Taxi, Matatus, Danfo: How do you call public transport mini-van in your country?

As a new tourist visiting an African country, it might be overwhelming at first. There’s an order to the chaos that is public transport in Africa, whether or not you can see it initially.

Public transport comes in all forms, from buses, mini-buses, Toyota HiAce vans, repurposed trucks, and everything in between. A number of countries label them the generic bus or taxi. A taxi might mean the Uber sort of arrangement or a 14-seater mini-van.

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Funmi Oyatogun who identifies herself as a vibrant explorer and travel entrepreneur took the time to draw up an infographic depicting the varied names the minivan takes on depending on which country you’re in.

Public transport in Africa
1.       Algeria – Taxis collectifs28.   Liberia – Bus
2.       Angola – Candonguiero29.   Libya – Iveco/Public Bus
3.       Benin – Bush taxi30.   Madagascar – Taxi Be
4.       Botswana – Combi31.   Malawi – Bus
5.       Burkina Faso – Bush taxi32.   Mali – Sotraka
6.       Burundi – Bus33.   Mauritania – Bus
7.       Cabo Verde – Aluguer/Yasi34.   Mauritius – Bus
8.       Cameroon – Taxi bus35.   Morocco – Bus
9.       Central African Republic (CAR) – Bus36.   Mozambique – Chapa
10.   Chad – Bush taxi37.   Namibia – Combi
11.   Comoros – Taxi brousse38.   Niger – Bush taxi
12.   Congo, Democratic Republic of the – Foula foula39.   Nigeria – Danfo
13.   Congo, Republic of the – Foula foula40.   Rwanda – Twegerane
14.   Cote d’Ivoire – Gbaka41.   Sao Tome and Principe
15.   Djibouti – Bus42.   Senegal – Car rapide
16.   Egypt – Microbus43.   Seychelles – Bus
17.   Equatorial Guinea – Bus44.   Sierra Leone – Poda Poda
18.   Eritrea – Bus45.   Somalia – Bus
19.   Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) – Taxi bus46.   South Africa – Taxi
20.   Ethiopia – Blue Donkey47.   South Sudan – Hafla
21.   Gabon – Taxi bus48.   Sudan – Hafla
22.   Gambia – Bus49.   Tanzania – Dala dala
23.   Ghana – Trotro/Trosky50.   Togo – Bush taxi
24.   Guinea – Magbana51.   Tunisia – Louage
25.   Guinea-Bissau – Toca Toca52.   Uganda – Taxi
26.   Kenya – Matatu53.   Zambia – Bus
27.   Lesotho – Taxi bus54.   Zimbabwe – Kombi

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