The Ubiquitous Bajaj

  Anyone who’s explored Ethiopia beyond Addis Ababa — either with Jacaranda Tours or on your own —has no doubt come in contact with a strange creature called the “bajaj”.

For those of you who don’t recognize the term, a bajaj is a three-wheeled scooter that substitutes for a taxi that roams smaller Ethiopian cities and much of the countryside. One of the easiest means for a local person to participate in the cash economy, the vehicles are often garishly decorated by their drivers or owners.

True to its name, the three-wheelers are manufactured in India by the Bajaj corporation — which also produces a wide range of motorcycles as well as an ultra-compact, four-wheeled sedan called the Qute.

Around the world, they are known by several names: tuk-tuk in Thailand and Cambodia, baby taxis in Bangladesh, auto rickshaw in India and bemo in Bali. You can actually buy them online at prices ranging from US$600 to $1,700.

While being trapped in a swarm of bajaj on an urban street can be quite a startling experience, they do provide a cheap, fast and convenient way to get around Ethiopian cities.