Redpoint Destinations

Africa

Traveling to Africa: What to Know Before You Go

Essential Information for Travelers to Africa

Africa is often called the Mother Continent and the cradle of humanity. And when travelers visit for the first time, they quickly see why. Dynamic, soulful, and full of color, life, and music, Africa's diverse landscapes and rich cultures welcome travelers with open arms. From the vast Sahara desert to the world's longest river (the Nile), it is also home to unmatched adventure and excitement. Whether you want to see the majestic migration of wildlife in the Serengeti, climb Mount Kilimanjaro, or trek with gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda, your African adventure awaits you.

However, things often don't go to plan in Africa and a visit to the continent does come with some unique risks. That's why you need a comprehensive travel insurance plan to protect you against any unforeseen events or emergencies that might happen while you're there. Whether it's a flight or transportation option falling through, losing your personal belongings, or getting sick or injured while in a remote place, Africa travel insurance protects you so you can stay focused on enjoying your trip.

Health & Safety in Africa

Medical Care and Hospitals

Because it’s such a large continent with varying degrees of economic development, the quality of healthcare services in Africa is not consistent. Urban areas often have private clinics and hospitals with decent to good care, especially in more developed countries like South Africa, Kenya, Morocco, and Egypt. However, in rural areas or poorer countries, you may find a lack of high-quality medical services, equipment, and medications. For serious trauma or emergency care, there can be scant services available in these areas, which means you’ll need emergency medical evacuation. These evacuations are not free and can be extremely expensive. This is why, in addition to travel medical insurance, emergency evacuation coverage is essential for your trip to Africa.

No matter how you access care, it’s likely that you will need to pay for your treatment up front. Emergency medical costs can quickly add up, which is why having comprehensive travel insurance with emergency medical and evacuation coverage is so important. If you need help finding care in Africa, you can contact Redpoint’s 24/7 helpline or the U.S. embassy or consulate located nearest to your location.

Health Risks and Vaccinations

The risk of yellow fever is high in Africa, so proof of vaccination is required to enter many African countries, including Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda, and the Republic of Congo. Other countries like Egypt, South Africa, Botswana, and Tanzania may require proof of yellow fever vaccination only if you’re arriving from a high-risk country. Proof comes in the form of a WHO Yellow Card, or an International Certificate of Vaccination, which you can obtain from a registered provider in your home country. If you plan to travel to multiple countries in Africa, speak to your provider about yellow fever vaccination while planning your trip.

Aside from yellow fever, there are other risks you should be aware of and vaccinations that can protect you. The CDC recommends that, in addition to being up to date on all routine vaccinations, U.S. travelers who are traveling to Africa must also be vaccinated for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, rabies, cholera, measles, and meningitis. For the risk profiles of each country, you can visit the CDC’s country-specific pages. The CDC also recommends making an appointment with your healthcare provider up to six weeks before departure, as some vaccines take a while to take effect.

Africa is also home to several mosquito-borne illnesses, which vary by region, season, and elevation. Malaria, dengue fever, zika, and chikungunya are present in various countries at certain times of year. In addition to taking precautions to prevent insect bites, the CDC suggests taking other preventative measures, such as preventive anti-malarial medication, if you’re going to spend large amounts of time in affected regions. Speak to your healthcare provider before you leave to understand the risks.

Food and water-borne illnesses like traveler’s diarrhea are also prevalent in Africa and travelers can experience gastrointestinal illness from consuming contaminated food and water. To avoid this, stick to bottled water, especially in rural areas, peel any raw fruit and vegetables you consume, avoid ice, and try to eat food that’s properly cooked from trusted vendors. It’s also wise to carry a basic medical kit with common over-the-counter medication, as well as spare prescription medication or copies of your prescriptions. This is especially true if you will be visiting or hiking in remote areas.

Insurance Benefits and Coverage for a Trip to Africa

What does travel insurance in Africa cover?

When considering travel insurance cover for your trip to Africa, you will want to make sure your travel insurance policy covers all the areas below so that you’ll be prepared, no matter what happens during your trip.

Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance:

Unexpected trip cancellation insurance reimburses your non-refundable trip expenses if your trip to Africa is canceled or cut short due to a covered reason, like illness, severe weather, family emergencies, or certain government advisories. Traveling across borders and to multiple countries in Africa can come with unexpected disruptions and cancellations — and not to mention extreme weather incidents — so it’s wise for your initial trip deposit to be protected in case you have to cancel or delay your travel due to unforeseeable events.

Travel medical insurance:

Travel health insurance covers unexpected medical expenses incurred for any injuries or illnesses that happen during your trip. Medical care varies across Africa, and no matter where you receive care, you’ll need to pay for emergency medical expenses up front. That’s why it’s so important to have travel medical insurance so you can recoup these costs. In addition, if you have pre-existing medical conditions, don’t forget to apply for a waiver when you purchase your policy.

Emergency medical evacuation insurance:

Emergency evacuation coverage reimburses you for transportation to the nearest medical facility or back to the U.S. in extreme or emergency situations. Africa has countless adventure travel opportunities, but medical facilities in remote regions of the continent can be very basic and lack trauma care. If you need urgent care in one of these settings, you may need to be evacuated to a more advanced medical facility in the same country, or somewhere else on the continent. These flights can be extremely costly, so it’s vital to have this coverage as part of your travel insurance.

Lost luggage and personal belongings insurance:

Baggage coverage is a benefit that covers loss, theft, or damage to your belongings should they go missing during your trip to Africa thanks to petty theft or airline error. Crime can be common in tourist areas throughout Africa, so it’s definitely worth having this coverage.

Trip delay coverage:

Trip delay insurance compensates for additional expenses if your travel is delayed before it starts or during any connections or transfers.

Optional add-ons:

There are several additional policy benefits you can add to your travel insurance depending on the nature of your trip. These include cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage, if you think you may need to cancel for a reason not covered by the typical cancellation policy; extra protection for specialist or expensive gear; adventure sports travel insurance if you plan to do any extreme or dangerous activities; and car rental protection.

Choosing the Right Plan

Ripcord has a variety of plans for travel insurance for Africa. For travelers seeking adventurous activities like going on wildlife safaris in the Serengeti or climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, Ripcord is an extensive plan with high coverage limits and enhanced coverage, such as emergency evacuation and repatriation, perfect for trips to remote or rural destinations. Cavalry is suited for urban or business travelers who are seeking luxury and cultural experiences while staying in Africa’s cities like Nairobi, Cape Town, or Cairo or higher-end resorts. Meanwhile, Harbor offers robust coverage to the budget-minded leisure traveler who may be backpacking through the continent on a shoestring. You can compare all of Redpoint’s comprehensive plans and figure out which one might be right for your trip here.

Entry Requirements & Practical Information

Entry and Visa Requirements

Entry requirements for Americans visiting Africa vary widely. Fortunately, some countries that are popular with tourists, such as South Africa, Tunisia, and Morocco, allow visa-free entry for shorter stays. Other popular destinations like Kenya and Tanzania allow for e-visas, which can be applied for online prior to your arrival. Roughly 30 or so nations still require you to obtain a visa on arrival or apply for one prior to your trip. It’s best to check the embassy or government website of the country you are visiting before you go. It’s also worth noting that passport validity of at least 6 months and proof of onward travel are commonly required for entry.

What to do in an Emergency

If you have an emergency, passport issue, or legal problem while you’re traveling in Africa, you should contact the nearest embassy or consulate office where you are located. The U.S. State Department has a country-by-country list of these locations on its website. Make sure you visit a location that provides the service you need, as not every embassy or consulate provides passport services or general assistance to the pubic.

In addition, it’s wise to sign up for the U.S. State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which is a free service that will send you updates and notifications for Americans abroad. It can help you keep track of any threats or conflicts developing in the regions you’re traveling in, or if the U.S. State Department issues any travel advisories for countries in Africa.

In addition, Redpoint offers 24/7 support on its helpline to travelers who have an emergency or need assistance. If you are having trouble locating help locally, Redpoint’s associates can help connect you to the help you need on the ground.

Popular Activities and Adventure Travel in Africa

If adventure travel is what you’re after, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better place to visit than Africa. From world-class safaris in the Serengeti and Kruger National Park to trekking with Gorillas in Uganda and diving with sharks in South Africa, there are so many experiences you simply can’t find anywhere else. There’s also the incredible red desert dunes of Namibia, plenty of water sports on the Zambezi River, and scuba diving in the Seychelles, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Wherever you go, you need to make sure you have adventure travel insurance that covers what you choose to do while you’re in Africa. These activities come with higher risks, and many of them take place in less developed parts of the continent, so coverage for emergency medical expenses and emergency evacuation is a must.

FAQs for Africa Travel Insurance

Is travel insurance for Africa required?

No, travel insurance is not mandatory to enter most countries in Africa, but it is always a risk to embark on overseas travel without trip protection. This is especially true if you're going on safari or traveling to remote regions in Africa. Should anything go wrong during the course of your trip, such as a serious medical emergency or disrupted itinerary, your out-of-pocket costs can easily reach into the tens of thousands, exceeding the price of a travel insurance policy.

Can one plan cover multiple countries in Africa?

Yes. Redpoint’s coverage follows you across borders, so as long as you declare the countries you plan to travel to when you purchase travel insurance, you can cross borders and stay covered by the same plan.

What if I’m injured on safari or a mountain climb?

These activities can be covered depending on your insurance policy. If you choose Ripcord or a plan with adventure sports coverage, then you'll be covered if you have a medical emergency or require air evacuation, rescue, or medical transport.

What if I get sick from food or water?

Travel medical insurance typically includes coverage for food and water-related illnesses, which can be common when traveling. Covered treatment options might include IV fluids or a hospital stay.

How much does travel insurance cost?

Travel insurance premiums are priced based on a range of factors including trip duration, cost, age, and activities. Most of Redpoint's insurance plans range from 6% to 15% of total trip costs. You can also opt to buy an annual multi-trip policy if you are planning multiple trips in the year.

What about pre-existing conditions?

If you have a pre-existing medical condition, then you need to apply for a waiver when you purchase your insurance policy. Your policy may be slightly more expensive, but it will ensure you stay covered if you have a medical emergency while on your trip.

Protect Your Trip With Redpoint Travel Insurance

Protecting yourself on your trip to Africa requires comprehensive travel insurance, and Redpoint Travel Protection has a global reputation for providing high-quality policies to fit every traveler. It also offers 24/7 support — even in some of Africa’s most underdeveloped regions — to give travelers peace of mind and help them enjoy their trips. Explore Redpoint’s policies here, which can support backcountry adventurers and city hoppers alike

Gambia Mangroves. Aerial view of mangrove forest in Gambia.