By Dr Sarah Venter

The secret life of baobabs: how bats and moths keep Africa’s giant trees alive

After 5 years of research and travelling to many African countries I and my collegues have stared to untangle the mystery of how baobab flowers are pollinated. A research article published in the Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society was recently summarised and posted in The Conversation. Please read all about it here. My research is supported by Milbon Pty [...] Continue Reading
By Dr Sarah Venter

Bats and moths have shaped baobab flowers across Africa

The baobab tree is found widely distributed across the African continent.  It has provided food to people for thousands of years, have become an integral part of many local economies where baobab fruit and derivatives are sold in local and global markets.  As a result tens of thousands of people in Africa depend on the income they get from baobab [...] Continue Reading
By Dr Sarah Venter

Baobab Wilding at Mabvete Village

After 2 years of growing baobabs for transplanting into the wild we planted out 30 young trees.  In January 2023 baobab growers in Mabvete village received baobab seedlings to grow. They were to plant the trees in the ground in their homesteads, water them, look after them and protect them from goats until they reached a hight of at least [...] Continue Reading
By Dr Sarah Venter

Another year’s measurement at Skelmwater Nature Reserve

Skelmwater Resarch plot is visited every year to collect annual growth measurements.  This time the plot was visited twice.  In May to show the research plot to Nathan Clemes and Amber Numamoto who support the ecological research done by the Baobab Foundation.  The second visit in June was with Mr Georg von dem Bussche who for many years measured the [...] Continue Reading
By Dr Sarah Venter

50 baobabs saved in Limpokwena

Limpokwena is a game reserve situated between the Limpopo and Mogalakwena Rivers near Platjan boarder post.  The property has about 50 small baobab trees which are being badly damaged and killed by elephants that are coming over the border from Botswana.   A field trip and site inspection in April confirmed that the manager can mesh the trees but needs support [...] Continue Reading
By Dr Sarah Venter

Teaching kids about baobabs

Tshokotshoko Primary School A talk on the ecology of baobabs was given at Tshokotshoko Primary School which was attended by the Grade 6 and Grade 7 pupils.  Each pupil was given the Tshivenda version of  “Little Big Baobab Book”. Tshokotshoko Primary School is a small school, situated in a very remote part of Niyani (northern Limpopo) and is surrounded by [...] Continue Reading
By Dr Sarah Venter

Preschools receive toy boxes

Tshokotshoko village lies in a very remote part of the baobab area north of the Soutpansberg mountains.  The village is small and the Preschool supports the early education of the little children of the village.  Many of the children do not have toys to play with at home so the one place that they are able to learn to play [...] Continue Reading
By Dr Sarah Venter

After good rain wild Planted baobabs need to survive overgrowth

Wild planted baobab trees at Nthakeni were assessed with the help of Nathan Clemes and Amber Numamoto from Unrooted in the UK.  We found that the high rainfall had caused a lot of vegetation growth around the seedlings which were suffocating the plants.  The plants were left as they were so that we can learn how young seedlings grow and [...] Continue Reading
By Dr Sarah Venter

Glender Kwilimba does honors project on baobab planting program

Glender Kwilimba is an honors student at the University of Venda.  Her honors project is to assess the success of the Baobab Guardians project.  The Baobab Foundation has sponsored her field work which she conducted in May 2025.  Dr Sarah Venter will be co-supervising her project with Prof. Swanepoel from the University of Venda.  Glender interviewed 57 Baobab Guardians and [...] Continue Reading
By Dr Sarah Venter

Working with the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT)

Sarah Venter spent a few days in the field with John Davies from the Endangered Wildlife Trust working together on a vulture conservation and tree meshing project along the Western Limpopo River.  The collaborative project will help protect vulnerable bird species such as Pels Fishing Owls and White Backed Vultures and protect the integrity of the riverine forest along the [...] Continue Reading