The Sagole Baobab: still a mighty champion

Last December I visited the Sagole Big tree which is looking more magnificent than ever.  Located in Vendaland, Limpopo Province, The tree has been carbon dated as being 1200 years old!

Sagole Tree Dec 2014 with copyright

It is the biggest baobab in the world.  It has a girth of 37 m and a height of 22 meter and its crown measures 38 meters in width.  It has a huge hollow into which 10 people can comfortably fit. The Sagole tree is also noted for being home to a rare colony of Mottled Spinetails. We are so privileged to have this tree in South Africa.

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The real truth about water in baobab trees

The real truth about water in baobab trees

  There’s a bit of a myth out there that you can tap water out of a baobab which is illustrated by this delightful cartoon. The truth is that a freshly felled baobab trunk weighs about 850kg per cubic meter.  Once dried out, it weighs 200kg per cubic meter.  This means that baobabs are able […]

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Encounters with a family tree

Encounters with a family tree

When I was visiting friends in Cordoba, Argentina recently I came across this tree that looked so much like a baobab that I thought it must be some relation.  When I looked it up, I found it was indeed part of the same family as the Baobab Malvaceae. Its scientific name is Ceiba speciosa commonly […]

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HOW ANCIENT ARE BAOBAB TREES REALLY?

HOW ANCIENT ARE BAOBAB TREES REALLY?

I often get asked how old baobabs become. There is a lot of myth with most people believing that they live for up to 5000 years. I have been working with Dr Adrian Patrut, who has made it his mission to find the oldest baobab in the world. He has been at this for about […]

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