Every guest travelling with Sense of Adventure is now automatically covered by AMREF Flying Doctors Emergency Evacuation Cover for the duration of their safari, at no additional cost. It is a benefit most safari operators do not include, and it exists for a simple reason: a safari takes you into some of the world’s most spectacular and remote wilderness, and peace of mind should be part of the package, not an upsell.
This guide explains who AMREF Flying Doctors are, exactly what the complimentary cover includes, what it does not include, and how it sits alongside the travel insurance you still need. It also covers how an evacuation actually works from a bush camp, and a few simple steps that help the system work smoothly for you if it is ever needed.
✅ AMREF Flying Doctors Cover: Quick Answer
- Who gets it: every guest on every Sense of Adventure safari, automatically.
- Cost: nothing extra; it is included in your booking.
- Provider: AMREF Flying Doctors, the long-established Nairobi-based air ambulance service.
- What it covers: emergency air evacuation, coordinated ground ambulance where needed, a 24-hour response centre and end-to-end coordination.
- When: for the full duration of your safari with us.
- What it is not: travel insurance. You still need your own policy for treatment, hospital stays, cancellation and baggage.
Want a safari with AMREF Flying Doctors cover already built in? Tell us your dates.
Plan My Covered SafariWho Are AMREF Flying Doctors?
AMREF Flying Doctors is Africa’s leading air ambulance and emergency evacuation provider, with more than 65 years of experience across East Africa. Renowned for rapid response, professional medical teams and specialised aircraft, AMREF is trusted by safari operators, conservation organisations, expatriates and international travellers alike.
Their long experience of operating in remote, challenging environments is exactly why they are the preferred evacuation provider in the region. When your game drive takes you hours from the nearest hospital, this is the team you want on call.
AMREF Flying Doctors is based in Nairobi and is part of the wider Amref Health Africa family, a not-for-profit health organisation that grew out of the original “flying doctor” service set up in Kenya in the 1950s. You can read about their aircraft and services on the AMREF Flying Doctors website.
Why AMREF Flying Doctors suit a safari
Most of Kenya’s best wildlife areas, such as the Masai Mara, Tsavo, Samburu and Laikipia, are a long road journey from a major hospital. Many of these areas have bush airstrips that light aircraft use every day. An air ambulance service that knows these airstrips, and the hospitals that can receive patients, turns a long and uncomfortable road transfer into a much shorter flight.
That local knowledge is the real value. AMREF Flying Doctors work with safari camps, guides and conservation teams across the region, so the people on the ground and the people in the control room already speak the same language.
What Your AMREF Flying Doctors Cover Includes
The complimentary cover is built around four services, plus one important limit that every traveller should understand before they fly.
Emergency Air Evacuation, from remote safari locations
Should an emergency arise during your safari, AMREF Flying Doctors can arrange emergency air evacuation from remote safari locations to the nearest appropriate medical facility.
Emergency Ground Transportation, coordinated ambulance support
Where necessary and available, ground ambulance services are coordinated alongside the air response to ensure seamless transportation and emergency support.
24-Hour Emergency Assistance, a response centre that never closes
AMREF Flying Doctors operates a dedicated emergency response centre staffed around the clock, providing immediate assistance and coordination whenever required.
Professional Emergency Coordination, medical and aviation teams managing the whole process
Experienced medical and aviation teams manage the entire evacuation process end to end, ensuring a rapid, efficient and professional response.
What It Is NOT (Read This Part): evacuation cover, not travel insurance
This is an emergency evacuation service only. It does not replace comprehensive travel insurance; you should still carry your own policy for medical treatment, hospitalisation, trip cancellation and baggage. Our Kenya travel insurance guide explains exactly what a safari-ready policy needs to include.
How an AMREF Flying Doctors Evacuation Works on Safari
Nobody books a safari expecting to use evacuation cover, and the vast majority of guests never do. Still, it helps to know what happens if the unexpected occurs, because a clear picture removes a lot of worry. The process below reflects how the service is described on our Emergency Evacuation Cover page.
1. The alarm is raised
Your guide or camp manager contacts the AMREF Flying Doctors emergency response centre, which is staffed around the clock, every day of the year. Guides carry phones or radios, and camps have their own communication systems, so the call can usually be made quickly.
2. The medical and aviation teams mobilise
Professional medical and aviation teams assess the situation and decide on the fastest, safest response. That might mean a flight from the nearest suitable airstrip, a ground ambulance, or both. You and your guide stay in contact with them while the plan comes together.
3. The airlift
A specialised aircraft collects you from the nearest bush airstrip, with ground ambulance support where needed to get you to the strip. Your guide will normally drive you there, staying with you until the medical crew takes over.
4. Into safe hands
You are flown to the nearest appropriate medical facility, with professionals managing each step. From that point, your treatment and any hospital stay fall under your own travel insurance, which is why that policy matters so much.
Have a Medical Condition We Should Know About?
Tell us privately before you travel, and we will help you choose camps, routes and flight times that suit you, so the AMREF Flying Doctors cover stays a quiet back-up.
Evacuation Cover vs Travel Insurance
The most common misunderstanding is to treat AMREF Flying Doctors cover as a full insurance policy. It is not. Evacuation cover gets you from the bush to an appropriate hospital; travel insurance pays for what happens around that. This table shows the difference.
| Need | AMREF Flying Doctors cover (included) | Your own travel insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency air evacuation from a remote safari location | Yes | Often included too; check your policy |
| Coordinated ground ambulance | Yes, where necessary and available | Depends on policy |
| 24-hour emergency response centre | Yes | Most policies have an assistance line |
| Hospital treatment and stays | No | Yes, the core of a good policy |
| Trip cancellation or cutting a trip short | No | Yes, on most comprehensive policies |
| Lost or delayed baggage | No | Yes, within policy limits |
| Repatriation to your home country | No | Check your policy |
Why you still need insurance alongside AMREF Flying Doctors
Think of the two as a team. AMREF Flying Doctors cover solves the hardest part of an emergency in the bush, which is getting you out quickly to the right facility. Your travel insurance then covers your treatment, any hospital stay, flights home and the money you might lose if your trip is cut short.
When you buy a policy, check that it covers Kenya, safari activities and any extras you plan, such as a balloon flight or a walking safari. Kenya also has its own mandatory visitor insurance, bought with your eTA, which is separate again. Our Kenya mandatory travel insurance guide explains who needs it and how to buy it.
For official health and entry advice, read the GOV.UK travel advice for Kenya or your own government’s advice, and apply for your travel authorisation through the official Kenya eTA portal.
Not Sure What Your Insurance Needs to Add?
Send us your itinerary and we will set out exactly what our AMREF Flying Doctors cover handles, so you can check the rest with your insurer.
Clarify What Is Covered
Where AMREF Flying Doctors Cover Matters Most
The cover applies to your whole safari with us, but it is worth most in the places furthest from a city hospital. These are also, of course, the places most travellers come to Kenya for.
- Masai Mara and its conservancies: a long drive from Nairobi, with many airstrips close to the camps. See our Masai Mara safari packages.
- Tsavo East and Tsavo West: huge parks where camps can be far from the main roads. Our Tsavo safari page shows the routes.
- Samburu and Laikipia: northern wilderness areas with long distances between camps and towns.
- Walking and horseback safaris: activities that take you away from the vehicle, where a clear emergency plan gives extra reassurance.
In Nairobi itself, or in towns with good hospitals, you are unlikely to need an air evacuation. The AMREF Flying Doctors cover is there for the remote moments.
How to Make the Most of Your AMREF Flying Doctors Cover
The cover is automatic, so there is nothing to sign. A few simple steps, though, help everything run smoothly if it is ever needed.
- Tell us about medical conditions before you travel, privately, so we can plan sensibly.
- Bring your insurance details, including the policy number and emergency phone line, on paper and on your phone.
- Share an emergency contact at home with us when you book.
- Pack your medication in your hand luggage, with a copy of any prescriptions.
- Follow your guide’s safety briefings on game drives and walks; prevention is always better than evacuation.
- Speak up early if you feel unwell; small problems are easier to deal with than big ones.
Our guide to getting sick on safari explains how camps handle everyday illness, and the malaria and safari guide and Kenya vaccination requirements help you prepare before you fly.
Everyday Safari Safety, Before Cover Is Ever Needed
Evacuation cover is the last line of support. Most of what keeps you well on safari is much simpler, and it starts with the people around you. Experienced guides know how animals behave, where to park, when to stay in the vehicle and when it is safe to step out at a viewpoint or picnic spot.
Camps play their part too. Staff walk guests to and from their tents after dark, and most camps keep a first-aid kit and a clear plan for calling help. Drinking bottled or filtered water, using insect repellent in the evenings, wearing a hat and drinking plenty during hot midday drives all prevent the most common problems, such as dehydration, sunburn and upset stomachs.
Road travel is the other area to think about. Long drives on rough tracks can be tiring, so we plan sensible daily distances, regular stops and, where it makes sense, short flights between parks. Seat belts, a rested driver and daylight travel are simple habits that matter more than any policy.
Put together, these steps mean the AMREF Flying Doctors cover usually stays exactly where it belongs: quietly in the background, while you enjoy the wildlife. If you would like to read more, our guides to walking safari safety and sleeping safely in a safari tent answer the questions guests ask us most.
The Complimentary Cover at a Glance
- Cost to you: nothing; it is included automatically on every Sense of Adventure safari.
- Provider: AMREF Flying Doctors, Africa’s leading air ambulance service with 65+ years of East African experience.
- Coverage window: the full duration of your safari with us.
- Includes: emergency air evacuation, coordinated ground ambulance, 24-hour response centre, professional end-to-end coordination.
- Does NOT include: medical treatment, hospitalisation, trip cancellation or baggage; carry your own comprehensive travel insurance for those.
- Full details: see our dedicated Emergency Evacuation Cover page.
Booking a Safari With AMREF Flying Doctors Cover
There are no forms and no extra fee: the cover applies automatically to every booking for the full duration of your safari. That means the choice that matters is the safari itself. Popular routes such as the Masai Mara and Amboseli, and peak months like the migration season, are where the best camps book early, so it pays to plan ahead.
When you enquire, tell us your dates, group size and any health or mobility points. We will send a written quote, and the evacuation cover is part of it from the start. Then all you need to add is your own travel insurance.
The best camps for migration season book early. Get a written quote with AMREF Flying Doctors cover included.
Request My Written Quote
Plan a Covered Safari
The cover applies to every itinerary we run. Browse all Kenya safari packages, or start with a favourite like the Fly-In Masai Mara Luxury Safari or an easy Amboseli day safari. For the insurance side of trip planning, our travel insurance guide covers what to buy and why, and the evacuation cover page has the full terms of what is included.
If you would rather travel with just your own group, see our private Kenya safari options, our luxury Kenya safari ideas, or a simple Kenya safari from Nairobi. Every one of them includes AMREF Flying Doctors cover.
Travel With Confidence, Not Worry
Your adventure deserves the highest standards of safety, and AMREF Flying Doctors cover is already included. Message our Nairobi team and let’s plan a safari you can enjoy with total peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the AMREF Flying Doctors cover really free for Sense of Adventure guests?
Yes. Every guest travelling with Sense of Adventure is automatically covered by AMREF Flying Doctors Emergency Evacuation Cover for the duration of their safari, at no additional cost. You do not pay a supplement, fill in a form or opt in; the cover is simply part of every booking we make for you.
What does the AMREF evacuation cover include?
Emergency air evacuation from remote safari locations to the nearest appropriate medical facility, coordinated ground ambulance services where necessary, a 24-hour emergency response centre, and professional end-to-end coordination by AMREF’s medical and aviation teams. It is designed for the remote parks, where hospitals are hours away by road.
Does this replace travel insurance?
No. It is an emergency evacuation service only. You should still carry comprehensive travel insurance for medical treatment, hospitalisation, trip cancellation, baggage and other travel expenses. Kenya’s own mandatory visitor insurance is separate again, so check what each policy covers before you travel.
Who are AMREF Flying Doctors?
AMREF Flying Doctors is Africa’s leading air ambulance and emergency evacuation provider, with more than 65 years of experience operating across East Africa’s remote and challenging environments. Based in Nairobi, it is trusted by safari operators, conservation groups, expatriates and international travellers across the region.
Do I need to register or pay anything to activate the cover?
No. The cover applies automatically to every Sense of Adventure booking for the full duration of your safari. Just book your trip as normal. It does help to share your travel insurance details, an emergency contact and any medical conditions with us before you arrive, so we can plan sensibly.
What happens if I need to be evacuated?
Your guide or camp contacts the AMREF Flying Doctors response centre, which is staffed day and night. Medical and aviation teams plan the safest response, a specialised aircraft collects you from the nearest suitable airstrip, and you are flown to the nearest appropriate medical facility for treatment.
Does AMREF Flying Doctors cover pay my hospital bills?
No. The cover handles the evacuation itself: getting you from a remote safari location to the nearest appropriate medical facility. Hospital treatment, stays and any flight home are for your own travel insurance, which is why we ask every guest to travel with a comprehensive policy.
