No description of traveling in Kenya would be complete without a picture of a MATATU. It's absolutely amazing to see how many people get jammed into these things all the time! Here's what the website Global Literacy Project says about them:

You may have to ride a "MATATU" if you go to Kenya (or any of it's neighbors). You will never forget the experience. Why? Well, you can't really understand it if you don't ride it. I mean, we can say that "MATATU" means "taxi" in Swahili but anyone who's been to Kenya and traveled in a matatu knows that that really doesn't sum up the experience of riding in one.


But what is a matatu? A matatu is usually a minibus or some such form of public transportation in Kenya. Away from the cities, the matatu transforms into a pickup truck, with a cover on the bed. For a few shillings a piece, as many people as the driver can convince to squeeze in (or "cram in" if we're going to be honest), with their baggage, and perhaps some livestock, can get a ride to where-ever they're going.

Usually baggage is placed on top along with animals such as perhaps some chickens. A matatu is finally full when you have several people hanging out the back door.

The reason for all of this, of course, is because most Kenyans are quite poor and transportation is expensive, so this is how working people attempt to cut down on cost. Matatu, Matatu.

A timetable does not exist. You leave when the driver decides that the vehicle is full. Hakuna matata - no problem!