In the far north of South Africa’s Kruger National Park, Pafuri is a land of mystique, where ancient trees are more than just a part of the scenery – they are part of the story. Each tree at Pafuri stands as a testament to resilience, offering sustenance, shade, and refuge for the area’s abundant wildlife, as well as cultural significance for the people, the Makuleke, who have called this place home for generations.
Join us on a journey beneath the boughs of Pafuri’s iconic trees, where folklore, beauty, and ecological significance intertwine.
Baobab tree at night
Baobab Trees: The Giants of the Landscape
No matter how you arrive at Pafuri you know you are getting close when the Baobabs start appearing. Towering over the savannah, the Baobab (Adansonia digitata) is often called the “Tree of Life” for the many roles it plays in supporting life. Its fruit, the monkey bread, is a prized source of nutrients for both animals and humans.
These giants are icons of African landscapes, some of them thousands of years old. According to African folklore the gods planted the tree upside-down to humble it, with its roots reaching toward the sky. Their massive, bottle-shaped trunks can store thousands of litres of water to sustain life through times of drought.
Elephants eat the fibrous bark more for its moisture than for its nutrition. Many birds and animals make their homes amongst the root-like branches and cavities that are a feature of every Baobab.
For centuries humans have used the hollowed-out trunks of Baobabs as storage chambers for millet and other crops. At Pafuri we can point out the specific tree which a Makuleke Sangoma (witch doctor) once used for his dispensary. And under the shade of another great Baobab, which still stands near the site of Deku, the royal Kraal, the Makuleke Chief would meet with his advisors and headmen to deliberate on matters of policy, affairs of state and to dispense social justice.
So, when you look up into the voluptuous branches of a Baobab spare a thought for the history and ancient stories it could tell of the countless generations of people who have sought shelter beneath its boughs.
The fever tree forest north of the Luvuvhu river near Crooks Corner
Fever Trees: Luminescent Spirits
Not far from Crooks Corner, the place where the Luvuvhu river flows into the mighty Limpopo lies the enchanting Fever Tree Forest (Vachellia xanthophloea). These trees, with their remarkable yellow-green bark literally glow in the warmth of the early morning and late evening sunlight, creating an ethereal atmosphere which rings with the calls of birds.
Our precious Forest established itself only 54 years ago when floodwaters inundated the Pafuri wetlands. It has become synonymous with Pafuri and has justifiably been chosen as the cathedral of choice for couples wishing to tie the knot, their joyful ceremonies complimented by its warm palette and natural grace.
Despite their name, Fever Trees don’t cause fever; instead, they thrive in marshy areas where malaria-carrying mosquitoes might live, leading early settlers to mistakenly associate them with sickness.
Fever Trees add a unique glow to Pafuri’s ecology. They provide soft shade and are an essential habitat for numerous birds, insects, and mammals. Baboons, monkeys and bush babies feed on their nutritious gum, elephants on their branches and leaves, butterflies, birds and monkeys on the yellow flowers.
Ana tree forest along the Luvuvhu river
Ana Trees: The Giving Tree
In places along the banks of the shifting Luvuvhu River, Ana Trees (Faidherbia albida) which grow to heights of 40m form a towering open forest and provide nest sites for vultures. These trees are also known as Winter Thorns because their leaves grow in Autumn and are lost in Spring.
Towards the end of the dry season their branches are heavy with starch and protein-rich pods. Elephants, Buffalo, Baboons, Eland, Kudu, Nyala and smaller antelope gravitate to these trees for nutrition, with the fallen pods providing sustenance during months when food is otherwise scarce. Inexplicably the decorative red-brown pods are ignored by warthogs and zebra.
Eland in front of a Lala Palm grove along the Limpopo river
Lala Palms: The Tree of Art and Celebration
Lala Palms (Hyphaene coriacea) line the Limpopo River, where their graceful fan-like leaves and slender trunks add an exotic beauty to Pafuri. Known as a resourceful tree, the Lala Palm has long been cherished by local communities for its many uses: its leaves are woven into mats, baskets, and hats, and its sap is extracted to make a traditional wine, or distilled to produce a viciously intoxicating spirit.
The fruit which takes two years to develop, tastes much like raisins and is much loved by elephants and baboons.
Jackalberry trees towering over the deck at Pafuri Camp
Jackalberry Trees
The majestic Jackalberry Tree (Diospyros mespiliformis), also known as African Ebony is one of the most valued trees in Pafuri, not only for its beauty and the cool shade it provides for Pafuri Camp, but also for the vital role it plays in the ecosystem.
This hardy evergreen tree, with its deep roots and fluted trunk, provides abundant sustenance in the savannah. Its small, sweet fruits are rich in Vitamin C and attract a variety of wildlife, from birds and monkeys to fruit bats and antelope, making it a hub of activity during the fruiting season.
Traditional healers use the leaves, bark and roots of the tree for its medicinal properties, helping to staunch bleeding, purge parasites and as a remedy for leprosy. The wood is prized for its durability.
On the banks of the Limpopo we have a special mystical forest of Jackalberry trees, their dark trunks shadowy, silhouetted against the distant fever trees, their branches draped with twisted lianas. For those lucky enough to walk beneath those arching limbs it is a place of peace and contemplation.
The mighty Jackalberry stands as a symbol of resilience, flourishing even in the parched, sandy soils of Pafuri, and serves as a reminder of nature’s generosity in the African wilderness.
A leopard stashing its kill in a Nyala berry tree
Nyala Berry Trees
Enormous in stature, the Nyala Berry (Xanthocercis zambesiaca) is favoured by leopards, who use its dense foliage and spreading branches as cover while they feast on their kills above the reach of marauding scavengers. The tree’s canopy offers excellent protection and privacy, transforming it into a “secret dining room” for one of Pafuri’s apex predators, or a “bedchamber” for roosting owls.
Nyala Berries typically grow on alluvium or termite mounds where they have access to plentiful moisture and deep fertile soil. A host of wildlife is attracted by the dark, grape-like fruits … especially antelope, birds and bats. Many hollows and crevices, formed between the spreading limbs provide homes for snakes, reptiles and nesting birds.
Sausage Trees: The Medicinal Healers
Easily recognisable by its large, sausage-shaped fruits, the Sausage Tree (Kigelia africana) holds a special place in African culture. While the 5 – 10 kg fruits are poisonous for humans, they are a favourite of elephants, hippos, and baboons, adding nourishment to the diets of Pafuri’s herbivores. Bats pollinate the beautiful maroon trumpet-shaped flowers, drawing even more life to this intriguing species.
Sausage Trees are celebrated for their healing properties. Traditional healers use their fruit to treat skin ailments, infections, and even snake bites, earning it the nickname “Nature’s Pharmacy.” Some say the tree is inhabited by protective spirits, leading to rituals and offerings beneath its boughs.
Mopane Trees
Widespread across the basalt ridges and sandveld of Pafuri, the Mopane Tree (Colophospermum mopane) adds another dimension to Pafuri’s ecosystem. Known for butterfly-shaped leaves and drought tolerance, Mopanes provide a staple food source for elephants, buffalo, giraffes and various antelope when other food sources have been exhausted. The leaves turn a striking orange red in autumn, transforming the landscape into a sea of colour.
Mopane trees are essential to the lifecycle of the Mopane worm, a large caterpillar that is a delicacy amongst many local communities. The Mopane worm is an important source of protein, making the tree a symbol of sustenance and renewal. For many, Mopane wood is also a favoured choice for cooking fires, as it produces great heat and long-lasting coals.
Sunset drinks under Baobab trees
From statuesque Baobabs and vibrant Fever Trees to magnificent Jackalberries and colourful Mopanes, the trees of Pafuri are essential to the land’s vibrancy and allure. They offer shade to elephants, leopards and a host of other fauna, sustenance to birds and monkeys, and even healing properties for those who know how to use their bark, leaves, and fruits. Each tree stands as a silent guardian, sheltering life beneath its branches and sharing its bounty with creatures large and small.
For visitors to Pafuri, these trees are an invitation to explore not only the natural beauty of the land but also the deeper, often mystical connection between nature and culture. Each trunk, branch, and leaf hold a story – a tale of survival, community, and interdependence. They are nature’s storytellers, whispering legends to those who pause to listen, offering inspiration, peace, and a glimpse into the heart of Africa itself.
Walking beneath their canopies, one becomes part of this living ecosystem, where every tree and animal, every leaf and root, is connected in a circle of life that has existed long before us and will continue long after. Pafuri’s trees remind us that, in their resilience and grace, they offer us more than just shade and sustenance – they offer us a sense of place, a feeling of belonging in the vast wildness of Pafuri.
What a wonderful article with the most incredible images. My most favourite place on the planet. Thank you Harald.