Best of the Cape – Luxury Electric Self-Drive

Cape Town | Winelands | Montagu | Sanbona Wildlife Reserve | Grootbos Game Reserve 

Details

This carefully curated electric vehicle self-drive itinerary combines some of the most scenic parts of South Africa’s Western Cape region ensuring that your vehicle is being recharged while you unwind, relax and encounter unique experiences. Immerse yourself in the Cape region’s finest offerings – from exquisite cuisine and wines to rich cultural heritage and stunning natural beauty.

Priced From

Accommodation Mix

  • Luxury Hotels 30% 30%
  • Charming Country Hotels 30% 30%
  • Unique Nature Lodges 40% 40%

We use a range of accommodation types to make your trip more unique. All our itineraries are tailormade based on your travel prefernces. 

Electric vehicle self-drive vacations to South Africa

Electric self drive

11 Days Electric Vehicle Rental

Pick Up & Drop off in Cape Town

Cape Town

2 nights

The Cellars-Hohenort Hotel

Bed & Breakfast

Winelands

2 nights

Eendracht Hotel

Bed & Breakfast

Montagu

1 night

Montagu Country Hotel

Bed & Breakfast

Sanbona

2 nights

Dwyka Tented Lodge

Full Board and guided nature activities

Grootbos

2 nights

Grootbos’ Forest Lodge

Full Board and guided nature activities

Trip Highlights

Cape Town Flair

Discover the mother city’s rich heritage, multicultural spirit, and awe-inspiring natural wonders.

Wine & Dine

Sample South Africa’s world-renowned wines, delicious cuisine and country living throughout your stay.

Route 62

Enjoy the thrill of driving electric on some of South Africa’s best roads including Route 62.

Nature Reserves

Explore two of South Africa’s premier reserves, leaders in environmental conservation and innovative sustainability practices.
Exploring South Africa's best coastal roads on an electric self-drive vacation
A taste of the Cape Winelands on an electric  self-drive with Tread Lite
The beautiful Dyka Tented Camp in the Sanbona Game Reserve with Tread Lite
Experience a taste of the Western Cape beauty with Grootbos Nature Reserve

Itinerary Description

Embark on an electric vehicle self-drive vacation discovering the fascinating highlights of the Cape region. Begin your journey with three nights in Cape Town, a vibrant cultural hub offering stunning vistas and diverse attractions.  After having explored the exciting city vibes, you will spend two nights in the Cape winelands, in Stellenbosch, where historic architecture meets acclaimed wineries in this bustling university town.

Continue your journey along Route 62, South Africa’s legendary wine route, where local art galleries, exceptional restaurants, and charming farm stalls (“Padstals”) showcase the region’s creative spirit and culinary delights.   Spend one night in Montagu, a quaint country town in the middle of Route 62.

The highlight of your trips awaits with two world-renowned nature reserves.  Experience an unforgettable wilderness retreat with two nights at Dwyka Tented Lodge in Sanbona Wildlife Reserve. This 62,000-hectare Big 5 sanctuary in the Klein Karoo offers guided game drives and nature walks to discover diverse wildlife and San cultural heritage. As a conservation leader, Sanbona prioritizes sustainable development and ecological preservation, maintaining the reserve’s natural, commercial, and social integrity.

Continue via the stunning Tradauw Mountain Pass down to the coastal area of the Cape.  You will stay at Grootbos Private Nature Reserve for two nights, where ancient milkwood forests meet fynbos-covered hills overlooking dramatic ocean bays. The reserve offers botanical safaris exploring medicinal plants, forest walks, horseback riding, and Marine Big 5 viewing excursions at Walker’s Bay. Grootbos stands as a guardian of the Cape’s unique fynbos ecosystem, dedicating itself to its preservation and research.

A journey that invites you to create everlasting memories amidst the Cape’s diverse landscapes, cultures, culinary delights and unique experiences while supporting establishments and operations that are dedicated to preservation and sustainable tourism practices.

Interactive Map

Electric Self Drive Detailed Itinerary

CaPe Town – Cellars-Hohenort Hotel

Enjoy the highlights of Cape Town, a vibrant city with Table Mountain at its heart and two oceans at its feet.  Cape Town is a must visit destination to any Ecotourism itinerary to Africa. On arrival at the Cape Town Airport you will be met by our team and assisted with your private road transfer to the Cellars-Hohenort Hotel.

Once you have settled in, one of our team will deliver your all-electric Volvo XC40 vehicle. A comprehensive hand over will be done to ensure you are comfortable with all the details of the vehicle and the charging process. 

Beautiful guest room at Cellars-Hohenort in Cape Town

YOUR STAY: Cellars-Hohenort Hotel

Nights: 3

Room: Luxury Double with Veranda

Meals Included: Bed & Breakfast

Activities Included: Five Senses Signature Massage

ABOUT CELLARS-HOHENORT HOTEL

Nestled in the historic Constantia Valley, the 5-star Cellars-Hohenort Hotel & Spa is situated just 15 minutes from Cape Town’s center and the V&A Waterfront. The property features stunning Table Mountain views, award-winning gardens, and exceptional dining experiences.

Things to do in and around Cape Town

Cape Town combines world-class outdoor adventures across its mountains and beaches with vibrant cultural attractions and an acclaimed culinary scene.  These are the top thing to do in Cape Town:

Admire the view from the top of the iconic Table Mountain:  The perfect vantage point from which to admire the award-winning metropolis of Cape Town with its mountains, sparkling beaches and bustling city streets

Embark on a food safari through the Bo-Kaap:  Known for the vividly colored houses, the area is the traditional home of Cape Malay culture and cuisine.  Learn to make mild curries and sambals, how to roll rotis and wrap samosas. 

Stroll through Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens:  Explore one of the world’s greatest botanical displays, a showcase of the Unesco-protected Cape Floral Region on the landward slopes of Table Mountain.

Explore the Penguin Kayak Trail:  Starting in long Beach, Simons Town you follow a route through the yacht basin and along the coast. Along the way, you will explore kelp forest, sea bird roosting sites and the penguin colony at Seaforth

Sustainability and unique experiences

Sustainability Efforts at The Cellars:  Eco-Friendly Water Fixtures, Water-Saving Toilets, Energy-Efficient Geysers, Low-Energy Lighting, Bio-Fuel Recycling, Smart Irrigation System, Recycling Program and Electric Vehicle Charging

Unique experience:  We invite you to the hotel spa for their signature treatment, the Five Senses Signature Massage using authentic spa techniques, natural elements and indigenous ingredients.  Rejuvenate  your own body, mind and soul while your vehicle is parked at the hotel’s own recharging station.

Cape Town to Stellenbosch – Eendracht Hotel

Depart the city of Cape Town and continue your journey to the scenic Cape Winelands where breath-taking views, picturesque vineyards and charming towns await .  Before you drive to Stellenbosch, you may want to visit the charming town of Franschoek for the day, known for its excellent restaurants, galleries and antique stores.

Once you have arrived in Stellenbosch, you will make your way to Eendracht Hotel, one of the oldest and most central small hotels in town, where you will stay for two nights.  Park your car at the hotel’s charging point.

 

Eendracht Hotel in Stellenbosch with Tread Lite

YOUR STAY: Eendracht Hotel

Nights: 2

Room: Luxury Room

Meals Included: Bed & Breakfast

Activities Included: Half Day Vineyard Hike

ABOUT EENDRACHT HOTEL

Nestled in Stellenbosch’s historic part of town, Eendracht Hotel offers an intimate escape. The lovingly restored heritage home on Dorp Street blends the charm of family hospitality with modern comforts. This boutique property naturally embodies the authentic spirit of Stellenbosch through its personal touch and historic setting.

Things to do in Stellenbosch

Visit the Village Museum:  The Village Museum in Stellenbosch is a must-visit for history enthusiasts. It features four restored 18th-century village houses, each furnished to represent different periods from 1709 to 1929.

Visit the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve:  A nature reserve that offers a true nature experience with opportunities for hiking, biking, waterfalls and swimming.

Visit the Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden:  This glorious inner-city garden is an unsung Stellenbosch sight and well worth a wander.

Participate in a Guided Bike Tour:  Experience the beauty in the heart of the winelands with this guided bike tour in Stellenbosch that seamlessly blends stunning scenery, historic sites, and delightful wine pairings.

Sustainability and unique experiences

Sustainability Efforts at Eendracht Hotel:  Use of biodegradable cleaning materials, LED lighting, inverter powered energy-efficient air conditioners, PV Solar System and geysers with heat pumps, Electric Vehicle Charging

Unique experience:  We invite you to a truly memorable half day vineyard hike through the beautiful Banhoek valley to enjoy the scenic views of towering mountain peaks and valleys covered in magnificent vineyards.  Indulge in wine tastings at award winning estates and top the day off with a beautiful wine estate lunch.  While walking this beautiful piece of earth, your guide will tell you more about wine making, the indigenous flora and fauna and life on a wine estate in general.

Stellenbosch to Montahu – Montagu Country Hotel

Today, your journey takes you away from the winelands onto one of South Africa’s most well known country routes:  Route 62.  From dramatic mountain vistas to winding river valleys, the landscape here transforms with each passing season. Whether you seek active exploration or peaceful contemplation, you’ll find your perfect pace among the vineyards and orchards that blanket the countryside. Charming towns dot the valley floors, each one inviting you to explore its unique character and hidden treasures. Every turn in the road reveals another stunning vista, where mountain passes frame views that shift from dawn to dusk in a natural display of color and light.

Your drive will take you through the charming town of Robertson.  Situated in the shadow of the majestic Langeberg mountains with the Breede River as its life blood, Robertson is the western gateway to the Route 62 – a great stop for a coffee or lunch!

Your journey continues to the charming town of Montagu, nestled between the beautiful Langeberg Mountains, where you will find your next stop with 22kw DC Electric Vehicle Charging Point for on-site charging – the Montagu Country Hotel.

Guest room at the Montagu Country Hotel

YOUR STAY: Montagu Country Hotel

Nights: 1 

Room: Luxury Room

Meals Included: Bed & Breakfast

Activities Included: Explore on your own

ABOUT MONTAGU COUNTRY HOTEL

One of South Africa’s most iconic Art Deco hotels.  This architectural masterpiece stands as a testament to South Africa’s Art Deco heritage. Since its grand opening in 1875, the hotel has preserved its historic charm while offering modern luxuries. The carefully curated interior showcases authentic Art Deco and Victorian furnishings throughout. Beyond its elegant rooms, guests can indulge in two restaurants, unwind at the spa, cool off in either of two swimming pools, admire local artwork in the gallery, or wander through the manicured gardens. As a family-owned establishment, it delivers a level of care and attention that honors its distinguished past.

Things to do in and around Montagu

Cycle Tour with Flying Feet:  You’ll be immersed in the lifestyle, history and heritage of this beautiful village. Your friendly registered guide will tell you stories of the history of the area, the town and the stories of the people who shaped this town.

Visit one of the fruit farms:  This is your chance to see how Montagu’s famous dried fruit is made, up close and personal.

Food & Wine:  With Montagu’s rich food scene, you’re in for a feast of flavours. Highlights include Olijvenhof Estate’s Olive Experience, Dine with Locals at artist Hannah Naudé’s house and many farm stalls to explore.

Fair Trade at the heart of Montagu Country Hotel

Part of our Fairtrade Tourism ethos is to create a workspace where people are treated fairly, with firm objectives and boundaries, and where they are encouraged to grow as people and employees.

The Hotel is passionate about minimising its carbon footprint and is in the process of rolling out a green plan for the future. It uses a grey water system to irrigate the lush gardens and solar geysers to provide hot water.

 

Montagu to Sanbona Wildlife Reserve

An exiting new adventure lies ahead today!  Beyond your discovery of rich heritage, artistic treasures, and gastronomic pleasures lies a natural wonderland where untamed wildlife and diverse flora create an enchanting escape.

Fully charged up, make your way to Sabona Wildlife Reserve, only a 65km drive from Montagu, where you will be invited to be transported into a landscape that doesn’t just inspire – it transforms your very perspective.

Sanbona is pleased to offer complimentary daily transfers from The Welcome Lounge Dwyka Tented Lodge at 12h30 so you should plan your arrival accordingly.

On safari at Sanbona Wildlife Reserve on an electric self-drive vacation

YOUR STAY: Dayak Tented Lodge

Nights: 2

Room: En-Suite Tented Room

Meals Included: All meals and selected house beers & wines

Activities Included: 2 daily nature drives, guided wilderness walks

ABOUT SANBONA WILDLIFE RESERVE

At Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, conservation isn’t just a mission – it’s woven into every guest experience. This vast sanctuary plays a vital role in protecting endangered species and critical ecosystems, creating a delicate harmony between preservation and nature appreciation. Here, time seems to stand still amidst the endless plains and rugged beauty of the wilderness, offering an escape into pristine African landscapes.

Tucked into a horseshoe curve of an ancient Karoo ravine, Dwyka Tented Lodge rests among dramatic rock formations shaped by centuries of natural forces. Each luxury tent opens to its own private deck, complete with a heated plunge pool, enhancing the authentic wilderness experience.  The lodge’s setting creates an intimate connection with the untamed landscape while maintaining an atmosphere of secluded luxury.

During your stay at this malaria-free, Big 5 wilderness reserve, you will have plenty of opportunities to learn, love and explore nature around you. 

Unique experiences at Sanbona Wildlife Reserve

Nature Drives:  Drive through 2 different biomes with its many habitats

Nature Walks:  Close to nature exploring on foot, discover everything the Klein Karoo has to offer in terms of fauna, flora and majestic landscapes

Star Gazing: Enjoy incredible stargazing opportunities due to the remote location and minimal light pollution.

Rock Art:  Discover the seven recorded rock art sites throughout Sanbona that date back more than 3,500 years and depict the spiritual beliefs and lives of the San and the Khoi-Khoi people that lived in this area until 100 years ago.

Conservation at Sanbona Wildlife Reserve

Sanbona is a key player in the sustainable tourism space striving to protect, restore and sustain the endangered flora and fauna.  The reserves effort are a true example of a successful rewilding project on an epic scale within the Western Cape, underpinned by peer reviewed, research-based conservation practice.

Since 2002, the transformation of the lands has included the slow process of recreating an ecosystem as close as possible to the way it’s thought to have been 300 years ago, giving visitors a vision of the Klein Karoo that its early San inhabitants would recognise.  It remains an ongoing process of restoring the region’s biodiversity through rehabilitation and restoration, and the reintroduction of animal species, which, long extinct locally, are known to have once roamed freely among the San.

Sanbona Wildlife Reserve to Grootbos Private Nature Reserve

From the arid Karoo environment your journey guides you to another world-renowned nature reserve, situated in the coastal region of the Cape:  Grootbos Private Nature Reserve

Drive back via the town of Montagu down the tarred R317 that includes a few scenic passes such as the Hessekwas Nek Pass with gentle turns and gradients.  From there you continue along the N2, and down the R326 through the town of Stanford where you turn left and continue for another 13km.

Luxury stay at Grootbos Forest Lodge on electric self-drive vacation

YOUR STAY: Grootbos Forest Lodge

Nights: 2

Room: One-Bedroom Luxury Suite

Meals Included: Breakfast, light lunch & 5-course dinner

Activities Included: Guided horse riding, fynbos hikes to coastal drives and seasonal wale watching

ABOUT GROOTBOS NATURE RESERVE

Spanning 3,500 hectares of untouched wilderness, Grootbos Private Nature Reserve stands as a sanctuary where the Cape Floral Kingdom meets the marine wonders of the Western Cape. This world-renowned eco-tourism destination seamlessly blends luxury accommodations with environmental stewardship, creating experiences that forge lasting bonds between guests and nature. Here, your journey of discovery does more than fulfill your sense of adventure – it actively supports both conservation efforts and local community development, making every moment of your stay meaningful beyond measure.  Recharge your vehicle while you disconnect from the tech and connect with nature instead.

Unique experiences at Grootbos Nature Reserve

Horse Riding:  Tailored to your level of experience and suitable for beginners and advanced riders.  Take a slow trot down the different trails on the reserve appreciating diverse scenery from a different perspective while breathing in the fresh air

Botanical Tour:  Take a 4×4 botanical safari on an open-top Land Rover and soak up the serenity surrounded being surrounded by fynbos and flowers.  Touch, smell, and see!

Coastal Safari:  Explore the exquisite coastline for relaxation and inspiration. Based off the reserve just a short drive away, the beaches nearby are unpopulated and unspoilt

Progressive Tourism Tour:  Learn about Grootbos’ call for Progressive Tourism and how every action we take can have a positive impact

Exclusive value-add:  We have included a Lady Stanford Eco-Cruise in your package for a unique bird-watching adventure

EcoTourism at Grootbos Nature Reserve

Since 2003, the Grootbos Foundation has pursued a dual mission: safeguarding the endangered fynbos ecosystem while nurturing local talent through comprehensive skills development programs. This non-profit organization acts as a catalyst for positive change, channelling the benefits of ecotourism into community empowerment through sports initiatives, educational programs, and enterprise development.

Through rigorous research into environmental and social challenges, the Foundation continuously shapes innovative solutions that serve both the precious eco-system as well as the local communities. When staying at Grootbos, you’re contributing to a legacy of conservation and community upliftment that continues long after your departure.

Grootbos to Cape Town (End of the Trip)

The final day of your adventure takes you back to Cape Town International Airport. We recommend you take the scenic coastal road back via Hermanus, Kleinmond and Gordon’s Bay.  The route includes the magnificent Clarens Drive, a scenic 22 kilometer mountain pass connecting the towns of Gordon’s Bay and Rooi-Els, and undoubtedly one of the most panoramic routes along the Cape Peninsula. 

If time allows, we recommend you stop in Hermanus for a visit to the local craft market and enjoy a scrumptious lunch with a view at one of this coastal town’s excellent restaurants.

Start Your Electric Journey

Like what you see in this itinerary and ready to start planning your adventure! To get started, fill out our simple contact form and our team will be in touch with you to begin the planning process.

If you prefer a quick WhatsApp message you are welcome to message us there by using the WhatsApp icon below.

We are looking forward to welcoming you to South Africa. 

Regards, 

Stuart and the Tread Lite team

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