May chose the Mercedes for its legendary African reputation for durability. It survived the trip despite being stripped of most of its body panels to save weight.

A remote, ancient island in the salt pans that Clarkson later described as "just about the most astonishing place I've ever seen". Okavango Delta:

Let me know which direction you’d like, and I’ll write that up for you.

A 1981 Lancia Beta Coupé (chosen for Lancia's rally heritage, despite its notorious unreliability). Richard Hammond:

A car known for being so unreliable that even looking at it could cause a mechanical failure. James’s Mercedes-Benz 230E:

The final leg saw the trio "animal-proofing" their cars to survive the Delta's wildlife and river crossings. This included Clarkson jury-rigging wooden gull-wing doors and May painting provocative slogans on his colleagues' vehicles. Reception and Legacy