The Botswana Adventure Part 1 | Top Gear | BBC - Summary

Summary

The narrator describes the Mad Caddy, the largest salt flats in the world, which are almost completely lifeless and as wide as Portugal. The narrator warns that if you run out of water or food, you will die. The salt flats are covered with a primeval ooze, and if you have thin tires, you will break through that crust and get stuck. Therefore, it is advised to fit fat tires and remove as much weight as possible before setting off.

The narrator and his team prepare for the journey by shedding weight from their vehicles. They remove unnecessary parts, such as the radiator grill, and even the seats, to reduce weight. They also consider removing the windows, but decide against it due to the thin glass.

The journey begins, and the narrator is struck by the sheer size of the salt flats. Despite the weight shedding, the Lancia struggles, and the team has to rope in the camera crew to help with the weight shedding. The narrator describes the journey as horrible, with the car sinking into the ooze.

The team eventually reaches Kubu Island, which is about a third of the way across the salt flats. The narrator describes the island as astonishing and the most amazing place he has ever been. As the sun sets, they head for the campsite.

Facts

1. The text describes a journey across the largest salt flats in the world, which are as wide as Portugal. [Source: Document(page_content="00:00:00.12: stretching before you is the Mad\n00:00:04.60: caddy these are the biggest salt flats\n00:00:07.00: in the world they almost completely\n00:00:09.40: lifeless and as wide as Portugal no car\n00:00:13.04: has ever driven across them if you run\n00:00:15.84: out of water you will die if your car\n00:00:18.48: breaks down and you can't be rescued you\n00:00:20.68: will die if you run out of food you will\n00:00:23.64: die it's like driving on a Creme Brule\n00:00:26.72: uh there's a primeval ooze covered with\n00:00:28.48: a thin layer of salty crust\n00:00:30.64: if you have thin tires you will break\n00:00:32.76: through that crust get stuck and you\n00:00:34.88: will die so it advises to fit fat tires\n00:00:38.36: and remove as much weight as possible\n00:00:40.72: before setting off well how hard can it\n00:00:43.88: be don't say\n00:00:46.44: that in Camp the weight shedding began\n00:00:52.68: ready that doesn't\n00:00:58.52: work thanks all awfully wow could feel\n00:01:01.72: how much this seat\n00:01:03.52: weighs like you\n00:01:13.92: work ah fuel filler I'll need that\n00:01:19.04: maybe take the H caps off really cuz\n00:01:22.04: they protect the\n00:01:25.40: hubs can I point something out what\n00:01:28.12: Hammond's walking around his car Ming\n00:01:29.52: about how he needs all of it see I know\n00:01:32.84: exactly what he's doing he's formed an\n00:01:34.84: emotional attachment isn't he we been\n00:01:36.44: like to say to him could you cut bits\n00:01:38.20: off your\n00:01:40.32: wife what are you doing I was going to\n00:01:42.72: take the radiator Grill off on the basis\n00:01:44.52: that it's just an ornament can I help\n00:01:46.20: you please do do you want your windows\n00:01:47.96: out no no NO NO NO NO they're fine no\n00:01:49.20: really I've worked that out I've made no\n00:01:51.00: because old glass very thin\n00:01:54.12: glass very\n00:01:58.04: thin God they come off\n00:02:00.76: easily James yes using nothing but a\n00:02:03.84: hammer\n00:02:08.52: yes did your beer thank you mate have we\n00:02:12.16: lost enough weight now you haven'