Why Choose Chapka?

Planning a safari with Tanzania Specialist? We partner with Chapka to offer travel insurance tailored to adventurous journeys across Africa. Whether you travel to Tanzania or Zanzibar, Chapka protects you against unexpected medical expenses, trip cancellations, lost baggage, and more.

Below you’ll find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about Chapka Travel Insurance.

Ready to protect your safari? Get your Chapka quote here.

Chapka offers travel insurance tailored to international travelers. Their policies provide coverage for unexpected medical costs, trip cancellations, lost luggage, and other unforeseen travel issues so that you can enjoy your safari with greater peace of mind.

Tanzania Specialist recommends Chapka because of its extensive coverage for adventurous trips, including safaris, combined with 24/7 emergency assistance.

The Cap Explorer policy is a great fit for safari holidays, with coverage for essential situations such as medical evacuation, trip cancellation, and lost or delayed baggage.

Travel insurance is not mandatory for most safari destinations in Africa. However, it’s highly recommended and may be required by certain lodges or tour operators. As medical facilities in remote safari regions are often limited, the cost of emergency medical evacuation can easily amount to tens of thousands of euros. Without the right insurance, you would be responsible for these expenses yourself.

For that reason, we see comprehensive travel insurance as an important part of every safari holiday.

The Cap Explorer policy provides coverage for trips of up to 60 consecutive days. Cancellation coverage starts as soon as you take out the policy and remains valid until your departure. All other coverage, including medical expenses, assistance, baggage, and personal liability, applies from the day your trip begins until the return date stated in your travel booking.

If you travel to the airport by car, the assistance coverage also starts up to 48 hours before your departure.

Getting Started

New to Chapka? Find out who is eligible for coverage, when to take out your policy, and everything you need to know before arranging your travel insurance.

We recommend taking out your travel insurance as soon as you book your safari, or at the latest before your tour operator’s cancellation fees come into effect. Keep in mind that cancellation coverage starts from the date you purchase the policy, not from the date you booked your trip. Arranging your insurance early means you’re protected sooner.

To qualify for cancellation coverage, you must take out the policy within 48 hours of paying your first deposit. If you need to make a claim, Chapka will verify this using the payment date shown on your invoice. Cover is also not available if your departure is less than 10 days away at the time of subscription.

If you booked your international flights before confirming your safari with us, they need to be added to your Chapka policy within 48 hours of booking to be covered for cancellation. Unfortunately, there are no exceptions to this requirement. A practical option is to arrange two separate policies: one within 48 hours of booking your flights and another within 48 hours of confirming your safari. This ensures each part of your trip is covered correctly.

If you later add accommodation, a Zanzibar extension, or any other travel arrangements, you can contact Chapka by email or phone to update the insured amount.

If you’re unsure which option is right for you, get in touch with our team, and we’ll be happy to help.

The Chapka Cap Explorer policy is available to residents of the European Union, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Andorra, and Monaco. Unfortunately, it’s not available to residents of French Polynesia. Eligibility is based on your country of permanent residence rather than your nationality.

If you’re unsure whether you qualify, you can contact Chapka directly or get in touch with our team for advice.

Yes. Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, so your stay is covered under the Chapka Cap Explorer policy. If you arrange your safari and your Zanzibar beach holiday separately, you can take out an individual policy for each booking, provided each policy is purchased within 48 hours of the corresponding payment. If you add extra travel components later, you can also contact Chapka directly to update your insured amount.

Medical Coverage & Expenses

A safari often takes you deep into Africa’s remote wilderness, far from major medical facilities. With the right travel insurance, you can travel with greater confidence, knowing you’ll have support if something unexpected happens during your trip.

Chapka provides cover for medical and surgical expenses if you suffer a serious illness or injury during your trip. This includes:

  • Consultations with doctors and medical specialists;
  • Prescribed medication;
  • Hospitalization and nursing care;
  • Emergency dental treatment up to 300 EUR (approximately 345 USD);
  • Any other medically necessary treatment related to your condition.

If you become ill or are injured while on safari, Chapka helps cover the costs of essential medical treatment, hospital care, prescribed medication, and other eligible healthcare expenses. For trips to Africa, medical expenses are covered up to 200,000 EUR (approximately 230,000 USD per person). A 30 EUR (approximately 35 USD) excess applies to each claim.

Yes. Hospital treatment following a serious illness or injury during your safari is covered, subject to the medical expenses limits outlined above.

If you’re admitted to the hospital, you must contact the Chapka assistance team within 24 hours of your admission. If your hospital stay lasts longer than three consecutive days, Chapka can also arrange for a close family member or friend to travel to be with you.

Pre-existing medical conditions are generally not covered. However, if an existing condition suddenly leads to an unexpected and unforeseen acute complication during your trip, the resulting medical expenses and assistance may still be covered under the policy.

For trip cancellation, any illness or injury that was diagnosed, treated, or resulted in hospitalization between the date you booked your trip and the date you purchased your policy is excluded from coverage. If you’re unsure how a specific medical condition may affect your coverage, we recommend contacting Chapka before taking out the policy.

Cancellation Coverage

Safaris are often booked months before departure, so it’s worth protecting your travel investment from the start. Cancellation coverage helps reduce the financial impact of unexpected events before you leave and provides valuable protection if your travel plans change unexpectedly.

If you have to cancel your safari for a covered reason, Chapka can reimburse your cancellation costs up to 10,000 EUR (approximately 11,500 USD) per person and 40,000 EUR (approximately 46,000 USD) per insured event. You should inform your travel provider as soon as the event preventing your departure occurs and notify Chapka within five business days afterward.

The amount reimbursed is based on the cancellation charges that apply on the date the covered event occurs. For this reason, it’s important to cancel your trip as soon as possible rather than delaying.

The policy includes coverage for 37 different cancellation scenarios. Some of the reasons most relevant to safari travelers are:

  • Serious illness or injury affecting you, your traveling companion, or an immediate family member;
  • Death of a close family member or relative;
  • Redundancy, provided the process had not started before you purchased the policy;
  • Unexpected pregnancy complications or miscarriage;
  • Tourist visa refusal, provided your application was submitted on time and you have not previously been refused;
  • Theft of essential travel documents within 48 hours before departure;
  • Significant damage to your home requiring your presence;
  • Cancellation of your outbound flight by the airline when no suitable alternative is available within 24 hours;
  • A terrorist attack or natural disaster at your destination within 30 days before departure;
  • A government travel ban or WHO travel restriction introduced after your booking was made;
  • Mandatory quarantine before departure.

An excess applies to each insured person. Depending on the reason for cancellation, this ranges from 50 EUR (approximately 58 USD) to 20% of the total claim amount.

The examples above highlight the cancellation reasons that are most relevant to safari travelers. Please refer to the policy wording for the complete list of covered events, exclusions, and applicable excesses.

Yes, as long as the illness was not known, diagnosed, or under treatment when you purchased your policy. If you become ill after taking out the insurance and can no longer travel, Chapka can reimburse your cancellation costs, provided you submit a medical certificate from your doctor.

Any illness that was diagnosed, treated, or resulted in hospitalization between the date you booked your trip and the date you took out the policy is not covered.

Chapka provides cover for both domestic and international flights, as long as they were included in your insurance when you purchased the policy. If your flights were booked separately and not added to your policy within 48 hours of booking, delays or cancellations relating to those flights may not be covered.

If your scheduled flight is delayed by more than three hours (or more than six hours for a charter flight), Chapka can reimburse reasonable additional expenses, such as meals, accommodation, and local transport, up to 152 EUR (approximately 175 USD) per person.

Should your flight be cancelled by the airline and no suitable alternative is provided, Chapka can reimburse your prepaid travel costs up to 2,000 EUR (approximately 2,300 USD) per person. If you miss your flight because of an event beyond your control, the policy can also cover the cost of a replacement ticket to the same destination.

Safari Activities

Whether you head out on game drives, join guided bush walks, or enjoy other safari experiences, it’s important to know what your travel insurance covers. Here you’ll find more information about the activities included and any conditions that may apply.

Most standard safari activities are covered under the Chapka Cap Explorer policy.

For more specialized activities, such as walking safaris, domestic bush flights, and hot air balloon safaris, we recommend checking your cover directly with Chapka before you travel, as these activities are not specifically mentioned in the standard policy wording.

Most recreational sports and adventure activities are covered under the sports and leisure third-party liability section of the policy, with coverage of up to 150,000 EUR (approximately 173,000 USD) per insured event.

Activities such as hunting, professional sports, and competitive training are not covered. If you intend to participate in specialized or higher-risk activities beyond a standard safari itinerary, we recommend reviewing the policy conditions before your trip.

Baggage Protection

Take your safari with confidence, knowing your personal belongings are protected. Find out what cover is available if your luggage is delayed, lost, damaged, or stolen while you’re travelling.

Yes. Chapka provides coverage for loss, theft, and accidental damage to your personal belongings up to 2,000 EUR (approximately 2,300 USD) per person, per trip. This includes valuable items commonly taken on safari, such as cameras, binoculars, laptops, photography equipment, and mobile phones. A 30 EUR (approximately 35 USD) excess applies to each claim.

Please note that theft from a vehicle is only covered if the vehicle was locked and properly secured, and the incident took place between 7 am and 9 pm local time.

If your baggage is lost by the airline or stolen during your trip, follow these steps:

  • Report the incident immediately to the appropriate authority: the airline or carrier if your baggage is lost, or the local police within 24 hours if it has been stolen. For theft claims, only the items listed in the official police report can be considered;
  • If your luggage is delayed by more than 24 hours after arrival, Chapka will reimburse the cost of essential replacement items, such as clothing and toiletries, up to 152 EUR (approximately 175 USD) per person;
  • Submit your claim online via chapkadirect.com/sinistre within five business days of returning home, making sure to include all required documentation and original receipts.

Yes. Cameras, photography and recording equipment, laptops, mobile phones, and other electronic devices are considered valuables under the policy. These items are covered as part of the overall baggage limit of 2,000 EUR (approximately 2,300 USD), with a maximum of 50% of that amount (1,000 EUR, approximately 1,150 USD) available for valuables.

Jewelry, watches, and precious stones are treated as ‘precious objects.’ They’re only covered against theft if you’re wearing them or if they have been stored in your room safe or the hotel’s safe, supported by a receipt.

Passports, credit cards, cash, and travel tickets are not covered under the baggage section of the policy.

Emergency Assistance

Whether you travel through remote safari destinations or move between lodges and camps, unexpected situations can occur. Discover what assistance Chapka offers and how to get help quickly if you need support during your trip.

Yes. Chapka’s 24/7 emergency assistance service, provided by AXA Assistance, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Whether you need urgent medical advice, emergency evacuation, or support during an unexpected situation abroad, help is always available. You can contact the assistance team at any time by calling +33 1 70 79 07 69.

In the event of an emergency, contact the AXA Assistance team straight away by calling +33 1 70 79 07 69. The emergency helpline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Before you call, make sure you have the following information ready:

  • Your Chapka policy number;
  • Your full name and a contact telephone number;
  • A brief description of the assistance you require.

If possible, call +33 1 70 79 07 69 before receiving medical treatment. Chapka requires you to contact the assistance team in advance so they can approve the treatment and issue a case number, which is needed for reimbursement. If you’re faced with a genuine medical emergency and cannot call beforehand, seek medical care immediately and contact Chapka as soon as you’re able.

Make sure you keep all receipts, prescriptions, and medical documents, as these will be required when submitting your claim.

Yes. If a licensed search and rescue team is required to locate and evacuate you from a national park, remote wilderness area, or another isolated location, Chapka provides cover for these costs up to 4,600 EUR (approximately 5,300 USD) per person.

This benefit can be especially valuable when traveling in remote safari regions. Be sure to keep all original receipts and supporting documentation, as they will be needed when submitting your claim.

Claims Process

If the unexpected happens during your trip, making a claim is straightforward when you know the right steps to follow. Find out how the claims process works, which documents you’ll need and the deadlines for submitting your claim.

For medical emergencies or situations requiring assistance, contact the emergency assistance team first by calling +33 1 70 79 07 69. For all other claims, including trip cancellation, baggage, flight delays and personal liability, submit your claim online via chapkadirect.com/sinistre.

You’ll need to:

  • Sign in using your policy details;
  • Provide a description of what happened and the claim you’re making;
  • Upload all required supporting documents and original receipts.

You can also contact the claims department by phone on +44 20 3808 7722.

The exact documents you need will vary depending on the type of claim, but in most cases you should provide:

  • Your policy number and insurance certificate;
  • Original receipts for all expenses you’re claiming;
  • For medical claims: prescriptions, medical certificates confirming the diagnosis, the date, and nature of the illness or injury, and hospital admission records, where applicable;
  • For cancellation claims: a medical certificate issued by your doctor (if the claim is illness-related), together with proof of the cancellation charges from your travel provider;
  • For baggage theft: a police report submitted within 24 hours of the incident;
  • For flight delays or cancellations: written confirmation from the airline or carrier explaining the reason for the disruption and the length of the delay.

Report your claim as soon as possible after the incident. The required timeframe depends on the type of claim:

  • Cancellation claims: notify Chapka within five business days after informing your travel provider of the cancellation;
  • Baggage claims: submit your claim within five business days of returning home;
  • Medical assistance: contact the assistance team immediately, or as soon as possible if an emergency prevented you from calling beforehand.

Submitting your claim within the required deadlines and providing all supporting documents will help avoid unnecessary delays in processing.

AXA Partners aims to confirm receipt of your claim within ten working days and to provide a final response within a maximum of two months. More complex claims may require additional time to assess.

Submitting all required documents at the start of the process can help speed up your claim. Missing information or incomplete documentation is one of the most common reasons for delays.

Support

We’re here to support you every step of the way. Find out who to contact if you need help before, during or after your trip.

If you need urgent medical assistance during your trip, always contact Chapka directly at +33 1 70 79 07 69. Their assistance team is equipped to provide immediate medical support and coordinate any necessary logistics. For questions about your policy, coverage, or the claims process, Chapka should also be your first point of contact.

If you want advice on whether the Chapka policy is suitable for your safari or have questions before booking, you’re always welcome to contact Tanzania Specialist. We’ll be happy to help you choose the right option.

Disclaimer

This page provides a summary of the main features of the Chapka Cap Explorer policy. For complete details, please refer to the official policy documents below. The policy is underwritten by Inter Partner Assistance (AXA Assistance), a non-life insurance company authorised and supervised by the National Bank of Belgium.

Chapka Insurance General Conditions CAP Explorer
Chapka Insurance Product Information Document

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