The past month I have many experiences with African buses. A 7 hour ride from Kitale to Nairobi, Kenya. An 18 hour ride from Nairobi to Dar es Salam in Tanzania (which ps was supposed to be 10) and then another 8 hours on the way to Iringa. I think I can officially count myself an expert in the cramped, loud, smelly glory that is an African Bus Ride. So here it is. My top 5 lessons learned.
1. If the bus driver says he’s going to leave in 20 minutes, be there in 20 minutes. African time is a funny thing. Usually, when given a time by an African, you can estimate he or she really means at least 30 minutes after. This is not the case with a bus. True, sometimes it won’t leave on time, but sometimes it will. It’s best not to chance it, as I witnessed one mzungu racing after the bus.
2. When the bus stops, go pee. You never know when the next time will be so go. I have heard more than one story from fellow Racers of having to pee in soda bottles and Pringle cans. This may mean you have to pee behind a bush on the side of the road in Tanzania. Do it.
3. Look out the window. This is Africa. It is beautiful. So go ahead and look before you doze off. I’ve seen a herd of zebras, 2 herds of camels, 2 groups of giraffes and several elephants, all just chillaxing on the side of the road.
4. Have something to cover your face with. Here’s the thing about African roads…they aren’t really roads so much as dirt with holes every few feet. This makes for dusty traveling. So have some kind of bandana or shirt you don’t mind getting dirty to cover your nose and/or mouth and/or eyes and/or entire face with.
5. Buy groceries and snacks the day before. Sometimes you will stop at a legit eating establishment. Sometimes you won’t. Sometimes you will but you’ll only have 5 minutes. Regardless, it’s easiest to just buy something you know you’ll enjoy before you actually get on the bus. Otherwise, it will be peanuts and cookies for 12 hours. This will also give you more time to go pee (see lesson #2).
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