Top Gear Botswana Cars -

Leaving the salt pans, the route headed into the Kalahari. Here, the challenge wasn't getting stuck, but surviving the environment. The cars had to navigate dense bush, fighting against thorns that shredded tires and overheating engines.

It was during this leg that the Lancia finally began to die. The heat was too much. Yet, in a display of mechanical sympathy that defied logic, Clarkson managed to keep it running. He famously discovered that the car would only start if he poured water over the starter motor, a routine he performed daily.

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Conclusion: Suitable mainly for paved or well-maintained gravel roads; not recommended as primary overland vehicle in remote Botswana.

If you’re planning a real Botswana trip, take a W123 Mercedes, old Toyota Hilux, or Land Rover Defender – not a Lancia.

Botswana Special (Series 10, Episode 4) is legendary for proving that cheap, two-wheel-drive "bangers" could survive 1,000 miles across some of Africa's most punishing terrain. The Core Trio

The presenters were given £1,500 to buy cars that were NOT designed for off-roading. 1963 Opel Kadett ("Oliver") : Driven by Richard Hammond. Performance

: The "hero" of the trip. Due to its extreme lightness, it skipped across the Makgadikgadi salt pans while the others sank.

: Hammond loved it so much he shipped it back to the UK, where it has since undergone multiple restorations and still appears on his DriveTribe 1985 Mercedes-Benz 230E : Driven by James May. Performance

: Chosen for its legendary African durability. It survived the trip with relatively few mechanical failures compared to the others, though it did require significant weight-shedding (stripping doors and glass) to cross the salt pans. 1981 Lancia Beta Coupé : Driven by Jeremy Clarkson. Performance

: Infamously unreliable. It suffered from constant electrical issues, broken dials, and total brake failure by the end of the trip.

: Long thought lost or crushed, it was recently rediscovered by fans on blocks in a yard in Botswana. The Backup & Support The Volkswagen Beetle

: This was the "backup" car if any presenter's car failed. Because the trio hated the Beetle, they were highly motivated to keep their own cars running. Ironically, the Beetle completed the entire journey without a single breakdown. Production Vehicles

: The crew used much more practical vehicles to film, including Toyota Land Cruisers Land Rover Defenders , which are generally the recommended vehicle types for actual travel in the region. Survival Modifications To survive the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans top gear botswana cars

, the cars had to be stripped of all "unnecessary" weight to prevent them from breaking through the thin salty crust into the "primeval ooze" below.

Botswana Special (Series 10, Episode 4) is widely regarded as one of the show's greatest moments, marking their first major international "special" where the trio attempted to cross 1,000 miles of rugged terrain in cheap, two-wheel-drive cars. The Iconic Cars

The presenters were challenged to prove that people don't need massive SUVs for tough environments by purchasing cars for less than £1,500. Richard Hammond's 1963 Opel Kadett ("Oliver

"): Perhaps the most famous car in the show's history, Hammond became so attached to this tiny yellow car that he actually named it " ". Despite nearly sinking in a river crossing,

survived the trip and was later shipped back to the UK by Hammond.

Jeremy Clarkson's 1981 Lancia Beta Coupé: True to his "power" philosophy, Clarkson chose a car known for being both beautiful and notoriously unreliable. It suffered constant mechanical failures and required significant weight stripping—including removing its doors—to survive the Makgadikgadi salt pans.

James May's 1985 Mercedes-Benz 230E: May chose a car legendary for its German engineering and durability. While it lacked the flair of the others, it was arguably the most practical choice for the grueling desert and bush terrain. Interesting Facts & Controversy

Environmental Impact: The episode faced criticism from conservationists who claimed the tyre tracks left across the "pristine wilderness" of the Makgadikgadi salt pans would remain visible for decades. The "Scrap" Cars

: Per show rules, if any car broke down beyond repair, the presenter had to drive a "backup" car—a Volkswagen Beetle

. All three hosts found this prospect so "humiliating" that they worked tirelessly to keep their original cars running.

Full Circle: Nearly two decades later, in the final episode of The Grand Tour ("One for the Road"), the trio returned to Botswana and were reunited with the original Lancia and Mercedes, which were still sitting by the side of the road where they had been left.

For more detailed breakdowns of the show's best vehicles, you can check out lists like HotCars' Best Special Cars or dive into the fan discussions on the Top Gear Reddit. Top Gear's top international gaffes - BBC News

The Top Gear Botswana Special (Series 10, Episode 4), originally aired in 2007, marked a turning point for the show as its first "Special" to follow the format of buying used cars for a cross-country trek. The episode was designed to disprove the idea that modern SUVs are necessary for light off-roading by challenging the hosts to cross 1,000 miles of African terrain in cheap, two-wheel-drive cars. The Presenters' Vehicles Leaving the salt pans, the route headed into the Kalahari

Each presenter was given a budget of £1,500 to purchase a car that had no off-road pedigree. 1963 Opel Kadett

(Richard Hammond): Nicknamed "Oliver," this car became a fan favorite. Hammond chose it for its simplicity, though it initially suffered from a leaking fuel tank and brakes that only worked on one wheel. It was the only car not to be significantly modified or "lightened" to cross the salt pans. 1985 Mercedes-Benz 230E

(James May): May selected the Mercedes because it was a vehicle "Africa favored and loved". Known for its durability and old-school German engineering, it quietly completed the journey with minimal issues compared to the others. 1981 Lancia Beta Coupé

(Jeremy Clarkson): Clarkson chose the Lancia based on the brand's rally heritage. It was the most unreliable vehicle of the trio, suffering from broken dials, failed components, and frequent starting issues that famously caused "African Stig" to walk away from it during a lap test. The Back-Up Car

If a presenter's car broke down and could not be repaired, they were forced to drive the Volkswagen Beetle

. This was chosen because it is the presenters' collective "least favorite car of all time". Journey and Challenges

The route spanned 1,000 miles from the border of Zimbabwe to the border of Namibia.

Makgadikgadi Salt Pans: The cars had to cross one of the world's largest salt flats. To prevent breaking through the thin crust into the mud beneath, the hosts stripped their cars of all non-essential weight, including interior trim and even doors.

Okavango Delta: The final leg required driving through the brush of the delta, facing threats from local wildlife and deep water crossings. Legacy of the Cars The Botswana Adventure Part 1 | Top Gear

The Top Gear Botswana Special (Series 10, Episode 4) is widely regarded as the episode that defined the "special" format: three cheap, two-wheel-drive cars attempting to cross a country to prove they are better than expensive SUVs. The Lineup: Three Unlikely Heroes

Tasked with finding a car for less than £1,500 that had no off-road pedigree, the trio selected three very different machines:

Richard Hammond’s 1963 Opel Kadett ("Oliver"): Hammond chose this small, lightweight car for its simplicity. He famously fell in love with it, shouting "Oliver!" whenever it faced peril. It was the only car of the three that didn't have its weight stripped to cross the salt flats. Jeremy Clarkson’s 1981 Lancia Beta Coupé

: Clarkson chose a Lancia because the brand was legendary in rallying. However, this specific model was an automatic and plagued by reliability issues, breaking down almost immediately at the start of the journey. James May’s 1985 Mercedes-Benz 230E The Botswana Special is frequently voted by fans

: May banked on German engineering and the Mercedes' reputation for being "the car of Africa." Despite its age and being rear-wheel drive, it proved remarkably resilient throughout the 1,000-mile trek. The Backup: Volkswagen Beetle

: In a running gag for the special, the producers provided a Beetle as a backup car. Because the trio hated it, they were highly motivated to keep their original cars running to avoid having to drive it. The Journey: 1,000 Miles of Punishment

The mission was to drive from Botswana’s eastern border with Zimbabwe to its western border with Namibia, crossing some of the harshest terrain on Earth.

The Makgadikgadi Pan: One of the world's largest salt flats. To prevent their thin-tired cars from breaking through the "creme brulee" crust into the ooze below, the presenters had to strip their cars of almost all weight, including doors and interior panels.

The Kalahari Desert: A grueling test of cooling systems and suspension.

The Okavango Delta: The final push involved navigating through water and wildlife-rich terrain. Where are they now?

While many Top Gear cars are scrapped after filming, the Botswana trio had a different fate:

The Botswana Special is frequently voted by fans as the greatest Top Gear episode ever made. There are several reasons for this:

| Presenter | Car | Key Weakness | Reason It Survived/Failed | |------------|-----|--------------|----------------------------| | Jeremy Clarkson | 1985 Lancia Beta Coupé (2000 IE) | Rust, electrics, everything | Died quickly (failed brakes, electrics, gearbox). Repaired with a welded diff, but caught fire. | | Richard Hammond | 1981 Opel Kadett (Vauxhall Astra mk1) | Rust, cooling, head gaskets | Surprisingly tough. Only needed minor fixes; finished the trip. | | James May | 1985 Mercedes-Benz 230E (W123) | Boring, heavy, slow | Winner. Indestructible. Cruise control worked perfectly. Only got stuck in deep mud (pulled out by the Opel). |

In a move that baffled his co-hosts, Hammond bought a beige 1963 Opel Kadett. It was boxy, slow, and seemingly the least capable off-roader imaginable. Clarkson and May mocked him relentlessly, calling it "boring." However, the Kadett was built with simple, agricultural toughness. It was light, easy to fix, and unburdened by complex electronics. Hammond named the car "Oliver," and over the course of the trip, a genuine love affair blossomed between man and machine.

The challenge was deceptively simple: Buy a car for no more than £1,500 that represents the "soul of motoring." Drive it from the Botswana/Zimbabwe border, across the brutal, waterlogged flats of the Okavango Delta, and finish 1,000 miles later at the Makgadikgadi Pan.

Forced to live without support crews or modern 4x4s, the trio picked three vehicles that, on paper, were spectacularly bad choices for Africa.