These comments refer to both parts of this two part special.
Back in their 'Top Gear' days the boys did a variety of specials; this is their first of the 'Grand Tour' era. The entirety of both episodes are spent in Colombia where they have been tasked with photographing four species of animal; jaguar, spectacled bear, Andean condor and that well known South American species the hippopotamus! They meet up on a beach outside the historic city of Cartagena; Clarkson in a Jeep Wrangler, May in a Fiat Panda 4x4 and Hammond in a Chevrolet Silverado. As one might expect their challenge leads to them driving across varied terrain; modifying their vehicles; encountering difficulties and annoying each other.
This double episode was one of my favourite episodes of 'The Grand Tour' to date. I always enjoyed the specials in the 'Top Gear' days as, like this, they were never really about the cars but about the locations and the trio of presenters. Like most people my knowledge of Colombia was fairly limited; I certainly had no idea just how beautiful the country was before watching this. The animals the trio had been tasked with photographing sent them to a variety of places from the colonial city of Cartagena to the jungles to 15,000 ft up a volcano. The trip provided many excuses for the banter we have come to expect as well as the usual difficulties... I'm sure many of these were at least partially staged but that didn't matter as they were entertaining. While the subject of Colombia's most infamous export was humorously hinted at and Clarkson had an awkward talk to some locals who were a little too friendly with their donkeys there was little that might have been considered offensive to the country... if anything the tourist board should be thanking the boys for showing their beautiful country to an audience who probably knew little about it. Overall a really fun double episode; I hope the team make more such episodes in future.