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Travel insurance for South Africa

Travel insurance for South Africa

With 3 capital cities, 12 official languages and 22 national parks, South Africa is renowned for its great natural beauty and cultural diversity. 'The Rainbow Nation' as its known, is one of the most popular safari destinations in the world with a variety of adventurous experiences.

You can sample braai - South Africa's answer to the barbecue, or visit some of the famous vineyards the country has to offer. Whatever you decide to do, it's truly a bucket list holiday.

South Africa has a high crime rate, but taking time to research and plan your holiday can be key to a safe and stress free holiday. Travel insurance can over your belongings if they're stolen lost or damaged. It can also cover your medical bills if something happens to you.

Alvaro Iturmendi - Confused.com travel insurance expert

Reviewed by Alvaro Iturmendi Travel insurance expert 6 min read | Published 18/09/2024

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Important information

There are currently no FCDO warnings for South Africa*, but you should read advice for keeping safe before you travel. South Africa can be a very dangerous. There's risk of political tensions and disorder which can happen at short notice. It's important to do your research before travelling to stay safe. You can find a full list of travel and safety advice on the GOV.UK website.

*Correct as of September 2024

Do I need travel insurance for South Africa?

It's worth considering you buy a travel insurance policy before travelling to South Africa - even if it's not a legal requirement.

Unlike many other countries, there isn't a healthcare agreement between the UK and South Africa. So if you need medical cover, you’ll have to pay for it yourself - underlining the importance of travel insurance.

There are high crime rates across the country, so protection from theft is really important. Wildfires and flooding are a risk all year round, so there's an increased possibility of travel disruption compared to other countries.

Flights from the UK to South Africa can take at very least 11 hours, or longer depending on the destination and airline used. The longer flying times slightly increase the risk of delays while travelling between the UK and South Africa.

Choosing the right policy for your trip to South Africa

You'll need worldwide travel insurance for South Africa, but there's a variety of different policy types you can choose from. You should take into account your personal circumstances and the nature of your trip, that way you get the policy best for you.

So, what are your options?

Single-trip travel insurance

Perfect for once a year holidays and will likely be the most common choice for people travelling to South Africa.

Explore single trip travel insurance

Annual travel insurance

Annual or multi trip could save you money if you travel to the Rainbow Nation a number of times a year.

Explore annual travel insurance

Backpackers travel insurance

If you're travelling to multiple countries as part of a trip around Africa or backpacking around the world, this can cover you for longer stays.

Explore backpacker travel insurance

Family travel insurance

Could save you money if you're going away with the family, and can cover up to 2 adults and 8 children. Children don't normally have to live at the same address as the adults. It's a flexible policy that can make a trip to South Africa cheaper and easier.

Explore family travel insurance

What our travel insurance expert says

"South Africa offers a huge range of holiday types, from Safari and nature to beaches and cities. So depending on what you're doing make sure you have the right travel insurance. There'a a high standard of private medical facilities in South Africa, but it's expensive. And the cost of repatriation from such a long distance country could end up costing you a fortune.

There’s also high crime rates across the country and in lots of the main cities like Pretoria and Johannesburg. So making sure your belongings are covered should the worst happen is also vital."

Alvaro Iturmendi Travel insurance expert

What does travel insurance for South Africa cover?

It isn't uncommon for standard cover to vary between different insurers. The single and total cover amounts for your luggage could change depending on the travel insurance provider, for example.

What's covered:

Emergency medical treatment

If you fall ill suddenly or suffer an injury and need urgent medical treatment, you'll be covered.

Repatriation to the UK

Anyone named on the travel insurance policy can access immediate transportation back to the UK due to serious injury, illness or death.

Theft accidental damage or loss

If any of your luggage or personal belongings are stolen or damaged, you'll be covered. This is important if you're visiting a country with high crime rates, such as South Africa.

Travel disruption

Your trip could be disrupted due to bad weather, flooding or wildfires, so you can claim for delays.

Cancellation cover

If you need to cancel your trip unexpectedly due to injury, illness or bereavement, you covered up to a set amount.

What's usually not covered:

Travelling against FCDO advice

You won't be covered if you decide to travel against FCDO advice. This is also the case if you proceed to travel despite the occurrence of a 'known event' such as a natural disaster or a pandemic.

Undeclared pre-existing medical conditions

When you're applying for a travel insurance policy you must declare any medical conditions. If you don't, an insurer can reject any claims you make. You can still search for specialist policies that cover pre-existing medical conditions.

Extreme sports and activities

You may have cover to participate in certain sports or activities with standard travel insurance. But you'll likely need a specialist policy for riskier activities like rock climbing.

Incidents involving alcohol and drugs

If you have an accident resulting in injury under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you won't be covered.

Changing your mind

You can't claim if you simply decide against travelling. This is also the case if you don't leave yourself enough time to catch a flight, for example.

How much is travel insurance for South Africa?

Exactly how much you'll pay for a travel insurance policy can vary. Cost factors include your age, if you have any medical conditions, the length of your trip, and any activities you have planned. But as a general guide you could pay:

Policy type	Price
Single trip travel insurance	£10.43¹
Annual multi-trip	£26.50²
Backpacker	£95.98³

¹Cheapest single-trip policy for 7 days in South Africa, 30 year old with no medical conditions - Confused.com data September 2024.

²Cheapest worldwide annual policy (excluding US, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean), 30 year old with no medical conditions - Confused.com data September 2024.

³Cheapest worldwide backpacker policy (excluding US, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean), 30 year old with no medical conditions travelling for 3 months - Confused.com September 2024.

Medical care in South Africa

There is no agreement between the UK and South Africa to cover medical costs, treatment and repatriation. So you'll be liable for these costs if you don't have a travel insurance policy in place. A policy can cover these costs, it's certainly worth bearing in mind given the cost of private medical care in South Africa is very expensive.

A European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) are not valid outside of Europe so they won’t cover you in South Africa.

The FCDO has a list of South African medical facilities and doctors specifically recommended for British citizens who need care and treatment.

It's always worth checking for any vaccine requirements. Make sure you know of any vaccines you may need at least 8 weeks before you travel.

The emergency phone numbers are 112 from a mobile or 10177. If you're referred to a medical facility for treatment you should contact your insurance company ASAP.

Travel insurance for activities in South Africa

There are a host of adventurous activities you can book to make the most of your time in South Africa. A standard travel insurance policy may cover certain activities, but you might require a specialist policy depending on what you choose to book.

It depends if you're covered for a particular activity in the first instance, or if you require upgraded cover based on your needs. If in doubt, simply check with your insurer.

Golf travel insurance

There's a huge selection of stunning golf courses in the Rainbow Nation. The incredible scenery and weather make the perfect conditions for golfing. Standard travel insurance will cover a round or two as part of your holiday and other activities.

But if you’re planning a golfing holiday with your own clubs and equipment, you should consider specific golf travel insurance. This type of cover can protect you from theft of your clubs, hiring replacement clubs and missed green fees. It'll even save you from buying the clubhouse a round of drinks if you get a hole in one!

Activity and adventure travel insurance

With such a vast and varied landscape, South Africa is a thrill seeker's paradise. From hot air ballooning, cage diving in shark infested waters, to deep sea diving and climbing. If you’re planning on doing something outside of the odd activity such as snorkelling, then you will need extra cover.

There isn't a set list of what activities need extra cover, so check with your insurer if you’re planning on booking any activities. Not having the right cover in place could void your policy, meaning having to pay for medical care and treatment if you get injured. If you’re jumping into the sea, always ask for a life jacket when participating in water sports. There are lots of drownings each year due to sea currents.

Do I need a visa to travel to South Africa?

No, UK tourists don’t need a visa to travel to South Africa, as long as your stay isn’t longer than 90 days for tourism or business.

But if you’re travelling with children under the age of 17, you may require certain documents depending on your situation. You can find exactly what you need on the South African Department of Home Affairs website.

You can get more information on entry requirement and staying or working in South Africa on the UK government website.

Tips for travelling to South Africa

Time zone

Despite the long flight, South Africa is only 1 hour behind the UK!

Driving

Hiring a car is a great and reliable way of seeing the country. Public transport doesn’t have a great reputation in South Africa.

It can also be unsafe and dangerous with car jackings and scams very common throughout the country. Your UK car insurance won’t cover you driving in South Africa, you’ll normally only be covered for third party with the hire car firm, meaning only damage to other people's property or vehicles will be covered.

When driving you should always:

Stay on the M3 and N2 driving routes
Avoid the R300 driving route
Stay on ‘airport approach road’ (exit 16 on the N2) and avoid Borcherd’s Quarry Road leading to Nyanga
Make a journey plan in advance and discuss it with a trusted local contact
Avoid following GPS navigation routes that take you away from main roads

Public transport

Some modes of transport can reduce your risk of being scammed or a victim of violence.

Transport modes with a greater risk of theft, violence and unreliable service include:

Minibus taxis
Metrorail train services
Long-distance public train and coach services

Generally safer and more reliable transport includes:

Gautrain between Johannesburg, Pretoria and or Tambo International Airport

MyCiTi bus in Cape Town (central business district and Atlantic Seaboard)

Airport shuttle buses through internationally recognised hotels

Internationally recognised taxi apps where bookings are confirmed through the app

You should always research tips for staying safe in South Africa, you can access many on the UK government website. It's also worth checking out Lonely Planet's '10 things to know before travelling to South Africa'.