Travel Insurance for Your Trip to Kenya – Forbes Advisor

Kenya has a wealth of natural beauty and resources, from its coastline along the Indian Ocean to its savannahs and mountainous highlands. The African country is very popular for adventure tourism, mainly due to its abundance of wildlife and the safaris available within the Masai Mara Reserve and Amboseli National Park.

Whether you plan to embark on a magical safari, participate in other adventure activities, or visit family and friends, purchasing travel insurance is a wise choice to protect your travel investment. Without the best travel insurance for your needs, you could end up losing your hard-earned money spent on your trip.

Compare and buy travel insurance

Herring Nairobi Trip Cancellation Insurance

Traveling to Kenya can be expensive, not only due to international airfares, but also the costs associated with safaris. This is why it’s important to purchase travel insurance well in advance of your flight, says Daniel Durazo, spokesperson for Allianz Travel.

Purchasing travel insurance immediately after making your first travel deposit will give you the longest coverage period against cancellations. There are other benefits to purchasing travel insurance early. Never miss an optional upgrade that needs to be purchased immediately after your first travel deposit.
Trip Cancellation Travel Insurance will reimburse you for prepaid, non-refundable travel costs if your trip is canceled for the reasons stated in your policy.

For example, if you are seriously injured shortly before your departure date for your safari, you can file a trip cancellation claim to recover your non-refundable travel expenses. That said, it’s important to understand that trip cancellation insurance doesn’t cover all possible circumstances that may result in you canceling your trip. Durazo said travelers should read the policy well in advance to understand what is and isn’t covered.

“Many insurance products have a 15-day review period, during which you can review your policy and replace or cancel it if it doesn’t meet your needs,” he says.

“Cancel for any reason” travel insurance

Some travel insurance companies offer “cancellation for any reason” travel insurance (CFAR) in addition to regular trip cancellation coverage. CFAR is usually offered in addition to regular insurance and must generally be purchased within 14 days of your initial travel deposit payment.

Especially for travel to Kenya, there may be a pause before travel due to changing political situation or safety concerns.

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection spokeswoman Carol Muller said travelers should always look to travel safety ratings and travel.state.gov information to “book or travel to an unfamiliar international destination. You will have to make personal judgments about travel safety before you do so,” he added.

Travel medical insurance for wildebeest migration accidents

Whether you’re visiting family in a rural village, heading to the capital city of Nairobi, or witnessing a natural wonder, travel medical insurance will most likely benefit from your own health insurance in the event of injury or illness. It is very important for overseas travel where you cannot migration of wildebeest. Travel medical insurance pays for ambulance services, doctor and hospital costs, medications, x-rays, lab work, and other medical expenses up to the policy limit.

If your U.S. medical insurance does not include overseas coverage, you will be required to pay for emergency medical expenses out of pocket if you do not have medical travel insurance.

The most generous travel insurance offers $500,000 in emergency medical coverage per person, but you can opt for a lower plan if you don’t think you need that much.

Check adventure activity coverage

Travel medical insurance is also a must if you are planning adventure activities while traveling. It is common on trips to Kenya. Many travel insurance companies exclude certain adventure sports and activities from their standard policy coverage, but you can find companies that sell additional benefits that cover these activities.

World Nomads is one such company that includes active sports coverage that may not be covered by other travel insurance plans.

“If you’re going on a safari, World Nomads covers over 150 adventure activities, including safari tours,” said Christina Tuna, spokeswoman for World Nomads. For example, she points out that the World Nomads Explorer plan has higher coverage limits and includes activities such as hot air ballooning, which is popular in the Masai Mara.

Medical evacuation insurance for Kenya travel

Megan Moncrief, a spokesperson for travel insurance comparison firm Squaremas, said emergency medical evacuation insurance is also very important when traveling to Kenya. Medical evacuation by helicopter or plane can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in remote areas.

If you become ill or injured while traveling and require medical care beyond what is available locally, Medical Evacuation Travel Insurance will pay for air transportation to the nearest suitable treatment center.

Moncrief recommends paying at least $250,000 in medical evacuation compensation for visitors on safari, as medical facilities are scarce in these areas. Some travel insurance covers him $1 million per person for emergency medical evacuation. Under other plans he has adequate coverage of $250,000 available.

Trip Interruption Travel Insurance

If an unforeseen event requires you to return early from Kenya, Trip Interruption Travel Insurance will reimburse you for prepaid, unused, prepaid and non-refundable travel expenses.

For example, if a family member back home is seriously injured in an accident, you can leave Kenya before your scheduled departure date and apply for travel interruption insurance. Common charges that can be claimed include airfare, accommodation, excursions, etc. For example, the cost of a last-minute return flight can also be paid for with a Trip Cancellation Award.

“Disruption for any reason” travel insurance

Some travel insurance companies also offer ‘interruption for any reason’ (IFAR) travel insurance as an upgrade to the basic travel insurance policy.

With IFAR you can shorten your trip for any reason and get back up to 75% of your forfeited non-refundable travel expenses. In order to be eligible for IFAR benefits, a minimum of 48 or 72 hours from the start of travel is generally required, depending on policy.

It usually takes 15-20 days between booking a trip and purchasing an IFAR. The cost of an IFAR is typically 3% to 10% added to the cost of travel insurance.

IFAR is not sold by all travel insurance companies, but is available on select travel insurance policies sold by Nationwide, Seven Corners and WorldTrips.

Hakuna Matata Canceled Travel Delay Insurance

Even the best-planned itinerary can be disrupted by weather, aircraft maintenance issues, or even a traffic accident en route to the airport. If your travel plans are disrupted due to an issue covered by your insurance, travel delay insurance will cover reasonable costs incurred. For example, it may include meals and hotel stays while waiting for your flight to depart.

Travel Delay Cover applies if your trip is delayed for the specified amount of time stated in your insurance (usually 6 hours, 12 hours or 24 hours). At that time, you will be entitled to a refund up to the travel delay limit stated in your policy.

Big Five Gear Baggage Insurance When Your Baggage Is MIA

If you’re planning an excursion to see the lions, elephants, leopards, buffaloes and rhinos known as the “Big 5” and your luggage is lost, you’ll need more than what you wore on board. Baggage insurance covers the depreciated value of your belongings if they are lost, damaged or stolen, up to your insurance limit. That way, you can get back some of the money you spent on buying new gear for your trip.

Baggage Delay Insurance covers the costs you pay if your baggage is delayed. If you need a change of clothes or amenities until your baggage arrives, you can file a baggage delay claim. Baggage delay benefits apply after the period specified in the policy (e.g. 12 hours).

How much is travel insurance for a trip to Kenya?

The average cost of travel insurance for a trip to Kenya is $538, according to Squaremouth. This is for his average travel duration to Kenya of 17 days, with an average insured travel cost of $8,878.

The exact amount you pay for travel insurance depends on several factors, including your age, the cost of your trip, and the travel insurance plan (and upgrades) you choose.

According to Forbes Advisor analysis, the average cost of travel insurance is 5% to 6% of the travel cost.

Safety issues and social unrest

World Nomads’ Tuna warned that crime could be a problem in Kenya, especially in big cities like Nairobi, coastal beach resorts and other tourist destinations.

“For added safety, especially if you’re traveling alone, only take licensed and regulated taxis called by you or your hotel,” says Tuna. “Always be aware of your surroundings, don’t walk alone at night, and watch your belongings to minimize danger.”

Political protests and clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement may also be a concern when traveling to Kenya. If you’re worried about riots or potential riots, you can look for travel insurance companies that offer coverage for safety-related evacuations, cancellations and interruptions.

For example, AIG Travel Insurance’s TravelGuard Deluxe plan includes safe evacuation coverage of up to $100,000 for issues such as political events and natural disasters at your destination. Trip cancellations, trip interruptions and trip delays due to civil unrest are also covered. AIG also sells this coverage as an optional upgrade to his TravelGuard Preferred plan.