Why do I need travel insurance for South Africa?
South Africa is a popular holiday spot for its stunning natural beauty and cultural attractions. However, there are a number of risks for travellers, from wild animals and insect-borne illnesses through to crime and possible civil unrest. If you become ill or injured in South Africa, travel insurance can help cover the cost of emergency medical treatment and transport, for which you might otherwise face a very large bill. If your luggage or personal items are lost or stolen, or your travel is delayed, you may be covered for some of these costs by a travel insurance policy.
How to choose the right travel insurance for South Africa
There are a few different things to keep in mind if you’re looking for a travel insurance policy to cover your trip to South Africa.
Some basic travel insurance policies only cover medical expenses, so you can’t make a claim if you have to cancel your trip or have something valuable stolen. This is typically cheaper, but have a think about whether you’re happy to roll the dice on this - particularly given the crime rate in South Africa is a lot higher than in Australia.
Comprehensive insurance policies typically limit how much you can claim if you need to cancel your trip or lose your luggage. You should make sure your limit covers everything you stand to lose if you don’t want to end up out of pocket (although you may have to pay an excess). You should also make sure your policy has no or high medical expense limits, especially if you’re travelling to remote areas where you might need to be evacuated if medical treatment is required.
There’s no shortage of things to do in South Africa, but you should make sure your insurance policy covers everything you’re planning on doing. For example, if you plan on quad biking along the Atlantis Dunes in Cape Town or hiking Table Mountain or the iconic Otter Trail, cover for these activities may not be standard and may need to be added on.
What does South Africa travel insurance cover?
If you decide you want a comprehensive travel insurance policy to cover all bases, look out for the following inclusions, to ensure you're covered for whatever your trip may throw at you:
- Medical or dental emergency: Ensure at a minimum you’re covered for hospital admission, emergency care, and medical evacuation. Tourists in South Africa have to pay for their own medical expenses, and medical facilities can be basic, particularly in regional areas, so you’ll want to make sure you’ll be able to get back to Australia if need be.
- Repatriation: If tragedy strikes while you're away, repatriation covers the cost of flying your body and belongings back home to Australia. Some travel insurers also include a separate sum for funeral expenses.
- Lost or stolen luggage, passports, or other items: Travel insurance can provide a payout to help with the cost of replacing luggage and important travel documents.
- Cancelling your trip unexpectedly: You’ll want to be covered if you have to delay or cancel your trip due to illness, an accident, or a natural disaster at home or at your intended destination.
- Legal liability: Make sure you’ll be covered if you accidentally cause damage to someone's property and need a lawyer or interpreter.
Check the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to see exactly what the policy you're considering will and won't cover.
What does travel insurance for South Africa not cover?
There are several general exclusions to be aware of when travelling to South Africa (or anywhere for that matter). Comprehensive travel insurance generally won’t cover you if:
- You break local laws
- Your claim relates to a loss or injury directly or indirectly caused by you being under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- You were driving a motorbike without a helmet when you have an accident
- You have a pre-existing medical condition you didn’t disclose
- You can’t back up your claims with police reports or other evidence.
What’s the best travel insurance policy for South Africa?
The best travel insurance for your holiday will depend on your circumstances. If you’re travelling on a budget, you might opt for a basic policy or a comprehensive one with a low luggage claim limit, but depending on your needs and priorities, you might prefer a more expansive policy, especially if you've made expensive bookings or plan to partake in adventure sports.
To give you some food for thought, these brands won Canstar Outstanding Value Awards in 2025 for international travel insurance:
- 1Cover
- PassportCard
- Southern Cross Travel Insurance
- Travel Protect
- WAS Insurance
- World2Cover
- Zoom travel insurance
How much does travel insurance for South Africa cost?
The average cost of travel insurance premiums for a traveller aged 30 on a 14-day trip to South Africa is currently $193 (based on a selection of international policies rated in Canstar's 2025 Travel Insurance Star Ratings & Awards, November 2025, calculated October 2026). At the time of writing, that's higher than some of Aussies' other favourite destinations like Indonesia and Thailand, but not as high as other popular spots including the USA.
The price you’ll pay depends on the insurer, the level of coverage, and the limits on luggage and cancellation claims, among other factors.
