Top Gear Botswana Cars May 2026

Botswana Special

Here’s a useful guide to the cars used in Top Gear ’s (Series 10, Episode 4, 2007), where the trio crossed the Makgadikgadi salt flats and Okavango Delta with cheap second-hand cars.

: 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 top gear botswana cars

Botswana Special (2007) is widely regarded by fans and critics as the definitive blueprint for the show’s "Special" format. The core premise—driving 1,000 miles across the Kalahari Desert, the Makgadikgadi salt pans, and the Okavango Delta in cars specifically chosen for being "unsuitable"—serves as a case study in mechanical resilience versus environmental extremity. The Selection: Three Unlikely Contenders Botswana Special Here’s a useful guide to the

You don’t have to fly to Africa. But you can : The core premise—driving 1,000 miles across the Kalahari

Crossing salt flats

| Requirement | Best choice (real world) | Avoid | |--------------|--------------------------|-------| | | Toyota Hilux/ Land Cruiser (or any car with sealed electrics and good rust-proofing) | Lancia Beta (dissolves) | | Deep sand / mud | Light 4x2 with high ground clearance (e.g., old Mercedes W123) | Heavy 4x4 without diff locks | | Repairability in rural Africa | Mercedes W123, Peugeot 504, old Toyota Corolla | Anything with computers or rare parts | | Overheating risk | Mechanical fan + simple cooling (Mercedes) | Electric fan + tiny radiator (Lancia) |