Car & Transportation
transportation
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Information Center > Car & Transportation > Transportation
Transportation
In Kenya, traffic is on the left hand side. And that's the only rule
that counts...
The paved roads are usually full of potholes, and are pretty hard
on the vehicle, and many expatriates go for the 4wd cars with high
clearance. You rarely need the 4wd, but if you also plan to visit
the National Parks on your own, you definitely need the high clearance!
Just driving around town it is nice to be seated high so you can overlook
the road, and better push your way forward in the peak hours of traffic.
You can drive all around Nairobi, but certain areas should be avoided
if you really don't have any business in the area. Especially at night
it is advised to be careful.
Bikes
Getting around town on a bicycle or motorbike is (of course) possible,
but not recommended! - You will find yourself squeezed out onto the
curb on the narrow roads or having difficulty keeping your balance
when flying over the many potholes.
Public transportation
The public transportation in the major cities is based on buses, and
the feared mini-buses, called matatus. Feared because they drive like
crazy, and are often involved in accidents. Both kind of buses have
numbers and follow certain routes around. Buses come around approx.
every 20-30 minutes and stop at designated bus stops, whereas matatus
go when they are full of passengers and will stop to pick you up/drop
you off wherever you like along the route. In town, buses and matatus
are cheap - Ksh. 20 to 100 depending of the distance you are going,
and time of day (most expensive during peak hours morning and afternoon).
Taxi
There are several taxi companies around Nairobi, as well as a lot
of small one-car enterprises (any car parked with a wooden sign on
the roof saying "taxi"). The private cars are cheapest, but in some
areas of town and especially in the dark hours, it is recommended
to use one of the major companies:
To go from Nairobi international airport to somewhere in town is around
Ksh. 1,400.
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