Sigomere Tourist Traps

Be aware that as soon as people see your pretty white skin, the price can easily quaruple, particularly if you try and fix the price without local help. One example is Frederick, a local driver. My friends agreed two weeks' guaranteed work with him, to and from their house to the Health Centre where I was working. The agreed price was 500Ksh a day (around £5) with extra if I needed to travel to other towns. This rapidly went up to 800 per daily trip, then 500 each way. It got to be ridiculous at 1200 per day at which point I repeated AGAIN that I was on a tight budget and that Mzungus' money does not grow on trees. I cancelled the agreement and found a motorbike taxi at 100Ksh per trip which was within my budget.

As I drove past the taxi rank and spotted Frederick sitting around waiting for a fare, I waved gaily and yelled out *How's business Fred?*.

I must point out that this was not Fred's car, he paid the owner a fixed price every day and all extra money was his. I had also explained that he was quite free to pick up other fares as and when he found them, but that I was booking him for an 8.30am pickup and 4.00pm return journey. I would also use him for any shopping trips and give him adequate notice so that he would have plenty of time to meet the agreement.

This unfortunate practice of price hiking did not happen when I was eating out as the prices were on the wall of the cafe, nor did it happen when I was buying fruit. It DID, however, happen if I was buying the lessos (the colourful skirts the ladies wear) or any type of curio or souvenir. In which case, bargaining was the norm.

Unique Suggestions: Make it abundantly clear that you are not a millionaire (unless you are, of course) and that you have a tight budget. Explain about other costs you may have like getting home, hotel bills, transport, medical bills etc etc and take time to make it clear that at home, you are just an ordinary person on a fixed salary. Also mention how much it costs to go on Safari to the game lodges, the price of your air ticket, how much your clothes cost to buy. It will go a long way to dispel the myth that you have a couple of personal jumbo jets at home you are not telling anyone about.

Fun Alternatives: I'd borrow a bicycle if you are planning to hang around for a couple of weeks. Also invest in a stout chain and padlock (or bring one with you) so that your bike is not borrowed when you are not riding it. It will keep you fit and you can stick to your own time schedule.