In the Baobab Forest
The Baobab is an amazing tree. They grow to between 5 and 30 meters tall (20 and 100 feet). But it is not their height that makes them special.
They are bottle-shaped, with a width of 10-14 meters (33-46 feet). So some of them are about 50% in width, as they are tall.
Baobab trees are found in southern Africa, northern Australia and Madagascar. We came across this little forest of Baobab trees in eastern Botswana. These trees are usually scattered throughout the landscape, singularly or in small groups of two or three, so finding a bunch together is unusual.
We saw these in September, which is Botswana’s dry season. All the trees have shed their leaves, as trees do in northern winters, and they appear dead. The rainy season starts in November, and the trees will all sprout leaves and fruit again. The Baobab tree can store water in its trunk for the dry season.
Long Life
Baobab trees are long-lived. One in Zimbabwe was 2,450 years old when it died in 2011
This one is more than 2,000 years old.
Height and Width by Country.
There are several subspecies of Baobab trees, and they look quite different from one another. The trees in Africa, although tall, are much shorter than those in Australia or Madagascar. They have branches growing in all directions and would make a suitable object for a horror movie next to a haunted house.
Southern Africa
The ones we saw in Botswana are much shorter than those we saw in Australia or Madagascar.
Northern Australia
These are a couple of the Baobab trees we saw in Australia. They are taller than those in Africa and have branches only on the upper half.
Madagascar
Baobab trees in Madagascar reach 25 to 30 m (82 to 98 ft) in height. They are also different in appearance, having branches and leaves only at the top of the tree.
The Hut
We spent the night in this little Baobab forest. Here is the cabin we rented.
If you want to spend a night here, contact Planet Baobab, near Gweta in eastern Botswana
Their website: https://planetbaobab.travel/