Safari, Planning
Key Considerations for Safari Travel Insurance
When selecting travel insurance for an African or Tanzanian safari, prioritize the following features:
1. Medical Coverage and Emergency Evacuation: Given the remote locations of many safari destinations, ensure your policy covers substantial medical expenses and includes provisions for emergency medical evacuations, such as airlifts from the bush to the nearest hospital.
2. Trip Cancellation and Interruption: Look for policies that offer reimbursement for non-refundable expenses if unforeseen circumstances force you to cancel or cut short your trip.
3. Baggage and Personal Effects: Safeguard your belongings against loss, theft, or damage during your journey.
4. Coverage for Safari Activities: Confirm that the policy explicitly includes coverage for safari-related activities, as some insurers might classify them as higher-risk.
Recommended Travel Insurance Providers
Several insurers offer policies tailored to the needs of safari travelers:
Big Cat Travel Insurance: Specializes in safari coverage, offering up to £10 million for medical expenses, including emergency evacuations.
World Nomads: Known for adventure travel coverage.
InsureMyTrip: Offers tailored policies for African travel.
InsureandGo: Provides automatic coverage for over 50 activities, including safaris, ensuring protection for medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and more.
Staysure: Offers comprehensive policies with no upper age limit, covering medical expenses, cancellations, and baggage, suitable for travelers to Africa.
Travel Guard (AIG): Strong in trip interruption and cancellation coverage.
What about Insolvency and Trip Protection?
Travelers, especially from the UK, often consider ATOL protection essential due to concerns over insolvency and financial safety. It’s important to clarify what ATOL covers:
ATOL specifically protects you from losing money or becoming stranded abroad if your UK travel agent or flight-inclusive tour operator goes bankrupt.
However, if you book directly with a Tanzanian operator and they fail to deliver the trip without going bankrupt, ATOL protection does not apply. ATOL protection applies only when booking through ATOL-licensed UK-based agents or packages that include flights from the UK.
On the other hand, purchasing a robust comprehensive travel insurance policy, along with using credit card payment (which provides chargeback rights), offers substantial protection for direct bookings:
Comprehensive Travel Insurance typically covers:
Trip cancellations or interruptions due to illness, injury, or supplier insolvency (if explicitly included).
Medical emergencies, evacuation, lost baggage, delays, and trip abandonment.
Credit Card Payments offer additional consumer protection through chargebacks, enabling refunds in cases of non-delivery of promised services.
Payment Structures for Tanzanian Safari Operators
Understanding the typical payment structures when booking a safari in Tanzania can help set appropriate expectations:
Reservation Deposits: To confirm bookings, safari operators often require an initial deposit ranging from 10% to 40% of the total trip cost. This deposit is used to secure accommodations and other services.
Balance Payments: The remaining balance is usually due closer to the departure date, often 20 days before arrival or upon arrival, depending on the operator’s policies. Payments can be made via bank transfer, credit card, or other secure methods.
Credit Card Surcharges: Many operators apply a surcharge of approximately 3.5% to 5% for credit card payments to cover processing fees. Some travelers opt for bank transfers to avoid these additional costs.
Cost Comparison: Tanzania Safari for Two People
When planning a safari in Tanzania, the cost can vary significantly depending on whether you book through a travel agent or directly with a local Tanzanian tour operator.
Below is a comparison using exactly same itineraries and accommodation details.
Example 1: Mid-Range Tanzania Safari (10 days, Northern Circuit)
UK or USA based travel agent - USD 7271 per person (shared safari)
Local Tanzanian Tour operator - USD 5500 per person (private safari)
Example 2: Premium Luxury Tanzania Safari (10 days, Northern Circuit)
UK or USA based travel agent - about USD 16,000 per person (shared safari)
Local Tanzanian Tour operator - about USD 11,000 per person (private safari)
Why is there such a significant price difference?
Americas, UK or Europe based travel agents subcontract to local Tanzanian tour operators. Consequently, travelers booking via these travel agents pay a considerable premium, frequently between 25%–40% more for identical itineraries and accommodations, and sometimes even up to 50%–70% higher for high-end luxury safaris.
The primary reasons for this difference include:
• Middleman Markups: UK agents must cover operational expenses, advertising costs, and their own profit margins on top of local tour operators’ prices.
• Limited Customization: travel agent based packages typically offer shared vehicles and rigid schedules provided by the accommodations, whereas direct booking with Tanzanian operators provides customized private safaris.
• Payment Structure and Deposits: Tanzanian operators typically require a 20%–40% deposit upfront, primarily to reserve popular safari accommodations. These lodges and tented camps, especially in peak months (June–July), are often booked months in advance. The remaining payment is usually due 2–4 weeks before arrival, significantly reducing financial risk to travelers. In comparison, a western travel agent mostly asks for 100% upfront payment. While paying by credit card incurs a 3.5%–5% surcharge, this is standard practice in Tanzania due to slim profit margins (just 10%-15%) in the industry.
Reputation and Reliability: The Real Assurance
Ultimately, choosing a reputable and reliable Tanzanian tour operator is the best protection against trip disruptions and financial loss. From extensive firsthand experience working with many safari companies in Tanzania —both large and small—our team has witnessed that established local operators deeply value their reputations and often go to great lengths to resolve issues, even if they incur additional expenses themselves.
For instance, we’ve seen smaller operators pay to rebook missed flights for clients due to delays caused by their drivers, prioritizing customer satisfaction above short-term profit. Conversely, budget operators offering unrealistic low-cost packages have been known to cut corners—sometimes failing to cover basic park fees, leading to compromised safari experiences. Travelers can independently verify operator reputations through platforms like TripAdvisor, Reddit, or other review sites.
Final Thoughts and Recommendations
Booking directly with a trusted, well-established local Tanzanian safari operator offers significant savings, greater flexibility, and an authentic, private safari experience.
Supplementing this booking with a comprehensive travel insurance policy ensures financial protection against most potential issues, including cancellations, medical emergencies, and some cases of insolvency (depending on the insurance choosen).
If opting for ATOL protection through UK agents, travelers should expect to pay a substantial premium without guaranteed superior service or experience, considering the same local operators often ultimately run the safari. If money is not a concern, and you want to be 200% sure about everything, then by all means take such an option.
This detailed comparison provides transparency, allowing travelers to choose the most informed, secure, and cost-effective way to experience an unforgettable Tanzania safari holiday.
