Baobab Tree, Tree of Life – African Adventures: #WordlessWednesday

Baobab Tree, Tree of Life – African Adventures: #WordlessWednesday

“Wisdom is like a Baobab tree; no one individual can embrace it.”

David Lloyd George

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The ancient Baobab tree, at Tarangire National Park, Tanzania

 

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A long shot of the Baobab tree also known as the Upside down tree, as when the tree becomes bare or leafless, the branches appear like its roots.

 

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Standing tall and ubiquitous amidst the grasslands and wilderness of Tarangire

 

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Another mighty, ancient one. Could be over 500 years-old.

 

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Brothers in arms?

 

Baobab Tree – Tree of Life

 

It was fascinating to spot these baobab trees in the gorgeous African grasslands of Tarangire National Park, Tanzania. We were bowled over by there unique, ubiquitous appearance, and  enthralled by their historical background.

Also known as the Tree of Life, the  Baobab tree  provides  shelter, clothing, food, and water for the animal and human inhabitants of the African savannah regions. The cork-like bark and huge stem are fire resistant and are used for making cloth and rope.

In some African tribes the hollow of the trunk is used to preserve the dead. 

Over time, the Baobab has adapted to its environment. It is a succulent, and during the rainy season it absorbs and stores water in its vast trunk, enabling it to produce a nutrient-dense fruit in the dry season. Therefore named “The Tree of Life”.

The leaves, flower and fruits are edible and even medicinal;  used liberally by the locals. 

We saw weaver birds nesting in plentiful in the ancient, outstretched branches. 

Did you manage to spot the nests?

Did you Know
  • The Baobab tree can grow to enormous sizes and they may live to be 6,000 years.
  • Apparently the oldest Baobab tree is 6000 years old. It is one of the largest baobabs in South Africa, and at a whopping 72 feet high and 155 feet around, the widest on the entire continent. Besides its remarkable dimensions, the baobab is also one of the oldest trees on Earth. 
  • One ancient hollow Baobab tree in Zimbabwe is so large that up to 40 people can shelter inside its trunk.

 

Have you ever seen a Baobab tree before? Do you find it eerie and haunting? Or are you enchanted by its sheer magnificence? If you haven’t seen one would you like to some day? Where do you think you could find them apart from Africa?

 

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#WORDLESSWEDNESDAY

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Linking up with five wonderful ladies, Mel’s packed-in-a-punch #MicroMondays, Corinne’s thought-provoking #MondayMusings, Skyley’s stunning Skywatch Friday and my dear friends Cathy’s and X’mas Dolly’s WildWednesday and Tree Lady Parul’s Thursday Tree Love. 

 

 

 

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28 thoughts on “Baobab Tree, Tree of Life – African Adventures: #WordlessWednesday

  1. Wow! One, I loved the pictures and two, I loved all the information you shared. So helpful and intriguing. I have only see Baobab tree on the Thursday Tree Love blog hop. I would love to see them. And they don’t scare me. I will maybe hug this one. I have been looking for a tree of life pendant and this post makes me want to start my hunt again 🙂
    Btw – I did spot the nests but did not know what it was till I reached the end of the post.
    Thanks for joining, Natasha. And I hope to see you back, tomorrow.

  2. I have read bits and pieces about the tree of life, but this is the first detailed piece I’ve read about it. It’s such a beautiful tree. Look at the trunk. While watching a few things about early India, my husband and I found that most trees in India were as thick as these and were much taller. They existed for 1000s of years. I am glad such a tree is found in Tanzania. I’d love to see it someday. They look beautiful. I’d love to see pictures of the nutrient rich fruit it produces during the summer.

  3. Majestic trees indeed! We do have Baobabs growing in Pune though they are not be as massive as the ones you have posted.. Its not an indigenous species in India but seems to have adapted to our environment. Always a pleasure to spot this tree!

  4. The Baobab tree is spectacular. The photo of the 500-year-old tree does look somewhat haunting to me. It feels amazing to imagine that there could be a 6000-year-old tree. The name ‘Tree of Life’ is apt for the role it plays in the lives of the local people and animals.

  5. Hello, my Sista from another mother!!! Boy, have I missed you all week. I couldn’t wait until today because I know you would have something fantastic to show everyone, but I like to feel it was just for me. Now I cannot type to long because I’m watching the case against our President. The democrats are trying to impeach him (only because they’re jealous of him I t think, and because he is no democrat. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr They are so childish. I think they should leave President Trump alone. Well, I will not bore you with that. Boy, have I missed you all week. I’ve been waiting and waiting and waiting for you to say the least. HELLO, MY FRIEND! WOOHOO! SENDING HUGE HUG & A SMOOCH ANYWAY, I LOVE YOUR POST and I love that tree. Have you actually seen and touched that tree or one like it??? WOW! AMAZING FOR SURE! I was supposed to have these great pictures today that I took the other day of my great-grandchild and I couldn’t find my camera, but I found it this morning. I’m such a dingbat sometimes. Do you love me anyway even though I’m such a potsa head??? Sheesh! My gramma use to call me that. hahaha Sending HUGSSSSS to you dear one, and thank you for the great picture of a heartful tree. I love it. I wish you and I could go lay out under this tree, and look up at the sky!!! Wouldn’t that be great??? Take care, my friend. Until next time… take care of you, my friend. I just found you, so I don’t want to lose such a nice friend like you! hugs

  6. Wow, what a fascinating looking tree and what history. It does look like an upside down tree.

    Thank you for joining the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop.

    Have a fabulous Wordless Wednesday. ♥

  7. I have seen baobob trees a couple of times, in the United States state of Florida. They aren’t hardy in most of my country. They are a magnificent tree – it’s a tree you really have to see “in person”.

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