The Baobab, Africa’s giant tree of life

Baobab tree in Ruaha National Park - Tanzania

One of Africa’s most recognized trees is commonly called the Baobab, and also known as the "upside down tree" or the "cream of tartar tree." Botanists call it Adansonia digitata.
It is known by rural village African people as "The Tree of Life" and with good reason. East Africans call it Mbuyu, in Swahili, meaning "of" or "at," and many villages, close to these impressive specimens are called Mbuyuni.


Baobabs are said to live for a thousand years and are associated with many legends. An evil spirit once grew angry with the baobab spirit and tore up all the trees, later regretting his hasty temper and replanting them - the wrong way up. A potion made from the bark makes a person strong; a drink from soaked baobab seed protects one from crocodiles. East African folk lore says that they hold up the sky with their tall branches.


The tree is well adapted to the drier savannahs of Africa. It is composed of a thick, spongy, water-storing tissue and it can survive long periods of drought. Water can be extracted by cutting into the bark. Large, dark-green leaves, appear early in the rainy season followed soon after by large oval pods with a velvety covering. The seeds are found inside a pinkish pulpy substance which is edible and, when dried, forms a powder from which cream of tartar is made.

A Kruger National Park baobab in the rainy season - South Africa

The Baobab is arguably one of the most useful providers of food and raw materials for the subsistence people of Africa. From strips of the fibrous bark blankets, mats, ropes, and other useful items are woven. The leaves provide a tasty relish and the seedy pulp is rich in vitamin C. It is pounded and cooked into porridge.  Ash of the trees burned wood supplies salt for seasoning.

Wild bees store honey in its hollow branches, bush-babies live in its high crown. Many birds, including hornbills and notably, large raptors, nest in its branches. The heavy, white, pungent flowers are pollinated by bats and some fly species. Elephants, in particular, along with giraffe and zebras eat the fibrous bark. Giraffe and elephants love to eat the 7inch long seed pods. Troops of baboons will often be seen sitting around the base of the trees, breaking open the pods that have fallen to the ground.

A well known baobab in Ruaha N.P. - Tanzania

A tree in Zimbabwe measuring 137 feet in circumference (42M) is the subject of one of artist John Banovich's giant paintings seen in the Society of Animal Artists exhibit which has been on view in a number of museums across the United States in recent years. This is almost certainly the result of two or more separate trees growing together over time. By any measure the baobab tree of Africa is worthy of its sizeable reputation but large specimens rarely exceed 65 feet (20M). It is truly one of Africa's "keystone" species.

Visitors to Victoria Falls Nat'l Park in Zimbabwe will recognize  this tree.

(All photos above were taken by Joe McDaniel)