The 5 Most Interesting Botswana Plants: Botswana’s native plants really enhance its charm as a popular safari spot. If you’re into eco-travel or conservation, you’ll love checking out the sausage tree, which is like the Delta’s take on the fig tree, along with the Mowana baobab. It’s pretty amazing how the dry sand areas blend into lush grasslands, wooded valleys, and sparkling saltpans.

Let’s explore five unique plants you might come across while on a safari in Botswana – just a glimpse of the amazing experiences and natural wonders Africa has to offer.

1. Sausage Tree (Kigelia Africana)

 

The sausage tree is definitely one of the most recognizable trees you’ll find in Botswana. It reaches around 28 meters (65 feet) tall and produces long, sausage-shaped fruit, which is how it got its name. Lots of animals munch on its leaves, flowers, and fruit. Giraffes can easily grab those high-up ‘sausages’ that weigh over 4 kg (9 to 10 pounds) each.

The sausage tree has these cool dark-red, cup-shaped flowers that are typically pollinated by birds, bats, and bush babies. Sausage trees can also be found in Tanzania, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, and Zambia. There’s even a lovely river lodge on the Zambezi River that takes its name from this unique tree. The sausage tree’s fruit and bark are known for their antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory benefits. People have used them in traditional medicine and organic skincare products for quite some time.

2. Sycamore Fig (Ficus Sycomorus)

The 5 Most Interesting Botswana Plants: The Sycamore fig, or mochaba tree as it’s called in Botswana, is just one of 900 species found around the world. You can find the mochaba thriving in big groups in the Okavango Delta and the Tuli Block. This tree, which is semi-deciduous, can grow as tall as 35 meters (114 feet).

One of the best lodges in the Okavango Delta, the five-star Wilderness Jacana, is nestled in the shade of these stunning trees. The tree has this really interesting way of getting pollinated thanks to a specific species of fig wasp. Plus, its figs are super important for all sorts of wildlife in Botswana, like birds, bats, and different mammals. The wood from this local tree is really appreciated for traditional crafts and construction, which also shows just how important the Sycamore fig is for the ecology in Botswana.

3. Sweet Thorn (Vachellia Karroo)

 

The sweet thorn tree is a popular type of acacia that you can find all over southern Africa. In Botswana, they refer to it as the mooka tree. It’s also known as umuNga, soetdoring, and mookana. The sweet thorn tree typically reaches a height of around 12 metres, or 39 feet. It’s often called a ‘pioneer plant’ because it tends to grow in areas with groundwater.

One of the most beautiful trees in the region has these sweet-smelling, fluffy yellow flowers that bloom right around the start of summer in Botswana, all while showing off its white thorns or spines. You often see the tree being used for firewood, making rafts, and even for those thorny fences. Did you know that the spines have been turned into sewing needles? Pretty interesting, right? The sweet gum tree has this cool feature where it leaks sap if the bark gets damaged, and guess what? Both humans and a bunch of animals, like bush babies, enjoy eating it!

Mowana Baobab, also known as Adansonia Digitata.

The baobab, known as the mowana baobab in Botswana, is actually the largest succulent in the world. Baobabs are pretty amazing with their huge trunks and can live for a really long time—some are thought to be over a thousand years old! You can mostly find baobabs in rocky woodlands where there’s not much rain, especially in the dry and hot regions of Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Mozambique.

You know, there are so many legends, stories, and beliefs tied to this ‘upside-down’ tree from southern Africa, which people often refer to as the ‘Tree of Life.’ In Botswana, you can find some truly magnificent specimens like the Chapman’s and Green’s baobabs in Ntwetwe Pan, as well as the Baines baobabs in Nxai Pans National Park.

The baobab tree has these big, sweet-smelling flowers that fruit bats come to pollinate at night. The fruit, often called ‘monkey bread,’ is packed with nutrients, including Vitamin C and calcium. You’ll often find bees making their homes in the trunks, and leopards, genets, and all sorts of nesting birds take advantage of the trees too. Even though baobabs usually don’t get taller than 25 metres (82 feet), their thick trunks are really impressive. In South Africa’s Limpopo province, a baobab has a circumference that’s already hit 33 metres.

Wool Grass, also known as Anthephora Pubescens.

Another The 5 Most Interesting Botswana Plants is Wool grass really knows how to bounce back from fires, which makes it super important for helping the savannah grasslands in Botswana regenerate. You know, the roots of wool grass are pretty amazing! They can thrive in low-nutrient soils and also help prevent soil erosion. Pretty cool, right? It can reach heights of up to 1.5 metres (5 feet) and serves as an important food source for both domestic and wild grazing animals. It really highlights the practical side of traditional thatching roofs and the art of making mats in a creative way.

At Engagi Safaris, we’re all about the safari experience! We’ve teamed up with lodges and guides who truly care about the amazing wildlife and plants of Botswana, both scientifically and culturally. Engagi Wildlife is wildlife up close and personal on your next safari tour in Botswana. We’ll make sure you experience all the sights, sounds, and smells that make it so special. Wondering when the best time to go is? Kick things off with this safari planning calendar, or check out this safari cost estimator to figure out your budget before you head out.