De Hel or De Paradijs?

One of Cape Town's best kept secrets is the trail that circles a deep ravine at the foot of Constantia Nek. Named De Hel, probably because of the steep sloping sides and the heavy shade of the forest canopy, it should really be called De Paradijs. We started our hike in the Bel Ombre Meadow in the heart of Constantia's green belt and climbed steadily upwards through pleasant woodland, crossing a number of busy roads that link up to Rhodes Drive, but staying cool in the shade on a lovely early autumn morning. Trail bikers sped past, both up and down, and although foot travellers have right of way, we prefer to step off the path and offer words of encouragement to those who seem in need - I don't think I will ever progress to cycling as a form of exercise unless a seat is invented that resembles that of a tractor.
De Hel is a conservation area where you can feel lost in a forest miles from civilisation, when in fact you are within about 100 metres of one of the busiest roads. The towering trees of all varieties are a fantastic muffler for the traffic noise, and only a strident siren gave away our true position. A stream runs through the ravine, as streams do, and wooden bridges are strategically placed for crossing easily in winter when the stream becomes a tumbling torrent and heads down to the sea as the Diep River. The silence of the forest was broken by the jarring cacophony of multiple chain saws as we exited and began our descent down Southern Cross Drive. A plot clearing was taking place and huge pine trees were being sacrificed at the altar of residential development. We watched in fascination as a section of trunk weighing possibly 2.5 tons was separated from its life source and lifted by a crane looking like a gigantic giraffe, reaching fully extended and almost directly upwards to ensure that the crane didn't tip. That would have been something exciting to watch if it did (haven't we all laughed at videos of boat launches where the crane follows the boat into the water?). Some impressive planks will come from that trunk and hopefully be used in the manufacture of something almost as beautiful as the tree.
This is a trail that could be walked frequently for the pleasure of its peaceful surroundings and is an easy walk for all ages.