Surviving the Salt: The Legends of the Top Gear Botswana Special The 2007 Top Gear Botswana Special
remains a high-water mark for the series, proving that you don't need a customized 4x4 to cross a continent—you just need a bit of blind optimism and $1,500. Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May were tasked with driving across Botswana, from the Zimbabwean border to the Namibian border, using only used two-wheel-drive cars that were never meant to see a dirt road, let alone the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans or the Okavango Delta [0.5.1]. Here are the three unlikely heroes of that journey: 1. The 1981 Lancia Beta Coupé (Jeremy Clarkson)
Chosen for its style rather than its reliability, the Lancia was the most "Top Gear" choice possible. Throughout the 1,000-mile trek, it suffered catastrophic suspension failures and constant overheating. Despite Clarkson’s insistence that it was a "supercar," it required more maintenance than the other two combined.
The Outcome: For years, it was believed to have been scrapped. However, as of 2020, the shell was discovered in Maun, Botswana, partially reassembled but missing its wheels and lights [0.5.2]. 2. "Oliver" – The 1963 Opel Kadett (Richard Hammond)
While Clarkson and May treated their cars like disposable tools, Hammond fell in love with his 1963 Opel Kadett, naming it "Oliver." Despite being the smallest and oldest car, Oliver survived the salt pans and even a full submersion in the Okavango Delta water crossings.
The Outcome: Oliver is the only car of the three that returned to the UK. Hammond loved the car so much he had it shipped back, restored it, and it has since appeared in several of his solo projects [0.5.2]. 3. The 1985 Mercedes-Benz 230E (James May)
Ever the pragmatist, May chose a car known for its tank-like build quality. The Mercedes-Benz W123 is a staple of African taxi fleets, and it lived up to its reputation. While May spent most of the trip stripping the interior to save weight, the car remained remarkably reliable compared to the Lancia.
The Outcome: At the end of the trip, the Mercedes was donated to a local advisor who assisted the crew during filming [0.5.2]. The Backup: The Volkswagen Beetle
As a penalty for any car that broke down completely, the producers provided a 1968 Volkswagen Beetle (painted in a "clownish" theme). Ironically, the Beetle—with its rear-engine layout and air-cooled engine—was perfectly suited for the terrain. None of the hosts were forced to drive it, and it was ultimately donated to a bush mechanic in the support team [0.5.2].
The Botswana Special is widely regarded by fans as one of the best episodes in the show's history due to its combination of stunning scenery and the genuine mechanical peril of the chosen vehicles [0.5.3]. top gear botswana cars
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.
Title: Three Clapped-Out Heroes: Why Top Gear’s Botswana Special Is the Ultimate Road Trip Blueprint
Intro: More Than Just a Car Show
Let’s be honest: most car reviews are about specs, 0–60 times, and leather interiors. But Top Gear at its peak was never really about cars. It was about character. And no episode proves that better than Series 10, Episode 4: The Botswana Special.
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.
The Three “Terrible” Cars
Clarkson, Hammond, and May didn’t choose sensible SUVs. They chose rolling disasters:
Jeremy Clarkson – 1981 Lancia Beta Coupé
A rusty, fragile Italian sportscar with an engine known for failing. In a desert. Why? Because, as Jeremy put it, “A man who chooses to drive a Lancia has made a conscious decision to love driving.” Heroic stupidity.
Richard Hammond – 1963 Opel Kadett
A tiny, underpowered German economy car from the early ‘60s. It had no air conditioning, no power steering, and a top speed that barely scared a warthog. But it refused to die. Surviving the Salt: The Legends of the Top
James May – 1985 Mercedes 230E (“Oliver”)
A beige, boxy saloon that May bought for £1. It overheated constantly. But by the end of the trip, May had named it Oliver, cried when it got stuck, and proved that slow and steady wins the race.
Why This Trip Matters
Most adventure content shows you pristine Land Rovers with roof tents and $10k of gear. Top Gear showed three idiots fixing a Lancia with zip ties, a hammer, and desperation.
Here’s what the Botswana special teaches us about real travel:
Reliability beats luxury.
James May’s Mercedes “Oliver” looked like a grandpa’s hand-me-down, but its simple mechanicals kept going. Hammond’s Opel Kadett survived salt flats that would eat a modern Range Rover’s electronics.
The best cars have personalities.
You don’t remember a rental SUV. You never forget a car that leaves you stranded at sunset, forces you to sleep in the dirt, then fires up after a prayer and a zip tie.
Adventure is a mindset, not a budget.
Their total car budget was less than a decent used Toyota Corolla. Yet that trip became legendary. You don’t need a $50k overland rig. You need curiosity, duct tape, and a willingness to look stupid.
The “Oliver” Effect
The most moving moment comes when James May, the most emotionally reserved of the three, almost loses his Mercedes in a river crossing. He wades in, ties a tow rope around his waist, and shouts, “I’m not leaving Oliver!” Title: Three Clapped-Out Heroes: Why Top Gear’s Botswana
That’s the magic. That’s why people still talk about Botswana. It’s not about the destination – it’s about the dumb, stubborn, beautiful bond you form with a machine you probably shouldn’t have trusted in the first place.
Your Turn: A Botswana-Style Road Trip
You don’t have to fly to Africa. But you can:
Final Gear
The Botswana special isn’t a car review. It’s a love letter to imperfection, adventure, and the joy of almost dying in a Lancia. Seventeen years later, it still holds up as the greatest road trip episode ever made.
So here’s to Oliver, the Opel Kadett, and that suicidal Lancia. And here’s to your next stupid, wonderful road trip.
“Some say”… you should rewatch it tonight.
Like this? Share your own cheap-car adventure story in the comments below. Or just tell me: which Top Gear special is your favorite?
Conclusion: Best overall choice for Botswana overland travel; strong blend of capability and serviceability.
Top Gear’s Botswana special (2007) featured three presenter-driven cars selected for durability and off-road capability across Botswana’s varied terrain. The episode tested vehicles’ performance in desert, savannah and riverine environments, highlighting practical strengths and weaknesses for remote overlanding and adventurous touring.
| 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). |