Top Gear Botswana Cars -

What was your favorite moment from the Botswana Special? Let us know in the comments

A running joke in early Top Gear specials was the introduction of a universally hated "backup car" that the presenters would be forced to drive if their own vehicle broke down completely. For Botswana, the producers chose a 1968 Volkswagen Beetle, painted in a bright safari camouflage. top gear botswana cars

On the second day, they reached the edge of the salt pan. It was a blinding, white wasteland that stretched to a curved horizon. The heat haze made ghost lakes that danced and vanished. What was your favorite moment from the Botswana Special

The Botswana Special changed the trajectory of motoring entertainment. It proved that the best travel stories aren't written in luxury SUVs, but in cheap, broken-down commuter cars that force their drivers to become mechanics, survivalists, and friends. If you want to dive deeper into this classic road trip, On the second day, they reached the edge of the salt pan

While Hammond and Clarkson routinely broke down, May’s Mercedes quietly conquered every obstacle. It handled the deep sand, the bone-rattling corrugated roads, and the salt flats with German efficiency. The only major modifications May made were installing a makeshift set of wooden logs on the front bumper to help clear brush, and removing a few interior door panels to match the weight-saving cuts forced upon his co-stars. It proved that build quality beats terrain every single time. The Backup Car: The Dreaded VW Beetle

The salt flats presented a surreal, blinding landscape. The crust of the salt pans was deceptively thin; underneath lay a thick, gooey mud that could instantly trap a vehicle. Weight reduction was critical here. While Clarkson’s Lancia broke down repeatedly, its lightness kept it from sinking. Hammond's light Opel danced across the top, while May's heavy Mercedes required immense effort and momentum to avoid getting bogged down. The Okavango Delta

Perhaps the most famous car in Top Gear history, the 1963 Opel Kadett A was chosen by Hammond for no specific reason. It was small, old, and completely ill-suited for the Botswana wilderness.