Giants of the Savanna: exploring Tanzania’s iconic and sacred trees

Tanzania is home to a vast variety of trees, including the iconic baobab, acacia, and many endemic species. Its rich and fascinating flora plays a crucial role in the ecosystem, providing shelter and food for numerous animal species while also contributing to environmental preservation and biodiversity.

With its vibrant colors and graceful shapes, Tanzania offers endless opportunities to capture truly amazing photographs.

This blog aims to offer an overview of the most remarkable plant species that captivate thousands of travelers every year during safaris and nature-based trips.

The baobab is considered the oldest tree in Tanzania and is undoubtedly one of the most iconic symbols, especially within Tarangire National Park.

Its distinctive shape makes it look as though its strong roots are reaching up toward the sky.

A symbol of longevity, the baobab can live for thousands of years and is capable of storing enormous amounts of water in its trunk, up to 120,000 liters. That makes it a vital water source for wildlife, particularly during the dry season.

For many communities, such as the Maasai, the baobab is considered the “tree of life”, a symbol of strength, resilience, longevity, and wisdom.

According to legend, it was planted upside down by the gods, with its roots reaching toward the sky. The baobab is often regarded as a resting place for ancestral spirits and serves as a sacred gathering point for ceremonies, blessings, and conflict resolution.

Tarangire National Park is renowned for its incredible concentration of baobabs, which dominate the landscape and serve as one of the park’s most iconic features.

However, they’re not exclusive to Tarangire. Massive specimens can also be found in Lake Manyara, Serengeti, and Ruaha National Parks, where they contribute to the unique beauty and distinctive character of these protected areas

At night, the wonder of nocturnal pollination takes place, led by fruit bats drawn to the flowers’ scent and abundant pollen.

As they land on the blooms to feed, they move from flower to flower, carrying pollen with them. This process helps pollinate the tree, ensuring its reproduction and long-term survival.

In Tanzania, the acacia tree holds deep sacred and symbolic significance. Resilient by nature, it thrives even in harsh conditions, withstanding drought and heavy grazing thanks to its protective thorns.

Acacias are a vital part of the ecosystem, serving as a key food source for giraffes, antelopes, and other herbivores.

The pods of many acacia species are rich in protein and fiber. With their wide, flat canopies, acacias provide ideal shade on sunny days, offering shelter not only to animals but also to people from the intense African sun. Their branches also serve as safe nesting spots, protecting birds from potential predators.

The acacia tree is also an invaluable resource for local communities in Tanzania. Its hard and durable wood is used as firewood or for building livestock enclosures and small homes.

The bark, sap, and leaves play an important role in traditional medicine, used to treat various ailments. While not an object of worship, the acacia symbolizes key values such as rebirth, immortality, purity, innocence, and a connection with the divine.

That makes it not just a tree, but a pillar of life itself.

The Kigelia africana, also known as the Sausage Tree, is a distinctive presence in the Tanzanian savanna, attracting a wide variety of wildlife.

Fruit bats and bush babies (galagos) play a key role in its nighttime pollination, while monkeys and baboons feed on the tree’s fibrous fruit pulp, helping to disperse its seeds.

This remarkable tree also attracts a wide array of wildlife, including elephants, warthogs, giraffes, hippos, and even porcupines.
Although its fruits are an important part of the food chain for wildlife, they are toxic to humans if consumed raw.

While the tree plays a vital ecological role, it also holds significant importance in traditional medicine. Local communities use its extracts, bark, and leaves to treat skin conditions, infections, rheumatic pain, and even digestive disorders.

The Kigelia is considered a sacred tree, used in rituals for protection, or blessings and to safeguard villages.

In Tanzania, the fig tree is a common sight and a powerful symbol of abundance. Its fruits are vital to the local wildlife, providing essential nourishment.

Some species, such as the strangler fig, play a critical role in the forest ecosystem. Those germinate on other trees and gradually envelop them, forming natural structures that serve as shelter for birds, insects, monkeys, and bats.

Their continuous fruiting cycle makes them indispensable to the survival of many species, especially during times when other food sources are scarce.

In the arid regions of Tanzania, the myrrh tree is a common sight, valued for its aromatic resin used in traditional medicine, perfumery, and rituals.

For many local communities, it holds deep cultural and spiritual significance, symbolizing healing and protection, with strong roots in traditional practices and beliefs.

Among the savanna’s most iconic trees, the Whistling Thorn Acacia stands out.

It is commonly found in Serengeti National Park, as well as in the Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, and Lake Manyara, where it plays a key role in shaping the unique character of the landscape.

Its name comes from the unique sound it produces.

Yes, you heard that right! Some of its thorns have swollen, hollow bases called domatia. When the wind passes through tiny holes made by ants in these structures, it creates a distinctive whistling sound.

Even more fascinating is the symbiotic relationship this tree shares with four species of ants.

In exchange for food and shelter, the ants fiercely defend the tree from herbivores, attacking them with bites and formic acid at the slightest disturbance.

Through nitrogen fixation, the Whistling Thorn also enriches the soil, playing a vital ecological role in its environment.

Typical of Tanzania’s semi-arid regions, it is also known as Mgunga in Swahili and is a thorny tree. Drought-resistant, it provides shade, timber, and fodder. Its leaves and bark are often used in traditional medicine.

It can grow up to 15 meters tall, with horizontal branches and a typically grey, fissured bark.

Its wood is mainly used in construction and for making boat tools. It is commonly found in parks like Serengeti, Tarangire, and Ruaha. In some traditional beliefs, it is also associated with “magical” properties.

The baobab is an iconic tree in Tanzania, renowned for its remarkable longevity and resilience.

Some specimens are believed to live up to 2,000 or even 3,000 years. However, baobabs are not considered the oldest tree species, and the viral claim of a 6,000-year-old specimen widely circulated on social media has been debunked.

In 2023, a new tree species, Tessmannia princeps, was discovered in southern Tanzania, specifically in the Boma la Mzinga and Uluti Village Land reserves.

Estimated to be as old as 3,000 years, this discovery is backed by scientific research, and the trees are considered vulnerable to extinction due to their limited population and distribution.

The Mpingo (African Blackwood), scientifically known as Dalbergia melanoxylon, is the national tree of Tanzania.

Globally renowned for its dark, dense, and durable wood, it is highly valued in the music industry, particularly for crafting wind instruments. It is also used in traditional African carvings, especially by the Makonde people.

However, Mpingo grows very slowly: it can take between 70 and 100 years for the heartwood – the dense inner part of the trunk, to be ready for use in instrument making.

Trees in Tanzania are not just part of the scenery, they are pillars of the ecosystem and guardians of the cultural traditions of local communities.

A safari allows you to admire their beauty and vital role in the natural balance. Each tree tells a story, turning your journey into a unique and unforgettable experience.

Tanzania is a remarkable land, where every region is defined by its own trees and colors. Zohar African Safaris will guide you in discovering this rich and thriving flora, through curated safari packages or fully customized experiences.

See Tanzania from a new perspective: request your personalized itinerary and uncover the hidden beauty of the savanna’s sacred trees.