3 minute read
DID YOU KNOW - BAOBABS
from FlyWestair May 2020
THE MONUMENTAL BAOBABS OF OWAMBO
The African baobab (Adansonia digitata) is without doubt one of the most iconic and majestic trees in Africa. Towering above the woodlands of southern Africa, these giants have served as landmarks along early trade routes and fortifications against attacks by raiders. Virtually every part of the tree has been utilised for centuries as a source of food, as medicine and a multitude of other purposes.
In Africa it occurs in the savannas of southern, eastern and north-eastern Africa as well as in tropical West Africa. Its distribution in Namibia is restricted to the Bushmanland area, the East Kavango and Zambezi regions, the Kunene Region and the Omusati Region.
The ages of these giants have been the subject of much speculation (with the exception of a few trees that have been carbon-dated) until a group of international scientists, headed by Professor Adrian Patrut of the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Babes-Bolyai University in Romania began searching for the largest baobabs in southern Africa. Their aim: to determine the age, growth and structure of baobabs with a circumference of over 20 m – which they classified as monumental baobabs. During their research the team unexpectedly found the highest density of the world’s huge baobabs in the Omusati Region – the westernmost region in the Owambo area. In Outapi and within a 5 km radius of the town six baobabs had a circumference of over 20 m, while another three monumental baobabs were discovered in the Onesi area.
Although the Ombalantu Baobab in Outapi is a national monument and the best-known tree in the region, it is not the largest by far. In years gone by its lofty branches were used as lookout posts to detect raiding parties, while sharpshooters would fend off any attack with bows and arrows to protect the women and children sheltering in the hollow stem. The tree once also served as a post office and it was the centrepiece of a South African Defence Force military base when the hollow stem was used as a small chapel.
The region’s largest baobab, named Outapi-2, is on private property close to the western outskirts of Outapi. With a circumference of 30.8 m and a height of 22.1 m it ranks among the five largest baobabs in Africa.
Just a few kilometres to the north of Outapi is the Anamulenge Baobab, named after the nearby settlement. One of the most interesting baobabs in the area, it consists of 11 fused stems and has an entrance into the cavity in its trunk about four metres above the ground.
The Sir Howard’s Baobab in the settlement of Tsandi, some 30 km south of Outapi, was named after the first administrator of South West Africa, Sir Howard Gorges, who visited Tsandi in 1916. With a circumference of 31.6 m and a height of 23.8 m, it also ranks among the five largest baobabs in Africa.
A number of other monumental baobabs have also been identified in the Tsandi and Onesi areas. Further east, in the town of Okahao, is another huge baobab which has been declared a national monument.
Grotesquely shaped as they are, it is not surprising that the African baobab has also been referred to as the Upside Down Tree.
FlyWestair’s Embraer flies north from Windhoek to Ondangwa every weekday and Sundays. Willie Olivier gathered some interesting fast facts about the central northern region of Namibia. If you want to add to the list, send us your ideas to fly@venture.com.na or tag FlyWestair on social media and it will be included in the next issues.
