Great Trees of the Kruger
The Kruger National Park is a beautiful place that can be found in the Lowveld that contains a large variety of animals, insects and plant life. In the Kruger National Park, visitors get to experience untouched wildlife and get to see animals that you cannot see anywhere else in the Lowveld.
Kiaat
Kiaat trees are beautiful trees that have some of the most beautiful wood that can be turned into planks to make all kinds of products from bowls and sculptures to trinkets and even cutlery. The Kiaat only can only be found in a very limited number of areas in the Kruger National Park, namely close to the Rest Camp, Pretoriuskop. The reason for this is the Kiaat prefers arid and sandy areas to grow, which is why it grows around Pretoriuskop’s deep sandy soil. Kiaats are slow growing trees and are very loved by elephants. As mentioned, Kiaat is popular for making furniture as it handles very easy and also looks beautiful when sanded and polished. Kiaat trees have very beautiful Yellow Flowers that bloom during the late Summer.
The Baobab
The Baobab is one of South Africa’s most iconic trees known for its extremely wide and smooth trunk that stands very strong and stout in the ground. The Baobab has a unique crown of branches and leaves that extend from the top of the tree, similar to hair growing out of a head. There are no branches that extend from the trunk except for the crown. The Baobab isn’t actually a single giant tree but rather multiple saplings growing together and merging as they grow tighter and tighter. The Baobab is actually hollow inside as the saplings grew in a circle, leaving the inside empty. Many people have made a house of the Baobab and one was actually turned into a bar. Baobabs can reach widths of 25m+, with some trees being recorded to be 4 000 years old.
Red Bushwillow
The Red Buswillow is an extremely popular choice or browsing animals and is at the staple of many herbivore and omnivore’s diets. Red Bushwillows are the second most common trees in the Kruger National Park, beaten only by the Majestic Mopani. The leaves of the Bushwillow are actually palpable and also are mildly poisonous. There is evidence that eating these leaves can cause prolonged hiccups. The Red Bushwillow gets its names from the reddish-brown colour the leaves turn during the winter months. The Red Bushwillow is also very draught resistant.
Knob Thorn
The Knob Thorn or Acacia is the third most common tree found in the Kruger National Park. The Acacia is a medium sized tree that is known for its widely spreading branches and the long white spines that grow on the branches. This tree reaches its most beautiful during Summer when the beautiful yellow flowers start to bloom. During the winter months, the knobs on the tree grow darker. The acacia is a drought resistant tree that has very heavy wood, but the tree is very susceptible to the cold.
