATI Global

Why I use it: Flexible policies with strong medical limits, ideal for longer or complex Africa trips. Options include IATI Backpacker, IATI Star, and IATI Total Comfort. Provides 24/7 assistance, emergency medical cover, evacuation, and optional add-ons. Some plans can be purchased while already travelling.
Great for: Budget-conscious travellers, long overland trips, and flexible coverage needs.

Explore IATI Global travel insurance.

Battleface

Why I use it: Designed for modern adventure travellers, with global coverage for emergency medical expenses, evacuation, trip cancellation, travel delay, and baggage. Digital-first claims experience. Some plans include war and terrorism coverage.
Great for: Solo travellers, short trips, and those who prefer clear, digital policies.

Explore Battleface travel insurance.

High Risk Voyager

Why I use it: Specialist insurance for higher-risk areas. Offers emergency medical and evacuation coverage, political and natural disasters, hijacking, piracy, wrongful detention, and PTSD counselling after hostile events.
Great for: Travelling to high-risk regions, NGO workers, journalists, aid workers, or anyone needing hostile-environment coverage.

Allianz Global Assistance

Explore High Risk Voyager travel insurance.

Why I use it: Well-known global insurer with strong medical and evacuation coverage. Offers Cancel For Any Reason, adventure activity add-ons, and 24/7 multilingual support.
Great for: Travellers who want a highly reputable, traditional insurer with global recognition.

Explore Allianz Global Assistance travel insurance in the UK and in the US.

AXA Travel Insurance

Why I use it: Flexible policies with strong medical coverage, emergency assistance, and optional upgrades for adventure activities and sports. Suitable for EU and non-EU residents.
Great for: Long-term travellers, multi-country trips, and expatriates.

Explore AXA Travel Insurance.

IMG Global

Why I use it: Comprehensive international coverage with high medical and evacuation limits. Optional coverage for extreme sports and high-risk activities.
Great for: Remote Africa trips, volunteering, adventure travel with expensive gear, and digital nomads.

Explore IMG Global insurance.

Generali Global Assistance

Why I use it: Strong medical and evacuation coverage with optional upgrades for adventure activities and valuables. Reliable global emergency assistance network.
Great for: Families, safari groups, and travellers wanting a mix of traditional and adventure coverage.

Explore Generali Global Assistance insurance.

Big Cat Travel Insurance

Why I use it: Offers policies that can be purchased or extended while already travelling overseas (subject to residency requirements). Provides solid medical, evacuation, trip cancellation, and baggage coverage.
Great for: Backpackers, long-term travellers, or anyone whose plans change mid-trip.

Explore Big Cat Travel Insurance.

My Personal Recommendation

For most standard safari and adventure trips, I personally tend to use:

World Nomads – reliable for multi-activity travel with wide adventure coverage; can buy or extend while already travelling.
IATI Global – flexible policies with strong medical limits, depending on my country of residence; some plans can be purchased mid-trip.
Allianz Global Assistance – trusted global insurer with strong medical and evacuation coverage.
AXA Travel Insurance – ideal for longer or multi-country trips with optional adventure upgrades.
Big Cat Travel Insurance – allows “already travelling” policies and mid-trip extensions; great for backpackers or long-term travellers.
Rise & Shield – specifically designed for travellers abroad who need to buy insurance mid-trip; includes medical, evacuation, and baggage cover.

If I’m travelling somewhere with elevated risk, government advisories, or high-risk activities, I look at:

Battleface – clear coverage for higher-risk environments and adventure activities.
High Risk Voyager – specialist insurance for regions and activities standard policies often exclude.
IMG Global – excellent for remote Africa trips, volunteering, or adventure travel with expensive gear.
Generali Global Assistance – strong medical and evacuation coverage with optional upgrades for valuables and adventure activities.

The key is matching the policy to your trip – not just choosing the cheapest option. The right coverage ensures peace of mind, so you can focus on enjoying your Africa adventure.

Final Thoughts on Travel Insurance for Africa

Before you buy, read the policy wording – carefully.

Check activity exclusions, confirm medical and evacuation limits, and ensure you are covered for the regions you plan to visit.

Choosing the right travel insurance for Africa can make the difference between a minor inconvenience and a major financial loss.

Any other Africa travel insurance companies you would recommend? Please let me know in the comments!