In 2024 we planted 50 baobab trees into the wild at Nthakeni Camp. We chose this place as it has very few antelope and no domestic animals, such as goats and donkeys, that like to eat baobab seedlings.
The trees were planted in a variety of habitats such as closed forests, open woodlands and grasslands. We do not interfere with the trees so that we can monitor what might affect their survival.
In March this year I did my annual measurement of the trees to see how they had grown. Due to the very high rainfall that the area had experienced over the last few months it was interesting to see that some of the areas where we had planted the trees had become waterlogged, others had become over grown with grass and many of the trees had been covered in creeper growth. I believe the waterlogged trees will die of root rot as baobabs do not like to get wet roots. The vines, shrubs and grasses will probably just hamper the growth for a while until the little baobab branches push through them and they will continue to grow.
Baobab seedling growing under thick Grewia bush
Baobab seedling growing in thick grass
Vines growing over baobab seedling
Waterlogged baobab seedling
