Summary

Jill and Chris, two Canadian travelers, share their enchanting experience of encountering baobab trees, including a visit to a baobab forest in Botswana, where they learned about the trees' significance, their use as a water source during droughts, and local legends surrounding them.

Abstract

In an article by Artistic Voyages, Jill and Chris recount their captivating journey to a baobab forest near Gweta, Botswana. During their stay in Maun, they were invited to a safari lodge where they embarked on excursions, including a memorable visit to the baobab trees. These trees, known for their iconic status in Africa and their ability to store water, are colloquially referred to as "The Tree of Life." The couple was awestruck by the size and age of the baobabs, with some trees being over 600 years old. They observed the trees' succulent-like qualities and witnessed the impact of climate change as the largest limb of one tree had broken off. The article emphasizes the majestic beauty of the baobabs, especially during sunset, and conveys the authors' deep appreciation for these natural wonders, which are deeply intertwined with local legends and the well-being of the community.

Opinions

The authors express a profound connection to nature, particularly the baobab trees, which they describe as "pure magic."
They are awestruck by the size and age of the baobabs, considering them giants and referring to one as a "behemoth."
The authors are concerned about the effects of climate change, pondering whether it contributed to the breaking of a large limb on one of the trees.
They are fascinated by the local legend that baobabs are planted upside down, imagining the roots as what we see above ground.
The couple holds the baobab trees in high regard, naming them "The Tree of Life" for their ability to provide shelter and water in drought periods.
They emphasize the unique experience of traveling and the beauty of the planet, stating that such experiences reinforce their priority to explore the world.
The authors encourage readers to learn more about baobab trees through an informative linked article.
They invite readers to join their adventure and subscribe to their content on various platforms, showing their passion for sharing their travels with a wider audience.

Baobab Trees Are Pure Magic

Legend says that they are planted upside down!

This was one of the first Baobabs that we stood near in Botswana. We were told that it was just a baby at 600 years old! Photo Credit: Author

From the beginning of December 2021 until mid-January 2022 we housesat in Maun, Botswana. While there, we met a man who owned a safari lodge in a town a couple of hours away. A town named Gweta.

When we were finished with our housesit, he invited us to be guests at his lodge and promised to take us on a few excursions around the area.

One such excursion was to the Baobab Forest.

We were ecstatic to hear that there was a whole FOREST of these beauties. We had seen numerous of them through the bus and train windows on our travels overland coming from Uganda to Botswana but had never had the chance to get up close and personal with them.

Baobab trees (Scientific Name Adansonia Digitata) can grow as much as 25 meters (82 feet) in height, and as wide as 14 meters (46 feet) in diameter.

They are one of the most iconic trees in Africa.

The first one we saw (photo above) was at a bar that he took us to the first night we were in town. We already thought that we had died and gone to heaven by being able to see this behemoth up close, but we had no idea what we were really in for.

One evening we loaded up into his safari truck, the two of us sitting high in the back, able to get a 360-degree view of the surrounding area. It was a peaceful night, not a breath of wind, and we bumped our way out into the wilderness along a dirt track.

Doesn’t it remind you of a broccoli head? Photo Credit: Author

We arrived at a point where we could see about 6 huge trees a little ways off the road, and we all hopped out of the truck. We made our way through the bushes towards them and were gobsmacked when we arrived at the base of one.

The light was starting to change as the sun got lower, casting a soft glow across the landscape. Photo Credit: Author

Our host brought us to the biggest of them all and was shocked when he saw that the largest limb on the tree had broken off. He was a little dumbfounded since in all the years he had stayed there, he had never seen that happen.

Was it because the changing of the climate?

Not enough rainfall?

It’s hard to say.

The biggest one of all had lost its branch. We all climbed up on top of it to take in the magnificence of this tree. Photo Credit: Author

These trees actually are considered more of a succulent, than a tree. And in fact, when I looked at it closely, the bark reminded me of a giant jade plant.

Also known as The Tree Of Life, our host told us that their trunk is actually hollow and can provide shelter, plus the branches and bark hold an immense amount of water. During long drought periods, the locals carve hand and footholds into the side of them, then climb them to access the life-saving liquid.

They are all completely different. Photo Credit: Author

The setting sun starting to do its magic. Photo Credit: Author

We were also told that local legend says that they are planted upside down, and what we are really seeing on the top is the roots.

One can only imagine what these giants look like below the ground!

Looking behind me after taking the above photo, this is what I saw. Photo Credit: Author

We stayed around these amazing trees for as long as we dared, not wanting to stay out too late. We still had a 40-minute drive to get back to the lodge.

The grass was startling green against the approaching night sky. At one point, the contrast between the green grass and the purple of the sky was breathtaking. Photo Credits: Author

We bumped our way back into the stillness of the day's end and reflected on just how magnificent this planet is, and how lucky we are to be living on it.

One last stop for another stunning shot! Just a perfect night. Photo Credit: Author

We will always remember this perfect night of being up close to these magnificent trees. To us, these experiences are what make traveling our top priority, and we will never tire of the quantity and variety of life on our planet.

To learn more about Baobab trees, check out this informative article:

The Baobab: Fun Facts About Africa's Tree of Life

A symbol of life on the African plains, the giant baobab belongs to the genus , a group of trees consisting of nine…

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Hi there, we are 2 Canadians, Jill and Chris from Artistic Voyages. We have been nomadic since 2017 living in numerous different countries, and experiencing the life and diversity of our planet on the ground and firsthand. We have now been on the African continent for over 2 years! Join our adventure by hitting the links below! Subscribe to Medium to get full access to my writing plus thousands of others!