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Wildlife
Plantlife

Plantlife: Trees - Baobab

Plantlife | Trees

Bombacacaceae Adsansonia Digitata, Baobab, Baobab, Baobab. 

Description
Baobab, common name for a tropical African tree. The baobab tree grows only to the height of a large maple tree, but extensive lateral growth makes it one of the largest trees. The trunk of the baobab sometimes attains a diameter of 900 centimetres, and the branches, frequently as thick as the trunks of other large trees, form a hemispherical mass of foliage often 4 500 centimetres in diameter. The fruit, called monkey bread, is about the size of a citron; the pulp, which has a pleasing acid taste, is used in the preparation of cooling drinks. The bark of the tree yields a strong cordage fiber. The baobab, native to Africa, is now cultivated in many tropical countries throughout the world.

In Kruger National Park one of the finest examples of the baobab tree can be found at Baobab Hill near Pafuri, while there are some fine examples inside Mopani restcamp, which allows visitors to have a look at this beautiful tree. During winter the grotesquely baobab tree is leafless. In South Africa the baobab is protected by law.

Please feel free to have a look at the various pictures taken of the baobab tree in the Kruger National Park currently featured in the gallery of Kruger Safari.