While many foreigners working in Afghanistan seek to fly whenever possible, there is nothing like a road trip to keep in touch with one’s surroundings.
Some routes are simply too dangerous to travel, such as the road from Kabul to Kandahar, in the south. If you’re planning to head out on a safer route, take precautions.
Never tell anyone outside your circle what time you plan to leave. Be vague, yet keep those you trust informed, and confirm safe arrival. Leave early in the morning, when there is the most traffic. Take a battered-looking vehicle. Make sure your driver is trusted and, if possible, a relative of any Afghans you work with. This places the responsibility for your security on their families. Don’t linger along the way. Don’t take the bus.
