Travel is big business. Add insurance to it and you truly have big business. Like all big business insurance is often not that transparent. While planning your African Travel or Safari will will find that most African Safari Tour Operators and Travel Agents will often have some kind of insurance policy to offer their clients. Expect to pay between $25 - $75 for a months coverage.

Normally a typical insurance policy will cover injury or illness that would require hospitalization, doctor's cost, prescription medication, surgery, air evacuation or repatriation and cancellations should anything arise and you are not able to travel.

Tickets and cash upto a certain amount are often covered. What is often not adequately covered is the loss of valuables so the first thing you might want to do is to leave your valuables at home and not bring them along on your African Safari or Africa Travel especially if these valuable are irreplaceable like you grandmas pearl necklace etc.

This does not mean that you leave essential things behind like your cameras etc.

As you buy your Africa Travel insurance bear this in mind:

Can the policy be extended?

Should you require to extend your policy during you African trip make sure you are able to should you decide to stay longer.

Are you already covered?

Sometime you will find that your home insurance policy covers your belongings when you are abroad. Also many private medical schemes include cover when you are abroad. Your credit card company may also provide some coverage.

What should your policy cover?

It's all up to you because most offer you the option to pick and choose. But here are some of your options.

Personal effects

Check the total pay out limit.

Medical Cover

Check whether they will pay your benefits as treatment proceeds or when you get back home. Also note their emergency contact details. Most insurance companies insist that you get their authorization especially for any prolonged treatment. As obvious as this may sound keep receipts for medicines and hospital bills if you intend on making a medical treatment claim.

Dangerous Activities

Unless extra premiums are paid, policies exclude the so called dangerous activities the like of riding motorcycles, bungee jumping, scuba-diving etc

Personal liability

This if included covers you should you be sued because of damage to someones property or should you be implicated in an accident that may have resulted in a person getting injured or dying. This however does not include being in control of a mechanically propelled vehicle.

Curtailment Insurance

Cover for non refundable and additional payments incurred to return home as a result of illness, injury or death.

Natural disasters and war

Insurers don't particularly like these so if you are going to Africa's trouble spots that your country has issued a travel advisory don't expect to be covered by your insurance company back home.

It is worth noting that for a big group of travelers, it is often possible to negotiate better rates with the travel Agent or the insurance company that will be providing the insurance policy.