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Horseback Safari Travel Insurance

Our horseback safari travel insurance policies cover riding among big game on guided safaris in Africa and beyond. Every policy includes up to £5 million of emergency medical cover and repatriation back to the UK, plus search and rescue cover of up to £50,000 - essential when you’re days from the nearest road. Horseback Safari cover applies automatically with…

Summary of Cover (per person)

Section & Cover	Silver	Gold	Platinum
Emergency Medical and Repatriation*	£5,000,000	£5,000,000	£5,000,000
Cancellation or Curtailment*	-	£3,000	£7,500
Personal Baggage*	£500	£2,500	£3,500
Activity Equipment	£1,500	£1,500	£1,500
Valuables*	£250	£250	£500
Loss of Passport*	-	£300	£500
Travel Delay	-	£300	£1,000
Trip Abandonment*	-	£3,000	£7,500
Missed Departure / Connection	-	£500	£500
Legal Expenses*	-	£25,000	£50,000

*Excess payables vary depending on the claim benefit.

Please read the Policy Wording for the complete list of Benefits.

Healix Insurance Services Ltd, on behalf of Hamilton Insurance DAC, arranges this Travel Insurance policy for Jade Stanley Ltd. Healix Insurance Ltd is registered in England and Wales under No. 5484190 and authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under No. 437248. Hamilton Insurance DAC is registered in Ireland, No. 484148, authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland, and subject to limited regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority in connection with its UK branch. Jade Stanley Ltd is registered in England and Wales under No. 03570857 and authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under No. 306205.

Horseback Safari Travel Insurance FAQS

1. The nearest hospital could be hours away by bush plane - how would I actually get treated?

This is exactly what the policy is built for. It includes search and rescue costs of up to £50,000 for a specialist local rescue organisation to reach you in the bush and get you to hospital, with up to £5 million of emergency medical cover and repatriation to the UK.

2. A horse spooks at a lion, and I’m thrown off - is that covered?

Yes - an injury whilst riding is covered, however it happens, including falls caused by wildlife encounters.

You’re also covered whilst grooming, saddling, and dismounting your horse around camp.

3. Do you have to be guided when doing Horseback Safari?

Yes, when doing horseback safari you must be guided at all times with a park ranger.

4. Guides sometimes pop the horses over fallen trees on the trail - does that count as jumping?

It does, and horse jumping of any kind is not covered under this policy - so let your guide know before you set out and ask to ride around obstacles rather than over them.

5. What about the other camp activities - game drives, bush walks, mokoro rides?

Everyday safari activities such as game drives and guided bush walks are covered as standard alongside your riding. For anything more adventurous, check it appears on our Sports and Activities list before you go - or just give us a call,l and we’ll confirm.

6. If my horse injures another rider or damages camp equipment, am I liable?

The policy cannot help there, I’m afraid - because horses are unpredictable by nature, personal liability cover is not available for any horse-based activity.

7. Is there a lump-sum benefit if the worst happens?

Yes - Personal Accident cover pays a benefit for permanent total disablement, loss of limb or sight, or accidental death: up to £50,000 on Platinum, £20,000 on Gold, and £5,000 on Silver.

8. I’m combining the safari with wider travels around Africa - how long can the policy run?

Our single-trip policies can cover up to 12 months in total - we have to cover you from when you leave home to when you return home in the UK.

If you have a travel insurance policy already and looking for cover for just the days of horseback safari we can offer this via our provider Adventures

9. I’ve just booked a last-minute safari - what if I’ve already left the UK?

If you’re within 48 hours of departure and travelling for at least 7 days, we can still issue a policy provided no claims are pending or known circumstances likely to lead to one. Beyond that window, call us on 0800 043 0020.

10. I have a medical condition, can I still obtain this horseback safari policy?

If you have a medical condition as part of our accepted list on pages 8/9 and meet the terms and conditions, then yes, you can obtain this policy.

If your condition is not listed, then we will need to cover you via our provider called Adventures. Please select Safari (Horseback) during the quote process.

Why Ride a Safari Instead of Driving One?

A horse is quiet, unthreatening, and reads to wildlife as just another animal - so riders can get remarkably close to giraffe, zebra, antelope, and even elephant.

Herds that would scatter from an engine will often carry on grazing as you ride among them, and a long canter across open plains alongside wildebeest is the stuff of riding legend.

It is also riding in genuinely wild country with potentially dangerous game, which is why reputable operators use experienced guides, bush-wise horses, and careful briefings - and why proper travel insurance matters more here than on almost any other riding holiday.

Is a Riding Safari Right for Your Level?

Experienced riders: the classic big-game safaris - the Okavango, the Masai Mara, Namibia’s desert expeditions - require riders who are secure at all paces, fit enough for long days, and able to gallop out of trouble if wildlife behaves unpredictably. Many operators also apply rider weight limits, often around 90-95kg.

Intermediate and novice riders: you’re not excluded from safari country. Several lodges - particularly in Kenya’s Laikipia region and South Africa - offer shorter, gentler rides in areas rich in plains game but without lions or elephants, alongside game drives for the days you’d rather not ride.

Whatever your level, be honest about it when booking. Operators match horses to riders, and overstating your ability puts you, the group, and the horses at risk.

Where in the World: A Destination Guide

Botswana

The connoisseur’s choice. The Okavango Delta floods each year into a maze of islands and channels that vehicles can’t reach - but horses can, splashing through the shallows among elephant and giraffe. Okavango Horse Safaris pioneered riding here, and safaris also run in the Makgadikgadi Pans and the Tuli Block.

Kenya

The classic mobile safari: riding across the Masai Mara and Laikipia among the great migration herds, with long-established operators such as Offbeat Safaris and Safaris Unlimited moving tented camps through the wilderness ahead of you.

South Africa

The widest range - from serious big-five riding safaris in the Kruger region to scenic rides through Western Cape vineyards and along empty beaches, with options for every riding level.

Namibia

Epic desert expeditions for hardy, experienced riders - vast dune landscapes, wild horses, and some of the most remote riding on the continent.

Specialist agencies inspect and book riding safaris across Africa, and can package them with flights from the UK: In The Saddle, Far and Ride, Ride World Wide, and African Horse Safaris all specialise in exactly this kind of trip.

Before You Fly: Health and Kit Checklist

Travel health appointment - book well before departure. Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for entry to some countries, antimalarials are needed for many safari regions, and an up-to-date tetanus booster is essential around horses.
Riding helmet - wear the helmet your operator provides or recommends, and follow your guide’s instructions around game without exception.
Riding kit - worn-in boots with a heel, comfortable riding trousers, long sleeves for sun protection, and a wide-brimmed hat for time out of the saddle.
Check FCDO advice - the policy cannot cover travel to a country or area where the FCDO has advised against all or all but essential travel, and a small number of countries are excluded from cover entirely - the full list is in the Policy Wording. If in doubt, call us before you book.