One of the iconic symbols of Africa is the baobab tree (although it also grows in Australia). Shaped somewhat like a bottle, with a broad trunk and sharply narrowed top, the trees can reach up to 30 meters (100′) in height. They can hold lots of water — a distinctive advantage in the dry season. Baobabs are said to be long-lived, perhaps even thousands of years old if left undisturbed (although they rarely survive to old age in continental Africa). Baobab trees have a short leaf season and most often you’ll see the trees without leaves.
It’s a bit of a thrill to see baobabs, not unlike seeing a giant sequoia or massive old oak tree. What surprised us was how popular these trees are with elephants. Elephants will frequently eat them, sometimes taking out large chunks of the trunk as you see in these photos (usually leaving the tree alive), and at other times a herd can push down and completely eat an entire tree — no leftovers!
