Editor’s note: This article was originally published on April 20, 2022, and has been updated to include additional reporting.
Of the world’s longest-living flowering trees, Baobabs are gems of Africa that meaningfully represent life and longevity.
The baobab’s size is so impressive that its hollow trunks have been used as houses, chapels, storage, and even public spaces. The circumference of some species’ trunks can exceed 100 feet, and they can store up to 32,000 gallons of water.
There are nine species of baobab, all belonging to the genus Adansonia. The African baobab, the most widespread species, is known scientifically as Adansonia digitata. Like living sculptures, the trees’ distinctive silhouettes make them appear as though they were planted upside down, with their branches reaching skyward like roots.
Widely referred to as the “tree of life,” the baobab holds meaningful significance in communities across Africa. The trees can live for thousands of years, leading many to regard older African baobabs with large trunks as witnesses to time immemorial. People often portray the trees as figures of origin, symbolizing the foundation of all things.
With their majestic aura and striking appearance, baobabs are a unique window into traditions, cultures, and folklore across Africa. Here are some of the best countries on the continent to visit, enjoy, and learn more about baobabs’ African roots.
Madagascar
Located off Africa’s southeastern coast in the western Indian Ocean, the island of Madagascar is widely regarded as the home of baobabs. Seven of the world’s nine species grow across the African island, with six of those only growing in Madagascar, according to National Geographic. The seven types of baobab on the island are Grandidier’s (Adansonia grandidieri), Za (Adansonia za), Malagasy (Adansonia madagascariensis), Perrier’s (Adansonia perrieri), Suarez (Adansonia suarezensis), Fony (Adansonia rubrostipa), and, as mentioned, the African baobab (Adansonia digitata).
The country’s picturesque Avenue of the Baobabs offers one of the most breathtaking scenes of these iconic trees.
Botswana
Botswana – revered for its luxury safari experiences – is another special place to see the tree of life. The country is home to an eco-lodge named “Planet Baobab.” The latter bills itself as “The Baobab Capital of the World,” and Botswana Tourism details that at the site, “the average age of each tree is more than 4,000 years.” The baobabs around the nearby village of Gweta are also worth checking out, as are the trees on the road between Nata and Kasane.
South Africa
The largest concentration of baobabs in South Africa is in and around the Musina Nature Reserve in Limpopo Province, about six miles from the city of the same name. Another place to see these trees is the northern area of Kruger National Park.
One of South Africa’s most notable is the Sagole Baobab. Also in Limpopo, in the Vendaland village, the circumference of the Sagole’s trunk measures around 110 feet at breast height.
Namibia
Baobabs are also located in northern Namibia. Baobab Tree 1063, declared a Namibian national monument in 1951, is located around 37 miles north of Grootfontein. The landmark tree of life is revered, and a local legend claims that gods threw it and other baobabs down from the earth, with the trees landing upside down. Another notable one in Namibia is the Ombalantu Baobab in Outapi, which has served as a shelter, post office, and chapel, according to the local town council.
Tanzania
One of the best places to see baobabs in Tanzania is in Tarangire National Park, in the northern part of the country. The approximately 1,100-square-mile park, named after the Tarangire River, features landscapes with towering baobabs.
The tree of life is also abundant in Ruaha National Park in southern Tanzania.
