If you’ve been counting down the weeks to your safari in Africa and the "paid in full" confirmation has been sitting in your inbox for months, any unforeseen changes can feel unsettling. If you’ve received a new invoice, here’s why it's happening.
Additional fuel surcharges are being issued to many travellers who’ve already settled their arrangements. This is because aviation fuel prices have risen by 82% during the Strait of Hormuz conflict. It is an uncomfortable truth that has placed some our favourite luxury safari operators in difficult positions.
Many unforgettable African getaways highlight the best of the continent through bush flights, which are more than an optional extra. While remaining ethical and absorbing as much of the costs as possible, these lodges still have no choice but to issue an additional fuel surcharge.
SAFARI.COM is a guest-first operation, and we make sure you’re planning with confidence. Did you know that standard travel insurance policies exclude cancelling your trip due to war, conflict, or conflict-driven cost increases? This knowledge is gold at a time like this.
CFAR (Cancel for Any Reason) is an optional upgrade to your SAFARI.COM travel insurance that changes the core terms of your coverage. It means you can cancel your trip as long as you have not yet departed, even if the reasons relate to conflict-driven fuel surcharges.
Considering the current environment, this insurance add-on is easily the single most important upgrade a traveller can make to their booking. It changes everything so that Africa can continue to inspire travellers.
Safari Flights
Discover Africa Without Worry
Adventure to the famous Kruger National Park, feel Africa’s rhythmic motions deep within the Okavango Delta, or appreciate the vast beauty of Zambia’s Luangwa River. You’ll quickly be transformed by the calls of nature and the power of the wild – it’s inevitable, just like SAFARI.COM’s ongoing promise of excellence.
Transparency is key, so here is what you need to keep in mind. Purchasing insurance does not protect you from additional fuel surcharge rates related to conflict. You won’t be reimbursed if the additional costs render your trip unmanageable. This is just how travel insurance has always been.
Plan your trip without the nagging feeling that something could get in the way. Voted Africa’s Leading Safari Company for two consecutive years (and currently shortlisted for a third), we’re recommending the CFAR upgrade to every guest travelling in 2026. It is the simplest, most effective way to ensure that global uncertainty doesn’t impact your safari.
What SAFARI.COM Does Differently
Our dedicated team will vet every surcharge from operators before sharing them with you. If something doesn’t hold up, we’ll push back on your behalf. Before the conversation even begins, SAFARI.COM are advocating for your best interests. Even so, the most meaningful protection we can offer lies within the insurance level.
Global situations can shift without warning, and even bookings paid in full may be impacted by the industry-wide "Force Majeure" conditions reshaping safari pricing. The optional CFAR upgrade allows you to cancel your safari before your departure for any reason whatsoever, including those explicitly excluded from standard policies.
How CFAR Shields Your Safari Investment
Life is unpredictable, but your safari security doesn’t have to be. With the addition of CFAR to your insurance policy, you don’t need to explain or justify why you’re cancelling your trip. Smart planning makes all the difference.
CFAR only applies before your departure. This is a crucial detail that ensures pre-departure flexibility and peace of mind. This protection is purely for the window between booking and boarding, when global volatility can disrupt your African safari plans and strain your budget.
With SAFARI.COM, you’re taken care of. Our team will help you manage the logistics and specifics, leaving you to prepare, plan, and be fully enchanted by what Africa has in store.
Planning Decisions that Reduce Exposure
Consider a One-Stop Safari:
While multi-destination safaris are exciting, every regional bush flight ties to fuel costs. Aviation-reliant itineraries increase the likelihood of receiving an additional fuel surcharge leading up to your journey. Africa offers no shortage of extraordinary destinations. The guests who stay in one place long enough to truly know it almost always leave with the better story.
Visit During Africa’s Secret Season:
Between the underrated months of November and May, the crowds thin out, the land turns vibrantly green, and the wild feels like it belongs to you alone. It is also significantly more cost-effective than booking a safari during peak season. Booking in the secret season has plenty of alluring qualities, while making it easier for budgets to handle additional fuel surcharges.
Let SAFARI.COM help you book a safari that ticks all your boxes, with a CFAR insurance policy upgrade for added protection. The option to cancel your trip before departure alleviates uncertainty, making way for your dreams of Africa to truly take flight.
Start Planning Your Safari with Confidence
Ready to make timeless family memories? At SAFARI.COM, we’re here to help you find the best safari deal for you and your loved ones. Let our expert team craft something extraordinary. We’ll guide you with heart, insight, and insider knowledge every step of the way, before, during, and long after your journey.
It’s time to explore. Email us at [email protected], hit the WhatsApp button above, or call us toll-free on 1-888-SAFARIS (US & Canada).
