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Kenya
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Kenya\’s long distance coaches have locally built bodies. Each body is completely hand built and unique, as bodybuilders use all their fantasy to produce an eye-catching design. However, comfort and driving qualities are rather mediocre. This coach, probably a Nissan with Banbros bodywork, belongs to Maningo and is seen in Nairobi\’s city centre in April 1997. © John Veerkamp
Apart from mid sized buses providing an extensive inter-city bus service in Kenya (the railways there are virtually non existent, save for the Nairobi to Mombassa tourist train), medium to short distance bus routes are served by these mini buses, called ‘matatu’s. Here is a Nairobi bound matatu waiting to fill up at Narok. © S. Shankar
Here is another ‘matatu’ or mini-bus in Narok, Kenya. Most matatus appeared to be Toyoto Hiace vehicles. All matatus are identified by a thick yellow band running right round, which separates them from the numerous safari mini bus vehicles running all around the region. © S. Shankar
Matatus, matatus and still more matatus in Kenya. Although there is no train service worth the name in Kenya, the train station is a major pick up point for buses and matatus in Nairobi. Here is a cluster of matatus (mini buses) creating true traffic chaos outside Nairobi\’s train station. I saw very few large buses in Kenya: it it was not a mini bus (matatu), then it was a mini-truck LCV converted into a bus, like the chocolate coloured Isuzu you see at the extreme left. Several buses were built right on LCV chassis, and bore funky colours like lime green (as you can see elsewhere in this picture), orange, electric blue etc. (Nov. 2010). © S. Shankar
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