Experiencing Nairobi’s Colourful Bus Culture

One of the best ways to travel like a local and experience the vibrancy of Nairobi is by taking a Matatu – privately owned minibuses that transports most commuters around the city. Often colourfully decorated and painted, Matatus zoom around Nairobi blaring loud dance music and Kiswahili banter, providing an exciting transit adventure.

As you weave your way through the chaotic streets, each Matatu has a different look, vibe and personality. You’ll see buses with intricate graffiti, famous faces like Bob Marley, even neon lights and brightly coloured fabrics lining the ceilings. The conductor leans halfway out the Matatu door, calling out the destinations to potential passengers as the bus speeds along.

Once aboard, you’ll likely be packed in tight as people are constantly hopping on and off, the Matatu rarely coming to a full stop. The conductor dances down the aisle collecting fares as the driver navigates expertly, knowing the intricate routes and streets like the back of his hand.

Struck-up conversations easily, you’ll meet locals happy to talk about their city and lives. The rowdy guys at the back blast music videos on their phones, singing along loudly to the latest Kenyan pop hit. Everyone sways and bobs to the infectious beats as the Matatu bumps along.

You can try flagging down a Matatu anywhere along a route, but be prepared for an exhilarating ride! While it may seem chaotic and even scary to first-timers, locals use these shared buses daily, relying on the extensive Matatu routes that spread across Nairobi.

So leave your Uber behind for a day and step aboard one of these iconic East African buses. Joyriding through the pulsing capital aboard colourful Matatus, blaring tunes is one of the best ways to dive into local culture and see Nairobi from a totally different, vibrant perspective. It likely will be a transit ride you won’t soon forget!