Kalmar tackles Southern Africa in latest Beyond Adventure Trans-Series

Top Gear-inspired African adventure

I think we can all agree that the best ever Top Gear episode (or definitely in the top three) was the Botswana special from 2007. Jeremy Clarkson certainly named it as his favourite adventure, so much so that Kubu Island, where the trio negotiated the tricky Makgadikgadi salt pan, provided the location for the end scene of the final ever Grand Tour episode last year.

Kalmar Automotive, the modern-day coachbuilder that creates bespoke vehicles and operates out of Estonia, has taken inspiration from that episode and added a sprinkling of Camel Trophy and Paris-Dakar for its second Trans-Series adventure, Beyond Adventure Trans-Africa. Offering the chance to be a part of once-in-a-lifetime bucket list experiences, the first, back in 2022, called Trans-Andes, saw Kalmar take on the terrain in South America.

However, Kalmar doesn’t replicate the ‘cheap car challenge’ ethos that saw those Top Gear adventures interrupted by inevitable breakdowns and squabbles, instead taking on the challenge with world-class, comfortable cars joined by dedicated support vehicles. The Beyond Adventure Fleet consisted of Kalmar customer adventure-ready creations, including an RS-C, RS-R, RS-6, CS, CS-R, and five RS models.

The Route

Starting in Namibia on June 1st, the plan was for the Beyond Adventure Fleet to tackle five countries - Namibia, Angola, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Botswana - in 19 days. The 5,000km+ route would see the specially prepared Porsches take on sand, remote tracks and riverbeds, all while enjoying the stunning scenery that Africa had to offer.

The group of people selected to take on the challenge on an invitation-only basis was handpicked by company founder Jan Kalmar, who you can read more about here in an interview with Driven’s John Marcar.

Promising to ‘push the cars beyond their typical limits’, the adventure also came with the chance to see unique habitats, incredible cultures and nature unlike anywhere else, all through the windscreen of ‘their’ Porsche.

Beyond Adventure Fleet rises to the challenge

Beginning their journey through the jagged landscapes, undulating dunes and remote wilderness of Namibia, the expedition then made history by becoming the first-ever Porsche driving tour to enter Angola by road. The specialist cars fulfilled their brief, capably taking on the challenges that came their way, from the Atlantic coastline to the towering dunes of Sossusvlei and the wildlife-rich plains of Etosha.

The venture through Angola was a path newly explored by sports cars, taking in wild, rugged terrain and including a stop at a remote elephant research centre. The local communities the group saw on their trip welcomed them with open arms and were shocked to see such vehicles making the journey en masse.

At the finish line in Botswana, they were met by the imposing Victoria Falls, which was the icing on the cake for a truly magnificent adventure that combined endurance, innovation and the beauty of nature for an unforgettable trip.

Words alone do not do justice to such an adventure, however, and I feel it is only right to end this article with a wonderful collection of images from the trip which showcase the adventure in all its splendour. The jaw-dropping nature of them achieves more than words ever could.

So, where will the next Beyond Adventure take Kalmar customers?