Savuti "Souvenir"

Considering that we "only" saw about 12 vehicles while on our mobile safari in Botswana, we thankfully, saw plenty of what we came for: wild animals! Over 120,000 elephants, giraffes, impalas, lions, leopards, cape buffalo, hippos, zebras and many many birds (and many more animals) are "hanging around" Savuti and the Chobe National Park. But as much as the animals garnered most of our attention, I would be remiss if I did not mention the flora and fauna of Africa! And most notably, the baobab trees. They are the "super" trees of Madagascar, Africa and Australia, and there were many in Botswana that we thought were just fantastic!

These trees can grow to be super large and live over 1200 years if not for droughts, black fungus, water logging, lightning and elephants. They are deciduous and their bat-pollinated flowers bloom at night. They also store large volumes of water in their trunks, and that is why elephants and elands and other animals chew the bark during dry seasons. The large trunk (one recorded being 47m wide) has housed a jail, a post office and bush pubs! Not including all the animals and birds that find their homes in and around this stately tree! Sometimes the way the branches grow, they look like they should be in a Dr. Suess book (or maybe those are the trees he illustrated in his books?).

Our guide, Master, had us view this tree from a long distance, and then closer, and it was something else for sure when we were right next to it! While we parked and near the tree, we noticed a large amount of wet bark on the ground. Master then picked up some long fibers of bark to tell us about the bark and it's many purposes (including medicinal and the use of rope building). It was fascinating, and I really liked that the baobab rope is one of the strongest fibers on earth. While he was "braiding" the rope, I asked him if I could have it as my "Savuti Souvenir". These are the best kind of souvenirs, as they are not sold in any shop, but native to the area!

A simple bracelet, but a treasured piece of Botswana Bark of a baobab tree!

BSoleille!
Terri

Photos of Helen Gruneisen and I near the tree, Masters hands as he braided the rope, and the bracelet.
 

The baobab’s biggest enemies are drought, water logging, lightning, elephants and black fungus. - See more at: http://africageographic.com/blog/9-fascinating-baobab-tree-facts/#sthash.c09AL6Tq.dpuf