The Top Gear: Botswana Special is a full-length special edition episode of the BBC motoring program Top Gear. It first aired on BBC Two on November 4, 2007, as part of the fourth episode of Series 10.
In this special, hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May travel to Botswana with cars they bought in Africa for less than £1500. Their mission: to prove that these cars can be better than SUVs for driving up "leafy country lanes."
The Botswana Special was later released on March 23, 2009, as part of a 2-disc DVD boxset alongside the Top Gear: Vietnam Special.
A collection of Lancias | Top Gear
The Challenge: Botswana or Bust
To see if people in Surrey can navigate "leafy lanes" with something other than a 4x4 SUV, the producers challenged Clarkson, Hammond, and May to drive across Botswana in used cars purchased within Africa. Each presenter was given £1,500 with the stipulation that their car had to be two-wheel drive and not designed for off-road use.
- May chose a 1985 Mercedes-Benz 230E, favored in Africa.
- Clarkson selected a 1981 automatic Lancia Beta Coupé, inspired by Lancia's rally racing history.
- Hammond opted for a 1963 Opel Kadett, later nicknamed "Oliver".
The Journey Begins
Arriving near Botswana's border with Zimbabwe (where the BBC was banned from filming), the trio learned their cars would be taken on a 1,000-mile (1,600 km) journey to Botswana's northern border with Namibia.
Read also: Applications of Gear Rail Technology in SA
Setting off, the presenters quickly discovered faults in their vehicles:
- Clarkson's Lancia: Broken dials and components.
- May's Mercedes: Minor parts not working.
- Hammond's Opel: Brakes working on only one wheel, smell of petrol.
Hammond immediately grew fond of his car, nicknaming it "Oliver," but feared ridicule from Clarkson and May.
As they moved onto dirt roads, Hammond's car broke down. The trio learned that if a car couldn't be restarted after a breakdown, the driver would have to complete the journey in their least favorite car of all time-a Volkswagen Beetle.
| Presenter | Car | Year | Reason for Choice | Initial Issues |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremy Clarkson | Lancia Beta Coupé | 1981 | Lancia's rally history | Broken dials and components |
| James May | Mercedes-Benz 230E | 1985 | Favored in Africa | Minor parts not working |
| Richard Hammond | Opel Kadett | 1963 | Personal Preference | Faulty brakes, petrol smell |
Crossing the Makgadikgadi Pans
Before reaching the Makgadikgadi salt pans, the trio learned they would be crossing it for two days. They were advised to strip and lighten their cars to avoid breaking through the thin crust.
That night, May and Clarkson removed seats, interior trim, panels, windows, and other components, reducing their cars to basic shells. Hammond, attached to his car, only removed the spare tire and an unspecified part.
Read also: Read our review of Escape Gear Seat Covers
Prior to leaving, Ian Khama, then-vice president of Botswana, visited the trio. He was impressed with their plans but less so with their cars.
On the first day, progress was steady until Clarkson and May's cars began digging into the pan's surface. They required assistance from the film crew to get out and clean their wheels of "prehistoric gunk." Further components, including doors and boot lids, were removed.
Despite issues, firmer surfaces allowed them to reach one of the pan's islands and their next campsite.
On the second day, a dust storm presented a major issue for May and Clarkson, who had to redress to avoid choking. Hammond, with his unmodified car, was unaffected.
After overcoming the storms, Clarkson's car broke down twice and had to be repaired en route.
Read also: History of Moroccan Design
Challenges in the Kalahari
Arriving at a village in the Kalahari, the trio was told their cars would face a time trial on a rally course made from a dried riverbed. Each car would be driven by "The Stig's African cousin".
Before heading to the course, the Lancia broke down again. On the course:
- Opel: Set a time of 1:12.
- Mercedes: Achieved a time of 1:06.
- Lancia: Failed to start due to overheating.
Clarkson discovered that the Lancia and Hammond's Opel ran on leaded fuel, and their reserve supply was depleted. With the film crew's cars running on diesel, the only option was to cut a straight line through the Kalahari towards Maun.
During their off-roading, May's Mercedes became stuck in sand, requiring him to use stones for traction. By nightfall, the Opel's alternator failed, forcing Hammond to use a lamp to illuminate the road.
Navigating the Okavango Delta
The following morning, the presenters learned their cars would proceed towards the Okavango Delta, crossing it for three days en route to the finish line at the Namibian border.
Clarkson and May animal-proofed their cars:
- Mercedes: Outfitted with corrugated metal doors.
- Lancia: Featured a wooden gull-wing door, loudspeaker system, and sealed door with drink cans.
The trio made for the Delta, where the Lancia suffered further problems with a jammed throttle and faulty brakes.
The next day, after Hammond repaired the Opel's steering, the group faced a river crossing. Clarkson and May waded across, while Hammond attempted to ford the river at a proper crossing point, leading to the Opel sinking and stalling.
Hammond spent the second night fixing his car's engine and electrics with the support team, while the others drove ahead.
In the morning, the Opel returned in working condition, with a fixed horn.
The Final Stretch
After exiting the Delta, Clarkson and May removed their animal protection. The Lancia then suffered a starter solenoid failure and could only drive in second gear.
Eventually, the Lancia broke down again, leading the support team to abandon it. Clarkson stayed behind with two bush mechanics and miraculously got it moving again, reaching the Namibian border behind Hammond and May.
The Lancia was declared the worst car due to its constant problems.
Legacy and Aftermath
Following filming, Hammond shipped his beloved Opel back to Britain, where it was restored. Oliver has since appeared in various shows.
The Beetle was donated to a bush mechanic, and the Mercedes to an adviser. Both the Lancia and the Mercedes reappeared in The Grand Tour's final episode, "One for the Road."
The Environmental Investigation Agency criticized the BBC for filming in the Makgadikgadi pans, claiming they damaged the environmentally sensitive area.
Popular articles:
tags: #Africa
