South Africa has a new discovery around every corner. And with cover for 100 different activities, you can take us with you, from Cape Town to Kruger. Spot wildlife on safari or climb Table Mountain. Our travel insurance to South Africa is as flexible as your holiday plans!
What is South Africa travel insurance and do you need it?
South Africa welcomes over 350,000 Brits each year. And it’s no wonder the country’s so popular. With its blissful beaches and buzzing cities, there are so many ways to enjoy yourself!
Our South Africa travel insurance covers your trip to this fascinating country. The UK government recommends all British travellers get appropriate cover.
The best travel insurance for South Africa from the UK covers you for a range of incidents. Here’s what makes it a must:
- Covers emergency medical costs: No one wants to think of the worst happening on holiday. But South Africa has a high rate of violent crime. Cape Town ranks among the most dangerous cities in the world. The Foreign Office warns tourists about high numbers of violent muggings and carjacking. If you’re injured in a crime, South Africa travel insurance will cover the cost of emergency medical treatment. That’s important when you consider the cost of private healthcare in South Africa. Insurance claims there are 2.2 times higher than the average cost of a claim across all countries worldwide,
- Covers repatriation: Going wildlife spotting? Seeing the big five is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. While animal attacks are rare, unfortunate medical events can happen, from heart problems to falls from a jeep. Because safaris take place in such remote locations, getting medical treatment can be tricky. Medical repatriation costs from South Africa to the UK start at £75,000. If you need to be flown home from a safari, South Africa travel insurance can cover the cost.
- Protects your valuables: Going hiking? Keep an eye on your valuables. The Foreign Office warns of thefts and muggings at Table Mountain National Park. Travel insurance for South Africa can help replace your possessions if they’re stolen on holiday. If you’re taking anything precious, gadget cover protects your valuables, up to £2,000. And with InsureandGo, 99%+ of all claims are paid within five working days².
- Help when you need it: Malaria is a serious disease. Transmitted by mosquitoes, it can even be fatal. The risk of malaria is low in most parts of South Africa. But one exception is the popular Kruger National Park. If you’re bitten by a mosquito in Kruger and develop a fever, you should seek medical assistance. All InsureandGo policyholders have access to our 24-hour medical team. Call us to get the emergency treatment you need.
- Lets you do more on your holiday: Trips to South Africa can be just as adventurous as you are. Its rich and varied landscape lets you hike, surf, kayak, and even dive with sharks! Our South Africa travel insurance lets you experience it all. It covers over 100 sports and activities as standard. But we also have cover for more adventurous activities.
Make sure the policy you’ve chosen covers you for all the activities you have planned. Our policy wording provides full terms and conditions of what is and isn’t included.
Check the latest advice for travel to South Africa before you go. Your travel insurance could be invalid if you travel against their advice. You’ll need to check you’ve got all the vaccinations and passport validity requirements you need for your trip.
What does InsureandGo’s South Africa travel insurance cover?
What’s covered?
Our travel insurance for South Africa includes:
- Medical emergency expenses.
- Cover for cancellation of your trip.
- Our 24-hour emergency assistance team, available to call, day or night, wherever you are
- Over 100 sports and activities covered (see your policy wording for a full list of activities)
- Personal belongings and baggage cover.
- Personal money, passports and travel documents cover.
- Accommodation cover.
- Legal expenses cover.
Find out about our optional add-ons for activities like extreme sports, cruises and golf.
We will consider all pre-existing medical conditions. Find out more about medical travel insurance. The excess and amount of cover available varies depending on the level of travel insurance you buy. Check the policy wording to see the full terms and conditions.
What’s not covered?
Each provider will have different things it can or cannot include in a policy. However, there are some situations travel insurance will not cover. For example:
- You cannot cover events or reasons to claim which took place before you booked the trip or purchased insurance. Insurance exists to cover unexpected events outside of the insured’s control
- Claims which are less than the excess for that section of cover. For example, you cannot claim a £40 lost item if your baggage excess is £60
- All of our travel insurance policies include cover for cancellation of your trip. There may, however, be some exclusions. For example, you won’t be covered to cancel if you simply decide not to go
Please note: Our winter sports add on cover is only available to those under 65.
The best travel insurance for South Africa
From cosmopolitan Cape Town to the untamed Kruger National Park, South Africa has an adventure for every explorer. Flexible options from InsureandGo let you tailor your travel insurance policy to your trip. Can’t work out what you need? Here’s what we’d suggest.
- Sailing from Cape Town? A luxurious cruise lets you see the South African coastline in style. You may even spot whales and dolphins in the bay. Cruise holiday insurance can protect you against cruise-specific mishaps in South Africa. It includes cabin confinement, cruise interruption, itinerary changes and more.
- Taking the kids on safari? South Africa has an alphabet of animals for them to spot, from aardvarks to zebras. Cover everyone under one policy with a family travel insurance plan.
- Feeling adventurous? South Africa has so much to see and do. Our insurance covers over 100 amazing sports and activities at no extra cost. Want to try shark cage-diving or quad-biking? Adding hazardous activity cover will ensure you’re protected.
- Planning a year-long trip? Explore this vast country at your leisure. Our long stay policies cover trips of up to a whole year in length.
- South Africa just the start of your adventure? Our worldwide travel insurance can cover your trip. We even have policies for the USA, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
Make sure you read our policy wording for more information on what is and isn’t included.
How to book our travel insurance for South Africa
With its endless list of incredible experiences, planning your ideal itinerary can be time-consuming. At least getting a South Africa travel insurance quote is quick and easy.
Here’s how it works:
- Tell us your plans
Let us know your travel dates, destinations, and who you’ll be travelling with. If you have any pre-existing medical conditions, include those as well.
You can do this online now, or speak with our friendly team.
2. Get your quote
You can either buy your insurance there and then, or buy at a future date.
Letitia Smith – Travel insurance expert
“South Africa is a beautiful country with so much to offer. Gorgeous beaches and fantastic wildlife are both big draws. But emergency healthcare can be expensive for British holidaymakers..Travel insurance can protect your belongings if they’re lost or stolen, too.”
Our reviews speak for themselves
Health cover issues very clear
“InsureandGo were the only company we could find that would cover my wife. We had to cancel our other policy from another insurance provider when we tried to upgrade to cover for South Africa.
Michael
Date of experience: 28 November 2023
Looking for travel insurance for South Africa from the UK? Join the happy customers who gave InsureandGo a four or five-star rating.
Travel insurance for South Africa with pre-existing medical conditions
Living with a pre-existing condition shouldn’t stop you from experiencing the magic of South Africa. Declare your conditions when getting your quote and you’ll be covered for related medical emergencies. That way, unforeseen costs won’t ruin your adventure.
Tourists are not eligible for free public healthcare in South Africa. While private hospitals are excellent, treatment can be costly. Public hospitals may cost less, but standards of treatment and hygiene are not the same as in the UK.
If you’re travelling with a pre-existing medical condition, insurance is a must. At InsureandGo, we’ll consider all medical conditions, including COPD, heart conditions, and asthma.
Our online medical screening process is easy. To learn more, read about travel insurance for medical conditions. Or, take a look at our policy wording documents. If you’d rather talk to someone instead, please get in touch with us.
You must declare all your pre-existing medical conditions when buying your travel insurance. Otherwise, you won’t be covered if you have an emergency related to your condition while away.
If you need treatment when you’re in South Africa, contact us as soon as you can. Read more about healthcare in South Africa here.
Frequently asked Questions on South Africa Travel Insurance
Do I need travel insurance for South Africa?
Travel insurance is not compulsory to visit South Africa. But the UK Government recommends that all British nationals take out the proper insurance for their trip. This is due to:
- High medical costs: Public healthcare in South Africa is not free for UK tourists. Private hospitals can be expensive. Travel insurance can cover medical expenses if you fall ill or get injured during your trip.
- Higher crime rates: Thousands of Brits travel to South Africa every year. Most visits are trouble-free, but there is a high crime rate in South Africa. The FCDO warns tourists of violent crime on the Cape Town airport road and muggings in Table Mountain National Park. Getting the appropriate cover for your valuable items can cover costs if you’re the victim of crime.
- High repatriation costs: Safaris are popular, but often take place at remote locations. Typical private medical repatriation costs from South Africa to the UK start at £75,000. Travel insurance to South Africa can help get you home.
- The cost of cancelling your holiday: Travelling to South Africa from the UK can be expensive. Travel insurance can help you recoup prepaid expenses. This includes flights, hotels, and safaris if unforeseen circumstances force you to cancel your trip.
Read our policy documents for a closer look at what is and isn’t included.
Does the GHIC cover medical treatment in South Africa?
No, the GHIC doesn’t cover medical treatment in South Africa. Although it stands for Global Health Insurance Card, you can only use it in EU countries, plus Montenegro, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. For travel to South Africa, you’ll need to buy worldwide travel insurance.
Does travel insurance cover private medical treatment in South Africa?
Yes, it does. Healthcare in South Africa is a mix of both public and private.
Public healthcare: There are public hospitals and clinics in South Africa, but you’ll need to pay for your treatment. The standards of public medical care vary across South Africa and may not be the same as in the UK.
Private healthcare: South Africa has excellent private healthcare facilities, but they come at a cost. Treatment can be quite expensive, especially for emergencies.
Getting travel insurance for South Africa with adequate medical cover is a must. It ensures you receive the necessary private medical treatment without worrying about hefty medical bills.
How much is travel insurance for South Africa?
How much is travel insurance for South Africa?
The cost of travel insurance to South Africa is based on many factors, including:
- Your age. Generally, travel insurance gets more expensive as you get older.
- The length of your trip. A longer trip to South Africa will typically cost more to insure than a shorter one.
- Your level of desired coverage. Our Black level policies offer the highest level of insurance for travel to South Africa. Black level policies include unlimited medical expenses, up to £10,000 of cancellation cover, and no excess to pay. We also offer Gold, Silver and Budget levels of cover.
- Policy add-ons. Are you planning any adventurous activities on your South African trip? Want extra coverage for valuables, golf or cruising? These require more comprehensive coverage, impacting the price.
- Any pre-existing medical conditions. Declaring them might increase the cost slightly, but it’s crucial to get proper coverage.
Each of these can vary from person to person, meaning the cost of travel insurance for South Africa will also vary.
There are ways to make travel insurance to South Africa more affordable. If you’re travelling with your partner, a couples travel policy could be cost-effective.
Think carefully about your travel plans. For example, an annual European policy may be more affordable if you’re planning many trips to Europe and one holiday to South Africa. You can then arrange a separate single trip policy for your visit to South Africa.
Call our team on 0808 281 0594 or get a quick and easy quote online now
Does South Africa travel insurance cover safaris?
Yes, it does. Our standard travel insurance to South Africa covers safaris, even if they’re the main purpose of your trip. There’s no need to take out the extreme activities add-on. The only caveat is that your chosen safari has to be adequately supervised and organised. Our policy wording has the full details of what is and isn’t covered.
You’ll be covered if you fall ill or get injured during your safari, but that’s not all. Travel insurance to South Africa covers a range of issues that could crop up, including:
- Personal accident and liability
- Cancelling and cutting short your holiday
- Abandoning your trip
- Delayed departure
- Accommodation cover
- Personal belongings and baggage
- Personal money, passport and travel documents
- Legal expenses
No one likes to think of the worst-case scenario. But securing the best travel insurance to South Africa lets you relax and enjoy your safari.
Who can buy an InsureandGo South Africa travel insurance policy?
All our South Africa travel insurance policies are available to UK residents. This means:
- Someone who has been living in the UK or the Channel Islands for at least six of the last 12 months
- They must be in the UK at the time of purchase
- All trips must start and end in the UK
Get a quote online or browse our policy documents for more information.
Travel insurance guides
Frequently asked questions
If you’ve got more questions about how our South Africa travel insurance works, or more general travel insurance queries, have a read through our FAQs.
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