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Continue reading our informative guide to Travel Insurance for South Africa or if you are ready to receive a quote for cover, simply enter your details in the form below to receive quotes for cover.
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South Africa offers travellers a combination of thrilling adventures, spectacular scenery and amazing wildlife. Popular adventure activities include mountain climbing, shark cage diving, elephant-back or Big Five wildlife safaris and white water rafting. While South Africa will definitely leave you with a memorable trip, there are large health and safety risks including:
The average cost of travel insurance to South Africa varies from $86.48 to $408.14 depending on the buyers age group.
Prices based on a 2 week trip to South Africa. Prices last updated on November 2015.
The cheapest policies to South Africa tend to be basic with lower limits whilst the most expensive policy is more comprehensive and features higher cover limits. Consider your own travel needs when deciding on a travel insurance policy.
Policy features | Cheapest costing policy | Average costing policy | Most expensive costing policy |
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Cancellation fees and lost deposits |
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Overseas emergency medical and hospital expenses |
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Dental Expenses |
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Hospital cash allowance |
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Cutting your trip short |
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Additional expenses |
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Personal liability |
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Travel documents and travellers cheque |
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Luggage and personal effects |
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Delayed luggage allowance |
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Hijack |
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Rental Vehicle Excess |
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Travel Delay |
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Alternative transport expenses |
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Resumption of Journey |
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Loss of income |
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Theft of cash |
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Pet care |
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Default excess on claims |
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Note: Information is accurate as of September 2019.
Back to topA safari is one of the key experiences of any South African getaway. These wild animals however, are unpredictable and things can sometimes go wrong. While most insurers will cover you for injury and illness while you’re out on safari, it’s important that you always follow the advice of the tour guide or park ranger, as you won’t be covered if you fail to do so and recklessly put yourself in danger. See how different travel insurers cover safaris.
Some providers will exclude hiking from cover altogether. However, there are policies out there that will cover you for incidents that occur while you’re hiking in South Africa - just make sure you read the PDS closely to work out if hiking is included or as an extra.
An iconic feature of any South African holiday is diving with great white sharks. Most diving businesses will have liability insurance in place to cover any unexpected incidents and it’s a good idea to check what cover a company before you book a dive. It doesn't however hurt to take out a travel insurance policy that also covers shark diving, giving you the peace of mind you need to enjoy this memorable South African experience.
South Africa is home to iconic bungee jumping sites such as the Orlando Towers at Soweto. Like most extreme activities, it is a must that you check with your travel insurer if it is included in your policy or if you have to add an option. Additionally check with the bungee jumping provider what means of cover they have.
Craig has been looking forward to his South African holiday for months and, in particular, a bungee jumping adventure he has planned. But due to an unfortunate bungee jumping mishap when Craig takes the leap of faith, he ends up with a dislocated kneecap and some severe ligament damage. The resulting surgery and hospital stay needed to repair his knee leads to a medical bill in the vicinity of $8,000, but luckily Craig has planned ahead. He purchased travel insurance with optional cover for adventure activities, meaning that all his medical costs are covered by his insurer.Bungee jumping in Soweto
More information on sports travel insurance
Back to topAlthough it’s an amazingly beautiful country, South Africa does have a reputation around the world for crime problems. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) recommends that Australian travellers ‘exercise a high degree of caution’ when visiting South Africa. It also reports recent issues of race related violence in certain areas, including in the
As we touched on above, don’t expect to receive cover from an insurer if you travel to a country which the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade advises against visiting. Such travel advisories can be found on DFAT’s Smartraveller website. Here are the DFAT official recommendations for - Confirmed as of 3 September 2015:
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Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Libya, Mali, Niger, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan | Tunisia, Sierra Leone and Egypt |
Some insurers will explicitly not cover certain countries due to their volatility and climate of instability. You’ll need to check the fine print of a policy for full details of excluded countries, but destinations such as Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda and Zimbabwe regularly make the list of excluded countries.
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Back to topIf you’re hiring a rental vehicle and taking to the road in South Africa, be warned that there are several dangers to keep an eye out for. In fact, South Africa has some of the most dangerous roads in the world, with 33.2 road fatalities per 100,000 people (Australia’s is around 5-6 deaths per 100,000 people). Remember, travel insurance is mean't to cover you in unforeseen circumstances, don't put yourself in a position of loss by taking part in reckless driving.
The standard of health care in South Africa is typically excellent, especially in the major cities, although remote cities may be limited in medical services. In order to ensure that you can receive prompt medical attention whenever you need it, it’s vital that you have travel insurance in place that covers your overseas medical costs.
Due to long waiting times and staffing issues in the public system, it is ideal to receive treatment in a private facility. At most hospitals and clinics, upfront payment, a guarantee of payment or confirmation of your medical cover will typically be expected before you can receive any treatment.
Back to topWhether you’re travelling in South Africa you can call your insurance provider for 24/7 emergency assistance should you ever need it, but you should also take note of the following South African emergency numbers:
It’s always important that you consult your GP before travelling overseas. When travelling to South Africa, it's advisable to have the following vaccinations:
Now that we’ve got you well on your way to finding a suitable travel insurance for your trip to South Africa, here are some travel tips to make your holiday as breezy as possible:
While the total amounts you are covered for will depend on your level of South Africa travel insurance chosen, some common features include:
It is crucial to check your travel insurance for all exclusions before you travel. Some general exclusions for South Africa travel insurance may include:
That will depend on you and the type of travel you are planning on doing. Think about where you are heading to, the type of activities you’ll be participating in and whether you want a basic or comprehensive cover. Once you have an idea about the factors, compare the benefits and features of the many travel insurance policies available.
Smartraveller provides a wealth of information about current warnings. While you’re there, it’s also a great idea to register your travel plans, so that if an emergency were to happen in South Africa, you can receive automatic updates to ensure your safety.
Most travel insurance policies will have options to easily include your partner or children. Be sure to ask your South Africa travel insurance provider for any fine print details you should be aware of.
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When selecting the level of travel insurance you will need, ask yourself these six questions:
With the protection of a comprehensive travel insurance for South Africa, you’ll be able to truly enjoy the beauty of South Africa without a worry, knowing that even if things don’t all go according to plan, your travel insurance policy has got your back. Fill out the form below to compare quotes for travel insurance for South Africa.
Picture: Shutterstock
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