Do I Need Travel Insurance For South Africa?

You are planning a fancy trip to South Africa and travel insurance is the least interesting topic you may think about? But during one of your trips, have you ever found yourself in a situation where you had to get emergency treatment or where you lost your baggage at the airport?

Hence, you’re probably wondering how to find the best travel insurance for visiting South Africa.

In the below ultimate guide for travelling from the UK to South Africa, we will tell you everything you need to know about travel insurance for your trip: is it compulsory, key features, premiums, driving requirements in South Africa? Let’s get started.

Why do I need travel insurance for South Africa?

Involved in a car accident while driving abroad, injured while practicing sport, sick....

Unfortunately, those things happens much more often than we think, and it could leave you and your travel partners with significant expenses to pay if you didn’t apply for travel insurance before leaving.

Here is a list of the most common unexpected costs arising during people’s trips:

What if….	How much will you have to pay without travel insurance?	How much will you have to pay with travel insurance?
You need air rescue	£5,000	£0 until medical expense limit is reached
You need to have surgery and to stay at a hospital	£5,000	£0 until medical expense limit is reached
You need medical repatriation	£80 000	£0 real fees paid out
Your baggage has been lost at the airport	£800	£0 until personal belongings is reached
Someone stole your money	£200	£0 until limit is reached
You need to cancel your trip	£5,000	£0 until cancellation limit is reached

For as cheap as a few pounds per day, “Comprehensive Travel Insurance” is a contract which fully covers you for your trip to the South Africa and provides you with both financial compensation as well as assistance during your trip.

What are the best travel insurance policies for South Africa?

How can you choose between the plethora of travel insurance policies on offer and find the least expensive policy? Many insurers, even some small ones, offer very good value for money deals. We’ve come up with a selection of small and big actors offering tempting deals.

Among them you’ll find:

Insurer	Our review
	Provides all travel insurance types with 4 levels of cover (all rated 5 stars by Defaqto): Standard, Premier, Exclusive, Superior 4,8/5 on TrustPilot Very good customer care according to reviews Offers dedicated family travel insurance No credit or debit card fees guarantee Possibility to apply 12 months in advance UK-based customer service and claim team Reimburse within 14 days
	4,58/5 rate on Reviews Provides all types of travel insurance with 2 level of protection: Gold and GoldPlus Medical compensation for up to 85 years old Dedicated customer service according to reviews
	4,8/5 consumers reviews rate on TrustPilot / 5 stars on Defaqto Specialist insurer providing full cover for up to 1000 medical conditions (including Alzheimer’s, HIV, cancer etc.) Includes cover for pregnant women UK based-call center 24/7 assistance team Provides cover for people up to 100 years old Provides all travel insurance types with 3 level of protection Medical compensation limit minimum is £3M and max £10M Also provides cover for cruise and winter sports

Even better, use our comparison tool to find the best deal for you! At Safe, we’ve checked out hundreds of travel insurance providers and we are now able to allow you to compare dozens of holiday insurance deals in only a few seconds without giving any personal details.

What type of travel insurance do I need for my trip to South Africa?

You can apply for different insurance types depending on your type of trip, from frequent luxury or business travel to cheap holidays to South Africa.

You will most often have the choice to apply between different travel plan:

• worldwide excluding USA, Canada
• worldwide including USA, Canada
• Australia, New-Zealand
• Europe.

For South Africa, as for any destination, travel insurance policy types are:

Travel insurance type	Explanation	Main features per type of travel policy
Single trip insurance	These travel insurance policies are for one-off holidays. You will be covered from the start of the journey until the end. You can decide the number of days you want to be covered for.	Covers for the period of the stay (can be up to 365 days) Often an age limit to apply for policy
Annual multi-trip insurance	These policies are made for frequent travellers going away for holidays, business trips or for any other reason several times a year. You would need to check whether it is more competitive to buy two or three single trip insurance policies or an annual multi-trip policy.	12 months policy Length of each trip usually limited to 31 days (but can vary from 10 days to 90) Age limit to apply for policy (66 years old on average)
Long stay and gap year insurance	These plans are made for students or any british resident wanting to explore the world, including for backpacking, gap year trips or for any other long stay reason.	Usually covers periods between 90 days for up to 18 months Age limit to apply for policy (from 16 to 45 only usually)

How much is travel insurance to South Africa?

For example, this is the cheapest price for a single trip policy of seven days (with an excess at £100):

Age	Single trip cover to South Africa
18 – 35	From £19.11
36 – 50	From £19.93
51 – 65	From £25.78
66 – 75	From £29.03

It is, however, quite difficult to give precise ranges of how much a travel insurance will cost you for South Africa, as prices are based on a wide range of criteria. It will mainly depend on:

• If you’re going for a single or annual multi-trip as mentioned above
• If you’re subscribing to upgrades such as cruise, business or gadget cover
• If you have pre-existing medical conditions
• The length of your stay in South Africa
• If you’re travelling alone, with your partner, a group or your family
• The financial limits you’d like to get in case of a claim
• The excess amount you’re willing to pay
• What will you be doing in South Africa (e.g. winter or extreme sports)?

What does your travel insurance for South Africa should cover?

Each travel insurance policy is different, since it is the insurer who determines the content of the contracts it offers: guarantees, compensation limits, deductibles, travel insurance prices, etc.

However, all contracts on the market must include at least the following guarantees, applicable in Europe and elsewhere abroad:

• Medical expenses: compensation by the insurer for your health expenses during your stay (consultation, analysis, emergency treatment, longer hospital stay, etc.).
• Repatriation assistance to the UK: financial and logistical support by a dedicated 24/7 team for your early return to your country of residence if it proves necessary.
• Trip cancellation and cover for delayed or missed departure: compensation if you need to cancel your trip for whatever reason or if you missed your departure.
• Personal liability: compensation for any damage or injury made to a third-party (consider adding it as extra if not included in standard cover).
• Baggage: compensation for any lost or theft of baggage while travelling (consider adding it as extra if not included in standard cover).

Most of the time, travel insurers offer different formulas. Cover types involved are usually the same, but the compensation limits and deductibles vary.

Main guarantees	Cover you should get for your trip to South Africa	Limit you should get for your trip to South Africa	Good to check
Medical travel insurance	Any emergency transport, medical procedures and treatments at the hospital 24/7 assistance team and helplines	£1 million limit on average	Are private or public hospitals included in your policy? Will there be advance fees? If you haven’t declared any pre-existing medical conditions or a pending diagnosis, any claim related to healthcare will be declared as invalidated by your insurer. Are dental emergency treatments included? Will any “accompanying person” fees be reimbursed?
Trip cancellation / curtailment	Illness, injury or even death of you or one of your relatives at the time of departure Very bad weather conditions at your destination Terrorist attack at your destination	£2000 limit minimum	Is it included as standard or as an option? Will you get compensation if you cancel your trip for “all justified reasons”? Which reasons exactly are included to get compensation for your trip cancellation?
Baggage	Compensation for baggage and belongings theft or loss up to the limit known No receipt required	£1500 limit minimum	Is it only valid during return transport or during the entire stay? Do you need the receipts for any belongings for baggage claims?
Missed departure, delay	Compensation if you miss your flight or train when it is beyond your control or if your journey is delayed	£500 limit minimum (£200 limit for delay)	Are all justified reasons for missed departure covered? How many hours delay to get compensation?
Repatriation	Cost of repatriation before or after your original ticket	Real fees	Is any transportation mode included (by alternative schedule flight or by air ambulance)?
Personal liability	Compensation for any damage or injury made to a third-party during your trip up to the limit known	£2 million limit on average	What is the limit by article and valuables (don’t focus on overall limit only)?
Legal expenses	Legal fees for claiming compensation to another person	£15000 limit on average	Does it cover any lawyer fees (including appointment fees)?

What are the nice-to-have features for your travel insurance to Europe?

Main guarantees	Cover you should get for your trip to South Africa	Limit you should get for your trip to South Africa	Good to check
Money and cash	Covers for loss or theft of money or equivalent such as cheques, pre-paid tickets	£500 for money limit minimum £200 for cash minimum	How long can you make a claim to the police to be covered? Is there a 24-hour claim limit?
Dental emergency	Covers for emergency dental care	£250 minimum	What is included in emergency dental care? Cosmetic will most of the time be excluded
Loss of passport or documentation	Covers additional fees such as accomodation or travel replacement as a result of loss of documentation	£250 minimum	How many nights are covered? Do you need receipts of any additional fees incurred?

Which upgrades could you add as extras for your travel insurance to South Africa?

Additionally, you may tailor your policy for your trip to South Africa area with optional extras such as:

• Business trip insurance for South Africa
• Sport, winter sport, extreme sport cover
• Schedule Airline Failure (at least £1500 covered)
• Gadget insurance
• Cruise cover
• Etc.

What does your travel insurance to South Africa not cover?

Most travel insurers will not give financial compensation for:

• Any claim made as a result of pre-medical condition or pending diagnosis undeclared at the time of purchase
• Any claim made as a result of you being under drugs or alcohol
• Difficulties due to natural disaster, war, civil unrest (watch out for strikes)
• Any claim made as a result of a terrorist attack (except if you took this cover as an option)
• Pregnancy and childbirth complications during travel

What else should you pay attention to while shopping around for travel insurance for South Africa?

While shopping around for travel insurance for your trip to South Africa, always pay attention to:

• The compensation amounts you will get for a claim by consulting our up-to-date reviews on each insurer (especially for medical expenses, trip cancellation, personal liability, baggage and personal belongings)
• The deductible amounts you’ll have to pay in case of claim (don’t forget that you’ll need to pay the excess on each claim)
• The exclusions you may have in your policy (strike, cancellation trip due to the carrier defaulting etc.)
• Coverages included in policies or available as upgrades (winter sports, business trip etc.)
• The claim process (100% online? How many days do you have to make a claim?)
• The maximum duration of each trip included as standard (at least 31 days)
• The upper age limit (if you are a senior travelling).

What should I know before travelling to South Africa?

Is South Africa safe to visit?

This is what the Foreign Travel Office writes about South Africa:

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all but essential travel to South Africa. This is due to the South African authorities announcing measures restricting individuals entering South Africa if they have come from various countries affected by coronavirus (COVID-19), including the United Kingdom. These measures will come in to effect as of 18 March, including a new requirement for British nationals to apply for a visa prior to travel. The South African government has said that the cancellation of visas announced by President Ramaphosa on 15 March 2020 does not apply to British Nationals already in South Africa. The South African government has indicated that those who are currently in South Africa having received a stamp on arrival allowing them to stay for 90 days do not need to apply for a visa.

The South African government has indicated that British nationals wishing to leave the country will still be able to do so after 18 March. However, you should speak to your airline or tour operator promptly for further information regarding return flights to the UK.

The South African government has indicated that those who are currently in South Africa on a work, study or other visa may remain under the terms of that visa. It is not clear whether they will be permitted to re-enter South Africa under the same visa, were they to leave. Ask your nearest South African Embassy or High Commission if you are unsure if this affects you.

Cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in South Africa. The South African authorities have introduced a number of measures to limit the spread of the virus.

South African Airways is undergoing a business rescue process resulting in changes to its international and domestic flight schedules and some cancellations. Check with the airline or your tour operator before travelling.

Over 430,000 British tourists visit South Africa each year.

Most visits are trouble-free, but a small number of British people encounter problems in South Africa. You should take sensible precautions to protect your safety.

There is a high level of crime including rape and murder in South Africa. Most violent crimes tend to occur in townships, isolated areas and away from the normal tourist destinations. However, armed robberies, including one leading to the death of a tourist, have taken place on Table Mountain in Cape Town in recent years.

South Africa has relaxed its requirements for travelling with children under the age of 18. Visa exempt children entering South Africa accompanied by an adult are required to present only a valid passport on arrival, regardless of whether the child is travelling with both parents, one parent, or an adult who is not a biological parent (for more information, please see the Immigration Act in conjunction with this advisory from the South African Department of Home Affairs). This includes children travelling as part of school groups.

There are different requirements for unaccompanied children entering South Africa. These are set out in this advisory from the South African Department of Home Affairs. If you have specific questions about these requirements, please consult your nearest South African High Commission or Embassy.

Contact your nearest South African High Commission or Embassy if you have any specific questions about your trip.

There have been incidents involving people being followed from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg to their destinations and then robbed, often at gunpoint. Be vigilant in and around the airport and when driving away.

There are regular protest marches, strike related demonstrations, and periodic incidents of public disorder across South Africa, which can become violent. These can occur anywhere across South Africa, sometimes at short notice. You should avoid areas where protests, demonstrations or marches are taking place, especially in city centres and townships. Don’t attempt to cross protester roadblocks as this could provoke a violent reaction. You should monitor local and social media for updates.

Beach conditions and local safety provisions vary considerably throughout the South African coastline and every year several people drown due to the strong sea currents.

Terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in South Africa.

British nationals are increasingly being targeted by scam artists. The scams come in many forms including romance and friendship, business ventures and work or employment opportunities. Scams can pose great financial risk to victims. The British High Commission and Consulate General will never contact members of the public regarding personal financial matters including on behalf of any UK banks or other financial institutions. You should to report these calls to the police.

If you’re abroad and you need emergency help from the UK government, contact the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission.

Take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before you travel.

How to contact the British Embassy in South Africa?

Depending on where you are located, you can contact:

	British High Commission, Pretoria
Address	British High Commission, Pretoria 255 Hill Street Arcadia Pretoria Gauteng 0002 South Africa
Phone (if you’re in South Africa)	24/7 Telephone – General and consular enquiries +27 12 421 7500 Telephone – Passport enquiries +44 (0) 300 222 0000 GMT: Monday to Thursday 6am to 3pm and Friday 6am to 10:30am
Phone (if you’re in the UK)	020 7008 1500
Email	www.gov.uk/contact-consulate-pretoria