The (Series 10, Episode 4) is widely regarded as the episode that defined the "special" format: three cheap, two-wheel-drive cars attempting to cross a country to prove they are better than expensive SUVs. The Lineup: Three Unlikely Heroes
While other specials—the Polar Special or the Middle East journey—had higher stakes, the Botswana episode is often cited as the perfect blend of stunning cinematography, mechanical brutality, and the chemistry of three friends suffering together in terrible cars.
Conclusion: Best overall choice for Botswana overland travel; strong blend of capability and serviceability.
The setup was simple but genius. The three presenters were tasked with buying a car for less than £1,500 (approximately $3,000 at the time) in the UK. Once purchased, they were told to ship the cars to Africa, where they would drive across Botswana. The final destination was the border with Namibia, but to get there, they had to cross the Makgadikgadi Pan—a massive salt flat that becomes a treacherous, dusty bog in the dry season—and the dense scrub of the Kalahari Desert.