Travel insurance,
properly explained

Comprehensive travel insurance is mandatory for every Con Bush Safaris booking. This is not optional, not a recommendation, not something we let slide. We require proof of insurance before your safari starts. The reason is simple: a Tanzania safari has higher-than-typical risks (light aircraft, remote camps, altitude, wildlife), and the consequences of being uninsured can be financially catastrophic.

what follows is what we've learned about travel insurance for tanzania safaris.

not all travel insurance is equal. many cheap policies exclude exactly the things you need on safari. look for these minimums:

medical & evacuationthe absolute basics

• Medical expenses: at least $200,000 (ideally $500,000+)
• Emergency evacuation: at least $250,000 (Flying Doctors evacuation can be expensive without coverage)
• Repatriation: cost of returning to your home country for treatment
• Hospital stay: daily hospital cash benefit useful but not essential

trip cancellation & interruption

• Trip cancellation: covers your entire safari cost if you cancel due to covered reasons (illness, family emergency, etc.)
• Trip interruption: covers prorated unused costs if you must return home mid-trip
• Trip delay: covers additional accommodation/meals if a flight delays you
• Missed connection: covers costs of missing a flight onward

personal & property

• Personal liability: at least $1,000,000
• Baggage loss/delay: at least $1,500 for lost; $200 for delay over 24hrs
• Personal money / cash: $500-1,000 cover
• Electronics: cameras, phones, laptops — confirm coverage limits and per-item limits

activity-specific cover

• Kilimanjaro: must specifically cover hiking/trekking above 5,895m
• Scuba diving: if doing Zanzibar/Mafia/Pemba diving — must specifically include
• Hot air ballooning: explicit inclusion (most policies exclude unless added)
• Walking safari: usually covered under standard wildlife tourism

two different things, often confused.

what we include (flying doctors / amref)

Every Con Bush Safaris booking includes basic Flying Doctors evacuation coverage. This is air ambulance service — they fly to your camp and take you to a hospital. But this is only the transport. It does not cover:

• Hospital bills once you arrive
• Cost of treatment
• Trip cancellation if you need to fly home
• Lost or stolen belongings
• Anything other than the air evacuation itself

why travel insurance is still essential

if you need evacuating to nairobi for, say, a serious injury, flying doctors will fly you there at our cost. but the nairobi hospital bill, the extra flights to get you home, the refund for your interrupted safari, and any follow-up care won't be covered unless you have comprehensive travel insurance.

we don't sell insurance and we earn no commission from any provider. the names below are simply the policies our travellers have used and that we've found responsive when it came to actual claims.

for uk / eu travellers

• Campbell Irvine Direct: specialist in safari and adventure travel insurance, comprehensive cover
• InsureandGo: mainstream policy with strong Africa coverage
• Allianz Travel: large insurer with strong international medical network

for us / canadian travellers

• World Nomads: specialist adventure travel insurance, popular with our US guests
• IMG Global: comprehensive international medical and trip insurance
• Allianz Travel Insurance USA: solid mainstream cover, easy claims
• Travel Guard / AIG: comprehensive policies with strong evacuation cover

for australian / nz travellers

• SCTI (Southern Cross Travel Insurance): comprehensive, well-rated
• 1Cover: budget option but adequate
• World Nomads (Australia): same provider as US, separate Australian product

for travellers from other countries

most major insurers offer adequate tanzania safari cover. always read the specific policy wording — many exclude "hazardous activities" by default and make you add them on.

a checklist for making sure your policy actually covers what you need.

hopefully you'll never need this. if you do, here's how it generally works.

for medical issues during travel

1. Call your insurer's 24-hour emergency line immediately (we will help)
2. Get pre-authorisation for major treatment (most policies require this)
3. Keep all receipts, medical reports, and prescriptions
4. If you can pay upfront, do so — easier to be reimbursed than to wait for authorisations
5. Document everything with photos and notes

for trip cancellation / interruption

1. Notify us as soon as you know — we can document the situation
2. Contact your insurer to start a claim
3. Provide documentation: medical certificate, police report (theft), bereavement notice (family emergency)
4. Submit our cancellation invoice — we provide a detailed breakdown
5. Most claims resolve in 30-60 days

for lost or damaged property

1. Report theft to local police within 24 hours — get a written report
2. Report loss to your accommodation and us
3. Photograph any damage
4. Submit claim with police report, receipts (original purchase if possible), and photos