Taxi Brousse

Alright, I'll admit it. There are some days when I ask myself what in the world I'm doing. But then I laugh and realize I can't wait to start this crazy journey. Lately I've been soaking up information about Mauritania and West Africa anywhere I can find it. Trying to do as much research as I can before I go because I intend to do alot of traveling while I'm over there. My motto - if you are thousands of miles away from home, travel to as many countries as you can because chances are you might not have the chance again. This one particular piece of 'travel advice' made me giggle because I have read many accounts about these bush taxis or taxi brousse. I know I'll have my own experiences in the bush taxis to share once I'm over there but for now, those willing to come visit me...you might want to think twice and meet me in Spain :)

From Travel Independent

http://travelindependent.info/africa-west.htm
Getting around: There are many forms of overland transport in West Africa, but none more common and unique to this part of the world than the bush taxi or taxi brousse - a form of shared transport in a car. Bush taxis are always private, but rarely does the driver own the vehicle, and are effectively a small bus. Almost without exception a bush taxi will leave when full (or when all seats are sold) not by a timetable. Depending on the popularity of the route this can take half an hour or even several days. If you are early you can choose where you sit, late comers have no choice - sitting in the front is the best and worst is the back (the side with no shade is also pretty bad). If a bush/private taxi looks like it is going to get uncomfortably full or will take ages to fill up with all the required passengers, you can buy extra seats at the same price of one or even charter the whole thing. In some cases you are going to be asked for more money for a big bag. On some occasions when the taxi is taking ages to fill up some passengers will club together to buy remaining seats and get going. If this happens or you personally buy an extra seat, don't expect a discount - time is not money in West Africa. Best get a bush taxi early in the morning or on a market day. There are a few different types of bush taxi in West Africa, most a moving form of torture.

Bush taxis are normally Peugeot 504s (that have been made in Nigeria or driven from France), or at least the main type anyone with any sense/money would take, over mini-buses or pick-ups. The quality of these vehicles ranges from whimsically forlorn to past belief. In fact the state of bush taxis in West Africa will probably be your most entertaining experience each day.
A Peugeot 504 or cent-quatre as they are known have three rows of seats and are designed to take seven plus the driver, but in many countries this is flagrantly flaunted. Mali springs to mind where the driver plus nine is the norm and even worse in Guinea they go for ten plus! Normally the wealthier the country the less people they squeeze in. The quality of the car will affect the comfort, but on the whole even with seven in the car (three in each row and one in the front) long trips are very uncomfortable and the front seat even if shared is the best place. If you worry about safety perhaps just don't go to West Africa, doors won't open, tyres are bald, there is normally a hole in the floor somewhere. Drivers vary, some dangerous, some okay.

Sometimes mini-buses are used as big bush taxis, these are cheaper and sometimes more comfortable, but take longer and are rarer. Much more common are pick-ups (bâchés). With wooden seats, these are so past 2nd class that after a few hours you would rather be walking (you sometimes figure you would get there faster - bâchés are slow and take a lot of time at road blocks). They take about 16 passengers and a lot of luggage. Without beating around the bush: travelling on all the above is pretty unpleasant, but none more so that a bâchés and sometimes they are the only option. Best advice, just remember a bad day travelling is better than a good day at work! (or so they say). Remember you're in Africa, get in to the local humour and as your arse slams onto the hard wooden bench as the pick-up hits a huge pot hole, a chicken bites your leg and a bag of millet land on you just think.......