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Travel Insurance for a trip to Africa

The African continent with its 54 countries is ripe for outdoor adventure. Check out our travel tips and more.

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Always wanted to see the Great Migration in Botswana; have a Gorillas in the Mist experience in Rwanda; or take in some of the world’s most beautiful beaches in the Seychelles and Mauritius? Africa lives up to the hype given it is the birthplace of civilization.

But like any big trip overseas, not everything may be smooth sailing, which is why it’s vital to consider having travel insurance by your side. World Nomads offers the latest travel cover information, travel tips, and inspiring content for your next trip to Africa.

• What's covered
• Why should I consider travel insurance when visiting Africa?
• What are the benefits of travel insurance when going to Africa?
• What's not covered? 

What's Covered

At World Nomads we’ve also been on the wrong end of bags going missing, flights being delayed, and unexpected illness or injury. Unforeseen events can slow us down or halter our trip completely, that’s why considering a World Nomads plan should be a priority as much as packing your passport.

Depending on your country of residence, our plans - whether you select the Standard or Explorer plan - offer cover (up to the policy benefit limits) for:

  • Overseas emergency medical
  • Medical evacuation and repatriation
  • Trip cancellation
  • Lost, stolen, or delayed baggage
  • Travel delay/interruption
  • Cover for 150+ activities, sports, and experiences
  • Cover for some Coronavirus-related events.

Make sure you’ve selected the right travel insurance plan for your specific needs. Our travel insurance plans are different, and cover will vary, depending on what you are claiming for, the plan you choose and any options or upgrades you buy.

Remember: With World Nomads you can get a quote, make a claim, or extend your policy instantly online, even while enroute or after you've arrived at your destination.

Travel insurance tip: many countries may require proof of vaccination before they can enter, and some have introduced visas and travel insurance minimum requirements. Make sure you’ve got the required proof of any vaccinations so you can present them while traveling overseas.
woman kayaking in Slovenia
Woman looking at Elephants in Africa. Photo credit: Tamara Malesevic / EyeEm

Why should I consider travel insurance when visiting Africa?

As a team of globetrotters ourselves, we know that no matter the destination most travel junkies don’t mind if it takes a couple of hours or 24 to get there. Whether you’ve earmarked Africa for a savannah sojourn with the family or as a six-month volunteer adventure on your own, travel insurance may be able to help in several scenarios: 

  1. Overseas medical emergencies
Soaring over the Masai Mara grasslands in a hot-air balloon or walking over the Victoria Falls knife-edge bridge are unforgettable thrills, but they’re not exactly risk-free. A rolled ankle or a bout of Malaria can feel worse when it happens in a remote place or a small village.
If you’re a World Nomads policy holder your cover can help cover emergency accidents and illness when the worst happens (like a twisted ankle that stops your walking safari through Botswana’s Okavango Delta in its tracks). And you also have access to the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team, handy when you need to translate your Rwandan doctor’s advice or find the nearest hospital.

  1. Weather-related trip delay, trip interruption and trip cancellation coverage
Weather patterns across Africa can range from the unusual (think snowstorms in South Africa that had elephants, giraffes, and rhinos wandering in a de facto snow globe) to the downright dangerous (monsoons and whipping winds that can lead to death in equatorial areas).
At its best, such extreme weather can lead to unexpected days indoors spent by a crackling fire at your lodge. At its worst, you could endure safety woes, delayed tours, or canceled flights. If you have a World Nomads policy, you can breathe a little easier knowing you may have trip cancellation, trip interruption or trip delay coverage for some of these situations.
Read your Policy Wording carefully as level of cover will depend on your country of residence and the plan you’ve selected. Your policy will also have its own section that has in-depth details related to natural disasters coverage.

  1. Carjacking, pickpocketing, and other crimes
Be sure to check for your government’s travel advisories regarding advice to reconsider visiting parts of Africa that are currently experiencing civil unrest and violent crime and kidnapping. You can also check out World Nomads latest travel alerts for Africa.
If you’re the victim of a robbery during your travels, you may be reimbursed for the loss of your belongings, up to the plan’s limits and the items' depreciated value subject to a claims assessment. Don’t forget to keep your police report, keep all your receipts, and make a copy for your claim. And note that cash currency and credit cards aren’t replaceable, so you’ll only want to carry what you need for the day.

What are the benefits of travel insurance when going to Africa?

As wondrous and wild as the African continent is, there are some things you should keep in mind when it comes to the benefits of travel insurance:

  • Lost, stolen, or delayed baggage cover: in the unfortunate event that your luggage or personal items are accidentally damaged, delayed, lost, or stolen, you may be able to claim your unexpected costs. In addition, if your luggage is delayed more than 24 hours (more than 12 hours for US residents), you may be entitled to replacement costs. Check your Policy Wording carefully as terms and conditions, and benefit limits apply.
  • Electronic devices: In today’s tech-centric world, taking your gadgets on the road is just as common and essential as packing an extra pair of socks. World Nomads may be able to replace, repair or recover the costs of your personal tech devices when stolen, lost or damaged under your supervision. Benefits are available only after exhausting other sources of compensation, such as from your common carrier. Remember, we take into consideration depreciation and wear and tear, and claims are subject to per item and total maximum benefit amounts.
  • Cover for Coronavirus-related events: World Nomads offers cover for some Coronavirus-related events to help if your trip is derailed by COVID-19. Check your policy carefully as benefit limits, terms and conditions and exclusions apply and vary between plans.
  • Adventure activity and sports cover when in Africa: we cover more than 150 activities, sports, and experiences worldwide – including backpacking, hiking, and hot-air ballooning, but not all are covered under every plan. You can read about the activities covered. Many activities also have specific conditions and exclusions you should read up on before you go. Depending on your Country of Residence and the level of cover you’ve chosen, you may need to add activities to your policy. Terms and conditions apply.

What's not covered?

When taking out insurance, understanding what’s not covered is just as important as what is covered. Here are some of the things we do not provide cover for:

  • Pre-existing medical conditions - see the Policy Wording for details.
  • Participation in a sport or activity not listed in the Policy Wording or agreed by World Nomads where you haven’t paid the required additional premium.
  • Any costs arising from your refusal to be repatriated once declared medically unfit to continue a trip but fit for repatriation.
  • Non-emergency treatment that can wait until you return home (it's not health insurance, it's travel insurance for medical emergencies)
  • Traveling to, planning to travel to, or choosing to remain in a country or region that is subject to a ‘Do Not Travel’ or ‘Avoid Essential Travel’ warning issued by your Country of Residence.
  • Expenses you have not made every reasonable attempt to recover from the carrier, accommodation provider, booking or travel agents, any compensation scheme, or other source.


This is only a summary of coverage and does not include the full terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions of the policy. You should read your Policy Wording in full so you understand what is and isn’t covered. That way there won’t be any surprises if you need to use it. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

Get an instant travel insurance quote

Simple and flexible travel insurance designed by travelers, for travelers. See why over 3 million travelers have chosen World Nomads for more than 20 years.

Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you

Trip Protection

Protect your hard earned vacation from unexpected cancellation before you leave home.

  • Explorer Plan: USD $10,000
  • Standard Plan: USD $5,000
Trip Protection
  • Are you or your family sick or injured?
  • Natural disaster or terrorist attack where your'e going?
  • Called to active service?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Overseas Medical Insurance

Take the pain out of medical costs while traveling overseas.

  • Explorer Plan: Unlimited, up to 12 months
  • Standard Plan: USD $5,000,000
Emergency Medical Insurance
  • Need medication?
  • Accidentally injured?
  • Suddenly sick?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Medical Transportation

We'll get you to hospital quickly.

  • Explorer Plan: USD $500,000
  • Standard Plan: USD $500,000
Evacuation and Repatriation
  • Hurt abroad?
  • Need to get to a hospital urgently?
  • Medevac home?

Help starts here.

Protect your gear

Cover your stolen or damaged gear and tech.

  • Explorer Plan: USD $3,500
  • Standard Plan: USD $2,500
Protect your gear
  • Video camera gone?
  • Laptop lost?
  • Sports gear stolen?

Help starts here.

  • Overseas Medical & Dental Expenses
  • 24 hour Emergency Assistance
  • Emergency Medical Transport
  • Repatriation & Travel Expenses
  • Pre-Trip Cancellation
  • Trip Interruption
  • Resumption of Trip
  • Travel Delay
  • Missed connection (Explorer)
  • Hijacking (Explorer)
  • Baggage & Personal Items
  • Passport & Travel Documents
  • Personal Liability
  • Rental vehicle insurance excess (Explorer)
  • Personal accident (Explorer)
*This is a general summary for all residents except from USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Brazil, China and Philippines. Restrictions, exclusions and limitations will apply. Coverage may not be available for all countries, states or provinces. Benefit limits may vary depending on the plan chosen. Get a quote for full details.

24/7 emergency assistance

Whether you need medical assistance or emergency evacuation, our teams are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.

Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?
Phone:+353 21 237 8008 or +353 21 237 8003 (calls are not toll free. You can claim your itemised call costs)

Contact the team