Lover's Baobab, Madagascar

Seeing these two baobabs eternally bound to each other, it’s hard not to swoon at such romantic notions. They are aptly named Lover’s Baobab, located just a short distance from the Avenue of Baobabs. According to local legend, the trees represent a man and a woman from rival villages who fell deeply in love. Since they couldn’t be together, they were turned into two baobabs, forever growing side by side in a timeless embrace. 

Baobabs are often referred to as “upside-down trees” because of their root-like branches. And there’s a fun little legend behind that, straight from a children’s book! According to the story, when the gods were busy creating everything in the world, from animals to flowers and trees, they made a talking tree: the Baobab. It had a lovely green canopy, but it was never happy. It complained about the sun, the wind, the rain and was downright jealous when other plants had bigger leaves or tastier fruit. No matter what, it moaned and groaned about what it didn’t have. Finally, the gods, fed up with the constant complaining, decided to teach the Baobab a lesson. So, they flipped it upside down, burying its canopy in the soil and leaving its roots sticking up to the sky. And just like that, the Baobab was silenced forever. You’ve got to love a tree with a bit of attitude!

In reality, Baobabs are ancient trees. The earliest ones emerged about 20 million years ago. There are eight species, one in Africa, one in northwest Australia and six in Madagascar. The African Baobab is widely spread across the continent and has even been planted in other tropical countries. 

Growing from 16–98ft (5–30m) in height, the baobab is a stem-succulent tree, meaning it has a thick, fleshy trunk that stores water. And can it hold water?! A baobab can store thousands of litres in its trunk, allowing it to survive long droughts. At the same time, all that water helps keep it standing tall. If it used up its reserves too quickly, the tree could collapse under the weight of its own branches. This adaptation comes from experience, as Baobabs can live up to 1,000 years, giving them plenty of time to evolve their quirky shape, water-saving tricks, and survival know-how.

While the children’s story has the talking Baobab unhappy with its fruit and flowers, in truth, the tree produces beautiful, large, fragrant flowers. Hanging like a pendulum, the petals are usually white and open like a saucer, and the dangling stamens look like a bottle brush or a tassel. The fruit is highly nutritious. It has a tangy and citrusy pulp, packed with vitamin C, calcium and antioxidants. Its bark, tough but fibrous, is harvested to make rope, baskets, cloth and fishing nets, as well as paper and building materials. 

Of the six baobab species in Madagascar, one is classified as critically endangered and three are listed as endangered. Factors such as deforestation, climate change, and overharvesting all contribute to their decline. Changing rainfall patterns and rising temperatures may make it more difficult for young trees to grow, while some older trees have shown signs of stress. Increased demand for baobab fruit and bark has also led to unsustainable harvesting in some areas. However, growing awareness and ongoing conservation efforts are helping to protect these unique trees, offering hope for their long-term survival.