moto-taxi-ing around

Mototaxis in Gisenye

There are lots of ways to get around Kigali, but if you’re into stunning views, ridiculous fun, and willing to entertain the slight possibility of coming to a fiery demise, nothing beats taking motorcycle taxis everywhere. This has quickly become the preferred mode of transportation for our team whenever we don’t have a ton of stuff to carry.  A typical ride for me involves hurling through windy, hilly roads (the topography of Kigali is somewhat similar to San Francisco) with endless greenery and a wonderful sense of terror and abandon. As an extra perk, motos are also nimble enough to weave through rush hour traffic, though this definitely improves your chances of having a near-death experience.

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Some tips:

• Rates are negotiable. Most places in the city can be moto’d to for around $1 (~580 RWF), but the experience is always worth whatever you end up paying. As a comparison, buses are 180RWF per person, and car-taxis are 2000-3000 RWF (for up to four people).

• To ride like a local, keep your hands calmly in your lap–resist the urge to hold onto anything.
• To avoid scandal, wear pants or skirts of an appropriate length and swingy-ness.
• If you seem terrified, they will slow down…so keep that game face on.

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