British hikers walk 70km in Birkenstocks after car sinks in Botswana

Two graduates from the United Kingdom became stranded in Botswana after their Land Rover sank into the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. The vehicle, a 1994 Land Rover Defender, was driven by Todd Benney, 24, and Henry Harrison, 23, as part of a planned cross-Africa journey.

Six weeks into their trip, the car began to struggle while crossing the salt flats. The engine failed, and the vehicle sank into the ground after traveling 35km into the area. The pair had no service and no visible tire tracks, leaving them stranded in the middle of nowhere.

With no immediate way to retrieve the car, the friends decided to walk 30km toward a nearby village for help. However, as darkness fell, they noticed animal tracks and realized they were in danger. They opted to return to the car, hiking through the bush for 14 hours over two days.

During the return journey, the pair faced extreme heat and dehydration, with Henry suffering from heatstroke. They used a 20-litre water bottle, but it ran out, forcing them to drink water drops from their mouths. Henry’s feet were severely damaged from wearing Birkenstocks during the trek.

Using what3words, Henry was able to provide the exact coordinates of the car, allowing emergency services to locate and recover it after three days. The Land Rover was submerged in salt for four days but was eventually retrieved, enabling the pair to continue their journey across Africa.

After recovering the car, the friends completed their trip, visiting Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, and Kenya before returning on December 12, 2025. They sold the Land Rover in Tanzania to someone else travelling, who drove it to South Africa and sold it to someone else.