Getting Around an Eastern African City by Taxi

Getting around in the cities and villages of most East African countries is an experience in itself. In some areas, people are known to walk long distances to get from place to place. There are buses available but in most villages, towns, and cities, the most common form of public transportation is taxis.

Out in the villages taxis come in any sort of shape or size. They could be bicycles, motorcycles, scooters, or even horse drawn carriages and other creatures. In the cities, it is mainly automobiles. In most east African countries, these are cream vans, and small cars. In Ethiopia, they are all painted blue and white.

• You can hire a taxi (it is called special hire in Uganda) that would take you directly where you want to go for a negotiated price.

• Or you may go down to one of the many taxi parks around the cities and catch a ride with the taxi's there. The taxi's come and go like buses. Being in a taxi park is a sight to see in itself. There are a number of hawkers selling everything from snacks to gadgets to articles of clothing. And you had better keep an eye on your personal effects too. The whole operation is run a bit differently. It is more of an intuitive process rather than a scheduled mapped out process. Usually, there is no set time of departure. As soon as the seats are filled, the cab takes off.

If you are nowhere near the taxi parks then you may try flagging down a taxi. There are certain areas where people waiting for cabs. If you stay in a particular town for awhile you will soon figure it out. At those spots, which become fairly obvious in time, the taxi door would fling open and a boy or young man would yell out the final destination. When you get in the taxi, he would come and collect the fee from you. It is no more than a few local cents. When you want to get out, you have to tell the boy and he would alert the driver.

In certain places they really pack you in especially at certain times of the day, cab drivers want to make their money. Those with motor bikes are also prone to trying to get one more onto their load but it is becoming less common as they can lose a lot of money and possibly their license. Officials are becoming stricter about allowing such hazards on the streets so you most likely won't be put in this situation.

The difference between the drivers in east African countries is extreme and amusing. In Ethiopia, the drivers are very slow and careful because the road belongs to the pedestrian. There are times when the driver can stop in the middle of the road to have a conversation with someone in another car, all other cars following must wait patiently. However, in Kenya and Uganda, they can be extremely reckless with life, driving at top speed down the main roads disregarding the speed limit and scaring the pedestrians. (This is also being cracked down on and officers are taking action against these speeding drivers.)

The whole point of a taxi driver is to get as much money as he can to survive. The transportation is not really there for public service. When traveling in East Africa, be aware that approach may be a little different.