Travel Insurance for a trip to Africa
The African continent is ready for adventure.Check out these travel insurance tips so you can push your exploration to the limit.
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Known as the cradle of civilization, Africa has a winning combination of culture and nature, with urban art galleries, traditional art and diverse cultures, as well as jaw-dropping natural wonders, including 19,341-ft-high (5,895 meters)ice-capped Mount Kilimanjaro, the mountain jungles of Rwanda and the chance to see lions, elephants, cheetahs and more.
But as with any safari in the African bush, it helps to have a professional to guide you. World Nomads is here to assist, with travel insurance tips to keep in mind as you explore this diverse and fascinating continent… BYO binoculars!
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 stubbed toe or a bout of malaria can feel worse when it happens in a remote place – such as a far-flung water hole, or a small village.
If you’re a World Nomads policy holder, you’ll have support from a team of like-minded people who know what it’s like to be an independent traveler. Your policy 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). You also have access to our 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team, which could come in handy when you need to translate your Ugandan doctor’s advice or find the nearest quality hospital. If you’ve had an accident and need help, follow our guide on what to do.
Trip cancellation for terrorist incidents
Unfortunately, no place is immune to terrorist activity. Governments across the globe have their eye on some parts of Africa as hotbeds of terrorist activity. The U.S. State Department is warning visitors not to travel to some regions due to terrorism.
When you have a World Nomads policy and one of these events takes place in your destination within 30 days of your departure date, you may be able to make a claim if you need to cancel your trip up to the benefit limits.
Keep in mind that all our plans are different, depending on your Country of Residence and the plan you've selected. Conditions and exclusions apply. Read the policy wording carefully to choose the right plan for your trip. If you have any questions about your cover, you can contact us.
Weather-related trip delay, trip interruption and trip cancellation coverage
Not-so-fun fact: weather patterns across Africa can range from the unusual (such as the 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 in equatorial areas).
At its best, such extreme weather can lead to unexpected days indoors spent hunkering down at your lodge. At its worst, you could endure safety concerns, delayed tours or canceled flights. If you have a World Nomads policy, you can breathe a little easier knowing you may have some trip cancellation, trip interruption or trip delay coverage for some of these situations, depending on your Country of Residence and the policy you’ve chosen. Read your policy for more details on cover for natural disaster. You can always contact us if you have any questions.
Carjacking, pickpocketing and other crimes
Be sure to check for your government’s travel advisories regarding advice for traveling to Africa or to reconsider visiting parts of Africa that are currently experiencing civil unrest, violent crime and kidnapping.
If you are robbed during your travels, you may be reimbursed the loss of your belongings up to your depreciated value, depending on your Country of Residence and plan chosen. Don’t forget to keep your police report and make a copy to submit with your claim. Keep in mind that cash, currency and credit cards aren’t replaceable, so you’ll want to only carry what you need for the day (enough for some sugary South African fried koeksisters, for example).
Now, with these tips in mind, the only thing you need to worry about is making sure your safari guides have your favorite tipples in the jeep for your sundowner. If you haven’t organised travel insurance for your African Odyssey yet, get an online quote 24/7.
Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you
Trip Cancellation
Been working hard for your trip?
We'll work hard to protect it.
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 Medical Expenses
Feeling fit and healthy? What if you get sick or injured?
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
Emergency Medical Insurance
- Need medication?
- Accidentally injured?
- Suddenly sick?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Transportation
Know where the nearest hospital is?
Don’t stress, we’ll get you there quickly.
Evacuation and Repatriation
- Hurt abroad?
- Need to get to a hospital urgently?
- Medevac home?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Love photography, filming or sport?
Cover your bags, tech or gear.
Protect your gear
- Video camera gone?
- Laptop lost?
- Sports gear stolen?
Help starts here.
- Emergency Overseas Medical & Dental Expenses
- Emergency Medical Evacuation & Repatriation
- Trip Cancellation or Interruption
- 24-Hour Assistance Services
- Baggage
- And more (depending on your country of residence)
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?
Contact the teamTravel Insurance Cover for COVID-19 Related Events
Travel insurance may help if Coronavirus cancels your travel plans
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For information relating to policies purchased prior to 03 February 2022, please check the PDS provided with your purchase. You can contact us if you need this sent to you again. For policies purchased on or from 03 February 2022 please see below.
We know Aussie travellers can’t wait to travel again which is why we’ve added some Coronavirus (COVID-19) specific cover to our insurance plans, to help make it clear what COVID-19 related events our travellers may have coverage for. All our travel insurance plans include emergency medical and repatriation cover if you get sick with Coronavirus while abroad. Our Explorer plans also offer cover for some COVID-19 related events with the COVID-19 travel costs benefit a new feature.
World Nomads travel insurance for Coronavirus and our plans
- Standard and Explorer plans: Offer cover for emergency medical assistance if you get sick with COVID-19 overseas – cover includes medical assistance, repatriation and hospitalisation benefits.
- Explorer Plan: Offers cover for some COVID-19-related events such as cancellation, trip interruption expenses and some quarantine costs, as well as additional benefits for healthcare workers, residential care workers and law enforcement officers who have their pre-arranged leave cancelled by their employer due to COVID-19.
Benefit limits apply and vary between plans.
| Benefit | Standard | Explorer |
|---|---|---|
|
Emergency medical expenses overseas |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Medical repatriation/ evacuation (including funeral expenses or repatriation of your remains if the worst-case scenario happens) |
Yes |
Yes |
| Coronavirus Travel Costs Note: This section has its own benefit limits which apply. Check your PDS for full details or read our Help article which has all of the details, including benefit limits, conditions and exclusions. |
NA |
Yes |
What do I do if I get COVID-19 before or during my trip?
If you need to cancel or cut short your trip because you or a member of your travelling party is diagnosed with COVID-19 by a medical practitioner, or if your close relative in Australia is hospitalised or dies due to COVID-19, these tips may be helpful, especially if you intend to make a claim.
- Contact our 24/7 Emergency Assistance team as soon as possible – they can help direct you to local medical facilities if needed and help you understand your options.
- Isolate! And seek the relevant medical attention.
- If you haven’t left home yet and might need to cancel your trip – make sure you’ve got medical evidence of your diagnosis. This can include certification from your doctor that due to the COVID-19 diagnosis you are medically unfit to continue with your original travel plans, or an official PCR test. The diagnosis of COVID-19 must be made after your policy was purchased.
- Don’t delay in the cancellation of your plans to maximise the opportunity of refunds from your providers.
- Always keep receipts for any trip payments you make and, wherever possible, request written reports from providers or local authorities.
- Follow Australian government and local advice – different countries have different rules. What’s okay in Australia may not be okay in the countries you visit. While some countries may be more relaxed in their COVID-19 protocols, others may be very strict in who they allow to enter.
Travel insurance isn’t designed to cover everything, so make sure you’re careful with your planning and you read the PDS to make sure you understand what’s included and what’s not, as well as the terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions. If you have any questions get in touch.
Contact our 24/7 Emergency Assistance teams as soon as possible, so they can support you from the time you fall sick or get injured until the time you get home.
When you call please have ready:
- Your policy number
- A contact number and travelling companion details for where you are now
- The nature of your problem
FAQ
Here are our most frequently asked questions about Coronavirus cover and travel insurance. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Helpdesk or you can ask our customer service team.
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Does my insurance cover medical costs upfront or do I have to pay and claim later?
Our international policies can offer cover for emergency overseas medical expenses and medical evacuation and repatriation following a serious injury or sudden illness; this includes coronavirus, subject to all policy terms, conditions, limits, and exclusions. However, if the plan you already purchased doesn’t include the benefit section ‘Coronavirus Travel Costs’ (which offers some cover for eight specific coronavirus-related events), contact us for assistance. We are not able to change the plan issued after purchase, but, provided you have not used your original policy, and do not need to make any claim, we may be able to assist with issuing a replacement policy and providing you with a refund of your original premium. It is important to remember that this would be a new policy, subject to the policy terms conditions and pricing in effect at the date it is issued and would not offer cover for any event that has already occurred.
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What do I do if my test hasn’t come back in time, and I need to cancel my trip?
If you need to cancel or rearrange your travel arrangements, even at the last minute, don’t delay in speaking with your airline or other travel providers to minimise any potential cancellation costs or fees. If you booked through a travel agent, they may be able to assist you with this, too. If you do need to make a claim, the cover available will depend on your individual circumstances, as well as the plan you have purchased. For us to assess if cover can apply, you’ll need to submit a claim along with all supporting documentation. Remember, if you are required to take a test prior to travel, it is important to allow sufficient time for results to come back.
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Why don't you cover ongoing treatment at home?
Cover may be available if you are unfit to travel due to contracting COVID-19, depending on the plan you have purchased, and the facts of your claim - check the policy you have purchased and if it has Coronavirus Travel Costs cover. We assess all claims on a case-by-case basis. Speak with your travel providers, you may be able to cancel or change your arrangements at no or minimal cost. If you booked through a travel agent, they may be able to assist you with this, too. Please note, if you’re already travelling and need to make changes to a flight change or your accommodation, even at the last minute, don’t delay in speaking with your airline or provider. If you can’t continue with your planned arrangements due to a positive diagnosis, simply not showing up could mean you forfeit your booking or incur additional fees when you may have been able to move your dates or times at no or minimal cost. If you booked through a travel agent, they may be able to assist you with this, too
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Do I need medical proof of my positive COVID-19 result if I need to cancel my trip?
Yes. You will need to provide documentation to support the circumstances of your claim. We understand that the type of documentation you can provide may vary and assess every claim on a case-by-case basis. You should submit as much information as you’re able to along with your claim, this will help us to assess your claim in a timely manner and reduce the possibility that we may need to ask you for further information. Information you supply may include: PCR Test demonstrating that at the time you were due to travel, you had an active case of COVID-19; Proof you were subject to mandatory isolation at the time you were due to travel due to a registered RAT (Rapid Antigen Test) result; Letter from medical practitioner confirming you are medically unfit to travel due to COVID. Don’t forget to contact your travel service providers as well, as you’ll also need to demonstrate that you have requested to refund or reschedule your arrangements, and what your out of pocket costs are. Remember, not all of our plans cover pre-trip cancellation for COVID-19. 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 PDS in full so you understand what is and isn’t covered.
Bag snatched in Latvia.
It was my final day in Riga, Latvia. In my small bag I keep all my valuables, because hostels can't always be reliable with safekeeping. It contained my new GoPro, Iphone, digital camera, laptop and hard drive, plus my emergency money (200 euros). I planned on using my cameras and computer for editing later that afternoon. The coast was amazing and, as it got late, I decided to take the train back to Riga city. As I was getting off the train, down the vertical steep steps, I had my bag snatched off my shoulder. In seconds, the doors closed and the train pulled off. Telling authorities on the platforms immediately, they could not assist and referred me straight to the police. Feeling helpless, I went to the police where I was kept for hours, because of English barriers and translations of documents. I walked out just after midnight with my report. A day trip I won't forget soon.
Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you
Trip Cancellation
Been working hard for your trip?
We'll work hard to protect it.
Trip Protection
- Unexpectedly hospitalised?
- Travel buddy unfit to travel?
- Close relative suddenly dies?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Expenses
Feeling fit and healthy? What if you get sick or injured?
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
Emergency Medical Insurance
- Need meds quick?
- Accidentally injured?
- Suddenly sick?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Transportation
Know where the nearest hospital is?
Don’t stress, we’ll get you there quickly.
Evacuation and Repatriation
- Banged up abroad?
- Need a hospital urgently?
- Medivac home?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Love photography, filming or sport?
Cover your bags, tech or gear.
Protect your gear
- Passport or tech stolen?
- Airline lost your gear?
- Bags delayed?
Help starts here.
- Emergency Overseas Medical & Dental Expenses
- Emergency Medical Evacuation & Repatriation
- Trip Cancellation or Interruption
- 24-Hour Assistance Services
- Baggage
- And more (depending on your country of residence)
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?
Contact the team
