Unlike previous specials where they used 4x4s, the team decided to tackle the rough terrain of Central Africa using second-hand estate cars bought on a budget: A BMW 528i Touring (E39). Richard Hammond: A Subaru Impreza WRX (second generation). James May: A Volvo 850R Wagon . Journey Highlights (Part 1)
Watch the first part of the legendary journey as the team arrives in Africa with their aging estate cars: Africa special part 1/5 (Series 19, episode 6) Top Gear• Oct 31, 2013
The episode leans heavily into the theme of 19th-century exploration, with the presenters adopting the personas of Victorian explorers. They aim to find the source furthest away from the estuary to claim they have truly found the Nile's beginning. [S19E6] Africa Special, Part 1
The episode features the chaotic experience of navigating through Entebbe and Kampala traffic, which Clarkson describes as some of the worst in the world.
The is widely considered one of the show's most ambitious and iconic adventures. In this first part, the trio—Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May—embark on a mission to find the definitive source of the River Nile , a feat they believe they can achieve faster and more accurately than historical explorers using only grit and three aging estate cars. The Mission and the Machines Unlike previous specials where they used 4x4s, the
The "roads" quickly deteriorate as they head deeper into the wilderness, testing the low ground clearance of their non-off-road vehicles. The Explorer Spirit
The journey begins in , where the presenters must immediately modify their cars for the trek ahead. Journey Highlights (Part 1) Watch the first part
The team meets in a busy Ugandan town to unveil their choices and begin their modifications, which famously include adding sleeping quarters (and in Hammond's case, a kettle).