Having existed for as long as 200 million years ago, the African baobab is the oldest known flowering tree and grows in 32 countries around the continent.
It is a succulent with a thick waterstoring trunk that can survive the dry African Savannah and produce a nutrient-dense fruit in the dry season when nothing else seems to grow. This is why some call it the Tree of Life.
Its flowers are pollinated by bush babies and bats, with edible leaves and a large, bulbous fruit whose pulp can be turned into a refreshing drink. The baobab tree is also a great source of shelter, food and water for humans and animals.