Fast facts about the baobab:
– Baobabs can live for up to 3000 years, growing as tall as 22m with a trunk diameter of up to 38m.
– They’re prehistoric – meaning that their presence on earth predates mankind.
– An old baobab can create its own ecosystem, supporting many animals who eat from it (elephant, baboon, bats) and reside within it (bush-babies, birds, insects, and even leopards!)
– The baobab tree yields incredible nutrition and medicinal value through its fruit, leaves and bark.
– Many early tribes believed that the gods angrily thrust the baobab into the ground, roots upward, because the great, towering trees were full of pride.
However they arrived at the reserve, Abelana’s baobabs are majestic to behold, an unlikely find in our region, and a special sighting for our guests.
Another Abelana favourite: The Sycamore Fig
While not a member of the official Big Five tree clan, the sycamore fig is one of our absolute favourite trees here on Abelana Game Reserve. Sycamore figs populate many of Africa’s subtropical regions and form part of the lush forests that flank our very own Selati River.
Over a span of several centuries, they grow to around 20m tall, but taller specimens have been reported. Sycamores are easily identified by the sweet fruit that grows in clusters from the tree bark. They’re actually part of the mulberry tree family and have even been mentioned in ancient scriptures and writings.