Is buggy safari Side safe? An honest starting point
Driving a buggy over dirt, dust and uneven ground is an adventure activity. The vehicle bumps and shakes, it can slide on loose surfaces and you share the track with other drivers. Anyone who promises that such a ride carries no risk at all is not being straight with you, so we do not make that promise.
What we can do is describe exactly what happens at the base and on the route, so you can judge for yourself whether it suits you, your partner or your teenagers. Everything on this page comes from the operator's own programme for the Side course. Where something is not on record, such as a top speed, we say nothing rather than guess.
Two briefings before anyone drives
After arrival and registration, every guest goes through an information briefing. Topics: the buggy and its controls, the route ahead, how the convoy of guests is arranged, what rules apply, how stopping works and what lies in store along the way.
A separate safety briefing follows. Drivers and passengers both attend, and it deals with the points below. A vehicle explanation then shows each driver the controls in person.
- how the vehicle controls work
- following the guide at all times
- keeping a safe distance
- the rules on overtaking
- the rules on stopping
- driving at an appropriate speed
- how the group is organised
- protective equipment
- what to do in an emergency
- listening to the guide's instructions
The helmet, and what we do not claim
A helmet is provided and included in the price, and it is worn for the whole safari by drivers and passengers alike. You will be shown how it should sit before you set off.
You will notice in our photos that tubes form a frame running round and above where you sit. We mention it because it is what you see, not because we make any claim about what it does. We publish no safety rating for the vehicle, no speed figure and no technical specification, because none is on record for this site.
The practice drive: a real assessment
Every driver completes a compulsory practice drive before the main route. The guide watches how each person handles the controls, follows signals and stops when asked, and only the guide settles who steers on the main loop. It is not a box-ticking exercise and not everyone is waved through.
If the guide is not comfortable with someone's driving, or the guest decides they would rather not drive, that guest covers the whole loop seated beside a driver, paying €15, not €30. The day goes on; only the seat changes.
A guide-led route, driven as a group
On the main safari, a guide leads and the group follows. The route is the 18 km Short route across an off-road course that the operator runs privately, set inland from the coast at Side in the Manavgat district. Along it: forest tracks, dirt roads, dust, rough patches, a few small streams to cross and water-splash stops, and mud when conditions allow. Nobody heads off on their own, and nothing takes place on public roads.
The rules you heard in the safety briefing apply all the way round: keep your distance, follow the guide, stop when told and drive at an appropriate speed for the ground. Professional guidance on the route is part of what is included, together with insurance where applicable under the operating policy.
Rules that apply to every guest
Some conditions are not negotiable. Anyone under the influence of alcohol or drugs takes no part at all, whether as a driver or a passenger. Drivers must be 16 or above, and an ID shown at registration confirms it. Passengers ride from the age of 6, always with a driver, and children under 6 cannot be booked.
Footwear matters too. Closed shoes or trainers are recommended, and flip-flops are not suitable for driving, because you need a firm feel for the pedals.
One more point is easy to overlook: you can change your mind. A driver who feels uneasy at any stage can tell the guide, and a guest who arrives and decides the ride is not for them is not pushed into it. Being honest with the guide about how you feel is part of how the day is kept under control.
Who should ask us before booking
The safari is not suitable during pregnancy. If you have back or neck problems, ask us first: the buggy shakes on rough ground, and the passenger seat may suit you better. Please also get in touch first after recent surgery or if you have a heart condition.
This is guidance rather than medical advice. If you are in doubt about your own health, speak to a medical professional, then put your question to us on WhatsApp (+90 536 603 75 84) before you reserve. There is no online payment to undo: you pay on the tour day, and withdrawing costs nothing as long as it is at least 48 hours before the start.