What Is The Oldest Tree In South Africa

In the Duiwelskloof town of Limpopo exists a tree that is estimated to have been alive and well during the reigns of the ancient Egyptian and Roman empires. This tree is reported to be one of the oldest trees in the world and is by miles the largest tree of its species on the African continent.

We’ve spoken about so many different kinds of trees in our recent blogs, but none have received as much coverage as the legendary Baobab trees. In this blog, we’ll be talking about the ancient Sunland Baobab, a tree that has been carbon dated to be as old as 6000 years.

 

The oldest tree in South Africa

The Sunland Baobab we’re talking about is located in Limpopo in a town called Duiwelskloof. The tree was converted into a bar by local residents a few centuries after it was naturally hollowed out – it now stands as one of the most beautiful sights to behold on the African continent. Standing at over 70 feet tall and 155 feet wide, the Sunland Baobab is undoubtedly the widest tree in Africa. 

The rustic pub located within the Sunland Baobab has a whopping 13-foot high ceiling and can comfortably fit up to 15 people inside. The owner has even claimed that the tree once housed 40 adults for a party – insane numbers considering the fact that it’s a 6-thousand-year-old tree. 

 

Why are the African Baobab trees so special?

Besides the fact that African Baobabs are some of the oldest trees in the world, they have for centuries provided locals and natives with essential materials and ingredients to make clothes, ornaments, medicine and food. The bark of Baobab trees can be used as a special fibre that people use to make clothes, while its leaves share similar nutrients to those of spinach and can also be used to create medicine for several types of ailments.

There are also numerous myths and legends surrounding the African Baobabs, you can learn more about them here. These days, many South African Baobabs are protected by law and cannot be treated in a way that would bring them any harm.

With that in mind, if you’d like a tree that gives your backyard a similar feel to what a Baobab would give you, get in touch with us and we’ll help you find and transplant that very tree. We look forward to hearing from you!