Shinrin-yoku is a term that means "taking in the forest atmosphere" or "forest bathing." It was developed in Japan during the 1980s and has become a cornerstone of preventive health care and healing in Japanese medicine. Researchers primarily in Japan and South Korea have established a robust body of scientific literature on the health benefits of spending time under the canopy of a living forest. Now their research is helping to establish shinrin-yoku and forest therapy throughout the world.
The idea is simple: if a person simply visits a natural area and walks in a relaxed way there are calming, rejuvenating and restorative benefits to be achieved.
We have always known this intuitively. But in the past several decades there have been many scientific studies that are demonstrating the mechanisms behind the healing effects of simply being in wild and natural areas.
(From Shinrin-Yoku.org where you'll find out more info)
Take a pleasant walk on one of the many paths along the back of Table Mountain. Be sure to carry water on a hot day. This cache can be accessed via Newlands Forest or Cecilia Forest. A shorter route is through Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens where an entrance fee is required.Tree canopy opens up at this point so GPS coordinates are reasonably accurate. Chances are you may encounter a red herring. That means you're on the right track.