Is the Jeep Tour in Side Safe? What the Record Says
We are not going to tell you a mountain track is risk-free, and we are not going to quote statistics nobody has. What we can do is set out how the day is run and what you should tell us before you climb in.
Short answer
A professional driver has the wheel of each jeep, by day and on the night safari; guests never drive. The tracks are bumpy in places, the jeeps cross dry riverbeds and streams, and in summer they run open-top. Anyone with a back or neck problem, a pregnancy or limited mobility should tell us before boarding: the operator decides whether you can travel safely. The night safari is not suitable for limited mobility.
Who is at the wheel
Each open-top 4x4 in the convoy of the Side jeep tour has its own professional driver, and that is the only person who drives it. There is no self-drive version of any tour on this site, no chance to take the wheel for a stretch, and no exception for guests with a licence. The same applies on the evening run to the water. The off-road guide describes what those drivers actually cover.
What the day does to a passenger
- Past the old Roman bridge the road surface gives way to rough tracks, and those shake you about in places.
- The convoy crosses dry riverbeds and runs through stream crossings, which throw water up.
- In summer the jeeps are open-top: sun, wind and some dust come with the seat, and water flies between the vehicles on purpose.
- In winter the roof goes on, and nobody throws water.
- You climb in and out of the jeep at every stop, and the day lasts about 8 hours.
None of this is hidden or unusual for a jeep tour, but it is real. Judge the day by it, not by a brochure.
Tell us before you board
The booking terms ask for three things to be mentioned before the jeep leaves: a back or neck problem, a pregnancy, or limited mobility. Write it in the notes when you book, or send it on WhatsApp before the day. The operator then decides whether you can travel safely, and that decision stands on the day.
We do not give medical advice and we cannot tell you a condition will be fine. If you are unsure, ask your own doctor before the holiday, then let us know what they said.
The night safari is stricter
The evening tour adds boarding and leaving a catamaran to the jeep leg, so the operator's record rules it out for anyone with limited mobility. It also takes guests aged 12 and over only. If either applies to someone in your party, a day tour is the option to look at. The night safari page sets out the evening in full.
Children on the tracks
Children travel with an adult, and those under 2 ride free on the day tours. A bumpy, open jeep is a different thing for a toddler than for a teenager, so read the children's guide before you book for a small one. If anyone is nervous rather than unwell, first time, or an older guest walks through the morning step by step.
