Kilimanjaro Travel Insurance: Everything You Need to Know
Due to the high altitude, remote location, and demanding conditions of a Kilimanjaro trek, travel insurance is strongly recommended for all participants.
A trip to Africa is a significant investment and having the right insurance policy can
help mitigate the risk you face should something go wrong.
Travel insurance may cover you in case of:
- unexpected trip cancellation
- trip interruption
- missed flight connections
- travel delays
- lost baggage
- other unforeseen circumstances, such as injury or family illness or emergency medical evacuation
When you take part in adventure activities, you may need specialized insurance.
Your travel insurance should cover any medical costs you could incur when travelling overseas. For a Kilimanjaro climb you need to make sure it protects you for medical evacuation as well.
You’ll have to pay for unexpected injuries and doctor appointments, as well as emergency evacuation costs if you have to be evacuated off the mountain. Those circumstances are rare, but they do happen and you need the right insurance.
When buying travel insurance, it is crucial to understand exactly what it covers and what it does not cover. Basic insurance will cover the basics, like trip cancellation, missing bags, and delayed flights.
But if you want coverage beyond that (medical expenditures, evacuation, etc.) then you’ll probably have to get a higher-tier policy.
Whichever policy you opt for it’s crucial that it also includes high altitude activities. That is not always the case with all insurance plans, so make sure to enquire for it specifically.
If you are climbing Kilimanjaro, inform your insurance carrier that you are not doing technical mountaineering, but high altitude trekking to 6,000m.
We recommend looking at Global Rescue and see whether their policies work well for you.
Disclaimer: we are not insurance experts. We do not give insurance advice so please think carefully about your individual situation when you acquire insurance.
Kilimanjaro Medical Evacuation Coverage
You might want to consider a stand-alone medical evacuation plan to ensure that you are insured for medical evacuation to your native country.
This is in addition to your normal travel policy that covers you for high altitude trekking.
Companies like Global Rescue or Ripcord specialise in catastrophe recovery, in case you need a medical emergency airlift evacuation home.
You don’t need supplemental medical evacuation coverage, and you should assess what makes sense for your particular situation and what your travel policy covers.
Does Health Insurance cover me for Kilimanjaro?
For adventurous activities outside the UK, you won’t be covered by most ordinary health insurance policies. It surely will not include lost baggage or trip abandonment or cancellations.
Read the small print!
Read your policy carefully to see exactly what is covered and where you may be liable. Don’t wait until you need to make a claim to be clear about what’s covered — and what isn’t.
Failure to declare pre-existing medical issues may lead to voiding of your insurance.
Global Rescue Travel Insurance Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does Global Rescue have any restrictions?
Global Rescue provides one of the most complete travel protection memberships available.
Membership advantages are unlimited for activity, country of residency or mileage-from-home. Our services go with you anywhere except U.S. State Department combat zones and travel to the Polar Region above the 80th Parallel North or below the 60th Parallel South.
If you’re heading up in the mountains, our High-Altitude Evacuation Package offers medical transport services to members who go above 15,000 feet or 4,600 meters at any time during their trip (other than by aeroplane) and need emergency transfer due to injury or illness.
2. What is field rescue, and do I need it?
If you are unable to aid yourself, emergency field rescue is the care provided from the site of illness or injury to the nearest medical institution. This is a crucial service for all those heading into the bush. Global Rescue pioneered in field rescue worldwide.
3. How do I contact Global Rescue in an emergency?
Whatever the case is, emergency or otherwise, you dial one number and one number only: +1 617-459-4200. This is the number to program into your mobile or sat phone, but you can also reach us using the messaging option of the My Global Rescue app.
4. If I need to be rescued, should I arrange my own evacuation?
No. In the event of an issue, please call Global Rescue and we will offer the essential services from start to end (if you are incapacitated, you can have a member of your team call us). No charge to the member up to $500,000 if Global Rescue arranges and/or executes the rescue and the Member Services Agreement criteria are satisfied. If you organise your own rescue, we cannot repay members.
5. Will Global Rescue get me home if I’m hurt or injured?
Membership services from Global Rescue: Medical transport to your home hospital of choice if you are hospitalised as an in-patient 100+ miles from home and need further hospital care.
6. What if my insurance offers medical evacuation services?
With a regular insurance company you would have to arrange your own medical transport and then file the claim for reimbursement. If you are a Global Rescue member, just call our medical and security personnel and we will make all the transportation arrangements and pay the associated costs (medical up to $500,000, security up to $100,000) if an evacuation is required.
7. Do Global Rescue’s services include COVID-19?
If members have COVID-19 related questions, or if they get the virus while travelling, our services apply. We treat COVID like we would any other condition.
8. Is Global Rescue only for emergencies?
No. In addition to several emergency services, Global Rescue provides services for non-emergency scenarios that include: 24/7/365 medical advice services, visa and passport issues, translation, legal locators, real-time event notifications and telehealth.
Disclaimer: Kilimanjaro Trekking Services Co. staff are not insurance experts. We do not give insurance advice, please consider your own situation carefully when you purchase insurance.