What is this Flying Doctor? Something you buy in Kenya or here in the US? Jan--do you have SXS buy it for you? Our insurance covers out of country and evacuation and our luggage will be so minimal that to cover it would be silly. My main concern with Kenya is if some type of rebellion occurs and so the trip needs to be canceled.

As far as safety here in the US--you bet I would have concerns if I were coming as a visitor--I have them as a citizen. Where else in the world does everyone have the right to a gun and gun deaths are as common as theft. I can't imagine what Europeans think of this--well, since I have many friends in Europe, I do know.

Italy, Kipper? I love Italy and have never felt unsafe thereb(lived there for a while). Of course, we don't spend much time in the hills of Sicily.

Hi Jane: Just ask SXS to add Flying Doctors insurance for you. They will do so, and then on your arrival they will give you a packet including your Flying Doctors card.

Flying Doctors is an AMREF group out of Wilson Airport in Nairobi. They have planes of all sizes capable of flying into any place in Kenya. If I break my leg, get trampled by an elephant, have a heart attack, or just get very sick Flying Doctors will be called in, fly to the airstrip and take care of you and airlift you to Nairobi if necessary. For $25.00 it is well worth it. I've never needed their services, but the money we tourists pay goes to help Flying Doctors help indigenous people who need help also.

I wouldn't worry too much about rebellions and clashes. I was there during the clashes several years ago. The local tour operators know which roads are safe and which aren't. They won't take chances with you. Once you are in the parks you are safe. I would not advise walking around Nairobi though unless your driver/guide is with you. If you have an extra day in Nairobi you could go to the Giraffe Manor which your son would love - feeding the giraffe, Sheldrick Trust where the rescued orphaned elephants and hinos are, Kazuri Bead Factory (great deal - you pay about 15.00 for lovely necklaces that cost $80.00 here in the US) or Utamunduni (a great gift shop with snack bar). If you are shopping in those places you would want to have it at the end of your trip so you wouldn't have to carry things around with you.

Good comments - a lot of places are safe and unsafe.
As my friend Kipper says - is life not a risk?

You will find that a lot of safaris have the flying doctors insurance already covered but best to check.

Jane - if you have paid for your travels with Amex, you may find that all those who you have covered on the Amex card are insured anyway.

However best to check and maybe get insurance...

Thanx Jan and Cody. I have e-mailed Torben about the Flying Doctor Insurance. We paid with a visa that charges nothing extra for transactions out of the US. AmEx charges 3% as do most credit cards. I'll check to see what the card covers--I know that it does cover some things. Plus, our health insurance covers us but we need to pay and claim.

Visa does cover some parts of Insurances; depending on the Visa contract.
MasterCard and Visa usually is around 1.1% to 1.9% of the total amount spend (commission that the card company takes).
Amex is a minimum of 3% to 4% commission Amex takes from the company that is charging the transaction of your card. If your Amex card is part of Frequent flyers or if you collect airmiles - you will find that they cover travel insurance as well - but best to check.
Let us know if the insurance is extra -

Most visa cards here in the US now charge upwards of 3% for just charging to a foreign company--even if the charge is in dollars and even if the company has a local branch but its main office is outside the country. However, there are a couple cards that don't charge. We use one of those for all foreign transactions--saves us a lot. We do have a United affinity card which we use all the time here and our AmEx is affiliated with Starwood Properties (Sheraton,
Westin, Meriden, etc.) Most of these cards do have various types of protection but often with lots of strings attached.

The way the charges work here is that Visa or MC or AmEx tack on a 1% or more fee and then the issuing bank adds on an additional fee. The one we use not only does not charge extra but eats the visa fee.