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

Baobabs featuring at the Savanna Science Network Meeting

Steven Khosa (SANParks) and Dr Sarah Venter did an evaluation of meshing baobab trees for the last 12 month period.  The findings were presented at the Savanna Science Network Meeting in Skukuza in the Kruger National Park in April 2025.  The data showed that Elephants were present 97% of the time in areas with meshed trees, compared to 94% in [...] Continue Reading
By Dr Sarah Venter

Why is meshing baobabs so important?

In this video Dr Sarah Venter explains how important baobabs are in our landscapes. Baobabs are hotspots of biodiversity hosting dozens of bird, animal and reptile species. She explains how to mesh baobabs to protect them from elephant damage. Tswehe Wildlife Reserve offers an opportunity for visitors to mesh their own baobab. Dr Sarah Venter explains how important it is [...] Continue Reading
By Dr Sarah Venter

PHASA Foundation and Honorary Rangers help protect baobabs

As part of the ongoing work to protect baobabs from hungry elephants another two trees were meshed in Mapungubwe National Park this week.  Working with SANParks, Working on Fire and the Honorary Rangers we plan to mesh 20 more baobabs in the park.  With financial support from the PHASA Foundation we have already meshed 8 baobabs in Mapungubwe NP this [...] Continue Reading
By Dr Sarah Venter

Volunteer to mesh a baobab!

Tswehe Reserve is a magical area in the Tuli Block in Botswana.  The reserve has numerous baobabs dotted across the landscape from the Limpopo River in the south to the vast mopani veld in the north.  Lloyd and Isabel Gillespy run an impact programme that offers immersive nature experiences and opportunities to contribute to meaningful conservation management.  Their program now [...] Continue Reading
By Dr Sarah Venter

Learning from Ratho – how to protect riverine forests

Baobabs are not the only species being destroyed by elephants.  Many species of trees along the Limpopo River are disappearing at an alarming rate.  Ratho, a citrus farm situated west of Pont Drift and opposite the Tuli Block of Botswana took action before it was too late.  They have used electric fencing to protect riverine forests and where the forests [...] Continue Reading
By Dr Sarah Venter

Another baobab gone – do we need more proof?

Three large baobabs form an avenue on either side of the track leading up to Schroda Dam view in Mapungubwe National Park.  These trees have stood on this hillside for hundreds of years.  Last month one of them died as a result of elephant damage as many other trees in this National Park. Fortunately, the other two trees were meshed [...] Continue Reading
By Dr Sarah Venter

Equipment for protecting baobabs donated to SANParks

Protecting baobabs from elephants is an ongoing effort.  There are over 600 baobabs on Mapungubwe National Park.  Every few moths a baobab collapses and dies from elephant damage in the park.  Mapungubwe National Park has limited resources and is unable to dedicate equipment solely to the protection of baobabs.  The Baobab Foundation has put together a pamphlet on How-to-mesh-a-baobab, which [...] Continue Reading
By Dr Sarah Venter

Keeping an eye on Greens Baobab

Greens baobab is a historic tree found in the Magadikgadi area of Botswana.  The intrepid Green brothers were one of the many early traders, hunters and explorers to carve their names here, leaving “Green’s Expedition 1858–1859” scrawled into the tree’s bark and giving the tree its name. Greens tree is found on the Gweta-Orapa track, 27 km south of Gweta.  [...] Continue Reading
By Dr Sarah Venter

Another 22 baobabs and counting

Baobabs on confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe rivers continue to be vulnerable to the over utilization by elephants.  The only way to effectively protect baobabs from elephants is to wrap them in wire mesh.  In November 2023 the Baobab Foundation wrapped another 22 baobabs in wire mesh.  Over the course of three days another 15 baobabs were protected in [...] Continue Reading