 Getting around in a West and Central Africa bush taxi
Added: 03/27/2006 |
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Traveling for the sake of traveling and seeing as much of this kaleidoscope of a world we all live in is about all the reason that people need to travel. Variation is the inspiration. It's amazing at just how different and at the same time how similar life is across the globe. It's a great feeling to know this first hand.
West Africa and Central Africa with all their known mystic, alluring place names and sense of adventure are somewhat forgotten, or perhaps just ignored. If you plan on spending more than a week in the country, get a regional guide at the very least and a country guide if you can get it. This will help you to know what to expect and provide you with outlines on history, people, environment, religion, wildlife and of course, transportation. There are many forms of overland transport in West and Central Africa, but none more common and unique to these parts of the world than the West Africa or Central Africa bush taxi or taxi brousse. Bush taxis are always private and are effectively small buss, but rarely it's the driver who owns the vehicle. Almost without exception a West and Central Africa bush taxi will leave when full (or when all seats are sold) not by a timetable. Depending on the popularity of the route this can take half an hour or even several days. If you are early you can choose where you sit, late comers have no choice - sitting in the front is the best and worst is the back and the side with no shade is not very good either. If a Central or West Africa bush taxi looks like it is going to get uncomfortable full or take ages to fill you can buy extra seats at the same price of one or even charter the whole thing. In some cases you are going to be asked for more money for a big bag. On some occasions when the bush taxi is taking forever to fill up some passengers will club together to buy remaining seats and get going. If this happens or you personally buy an extra seat, don't expect a discount. Best get a West and Central Africa bush taxi early in the morning or on a market day. There are a few different types of bush taxis in Africa. They are normally Peugeot 504, or at least the main type anyone would take, over mini-buses or pick-ups. The quality of these vehicles ranges from whimsically forlorn to past belief. In any case, the state of West and Central Africa bush taxi will be the most entertaining experience of your day. Sometimes mini-buses are used as big bush taxis, they are cheaper and sometimes more comfortable, but take longer and are rarer. Much more common are pick-ups with wooden seats and after a few hours you would rather be walking. They take about 16 passengers and a lot of luggage. Traveling on a West and Central Africa bush taxi is pretty unpleasant, but sometimes it's your only option.
A Peugeot 504 has three rows of seats and is designed to take seven plus the driver. The quality of the car will affect the comfort, but on the whole long trips are very uncomfortable and the front seat even shared is the best place. If you worry about safety perhaps just don't go for the ride, doors won't open, tyres are bald, and there is normally a hole in the floor somewhere. Drivers vary, some dangerous, some not. The bush taxi is being replaced more and more by minibuses, it costs a little expensive than the bus, but in both cases, they bush taxis are always overloaded. Minibuses and bush taxis operate between N'Djaména and Kousséri in Cameroon.
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