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Trekking Kilimanjaro Travel Insurance FAQs
Yes, we cover trekking Kilimanjaro (up to 6000m), including the summit, with Emergency Medical & Repatriation up to £5,000,000 and Search & Rescue cover (£25,000 on Silver, £50,000 on Gold and Platinum). Climbing Kili then finishing with a safari, Zanzibar, or both? One policy covers the whole trip.
Kilimanjaro is provided on the JS policies (Silver, Gold, Platinum) when you select it as your activity during the quote, or automatically when you book from this page: Get a Quote.
Kilimanjaro cover — the basics
1. Does the policy cover trekking Kilimanjaro?
Yes. You can purchase Kilimanjaro insurance on this page, and it's covered, with Emergency Medical & Repatriation up to £5,000,000 and Search and rescue to £50,000
Kilimanjaro is its own rated activity and is covered for trekking to the summit.
The activity shows on your validation certificate — that's your proof of cover; supply a copy to your trek operator.
2. What is the maximum altitude covered? Does that include the summit?
Yes, Uhuru Peak, the summit of Kilimanjaro, stands at 5,895m, inside the trekking cover, so your summit attempt is covered, not just the lower slopes.
3. Do you cover the summit — or just to a certain camp?
The summit.
Kilimanjaro's summit is reached by walking. Uhuru Peak at 5,895m sits within the trekking cover, so a standard summit attempt on any of the non-technical routes is covered as trekking.
4. Which routes are covered — Machame, Marangu, Lemosho, Rongai?
All the standard trekking routes are covered — Machame, Marangu, Lemosho, Rongai, Umbwe and the Northern Circuit. They're walking routes requiring no ropes or technical climbing, so they all fall within the trekking activity.
Technical variations — the Western Breach ice routes or anything involving ropes and climbing equipment — are mountaineering rather than trekking, and at Kilimanjaro's altitude that means cover through PJ Hayman rather than the JS policy (see the next question). Contact us if that's your plan and we'll quote it the right way.
5. Is climbing Kilimanjaro trekking or mountaineering? Where's the line?
Trekking and yes, everyone says "climbing Kilimanjaro", and what they mean is covered. In policy terms, the standard routes count as trekking, because the line between the two is simple:
The moment your route needs ropes, bolts or technical climbing equipment, it's mountaineering and none of Kilimanjaro's standard routes do so.
It's a high-altitude walk to the summit, which is exactly what the trekking cover is designed for.
If your plans do involve technical climbing: the JS policy covers mountaineering up to 4,500m, and above that we arrange cover through PJ Hayman, which is what any technical route on Kilimanjaro would need, since the technical sections sit high on the mountain. Call us, and we'll set it up.
6. Is the whole trip covered, or just the trekking days?
The whole trip. Cover for your chosen activity is provided based on it being the sole purpose of the trip, and the policy is valid for the full duration shown on your certificate — from when you leave home to when you return to the UK.
So a medical emergency, lost bag or cut-short trip in Arusha, on safari or in Zanzibar is covered the same as one on the mountain.
Note the travel delay and missed departure/connection sections respond on the international legs of your journey; an internal hop (for example to Zanzibar) isn't itself covered for delay.
If you only want cover for the trekking days, we can arrange that on our Adventures policy (not the JS policy). Contact us for a quote.
7. Can one policy cover Kilimanjaro plus a safari or Zanzibar on the same trip?
Yes, and it should, because that's how most Kilimanjaro trips actually run: climb first, then a safari, Zanzibar, or both to recover. One policy covers the whole itinerary.
Your chosen activity automatically includes every activity in the same Level and all lower levels, so with Kilimanjaro selected, the safari days and beach days are covered under the normal policy sections, and since Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, there's no destination change to worry about either.
A few practical notes for the post-climb legs.
On safari: standard vehicle game drives are part of normal cover, but tell us if you're adding a walking safari or a hot air balloon flight over the Serengeti. Ballooning is its own listed activity and needs to be on your certificate.
On Zanzibar: if you'll be diving or snorkelling, tell us when you quote so the right activity level is applied and remember the policy doesn't cover flying within 24 hours of your last scuba dive, so plan the final dive with your flight home in mind.
8. Does the trek have to be a fully organised/guided tour?
Kilimanjaro National Park regulations require all trekkers to climb with a licensed guide; independent unguided climbs aren't permitted by the park authorities, so in practice every covered climb is a guided one.
9. Can you cover the Kilimanjaro Marathon combined with a summit trek?
Yes, one policy covers both, and it's a natural pairing: the Kilimanjaro Marathon is a road race run entirely between 830m and 1,150m in the foothills around Moshi, with the mountain as the backdrop rather than the course. Most international runners climb Kilimanjaro or go on safari in the same trip, which is exactly what the event was created for. Marathon running and Kilimanjaro are both covered activities, so select the higher activity level (Kilimanjaro) and the marathon is automatically included; your chosen activity covers everything at the same level and below.
One caution: there's a separate, niche trail-race event that runs high on the mountain itself that's a very different proposition from the road marathon, so if that's your race, call us on 0800 043 0020 before you book.
Helicopter rescue, search and rescue
1. Does the policy include rescue and evacuation for Kilimanjaro?
Yes, two parts of the policy work together here. Medically necessary evacuation falls under Emergency Medical & Repatriation (up to £5,000,000). Separately, Search & Rescue — the costs of a specialist local rescue organisation for search, rescue and emergency transfer to hospital following an accident during your covered activity — is covered up to £25,000 on Silver and £50,000 on Gold and Platinum. No excess on Platinum)
The important part: call the 24 Hour Medical Claims Service on +44 (0) 1444 465 579 before accepting an evacuation wherever possible;e it's a condition of the policy for any treatment likely to exceed £500, and if you can't call, someone must call for you as soon as possible.
On Kilimanjaro you may be offered evacuation by your operator or a local provider — always call the 24 Hour Medical Claims Service first where possible.
They confirm the medical need, make the decisions on treatment and evacuation, and can guarantee payment directly. Unapproved evacuation and treatment may not be covered.
2. Is search and rescue covered?
Yes, Search & Rescue is a named benefit within the medical section: up to £25,000 on Silver and £50,000 on Gold and Platinum. It covers the reasonable costs of a specialist local rescue organisation for search, rescue and emergency transfer to hospital following an accident while you're doing your covered activity, for up to 72 hours from when assistance is first summoned.
3. What excess applies?
For medical (£5,000,000 cover ) claims: £500 on Silver, £100 on Gold, nil on Platinum.
For Search & Rescue specifically: £500 on Silver and Gold, nil on Platinum.
4. Is altitude sickness covered?
Yes, and it matters more on Kilimanjaro than almost anywhere, because the fast ascent profiles (five to seven days from gate to summit) make acute mountain sickness the most common reason climbers come down early.
It's covered as an illness under the medical section. Follow your guide's advice — descend when advised and call the 24 Hour Medical Claims Service as soon as possible; pre-authorisation is what guarantees the evacuation gets paid for.
5. My trek operator requires proof of rescue cover — will your policy satisfy that?
Yes. Your validation certificate showing Kilimanjaro as your activity, with Emergency Medical & Repatriation up to £5,000,000 and Search & Rescue cover, is what operators are asking for.
Price and quotes
1. How much does Kilimanjaro travel insurance cost?
It depends on your age, trip length and level, so the accurate answer takes two minutes:
2. Why is Kilimanjaro insurance more expensive than ordinary travel insurance?
Because the insurance you're buying is expensive to provide: emergency evacuation from nearly 6,000 metres and medical treatment or repatriation from Tanzania.
3. How far in advance can I buy?
Up to 270 days before departure — and cancellation cover starts as soon as you buy, so booking early protects your trip cost from day one (Gold and Platinum; Silver does not include cancellation cover).
4. Can I get a quote for a group or charity challenge team?
Yes, enter your trip details and travellers online, or email your dates, destination and number of travellers to support@jsinsurance.co.uk and we'll quote it for you. (School and group trips are covered provided there is one adult for every 10 children.)
Who and what we can cover
1. You mention more than one policy — which one is right for me?
The JS policy (Silver, Gold or Platinum) with Kilimanjaro selected is the right route for most climbs: full travel insurance covering your whole trip, bought before you leave the UK, for travellers under 66.
We use the Adventures policy where the JS policy doesn't fit — insuring just your trekking days, travellers aged 66–75, or if you've already been abroad for some time. Where an answer refers to Adventures rather than the JS policy, it says so. Not sure which fits? Call us on 0800 043 0020.
2. Are there age restrictions for Kilimanjaro cover?
All insured persons must be under 66 when the JS policy is purchased.
If you're 66 or over, we can still cover you up to age 75 on our Adventures policy — contact us, and we'll quote it.
3. Can I get Kilimanjaro cover with a pre-existing medical condition?
Yes, often. If your condition is on our accepted list (pages 8–9 of the JS policy wording), you're covered provided you meet the conditions listed there — for example, no specialist referral for worsening in the last 12 months and no hospital admissions in relation to the condition.
If your condition is outside the list, contact us — we have another broker who may be able to cover you.
4. Can you cover me if I don't live in the UK?
Our policies are for residents of the UK and Channel Islands — you must have spent at least 6 of the last 12 months at your main home in the UK or Channel Islands, have a UK National Insurance number (if 16 or over) and be registered with a doctor here when you buy. If you live elsewhere, contact us, and we'll see whether we can point you somewhere.
5. I've already left the UK — can I still buy cover?
Only just: if you forgot to buy before departure and your trip is at least 7 days, you can buy within 48 hours of leaving, provided you have no claims pending and nothing has happened that's likely to lead to one.
Beyond 48 hours, we can't cover the trip on the JS policy — but our Adventures provider may be able to; you'll need to confirm you have no pending or outstanding claims.
Policy admin
1. Can I use an annual policy for Kilimanjaro?
Yes, annual policies cover trips up to 31 days each, which comfortably covers a typical 7–14 day Kilimanjaro itinerary, safari extension included. Choose Annual as your policy type and make sure Kilimanjaro is your selected activity.
2. My existing annual policy won't cover Kilimanjaro — can I buy a policy just for this trip?
Yes, a single-trip policy with Kilimanjaro selected covers you from when you leave home to when you return to the UK, running alongside your annual policy.
It usually works out better than trying to patch cover for just the trekking days, because there are no gaps.
You can also buy an Annual Policy with Kilimanjaro Trekking included; it allows you to trek unlimited days, but note your maximum trip duration is limited to 31 days each.
3. How do I find Kilimanjaro on the website?
It's in the activity list start a quote and add it as your activity:
Or book direct on the Kilimanjaro page
4. Where does Kilimanjaro show on my documents?
On your validation certificate under activities, and in the activity list attached to your quote and policy pack. That certificate is your proof of cover for operators.
