Where the buggy practice drive in Side fits into the day
Nobody climbs into a buggy and heads straight for the forest tracks. At the base things run in a set sequence. You arrive and register, sit through an information session and a safety briefing, have the vehicle explained, take the practice drive, receive the guide's verdict, and only after all that set off on the 18 km route.
By the time you turn the wheel for the first time, you have already heard how the controls work, how the group is organised and what the stopping rules are. The practice drive is where that information stops being theory. It is your first chance to feel how the automatic buggy responds to the pedals and the steering, with a guide close by.
What the guide is looking for
The assessment is not a test of speed or style. A guide wants to see that each driver listens, reacts and stays in control. In plain terms, these are the things that tend to matter:
- You follow the guide's hand signals and spoken instructions straight away.
- You use the accelerator and brake smoothly rather than in sudden jabs.
- You keep the buggy where you intend it to be on uneven ground.
- You stop when asked and keep a sensible gap to the vehicle ahead.
- You stay calm if the buggy bumps or slides a little.
Why the practice drive is compulsory for everyone
It applies to every driver without exception, whether they have driven cars for decades or have never sat behind a wheel. Experience on tarmac says little about how someone handles loose dirt, dust and the odd stream crossing, and the only fair way to find out is to watch each person drive.
There is a practical reason too. The main safari is guide-led and moves as a group, so one driver who cannot stop on time or ignores signals affects everyone behind them. Checking each driver beforehand is part of how the guide organises the route, and it is why the session is never treated as a formality.
Once the guide has seen every driver, the assessment is done and the group sets off on the main safari behind the guide. Helmets stay on from this point until the route is finished. Because the practice drive takes place within the day's programme, it is already counted in the approximate 4–4.5 hours door to door; you do not need to plan any extra time for it.
If the guide says you are not ready
What the guide decides stands, and it weighs the whole group's ride as well as yours. If you are asked to swap to the passenger seat, you still ride the full route, simply with someone else steering, and you are charged the passenger fare. A driver pays €30 and a passenger €15.
The same option is open if you decide yourself that driving is not for you. Plenty of people discover during practice that they would rather enjoy the scenery and the splashes from the passenger side, and nobody's day ends because of it. If you already suspect this before you book, the driver or passenger guide can help you choose.
Passengers during the practice drive
Passengers do not need to practise anything, because they never take the controls. Whether a passenger sits in the buggy while their driver practises is decided by the guide at the base on the day, so please follow the instructions you are given there.
Passengers still attend the briefings. They hear the same rules on stopping, group organisation and emergency procedures, and they wear a helmet for the whole safari just like the driver.
How to prepare so the practice drive goes smoothly
There is nothing to study in advance, but a few small things help. Wear closed shoes or trainers, because flip-flops are not suitable for working the pedals. Arrive sober, as anyone under the influence of alcohol or drugs is not allowed to take part at all. Bring the ID you need as proof of age if you are driving.
Most of all, listen during the briefings. The vehicle explanation covers the controls you will use, and the guide's instructions during practice make far more sense if you have paid attention a few minutes earlier. If you have never driven before, our page on driving an automatic buggy explains what the pedals and wheel feel like for a beginner.
Booking with the practice drive in mind
When you reserve, you choose how many drivers and passengers you are. Book anyone aged 16 or over who wants to drive as a driver; you can always switch to the passenger seat on the day if the practice drive does not go to plan. Money changes hands only on the tour day, never online, and calling it off costs nothing until 48 hours ahead. Questions about your group can go to WhatsApp on +90 536 603 75 84.