In the global rush to build highways, rails, ports, and smart logistics apps, one piece of the infrastructure puzzle remains underestimated — and massively underbuilt: truck stops. In Africa, where road transport still accounts for over 80% of cargo movement, truck stops are not just rest areas. They’re critical economic hubs, safety nets, and social anchors for the very people who keep Africa’s goods moving — truck drivers .And yet, across thousands of kilometers of trade corridors, proper truck stops are few and far between. This is the opportunity — and it's one investors, development actors, and local governments need to seriously consider.
At first glance, truck stops look like simple parking yards with toilets and food. But in reality, they offer far more:
In many ways, truck stops are the first line of defense in building a safer, more efficient, and more dignified logistics industry.
Truck stops don’t just protect drivers — they protect communities too.In places like Nakuru County, authorities are investigating the rise of exploitative and illegal activities involving truck drivers in roadside environments — including cases linked to child trafficking and sexual exploitation. When truckers are forced to rest in unguarded, roadside lay-bys, the risk of predatory or exploitative behavior rises — both for the drivers themselves and for vulnerable communities nearby. Truck stops offer a structured, managed, and secure alternative — removing temptation, creating boundaries, and offering a healthier lifestyle for drivers. By creating designated, well-managed stops with basic rules, lighting, and security, truck stops become instruments of social order, not just economic infrastructure.
Health is another hidden benefit of a well-designed truck stop.
Many African drivers suffer from:
Modern truck stops can help reverse this by offering:
These initiatives not only improve the lives of drivers, but also reduce accidents, downtime, and absenteeism — making them good for business and good for society.
Truck stops are no longer a side note in logistics.
They are central to how trade, safety, health, and dignity intersect on African highways. By building them right — and running them well — we can:
The future of African logistics won’t be built by roads alone — it will be powered by the places where drivers rest, connect, and refuel.
At SAFARI, we don’t just operate truck stops — we bring them to life with tested systems that put safety, dignity, and community at the centre, while unlocking real commercial value for our partners.
We invite forward-thinking investors, landowners, governments, and development partners to join us in scaling a truck stop model built for Africa — one that is financially sound, socially impactful, and ready to grow.
This is more than infrastructure. This is a movement. Let’s build it — together.
