Sagole Baobab

Largest indigenous tree of South Africa in Limpopo

22°29.994′S 30°37.990′E / 22.499900°S 30.633167°E / -22.499900; 30.633167Height20.5 m (67 ft)Diameter10.8 m (35 ft)

The Sagole Baobab (also Sagole Big Tree, Venda: Muri kunguluwa, lit. 'tree that roars', or Muvhuyu wa Makhadzi) is a Champion Tree and the largest baobab tree (Adansonia digitata) in South Africa. It is located east from Tshipise, in Vendaland, Limpopo Province and has a trunk diameter 10.8 metres, circumference 32.89 metres.^[1] It would take 18–20 people to encircle the tree with open hands.

To view the tree, there is an entrance fee of R 50 per adult and R 25 per kid.

This is also the stoutest tree in South Africa, after two other large baobabs, the Glencoe and Sunland Baobabs, collapsed in 2009 and 2016 respectively. The Sagole Baobab has the largest size and retains the appearance of a single tree. It is 20.5 metres high with a crown diameter of 38.2 metres.^[2]

A breeding colony of mottled spinetails (Telacanthura ussheri) are resident in the tree.^[3]

References

^ "STATE OF THE FORESTS REPORT" (PDF). Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
^ South African Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. "List of champion trees published for comment".
^ "Notice on declaration of particular trees and particular group of trees Champion Trees under section 12(1)a and (b) of the National Forests Act, 1998 (Act No.84 of 1998), as amended" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-01-20.