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Helshoogte Pass
This historical pass between the Jonkershoek and Simonsberg mountains is one of the oldest in South Africa, connecting Stellenbosch to Franschhoek, Paarl and the Drakenstein Valley, via the small missionary settlement of Pniel.

The original Helshoogte (hell’s heights) or Banghoek (scary corner) Pass followed the route that elephants took and dates from 1692, shortly after the arrival of the French Huguenots in 1688. The original road ran through Ida's Valley and various farms. It also passed through Banghoek Valley  – “a place of dense forest, leopards, steep ravines and other dangers” on its way to Franschhoek. Helshoogte was regarded as a treacherous and frightening route, especially in the dark. The origin of its name is unclear but it may relate to the steep gullies or 'hels' alongside.

In later years the summit of the pass became a lookout point for ships arriving in Table Bay and the peak directly above the pass became known as Botmanskop (Boat Man’s Head) and Banghoek became shortened to Banhoek.

The route was greatly improved in 1854 and the old pass was first tarred in 1936 and was upgraded and improved to a new line with improved geometric standards in 1966. One farmer, terrified of the steep drop, planted a row of gum trees tightly spaced along the one side, to prevent vehicles going over the edge.  In 2010 the pass received a major face-lift into the multi-lane road in use today.

The road is no longer the main road to Franschhoek but it is certainly the most scenic route and an ideal cycling route. The route was declared an official cycling route in 2007 and it forms part of the Stellenbosch Municipality's commitment to making Stellenbosch a cycle-friendly town. A prominent cycling event, Die Burger Cycle Tour, is hosted by the town of Stellenbosch using Helshoogte Pass.

Cyclists regularly use the pass as training route, mainly for its good gradients, smooth surface and sublime views, but also for the safety of the emergency lane which runs for almost the entire length of the pass.

Visually the pass is magnificent with a variety of spectacular, towering mountains, and vistas across rows of vineyards and fruit orchards.

Pniël

The origin of the name is biblical and comes from the end of Genesis Ch 32, where the account of Jacob wrestling an angel is given. The angel blessed him and said "Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed (vs 28).... And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved." (vs 30). [Spelling in the King James version.]

The establishment of a mission station at Pniël is connected to the emancipation of slaves in 1834. The emancipated slaves were obliged to stay on as farm workers for another 4 years, and it was only from December 1838 that they were allowed to leave the farms. With little or no money most of them continued to work for the farmers in the area, and returned to their homes at night. Pniël was established in 1843 by the Apostolic Union, a non-denominational protestant group, as a mission station for the freed slaves who worked on the surrounding farms.

Thus came into being the nearest mission station to Cape Town and one of the few remaining historical areas within a specific geographical boundary where the freed slaves built their houses and worked the lands.