The “Big Five” trees of Kruger and how to identify them

Kruger National Park is known for its incredible wildlife, but it’s not just the animals that make this place special. The park is also home to some truly magnificent trees – the “Big Five” of the plant kingdom. These trees are not only beautiful, but they also play a vital role in the park’s delicate ecosystem.

So, what are these “Big Five” trees and how can you identify them? Well, let me tell you about them.

The Marula Tree

The Marula tree is one of the most iconic trees in Kruger. Its distinctive round crown and grey bark make it easy to spot. In fact, the Marula tree has an interesting story behind it – it’s the tree that produces the delicious fruit used to make Amarula, a popular South African liqueur. Look out for the fruit on the ground if you want to know if you’ve found a Marula tree.

The Baobab Tree

The Baobab tree is another tree that is hard to miss. Its massive trunk and sprawling branches make it one of the most impressive trees in the park. The Baobab tree is also known as the “upside-down tree” because its branches look like roots sticking out of the ground. If you see a tree with a trunk that looks like it could swallow a small car, you’ve found a Baobab tree.

The Fever Tree

The Fever tree might not be as big or as showy as the Marula or the Baobab, but it’s just as important. This tree gets its name from the fact that early settlers believed that it caused fever when they slept under its shade. The Fever tree is easy to recognize because of its bright green bark, which stands out against the more muted colors of the other trees.

The Mopane Tree

The Mopane tree is a common sight in the park. Its unique butterfly-shaped leaves and distinctive reddish-brown bark make it easy to identify. The Mopane tree is also an important source of food for many animals in Kruger, so keep an eye out for any signs of grazing or stripped leaves if you want to find one.

The Sausage Tree

Last, but certainly not least, is the Sausage tree. This tree gets its name from its unique fruit, which looks like a giant sausage hanging from its branches. Although it might seem strange, the fruit of the Sausage tree is actually a favorite snack of elephants. If you ever come across a tree with large sausage-like fruits, you can be sure it’s a Sausage tree.

So, now that you know about the “Big Five” trees of Kruger, keep an eye out for them on your next visit. They are not only a fascinating part of the park’s natural beauty, but they are also an integral part of the ecosystem. Enjoy your tree spotting adventure!

When you go on a safari in Kruger National Park, you might be disappointed if you only focus on seeing the “Big Five” animals. Spotting wildlife is unpredictable, and there’s no guarantee that you’ll come across them.

However, if you shift your attention to the trees, you’ll never be disappointed. Trees don’t move, they make for beautiful photographs, and you can often find incredible sightings, like leopards sleeping in their branches. It’s also quite rewarding to learn and identify different tree species. While there isn’t an official “Big Five” of trees, here are some of the most significant and impressive species you can find in Kruger National Park. It’s a great starting point if you’re new to identifying trees.

1. The Baobab/ Kremetart (Adansonia Digitata)

Let me tell you about the mighty Baobab, the biggest tree in Kruger. It’s really easy to spot because it’s enormous! You won’t believe it, but some of them are thousands of years old. They mainly grow in the northern parts of the park, like Punda Maria and Shingwedzi, but you can also find some in the south near Satara. In fact, the southernmost baobab is located at Kumana Dam, about 25 km south of Satara on the Satara-Tshokwane road. It’s a truly unique tree that you don’t want to miss!

Let’s talk about identifying the features of this unique tree:

– It has a strong, chunky trunk that is mostly grey, but can also appear a bit pinkish in the sun.

– The tree has a wide spreading crown, which means its branches and leaves extend out in all directions.

– In the springtime, the tree blooms with beautiful white flowers.

– It produces large pods that hang down from the branches. These pods have a hard wooden exterior and a hairy appearance.

– This is a deciduous tree, which means it loses its leaves during the winter months and grows them back in the summer.

I find it fascinating how these trees have a unique appearance with their stout trunks and their branches that resemble roots. They can reach heights of over 20 meters and have the ability to survive for thousands of years. It’s amazing to think about the long life they have.

The white flowers of this tree rely on fruit bats for pollination. These bats help spread the tree’s pollen, allowing it to reproduce. The tree’s fruit is contained within the large, hard pods that dangle from the branches. Isn’t it interesting how nature has its own way of ensuring the survival of these trees?

Have you ever noticed the smaller baobabs in Kruger’s rest camps? They may not catch your eye at first, but these young baobabs, which are less than 200 years old, are worth a closer look.

Wildlife plays a vital role in the life cycle of these baobabs. Monkeys, baboons, and warthogs feast on their fruit and seed pods, while bush babies and bats delight in the nectar they provide. And let’s not forget about the elephants, who sometimes indulge in the spongy bark of the baobabs.

2. Weeping Boerbean/ Huilboerboon (Schotia Brachypetala)

Have you ever seen those incredible trees that grow along riverbeds or drainage lines in Kruger? They’re truly remarkable! You can also find them near termite mounds, and they thrive in that environment. These trees are quite common throughout the park, but you’ll see more of them if you head south of the Sabie river.

During springtime, these trees burst into a magnificent display of color with their vibrant crimson red flowers. You can spot them from miles away! These flowers are so full of nectar that they often overflow or “weep” from the petals. That’s why they’re called weeping boer-bean trees.

Not every tree will grow to be massive, but some can reach an impressive height of up to 22 meters. That’s taller than a two-story building! Can you imagine standing next to a tree that tall?

Let me tell you about this incredible tree that I came across. It’s got some really unique features that make it stand out. First off, it has a single stem and a big, round crown that branches out all over the place. The leaves are a deep, dark green color, but when they’re young, they have this cool coppery look to them. And when the tree blossoms in the spring, it’s absolutely breathtaking. The flowers are this vibrant red color with multiple petals, and they really grab your attention.

But it’s not just the appearance of this tree that’s impressive; it’s also a gathering spot for all sorts of creatures. When it’s in full bloom, it becomes a buzzing hub of activity. Birds that feed on nectar, like sunbirds, can’t resist the sweet stuff that this tree produces. And where there are bugs, there are insect-eating birds, swooping in to have a feast. Even monkeys and baboons get in on the action, munching on the flowers and getting their fill. And let’s not forget about the leaves – they’re a tasty treat for browsers like black rhinos.

3. Jackal berry/ Jackalsbessie (Diospyros Mespiliformis)

Let me tell you about Jackal berries, one of the giants of the savanna. These incredible trees can live for an impressive 200 years and reach towering heights of up to 20m. You can find them all across Kruger, thriving in every type of soil. But they seem to especially love the low-lying areas near riverbeds and streams, where they can grow even bigger.

Jackal berries are similar to Marulas in one fascinating way – they are dioecious. This means that the male and female reproductive organs exist on separate trees. On the male trees, you’ll find clusters of flowers, while the female trees have individual flowers that grow on fuzzy stalks. And guess what? Only the female trees bear fruit! It’s their special gift to the world.

Here are the identifying features of the Natal Mahogany or Rooiessenhout tree:

• The canopy is dense and green
• It is a semi-deciduous tree
• The tree has a tall, upright trunk with spreading branches
• The bark is grey or dark brown and has a roughish texture
• The leaves are small and dark green with a dull shine
• In spring, new leaves are red
• The tree has cream-colored, bell-shaped flowers
• It produces small fleshy oval fruit, which is mostly yellow in color
• The fruit can turn a darker color when ripe, but is usually eaten before that happens

The Jackal berry tree got its name because its fruit is often found in jackal dung. However, many other animals also feed on this tree’s fruit, such as monkeys, baboons, kudus, klipspringers, warthogs, and dassies.

4. Natal Mahogany/ Rooiessenhout (Trichilia emetica)

You can often find Natal mahoganies near riverbeds or sometimes in bushveld areas. They have a unique and dense crown that provides great shade for animals during the hot summer months. In fact, entire prides of lions have been spotted sleeping under their shade. Natal mahoganies are evergreen, so they keep their leaves all year round. They thrive in water-rich environments and can be found along almost all the rivers in Kruger National Park, except for the Shingwedzi River and its tributaries. If you want to get a close look at these beautiful trees, you’ll find a Natal Mahogany in every rest camp except for Shingwedzi.

Here are some identifying features of the Natal Mahogany tree:
-The leaves are dark green and glossy. They never fall off.
-The tree has a spreading crown that creates a lot of shade.
-The bark of the tree is smooth and dark brown.
-The flowers of the tree are light green and have a sweet smell. They bloom from August to November.
-When the tree’s fruits mature, they split open to reveal bright red and black seeds in a pear shape.

Many different birds are attracted to the dense shade of the Natal Mahogany. Starlings, barbets, grey and purple crested louries, and hornbills eat the seeds of the tree. Baboons, monkeys, and nyala animals eat the fruit of the tree.

5. The Sycamore Fig Tree (Ficus sycomorus)

Did you know that Sycamore Figs are also known as the African queen of trees? You can find them in the sandy soils along all the riverbeds and drainage lines in Kruger. They especially thrive near perennial rivers like the Timbavati. If you want to see some of these amazing trees, head over to the Timbavati river between Orpen and Satara. There, you’ll be able to witness the magnificence of these big trees, some of which can grow as tall as 35 meters!

Here are some distinctive features of the Sycamore fig tree:

• Mostly green, with rare instances of being leafless
• Has a dense and wide-spreading crown
• Milky latex can be found in every part of the tree
• Large figs grow in clusters along the branches, starting off greenish-yellow and turning pale red when ripe
• Pale green leaves that are thin, rounded at the tip, and rough to the touch
• The stem is yellow-grey in color, with very pale papery bark that flakes off

The wood of a Sycamore fig tree is extremely light, both in color and weight. These trees bear fruit all year round, with the highest harvest between July and December. The figs attract a variety of birds and animals, ranging from bats to elephants to monkeys to bushbabies. If you visit the Babalala picnic spot in Northern Kruger, you can admire a magnificent fig tree growing through the thatched shade of the picnic site. It’s a wonderful spot to observe this tree up close and learn how to recognize it.

Hey, did you know something cool? This massive tree owes its success to a tiny wasp. Without it, the tree wouldn’t thrive. The Fig Wasp is drawn in by the sweet smell of its minuscule flowers, and it sneaks into the fig through a little opening. These wasps carry pollen and lay their eggs inside the flowers before they die. Some of the flowers turn into seeds, while others become a cozy spot for the wasp babies, all protected by the tree.

I also want to give a shout-out to the Nyala Berry, Tamboti, and Leadwood. These are other enormous trees you can find all over Kruger National Park.