We are a tour operator, not insurance advisers, so treat this as a checklist rather than advice. But we have watched enough people discover a gap in their cover at the wrong moment to think it is worth writing down.
Do you actually need travel insurance for Tanzania?
Yes, and more so than for an ordinary holiday. You are a long way from home, medical care that meets what you are used to may mean evacuation, and the trip itself represents money that is committed well in advance. This is the trip to insure properly.
What is the clause that catches Kilimanjaro climbers?
Altitude. A great many standard travel policies exclude trekking above a certain height, and Kilimanjaro is well above the line that most of them draw. People assume that because it is a walk with no ropes it counts as hiking. Insurers do not always agree.
Read the wording, find the altitude limit, and if the summit is above it, buy the extension or a specialist policy. Do this before you pay your balance, not the week before you fly.
What else should the policy cover?
- Emergency evacuation and repatriation. The expensive part, and the reason to have cover at all.
- Cancellation and curtailment. Trips are booked months ahead and life interferes.
- Baggage and delay. Bags do go missing on the way here, and hiring a full set of mountain gear is a real cost.
- Your existing medical conditions. Declare them. An undeclared condition is the most common reason a claim fails.
When should you buy it?
When you pay your deposit, not when you pack. Cancellation cover only does anything if it exists before the thing you need to cancel for happens.
What do we need from you?
Bring the policy number and the insurer’s emergency telephone number, and leave a copy with someone at home. If something goes wrong on the mountain, your guide will act first and ask about paperwork afterwards, but the paperwork still has to exist.
If you are unsure whether your cover reaches the summit, send us the wording and we will tell you what we read in it, then you can check with your insurer.
