Ultimate Guide to the Best Travel Insurance for Africa (Updated 2024)

You are looking for the best travel insurance for Africa? But it sounds so boring, right? Travel insurance for Africa. I mean, what if you don’t even use it? Why not keep your money for the trip itself? After working as a tour leader for many years, I can tell you many of my guests had to unexpectedly avail of their insurance for Africa. Trust me, you need it!

Travel Insurance for Africa – Why You Need It

I worked as a tour leader in Africa for many years. These trips lasted anywhere between one and ten weeks. While major injuries or incidents on the trip didn’t happen every day, they certainly did happen. I have had guests suffer from a broken back, broken leg, broken ankle, malaria, bronchitis, heat stroke and so much more. This resulted in hospital scans and stays and the dreaded trip cancellation. In other words, the costs associated with an unexpected incident are very high and without travel insurance for Africa, you will need to incur the full brunt of these costs.

This experience as a tour leader changed my perspective of travel insurance for Africa. After all, it was me who had to pick up the pieces. I was often the guy making the phone calls. It was me who had to scan documents for the insurance company and help my guests navigate the insurance process when something went wrong. While my guests were required to buy Africa travel insurance in order to join the trip, I would find not every insurance company was as good as the next. Some travel insurance policies did not cover the incident and the customer service was sometimes awful.

So listen; The sight of medical bills pile up is a frightening one – especially if you do not have the right travel insurance for Africa. I won’t go on anymore about it. I just want to make clear that not having travel insurance for Africa is a plain awful decision. You need it. Please buy it. If not with one of the affiliate links in my article, from somewhere else instead.

My Own Experience with Africa Travel Insurance

Since taking out my own travel insurance for Africa, I have had to register a claim on three occasions. If I did not have this insurance, I would have been in a right spot of bother. But where and how and who should you get insurance from? I want to use this post to outline the best policy for travel in Africa and the best travel insurance companies in Africa.

Shortcut: The Best Travel Insurance for Africa

My Pick for the Best Africa Travel Insurance Company – World Nomads

How to Compare Travel Insurance for Africa

Did I say that I also worked in an insurance company for two years? I worked in one of Ireland’s biggest insurance companies as a claims handler for illness and accidental injuries. Unfortunately, most insurance companies will do whatever they can to decline a claim. For this reason, choosing cheap travel insurance for Africa should not be the goal. You should be looking for an insurance company that takes care of their customers when something does happen. 

Most often, an insurance policy is not really as good as the advertisement. They may cover a certain type of incident but they also have many stipulations in fine print that will prevent a successfull claim. eg. If you want to claim for $500 worth of medical bills but the policy has a $500 excess, this means you will receive no compensation!

Coverage Limit – Make sure that the insurance company has a high limit of coverage for medical expenses. More than $1,000,000 minimum.

Emergency – The policy should have cover for emergency evacuation. Cheap travel insurance for Africa will unlikely provide this on their plan.

Repatriation – I hate this word (repatriation) but you should have a policy that covers your return trip home. This will be needed for serious illness or injury.

But remember, good travel insurance companies will not attempt to refuse claims. If you take time to choose the right one, you will have no issues.

The Best Africa Travel Insurance – What You Need to Be Included

Africa travel insurance is usually a priority for those who travel to the continent. Sometimes I feel that this is due to negative media attention and fear in general. Either way, people want it and companies provide it. However, whoever you go with, make sure that the policy has the following:

  • Cover for every country you are visiting.
  • Cover for portable items – stolen, lost or damaged luggage.
  • Laptop or camera coverage (If you have either).
  • 24 Hour customer support.
  • $1,000,000 cover for medical bills.
  • Repatriation Cover.
  • Cancellation cover so that you can return home for a personal emergency (serious illness with family member).

Things to Consider Before Buy Africa Travel Insurance

Fine print:  Most Africa travel insurance companies will place many exclusions in the fine print. You should either read this print or just make sure that the company will cover you enough for the trip.

Expensive equipment: Cheap travel insurance for Africa is unlikely to cover you properly for electronics and other expensive equipment. Again, ask the question and make sure that you know what is covered.

What is the Best Travel Insurance Company for Africa?

In my time working as a tour leader, there were two travel insurance companies who were head and shoulders above the rest. World Nomads was by far the best and then I also had a couple of good experiences with First Allied. However, First Allied cover some of the more dangerous countries but World Nomads is likely more relevant for your trip to Africa.

Tip – Buy insurance for a year rather than for a single trip. It usually works out cheaper or better value at the least.


Final Thoughts on World Nomads

Whenever a friend or family member asks me about travel insurance, I tell them World Nomads. Most of my passengers had a policy with this company on my tours. Feedback was always good and I personally found them to be professional, competent, agreeable and reasonably priced. The cover is also comprehensive and I find them reliable/trustworthy. I also know some of the Australian or Kiwis on my trips went with Columbus Direct. I never had to contact or deal with this company myself but found most backpackers from Australia or New Zealand still opted for World Nomads.

Make sure to click the image below for a fast quote. This is the only way I can make writing these posts worthwhile as I might receive a small referral fee which I can spend on coffee!



Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means that if you book your insurance, I might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please know that I value the trust of my readers and will never endorse something I do not personally support. Namaste 😉