Chapka offers travel insurance tailored to international travelers. Their policies provide cover for unexpected medical costs, trip cancellations, lost luggage and other unforeseen travel issues, so 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 cover 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 is 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 cover for trips of up to 60 consecutive days. Cancellation cover starts as soon as you take out the policy and remains valid until your departure. All other cover, 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 are travelling to the airport by car, the assistance cover also starts up to 48 hours before your departure.

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 cover 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 cover, 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.

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 in order 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 is 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.

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;
• Hospitalisation and nursing care;
• Emergency dental treatment up to €300;
• 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 medicines and other eligible healthcare expenses. For trips to Africa, medical expenses are covered up to €200,000 (approximately US$230,000 per person). A €30 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 are admitted to 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.

Yes. Emergency medical evacuation is one of the key benefits of the Chapka Cap Explorer policy for safari travellers. If your condition requires it, Chapka’s medical assistance team will arrange and cover the cost of evacuation to the nearest suitable medical facility, a hospital in a neighbouring country or the hospital closest to your home. Depending on the situation, transport may be provided by ambulance, aircraft or air ambulance.

It is essential that you contact the assistance team before arranging any evacuation yourself. Expenses incurred without prior approval may not be eligible for reimbursement.

Yes. If the Chapka medical team decides that returning to your home country is medically necessary, they will organise and cover the full cost of your repatriation. This includes an economy class flight or first-class train ticket where appropriate, as well as the return travel of any family members accompanying you.

If your condition improves after receiving treatment at your destination, Chapka can also arrange and cover the cost of either continuing your trip or travelling back home.

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 hospitalisation between the date you booked your trip and the date you purchased your policy is excluded from cover. If you are unsure how a specific medical condition may affect your cover, we recommend contacting Chapka before taking out the policy.

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

For more specialised 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 cover of up to €150,000 (approximately US$173,000) per insured event.

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

Yes. Chapka provides cover for loss, theft and accidental damage to your personal belongings up to €2,000 (approximately US$2,300) per person, per trip. This includes valuable items commonly taken on safari, such as cameras, binoculars, laptops, photography equipment and mobile phones. A €30 (approximately US$35) 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 7:00 am and 9:00 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 per person;
• Submit your claim online via chapkadirect.com/sinistre within 5 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 (approximately US$2,300), with a maximum of 50% of that amount (€1,000 (approximately US$1,150)) available for valuables.

Jewellery, watches and precious stones are treated as ‘precious objects’. They are only covered against theft if you are 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.

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 are 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 5 business days after informing your travel provider of the cancellation;
• Baggage claims: submit your claim within 5 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 10 working days and to provide a final response within a maximum of 2 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.

If you need urgent medical assistance during your trip, always contact Chapka directly on +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, cover or the claims process, Chapka should also be your first point of contact.

If you would like 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.