Tanzania Do You Need to Get Travel Insurance?

Well it is possible to travel without travel insurance however, it is recommended. Kibosho Tours can connect clients with a Flying Doctors service for their trip to Tanzania. Before traveling clients need to provide information about their insurance company, the contact details and policy numbers. This service of insurance is there to protect travelers medically. Otherwise travel insurance may be necessary to protect the clients financially in-case of theft or loss / damages to property. This should be obtained from country of origin and Kibosho Tours will not be responsible from matters arising in the subject discussed above.

What Insurance may cover?

• Trip cancellation and interruption
• Travel delays
• Loss, theft or damage to baggage
• Baggage delays
• Medical expenses
• Emergency medical transportation
• Collision damage for rental cars

Most travel insurance companies offer comprehensive policies, the price of which depends on the total cost of your trip and your age.

When to get Travel Insurance?

It's best to buy travel insurance within seven days of paying the deposit on your trip. This way you can get insured for your trip deposit and financial default by airlines and safari operators, as well as preexisting medical conditions. Purchasing travel insurance when you book your trip covers you in case you get sick or injured before the departure date, or if one of the companies you are planning to travel with folds or defaults. Why Get Travel Insurance? Unexpected Injuries - in case you get hurt or sick along the way Comprehensive insurance will cover anything from minor injuries and the flu to more serious accidents that may require time in hospital. In the case of serious injuries an early flight back home may even be required, which is when you really cannot afford to be without comprehensive cover. When it comes to accidents that might happen during adventure activities, the expenses can be even higher. These expenses may be higher due to the nature of the injuries sustained, or because of the remote areas adventure activities typically take place in. It is worth checking that your insurance policy covers all of the outdoor and adventure activities you are planning to do on your safari. The risk of more expensive medical and emergency evacuation costs is especially relevant when traveling in Africa, where you often find yourself long distances away from proper medical facilities. Medical evacuations often require jet flights with on-board doctors - all of which can run into thousands of dollars in expenses. Unforeseen Traveling Expenses Comprehensive travel insurance will cover you for a wide range of eventualities, ranging from flight and baggage delays to return flights for a close relative's funeral. Having travel insurance means that you won't be stuck with your travel plans if things change or go wrong along the way.

Check your Credit Card Cover

Often clients are covered to a certain extent if they book flights with their Credit Cards, but this cover is usually limited. It is vital that you ask your Credit Card Company the following questions:

• Is comprehensive cover provided?
• What is the duration of the cover?
• Are there any excess amounts that you will have to pay?
• Who do you contact in the case of an emergency?

It is recommended that you take out additional cover if booking Travel Insurance through your Credit Card Company. Be sure to ask your Credit Card Company about their policy regarding this additional cover.

Why Medical Aid is Not Enough?

Unfortunately, medical aid just doesn't cover it when you are traveling in Africa.

• Most medial aids will only cover you for limited medical expenses.
• Medical aid does not cover for cancellation, personal accidents and baggage loss etc.
• Most medial aids will insist that you pay first (up front) and claim later.
• If you do not have a high-end medical aid, several medical aid companies will deduct costs from your medical savings account.

What isn't covered with Comprehensive Insurance?

Travel insurance does not always cover political conflicts (war-related events) and threats from terrorism, although some policies do. These are incidents that you can ask your tour operator about to check if cancelled trips would be refunded and postponed trips arranged without extra charges. More about Medical Evacuation Most travel insurance companies require pre-evacuation authorization, which can be difficult, if not impossible, to arrange when you are in remote bush locations where there are no telephones. Check with the insurance company whether authorization is required before medical evacuation, so that you can find out how to deal with this clause and work around it in a worst case scenario.

It's a good idea to sign up with a company that provides assistance with medical evacuations, particularly if you are traveling to remote areas and participating in high risk activities. In case of a medical emergency that requires an evacuation from a remote area, Kibosho Tours (based on special request made by client before the intended itinerary in Tanzania with Kibosho Tours) with assistance of a Flying Doctors service, will send in a medical team and an aircraft which can be converted into an airborne intensive care unit to evacuate you to Nairobi from where you will be transported by an ambulance to a hospital in Nairobi (the Flying Doctors service nor Kibosho Tours do not cover the cost of hospitalization) – Please contact us for more details.