Top Gear Botswana Cars ((exclusive)) Jun 2026

Reviewers praise the special for its genuine sense of adventure and the rare emotional bond formed between the hosts and their "budget bangers". It transitioned the show from a standard motoring program to an iconic travelogue-comedy format.

Per the show's rules, if a presenter's car broke down beyond repair, they would be forced to drive the "backup" car—a Volkswagen Beetle

Richard Hammond selected a 1963 Opel Kadett, a tiny, lightweight German saloon that he instantly bonded with and affectionately named "Oliver." Specifications and Modifications : 1.0-liter inline-four Drive : Rear-wheel drive

The climax of the episode saw the trio racing against the sunset. Clarkson’s Lancia was held together with duct tape and hope, May’s Mercedes was cruising effortlessly, and Hammond was pushing the little Opel to its absolute limit. top gear botswana cars

Oliver was remarkably resilient, but the journey was not without drama. During a river crossing in the Okavango Delta, Oliver took on water, stalled, and sank to the riverbed. Hammond was genuinely devastated, but after being towed out and stripped down, the simple engine fired back to life.

Each presenter was given a budget of to buy a used car in Africa. The rules were strict: the vehicle had to be two-wheel drive and must not have been designed in any way for off-road use. Starting from the Botswana-Zimbabwe border (which, at the time, the BBC was banned from filming in), the trio had to drive 1,000 miles (1,600 km) across the spine of Africa to the Namibian border, traversing the brutal Makgadikgadi Salt Pans and the watery Okavango Delta.

It was heavy, slow, and lacked the agility of the other two cars. Reviewers praise the special for its genuine sense

The challenge? Buy a used car for £1,500 and drive 1,000 miles across the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans in Botswana. No support crew. No paved roads. Just heat, dust, lions, and the constant threat of mechanical death.

They had to drive 1,000 miles across treacherous terrain, including the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans and the Okavango Delta. The three vehicles chosen by the presenters became legends in their own right, proving that grit and simple engineering can triumph over the harshest environments on Earth. 1. Jeremy Clarkson’s 1981 Lancia Beta Coupé

Here’s a blog post draft tailored for car enthusiasts, travel lovers, and Top Gear fans. You can adjust the tone or add personal anecdotes as needed. Clarkson’s Lancia was held together with duct tape

True to his "Captain Slow" persona, James chose a Mercedes-Benz 230E. Known for their "over-engineered" build quality, the W123 Mercedes was the logical choice for African terrain. While it suffered from some suspension issues and James’s stubborn refusal to strip the car for weight, it was arguably the most comfortable and reliable vehicle of the trio. It proved that German engineering from the 1980s was nearly indestructible. The Challenges The Makgadikgadi Salt Pans

To avoid sinking, Clarkson and May had to remove doors, windows, and seats.