Travel insurance for South Africa from £5.00[4]Data based on the minimum price of travel insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket to South Africa in 2025. Prices vary based on your personal details & circumstances.
Key takeaways
The average cost of travel insurance for South Africa is £34.59[1]Data based on the median price of travel insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket to South Africa in 2025.
Travel insurance is strongly recommended for a trip to South Africa and it protects you from medical emergencies, trip cancellations, lost luggage, and more
South Africa offers many adventure sports, which may not be included under a standard travel insurance policy
Do I need travel insurance for South Africa?
Holiday insurance is not a legal requirement. But without it you will be personally responsible for paying all the costs if something goes wrong with your trip.
Travel insurance can financially protect you if your holiday to South Africa is unexpectedly cancelled, you need medical treatment while travelling, or your valuables are lost, damaged or stolen.
According to the latest data from the Association of British Insurers:
British residents had to make 574,000[2]Association of British insurers data, 2023 claims on their travel insurance in 2023
The average claim amount was £972[3]Association of British insurers data, 2022 and the average medical claim £1,750[3]Association of British insurers data, 2022
In contrast, you can find travel insurance to South Africa from just £5.00[4]Data based on the minimum price of travel insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket to South Africa in 2025. Prices vary based on your personal details & circumstances.
What type of travel insurance do I need for South Africa?
South Africa is covered under worldwide travel insurance policies.
The specific type of policy you need depends on your travel plans:
If you are only visiting South Africa, choose single-trip travel insurance and select South Africa as your destination.
Combining a holiday in South Africa with visits to other countries, perhaps on a cruise to Mauritius or Mozambique?
Single-trip travel insurance can cover multiple countries as long as:
You don’t head home in-between countries. For that you need multi-trip insurance.
You are not away for a long time (policy-dependent, but usually a month). For that, you need backpackers’ insurance.
You might save money by selecting an annual multi-trip travel insurance policy.
This will also cover you for staycations in the UK.
You can get travel insurance with a pre-existing medical condition, but it may be more expensive than a standard policy.
One trip to South Africa only
One trip to South Africa and other countries
Several holidays throughout the year
Travelling with a medical condition
How much is travel insurance for South Africa?
The table shows the average prices paid by our customers for holidays to South Africa this year.
Average price means 51% of customers paid this amount or less. Cheapest price means 10% of customers paid this price or less.
Cheapest Price | Average Price |
|---|---|
£5.00[4]Data based on the minimum price of travel insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket to South Africa in 2025. Prices vary based on your personal details & circumstances. | £34.59[1]Data based on the median price of travel insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket to South Africa in 2025. |
Can I get last minute travel insurance for South Africa?
Yes, it is possible to get last-minute travel insurance up to the day of your departure, although not all insurance providers will offer this.
Compare last-minute travel insurance quotes | Cover from just £3.84[5]Data based on the 10th percentile price of travel insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket with last minute cover in 2025.
Is it cheaper to buy travel insurance closer to my departure date?
No, it is usually more expensive to buy travel insurance last-minute.
If possible you should buy your holiday insurance as soon as you book your trip. That way you'll be covered if you have to cancel your holiday to South Africa.
What should my travel insurance policy for South Africa include?
🚩Different travel insurance policies have different inclusions and exclusions. You should always read your documents and check what you're covered for.
Standard travel insurance will usually cover:
Illness and accidents
Trip and activity cancellations
Lost luggage (including your passport)
Theft including pickpocketing
Repatriation (bringing you home if you are seriously injured, ill or dead)
Personal liability (you are responsible for accidentally harming someone or their property)
What isn't covered by travel insurance for South Africa?
Typical exclusions include:
Undeclared pre-existing medical conditions
'Unforeseeable' disasters including terrorism, war, strikes and natural disasters
Alcohol and drug-related incidents
Travel to areas advised against by the government (found on the FCDO website)
Adventure or winter sports
💡 Top tip: You can upgrade your insurance to include add-ons like winter sports, adventure sports, gadget cover and travel disruption cover.
Remember your excess!
Your excess is the amount of money you must pay towards any insurance claim you make. It is a fixed amount regardless of the claim size and it is set in advance when you take out your policy.
Increasing your excess can lower the cost of your policy, but make any claims less affordable.
Medical care in South Africa
British citizens will be required to pay for medical care if they need it while visiting South Africa. That’s why it’s important to have travel insurance, which can cover these costs and more.
You won’t be able to use a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) here.
Can I get travel insurance for South Africa if I have a pre-existing medical condition?
Yes, you can get travel insurance cover with a pre-existing medical condition, but it may be more expensive than a standard policy.
A pre-existing condition is any medical issue for which you had symptoms, medication, medical advice, treatment, or tests before you took out your insurance policy. It includes mental health conditions and disabilities.
You must disclose all pre-existing medical conditions. If you don't, your insurer can refuse to pay out for a claim.
Do I need a visa to visit South Africa?
🚩 Visa requirements for a country can change. For the most up-to-date information, check the UK government’s foreign travel advice website.
You do not need a visa to visit South Africa if you have a full UK passport and your trip is up to 90 days.
Do I need vaccinations to visit South Africa?
🚩 Vaccination recommendations may be different for individuals with specific health conditions. We recommend speaking to your doctor before travelling.
The NHS Fit for Travel website recommends that your regular vaccinations are up to date before you travel to South Africa, including your flu and Covid-19 vaccines if you are eligible for these.
It’s also advised you have the Hepatitis A and Diphtheria vaccinations.
Some tourists also have the following vaccinations before arriving in South Africa: Hepatitis B, Rabies, Tetanus and Typhoid.
What travel insurance do I need for going on safari in South Africa?
🚩 Most safari companies will insist you have travel insurance
You may need to take out adventure sports cover. Standard travel insurance policies do not always cover riskier activities such as encounters with wild animals. You may be able to add adventure sports cover to your existing travel insurance for a fee.
What travel insurance do I need for snorkelling or diving with sharks in South Africa?
Your standard travel insurance policy will not usually cover you high-risk or adventurous water sports, which may include snorkelling, diving, or jet skiing. However, every policy is different so you will need to check what is, and what isn’t, covered with yours.
If you’re not covered for water sports, you will have to buy an adventurous sports add on.
What travel insurance do I need for hiking in South Africa?
You may need to buy adventure sports cover for hiking in South Africa. Standard travel insurance policies often will not cover more extreme activities like rock climbing, mountaineering or hiking above a certain height or in riskier locations.
You can usually add adventure sports cover to your existing travel insurance for a fee.
How do I claim on my travel insurance?
Report the incident you want to claim for to your insurer as soon as possible
If something is stolen, report it to the local police within 24 hours and get a report
Keep records of what has happened, including photos or videos and the contact details of anyone involved
Read our guide to making a claim on your travel insurance.
Find cheap travel insurance for South Africa with MoneySuperMarket
Compare quotes from different insurers to find the best price for the level of cover you want. Don't want this task on your to-do list? We can do the work for you, saving you time and money.
Plus, we offer our travel insurance customers rewards! Get a voucher worth up to £5[6]SuperSaveClub restrictions and T&Cs apply. Click here for details., a Free Days Out pass worth £180, and much more.
Just sign up to our free SuperSaveClub[7]Up to £130 if every qualifying product purchased once. T&Cs apply. Click here for details. before you buy your travel policy.
Compare travel insurance quotes | South Africa cover from just £5.00[4]Data based on the minimum price of travel insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket to South Africa in 2025. Prices vary based on your personal details & circumstances.
