SATIBgo Travel Insurance – What You Need to Know

Having comprehensive travel insurance in place is essential for a trip to Africa. We've partnered with Safari and Tourism Insurance Brokers (SATIB) to offer a reliable, Africa-specific travel insurance option for our clients. SATIBgo is a flexible product with different cover levels, including options for cancellation protection and emergency medical care.

This page answers the most common questions travellers have about SATIBgo and how it works. Please note that we are not licensed to give insurance advice, but we can provide general information and a link to purchase SATIBgo Travel Insurance directly.

SATIBgo Purchase Link

About SATIBgo Travel Insurance

SATIBgo is a comprehensive travel insurance product designed specifically for African travel. It's offered by SATIB (Safari and Tourism Insurance Brokers) in partnership with leading international underwriters.

You can buy SATIBgo directly online via this link: https://satibgo.satib.co.za/?r...

SATIBgo offers several levels of cover. Most clients choose the Gold level or higher. The Gold option allows you to add:

Buy Up 1: For full cover if your trip cost exceeds the standard Gold limit.
Buy Up 2 (CFAR): Cancel For Any Reason cover, which reimburses 75% of your non-refundable costs, even for cancellations not covered by standard triggers.

You can compare the benefits here: Policy Schedule (PDF)

Yes. Key exclusions include:

Age Limit: No cover applies if you turn 81 before or during your trip.
High-Value Trips: For trips costing over USD 50,000 per person, SATIB recommends contacting them directly to underwrite your cover.
CFAR Timeframe: CFAR must be purchased within 24 hours of making your first payment toward your trip (for example, your deposit or any initial payment).
CFAR Coverage: CFAR reimburses 75% of unused, non-refundable travel and accommodation costs.

Yes, SATIBgo is open to travellers of all nationalities and countries of residence, subject to international sanctions and immigration laws.

Most credit card insurance policies don't offer the level of cover needed for travel in Africa. SATIBgo is designed by African tourism risk specialists and includes benefits specifically tailored to the region and post-pandemic travel realities.

Buy Up 1: Provides full cover (100%) for prepaid, non-refundable trip costs if your total trip cost exceeds the standard Gold cover limit (USD 10,000 / ZAR 170,000). It applies when cancelling, postponing, interrupting, or extending a trip due to defined reasons such as illness, injury, or other events listed in the policy.
Buy Up 2 (Cancel For Any Reason - CFAR): Includes everything in Buy Up 1, plus broader cancellation rights. It allows you to cancel for any reason — even those not covered under the standard policy — and be reimbursed for 75% of your unused, non-refundable expenses. To qualify, CFAR must be purchased within 24 hours of your first payment toward your trip.

You must purchase Cancel For Any Reason (Buy Up 2) within 24 hours of your first payment toward your trip — this could be your deposit or any initial payment for your insured journey.

This 24-hour window does not begin when you book flights, receive confirmation, or review documents; it is strictly tied to your first payment.

To claim under CFAR, you must also cancel at least 48 hours before your scheduled departure.

Yes. Gold-level cover includes emergency medical evacuation and repatriation up to USD 5,000,000.

Not under standard cover. Supplier default (when a lodge, airline, or operator is unable to deliver services you've paid for) is not a valid cancellation reason under the base policy or Buy Up 1.

However, if you purchase Buy Up 2 (Cancel For Any Reason – CFAR), you can cancel your trip for any reason, including concerns about a supplier's financial stability or failure to deliver. CFAR will reimburse 75% of your non-refundable, unused travel and accommodation expenses, as long as the cancellation is made due to an unexpected and unforeseen reason.

Example: If your lodge suddenly closes down or your flight is cancelled without a viable replacement, and you decide to cancel the trip entirely, CFAR allows you to claim back a portion of your losses — even though "supplier insolvency" isn't specifically covered.

CFAR must be purchased within 24 hours of your first trip payment (deposit or initial payment) to apply.

Unfortunately, an aunt is not considered a "close relative" under the policy terms, so that event wouldn't qualify for cancellation cover under standard terms.

A "close relative" means your:

spouse or partner
fiancé
child
stepchild
daughter-in-law
son-in-law
grandchild
parent
stepparent
parent-in-law,
grandparent
brother
brother-in-law
half-brother
sister
sister-in-law
half-sister

Not if her illness or death is related to a vascular, cardiovascular, or cerebrovascular condition — these are excluded for close relatives over 80. If unrelated, standard cover may still apply. CFAR is a safer bet in these situations.

Yes. SATIBgo covers missed connections due to unforeseeable circumstances outside your control, such as weather delays.

Each benefit section has its own limit. For Trip Cancellation, Interruption, or Extension, you need to insure for 100% of your total trip cost. Anything over USD 50,000 per person should be flagged to SATIB for specific underwriting.

SATIBgo is underwritten by Lombard Insurance Company Limited and backed by top-tier reinsurance partners:

Nexus Re (UK)
United States Fire Insurance Company (USA), part of the Crum & Forster group

These partners bring nearly 200 years of experience in insurance.

Still have questions?

Email the SATIBgo team directly at [email protected]

Understanding the 24-Hour Rule for CFAR Travel Insurance

The 24-hour window for purchasing Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) cover starts the moment you make your first payment toward your trip — whether that's a deposit or any initial payment for your insured journey.

It does not start from booking flights, receiving confirmation, or reviewing documents. It's strictly tied to your first payment—the point at which you're financially at risk.

Here's what you need to know:

Timing is critical: You must purchase CFAR within 24 hours of your first payment (deposit or initial trip payment) to qualify for CFAR benefits.
Why the rule exists: This strict deadline prevents travellers from waiting until something goes wrong before taking out cover. CFAR is designed to protect you from any reason, not just specific events.
Insure the full trip upfront: Since you'll usually have a good ballpark figure at the start, it's best to insure the entire estimated trip cost when you first purchase cover.
Cancellation timing: To claim under CFAR, you must cancel at least 48 hours before your scheduled departure.
Defined cover offers more flexibility: You can buy this cover at any time before your trip, but it only protects you against specific, unforeseen events (like illness, retrenchment, or travel disruptions) that occur after your policy is active.
CFAR vs Defined cover: CFAR can apply to any decision (even if you simply change your mind), while Defined cover is limited to unexpected, listed causes.

In short:

To qualify for CFAR, purchase within 24 hours of your first trip payment. For Defined cover, timing is more flexible — but coverage only applies to events that happen after your policy starts.

Please note:

We're not licensed to provide financial or insurance advice. For expert guidance, please speak directly with SATIB Insurance Brokers or your preferred insurance professional.