The short answer
Comprehensive travel insurance is essential for Tanzania, and for Kilimanjaro it must specifically cover trekking to high altitude (above 4,000–6,000 m) and emergency evacuation. Always check that your policy includes your exact activities, medical care, evacuation and trip cancellation — and carry the details with you.
Travel insurance is the easy-to-overlook essential that you really don't want to skip for Tanzania — and for Kilimanjaro it comes with one specific catch that catches people out. Here's what to look for so you're properly covered.
See our Kilimanjaro climbs →Why you need it
Good insurance protects you against the things that can go wrong far from home: medical treatment, emergency evacuation, trip cancellation or curtailment, and lost baggage. Medical care and especially evacuation can be very expensive without cover, which is why we consider insurance a non-negotiable part of any Tanzania trip.
The Kilimanjaro catch: altitude cover
This is the one that trips people up. Many standard travel policies exclude trekking above a certain altitude — and Kilimanjaro reaches 5,895 m. You must check that your policy specifically covers high-altitude trekking to the height of Uhuru Peak, including emergency evacuation from the mountain. A policy that doesn't is effectively useless if something happens up high.
Important
Before you climb, confirm in writing that your insurance covers trekking to 6,000 m and helicopter/mountain evacuation. Don't assume a standard policy does — many don't.
Got a question while you read? Ombeni answers personally — usually within a few hours.
See our Kilimanjaro climbs →What a good policy covers
- ›Emergency medical treatment and hospital care
- ›Emergency evacuation and repatriation
- ›High-altitude trekking to Uhuru Peak (for Kilimanjaro)
- ›Trip cancellation and curtailment
- ›Lost, stolen or delayed baggage
- ›Your specific activities — safari, diving, kitesurfing, etc.
Practical tips
- ›Buy insurance when you book, so cancellation cover starts early
- ›Read the activity exclusions, not just the headline cover
- ›Carry your policy number and emergency line with you on the trip
- ›Declare any pre-existing medical conditions honestly
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to take the next step?
See our Kilimanjaro climbs →
