Backpacking Africa

How to Choose the Best Travel Insurance for Kilimanjaro

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Whatever happens, you need the best travel insurance for Kilimanjaro. I never paid any attention to the details of my first policy back in 2008. However, after working for many years as a tour leader in Africa, I now understand the importance of having the right Kilimanjaro travel insurance.

It’s true, while I didn’t need to use my travel policy back then, I just lucky that nothing unfortunate happened. That is to say, I saw many people fall ill on Kilimanjaro and just as many go to hospital with altitude sickness.

Anyway, in this article, I will talk about the best travel insurance policy for Kilimanjaro and some things to consider about your upcoming trip.

Travel Insurance for Kilimanjaro – You Need It

I worked as a tour leader in Africa for three years and then travelled independently for another two years. During my time as a leader, there were many incidents in which my guests were forced to call on their travel insurance companies. Whether this related to malaria and the cancellation of their trip to being hospitalised after an unforeseen illness on Kilimanjaro.

Unfortunately, not everyone had the same travel insurance policy and this led to complications. In fact, it was always my job to deal with these unfortunate incidents and learn about the incompetence of certain insurance companies.

And the thing is – worrying about medical bills, evacuation, trip cancellation and all these things is the last thing you want to do when things go wrong. More specifically, I just want to say that you might not have used travel insurance in the past but trust me, you need it and so please buy it!

But hey, it’s also a super boring topic so let’s speed things up…

Why You Need Kilimanjaro Travel Insurance

Never mind my guests, I have registered a claim on my own travel insurance three times in Africa. Things just always seem to go wrong in this part of the world. For my guests who did not have a very good policy, it was often a nightmare trying to contact the insurance company and the chances of receiving a payout was not always promising either.

Either way, Africa is the one place that I recommend friends and family to take out a policy and this is certainly true on Kilimanjaro where things get super physical. Keep in mind, you can also use this same travel insurance policy to cover your upcoming safari or overland tour in Africa.

Shot Answer: The Best Travel Insurance for Kilimanjaro

My Pick for Kilimanjaro Insurance Company – World Nomads

But What About the Other Insurance Companies for Kilimanjaro?

I should say that I also worked as a travel agent and an insurance claims handler in the past. As a travel agent, we sold one particular travel insurance policy for Kilimanjaro but the cost was obscenely high. At the same time, I laid witness to so many horror stories from travellers that failed to take out insurance so my only option was to sell them a policy to ensure they were covered for their trip.

I do not wish to name this company but it’s not important.

That being said, there are many prominent companies out there that sell travel insurance for Kilimanjaro. Insure & Go and True Traveller come to mind, and First Allied who provide cover in dangerous countries in Africa.

And this is how you choose between them….

Comparing Kilimanjaro Travel Insurance

The thing is, insurance companies do whatever they can to decline claims. In other words, while certain events are covered, some policies have exclusions for a ridiculous number of reasons which will result in a declinature. What’s more, the policy excess is something extremely high which can make claiming a waste of time in the first place.

Here’s what to keep in mind:

Cover Limit – You should make sure the company has a high limit for medical expenses and ideally in excess of $1 million.

Emergency – Emergency evacuation is important and many policies do not include this due to the high costs associated with emergencies.

Repatriation – If you sustain an injury or illness, this will often cover the cost of your trip home.

Again, you should be choosing a company with a reputation for taking care of the client. And yes, this means a company that will not only pay out but will also make life easy on you when it comes to getting in touch with them.

Kilimanjaro Travel Insurance – What Should Be Included

Kilimanjaro travel insurance is mandatory when it comes to most organised tours. But here’s what you should ideally have included on the policy:

  • Cover for the country you are visiting.
  • Cover for lost or stolen portable items.
  • Camera coverage.
  • 24 Hour support line/email.
  • Trip Cancellation.

One Last Thing About Kilimanjaro Travel Insurance

Print the terms and conditions:  Travel insurance companies include a lot of stipulations in the fine print. You should try to read them and print a copy to take with you on the trip.

Coverage Limit: If you have cheap insurance for Kilimanjaro, it may not cover the likes of electronics or expensive clothing.

And the Best Travel Insurance Company for Kilimanjaro?

When I worked as a tour leader in Africa, two companies always stood out from the rest – World Nomads and First Allied. The first of these was always the best to deal with (by far) which is why you will see my recommendation throughout this post. However, if you planned on visiting a rather dangerous country in Africa (Chad, Libya, Sierra Leone etc), you might want to consider First Allied who provide cover for such places.

Travel Agent Tip – Travel insurance is much better value when you buy for one year as opposed to a single trip.


My Reason for Choosing World Nomads

Whenever I’m asked about travel insurance for Kilimanjaro, I direct friends and family to World Nomads. Most of my guests went with this company and my experience is always a lot more straightforward than with other companies. Also, they have covered my guests in almost every instance, not to mention the fact that policies are thorough and reasonably priced.

In fact, I have used this company for all of my trips around the world.

Click the image below for an easy booking form that will not cost you any extra…but I might receive a referral fee in exchange for my free information above.


Stay Safe on Kili and Have an Awesome Trip


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 😉

Derek Cullen is an experienced overland tour leader in Africa. He is best known for cycling across Africa and writing about travel in Africa for many online media publications. If you would like advice or information for your trip to Africa, you can speak with him directly through the LiveChat box!

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