The Race Begins

The Race Begins is the season premiere of The Amazing Race 1.

Route Markers

 * -|Starting Line = The race begins at, , , ,.
 * -|Route Info 1 = Teams must fly to . They may only fly in one of the three approved flights, arranged according to order of arrival to Johannesburg:, a direct flight but can only carry six teams; , a connecting flight from to , could carry two teams; or , a connection to , which could carry four teams.
 * -|Route Info 2 = From Johannesburg, teams will to proceed to and sign up for a chartered flight to.
 * -|Route Info 3 = Once in Zambia, they would have to take a provided car to the "Knife's Edge" in . Teams may choose to drive themselves to the Knife's Edge, or hire a driver. However if they choose the latter, the driver may not give directions.
 * -|Route Info 4 = Teams will have to proceed to Batoka Gorge. The envelope where this clue comes from also contains instructions for the Fast Forward.
 * -|Fast Forward = Teams are to hike down a steep canyon to the Boiling Pot on the Zambezi River and claim their Fast Forward pass there.

Rob & Brennan is successful in finding the Fast Forward. Choice A: Air Teams will be riding a zipline across the gorge and then bungee jump 54 meters down.
 * -|Detour =

All of the teams choose this option.

Choice B: Land Teams will have to hike down the rim of the gorge to receive their next clue.

None of the teams choose this option.
 * -|Route Info 5 = Teams must drive themselves to Songwe Village for their next clue.
 * -|Roadblock (unaired) and Pit Stop = At Songwe Village, one team member must cook a whole ostrich egg for the whole team to eat. Once finished, they may head to the Pit Stop located somewhere within the village.


 * Dave & Margaretta
 * Frank & Margarita
 * Joe & Bill
 * Kevin & Drew
 * Kim & Leslie
 * Lenny & Karyn
 * Nancy & Emily
 * Paul & Amie

In the DVD release, neither Pat & Brenda and Matt & Ana's Roadblocks performances are shown.

Trivia

 * This is the first visit to continental Africa, and to the countries of South Africa and Zambia.

Reception

 * Bruce Fretts at EW (09/06/2001): "Meet the Characters behind Amazing Race"
 * Alex Amorim at Reality News Online (09/08/2001): "Episode 1: Let the Bickering Begin"
 * Jeffrey Clinard at Reality News Online (09/09/2001): "An Early Look at Strategy"