Nairobi Matatu Affair – RY Marketplace
-Unforgettable matatu ride around town
-Behind the scenes look at how matatus are made
-Meet a graffiti artist
-Local lunch at a mall
Description
In Kenya, matatu or matatus (known as mathree in Sheng) are privately owned minibuses used as shared taxis. Often decorated, many matatu feature portraits of famous people or slogans and sayings. Likewise, the music they play is also aimed at quickly attracting riders. Over 70% of commuter trips are taken using matatu in cities like Nairobi.
They may ply set routes and run both inter and intra-city. They stop along said route to purchase or collect money from passengers. In addition to a driver, matatu may be staffed by a conductor, locally known as a makanga or manamba or donda.
As of 1999, they were the only form of public transport available in Nairobi, Kenya, although in from 2006 this was no longer the case. Over the years, stiff competition is being experienced from transport-sharing applications such as SWVL or Uber.
Who This Experience Is Good For
Everyone that enjoys immersing in new cultures and experiencing what locals live on an every day basis.
What’s Included
– Transport from Westlands to town and way back
– Gratuity for the Artist
– Matatu Fees
What’s Not Included
– Meals (bring your own snack on board the matatu – optional)
– Refreshments
Know Before You Go
– Minimum Needed: 10 people – Maximum Capacity: 32 people- Booking Deadline: 3 days in advance- Weather Dependent: No- Difficulty Level: Easy- Special Clothing Required: No- Special Dietary Restrictions: Self catering- Extra Cash: None- Accommodation: N/A – -Transportation: The matatu is a very local affair and can be loud. The seats are comfortable.
– Additional Information: n/a
What is the refund policy?
For questions concerning refunds, please email [email protected]. Please note most bookings made within 24 hours are fully refundable. Bookings made outside the 24 hour policy are not eligible for a refund. Please keep in mind, we will automatically refund bookings that are disrupted by extreme weather conditions, last minute cancellations from our suppliers or the minimum number is not met by the booking deadline.
What happens if my booking is changed/cancelled due to weather?
We’ll control the weather. Just kidding! Remote Year can’t control the weather or many other factors that go into planning events. In the event of a change due to weather, the City Manager will do their best to provide a make-up option. Due to last minute changes and busy monthly schedules, we cannot guarantee it works for everyone but we’ll do our best! If you are not able to attend the make-up date(s), we will fully refund your booking.
I have a discount or gift code, can I use it to complete my purchase?
Yes, once you add your item to your cart and check out, you will be able to input the code before completing the purchase. If you need help finding your code, please double check your inbox. You received an email from Marketplace with the code.
Can I book for a friend / family member?
Yes! We welcome your friends and family coming to visit you while you travel the world. Please refer to our Friends and Family policy: Friends & Family (visitors of active Remotes and active Citizens) may be granted access to private Remote Year events, Local Experiences, Side Trips, Community Events, Local Amenity and Services at an extra cost determined by the Marketplace or City Team. Remote Year reserves the right to deny access to Friends / Family who are over using Remote Year services. To avoid abuse of services, non-active Citizens, op-out Remotes, or Remotes who have left a Program can not use services as Friends & Family of Active Remotes or Active Citizens.
I haven’t received a booking confirmation email, can you help? If I cannot attend, can I transfer my ticket to someone else?
Yes, you may transfer your ticket to another Remote, Citizen or Family/Friend. Please notify the City Manager as soon as possible to confirm the change. Please note, in the case of special dietary requirements, we might not be able to accommodate special requests on last minute changes. Any bookings that require advanced ticketing linked to an individual’s ID might not be approved.
I’m not currently an active Remote Year participant, can I still book?
As a non-active Remote or Citizen, you forego access to any private Remote Year events including Core Experiences, Local Experiences, Community Events, Local Amenity and Services through the Marketplace. Exemptions will be made on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the City Manager.