Travel Insurance

We require all our guests to have comprehensive travel insurance or the financial means to fully cover any expenses in the event of a medical emergency, trip interruption, or loss.

We recognise that the wide range of available travel insurance policies can feel overwhelming and complex. While we also understand that cost may be a consideration when planning a holiday, it is essential to be aware that medical evacuation and private healthcare in Africa can be prohibitively expensive, with hospital admissions potentially exceeding USD 50,000.

To assist you in making an informed decision, we have compiled a Travel Insurance advisory, which outlines key considerations when selecting a travel insurance policy.

Wilderness Travel Insurance Advisory

Overview

At Governors’, we understand that unexpected events such as illness, accidents, or flight disruptions can occur while travelling. Our dedicated in-house incident management team, Wilderness24, is on hand to support guests in the event of any unforeseen challenges during their time with us. Private medical care in Africa is of a high standard but can be costly, similarly a trip interruption would be expensive. To ensure we are able to assist you effectively in the event of a medical emergency, we require all guests to have comprehensive travel insurance in place prior to travel.

We also recognise that choosing the right insurance policy involves several factors, from affordability to the level of support provided. Drawing on our experience assisting guests who have required medical evacuation or hospitalisation, we encourage you to carefully chose and review your policy to ensure it offers sufficient coverage and avoids limitations that could impact your care.

Governors’ Camp Collection is not an insurer, underwriter or financial institution and the following advice is based on our experience and in collaboration with underwriting and insurance experts.

Advice when seeking Travel Insurance

All travellers should hold travel insurance with sufficient coverage for their individual risk profile and nature of travel. This coverage should be adequate to cover the cost of treatment within the country of travel, or potential onward evacuation to South Africa, and associated hospitalisation costs. Alternatively, travellers must be prepared to personally fund emergency medical support if necessary. Key considerations when choosing a policy:

  • Choose a reputable insurance provider. See our list of recommended insurers further down.
  • Avoid ‘pay & claim’ policies unless you are financially able to pay upfront and submit a claim afterward. Note that most travel insurance policies currently default to a ‘pay & claim’ model.
  • If possible, opt for a ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ (CFAR) benefit.
  • If you are offered a packaged policy by a travel agent, tour operator, or bank, ensure the cover is appropriate for your personal medical risk profile and trip requirements. Pay particular attention to any limitations or exclusions regarding:
    • Chronic or pre-existing medical conditions
    • Age restrictions (typically for travellers over 65 years)
    • Adventure activities (e.g., hot air ballooning, quad biking, scuba diving)

If any of these limitations apply to you, consider obtaining gap cover to supplement your policy.

Personal responsibilities

  • You are personally responsible for reviewing all policy exclusions, limits, and claims procedures. Failure to do so may result in delays in emergency support, rejected claims, or being held liable for significant medical expenses or legal action by service providers.
  • Ensure that your travel insurance details and emergency contact (next of kin) information are easily accessible and shared with your travel agent or tour operator. This is vital in case you are unable to activate the policy yourself during an emergency.
  • You are responsible for submitting all claims for reimbursement in accordance with your insurer’s process. Travel agents, tour operators, embassies, or third parties cannot submit claims on your behalf.

Minimum cover guidance

We cannot advise on specific minimum cover amounts, as they depend on individual circumstances and potential risks. The following is provided as a general guideline. Please consult your broker or your country’s insurance association for specific recommendations:

  • Medical expenses (including evacuation, treatment, hospitalisation, and repatriation): USD 1 million (some associations recommend USD 5 million, although we have not encountered claims of this magnitude).
  • Personal belongings: At least USD 1,500, with higher amounts for valuable items.
  • Personal liability: USD 1 million.
  • Cancel for any Reason (CFAR) cover: Equivalent to the total cost of the holiday, including airfares, if affordable.

Travel insurance products

Selecting a travel insurance product is a personal decision. While we cannot endorse or advise on a specific product, we recognise that the choices can be overwhelming. To assist, we have compiled a list of specialised travel insurance providers known to offer coverage suited to travel within Africa:

SATIBGo: https://satibgo.satib.co.za/?reference=11788

Faye: https://www.withfaye.com/

AIG Travel Guard: https://www.aig.com/home/risk-solutions/individual/travel-guard

World Nomads: https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-insurance

You can also review licensed, reputable insurers via your national insurance regulatory body, such as: