Safari Travel Insurance – do not book your Safari in Uganda without it!

Extreme sports such as White Water Rafting, Bungee Jumping, Hiking, Climbing walking safaris, Gorilla Trekking, Chimpanzee Trekking, etc. If you are planning to take part in adventurous activities during your holiday, we recommend that your policy covers you for any injuries sustained as a result of these activities. Please make sure you read the conditions carefully, as they must be appropriate for the types of events you intend to do.

Loss of valuables, personal liability, legal expenses. Your policy should include cover for the loss of any valuable items, too, as well as personal liability, legal expenses, and cancellations abroad, and any delays at your point of departure, whether you are outward or homeward bound.

Pre-existing illnesses. Please seek advice from an insurance broker if necessary to ensure that your policy covers any pre-existing diseases.

Does your health insurance cover your safari? (This question is often relevant to travelers from the USA.). US health insurance premiums sometimes cover clients for their trips overseas. We cannot comment on these policies but would advise clients to contact their existing insurers for health cover and to consider additional insurance to protect against the risk of loss or cancellation.

• You are incurring considerable costs. If you do not have the policy to cover any of the events mentioned above, you are at risk of incurring substantial costs. Repatriation home, for example, can cost a considerable amount of money. As mentioned already, we cannot be held responsible for any of these costs.
• You are covering the full amount of your trip, including international flights. Please ensure any policy covers the total cost of your safari. Many travel insurance policies will only cover up to a specific figure – this is a common issue with credit card travel insurance.

OTHER FAQ’s:

My credit card includes travel insurance – is that enough?
It is essential to check that you are satisfied with the amount of coverage included. Please contact your credit card company to verify what is and what isn’t covered.

Is medical coverage provided by national social insurance programs or national healthcare systems in my country of residence valid in Africa?
Public social insurance programs, such as Medicare, and national healthcare systems, like the NHS, are unlikely to provide you with medical coverage. Please contact the relevant authority for further information.

I have private health insurance – is that enough?
It is unlikely that your private health insurance policy will provide you with adequate coverage. Please speak to your health insurance company about what is covered.

Can I buy travel insurance from Kabiza Wilderness Safaris?
No, Kabiza Wilderness Safaris does not sell insurance. We are not part of an affiliate travel insurance program.  This could lead to legal tangles – we do one thing only, create memorable Safaris.

How much does travel insurance cost, and where can I compare policies?
The cost of travel insurance varies, as insurance companies will consider pre-existing health conditions, the length of the trip, the cost of the journey, and many other factors. We cannot legally advise clients on which policies are best, nor can we recommend any travel insurance companies or policies. However, to get an idea of where to begin your research, please take a look at the following:

• for Canadian residents, there is some advice on the website for the Government of Canada
• for UK residents, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office offers further information on the importance of travel insurance and what to look for in a policy
• for US residents, there is some advice on the US State Department website.

Please note that we cannot take any responsibility for the information provided on a third-party website.

Why is Kabiza Wilderness Safaris asking for my travel insurance details?
In the event of an emergency, Yellow Zebra and our suppliers will need to have access to the name of your travel insurer, policy number, and 24-hour emergency/claims number. We can then provide this information to emergency services so that you can receive the necessary treatment without delay.

I have already paid in full, so do I still need travel insurance?
It is a condition of booking with Kabiza Wilderness Safaris that you organize specialist travel insurance to cover your entire trip or sign a waiver knowing that you are responsible for all costs in case of emergency. Unfortunately, some clients have had to cancel before travel due to unforeseen circumstances. Because they had not yet taken out travel insurance, they were unable to recoup their booking costs. Moreover, there have been cases of our clients being taken ill while in Africa and requiring treatment. We cannot stress enough how important it is for us to have your travel insurance details to hand for us to assist you as quickly and efficiently as possible, should anything like this happen to you.

I’ve found a policy. Please, can someone at Kabiza Wilderness Safaris review it with me?
Unfortunately, no – due to legal reasons, we cannot review any insurance policy. You should contact the insurance company and review it with them, as they will have a better knowledge of the policies they sell.

What if I don’t want insurance?
Arranging insurance is a condition of booking travel with Kabiza Wilderness Safaris. If you do not take out a travel insurance policy, we reserve the right to cancel your holiday as per our Terms & Conditions.

What is “Cancel For Any Reason” Coverage?

“Cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage is an add-on to a base travel insurance policy that allows you to cancel the trip for any reason that’s not already a reason covered by the policy. You’ll be reimbursed a portion of your prepaid, forfeited and non-refundable trip costs, typically between 50% and 75%.

Sounds good, right? Well, here’s the rub: You typically have to purchase “covered for any reason” coverage within 14 to 21 days of your first trip payment. For example, if you booked a trip in mid-February, you can’t add CFAR coverage at the end of March.

And here’s another “cancel for any reason” wrinkle: You typically need to cancel your trip at least two days prior to your departure to use your CFAR coverage. So if you’re leaving tomorrow and want to cancel today, you won’t get reimbursed.

What About Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Coverage?

Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance cover problems that interrupt or cause you to cancel your trip, like airline delays and medical problems.

AND LASTLY!

As is always the case, make sure you read the fine print of any policy! Unfortunately, we have known instances where clients had thought they were fully covered but had bought a policy that was not as good as it should be.