About the Author

Dan Hirschowitz

Ranger

Dan developed his love for the African bush whilst growing up on a family run farm in the Kwa-Zulu Natal midlands. Growing up in the bushveld he was surrounded by wildlife and finds his passion in what nature has to offer. After completing ...

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16 Comments

on My Three Favourite Trees

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An interesting blog Dan. I love a lot of different trees, but i would single out a Boabab (Adonsonia Digitata) and the Coral tree. If you have not done so as yet, a good and insightful read is ‘the secret life of trees’ written by Peter Wohlleben.

Many thanks Dan for this unusual and very informative article. On trips to African game parks I have been disappointed by guides typically focussing only on animals and birds and bypassing magnificent trees without any comment or explanation as to what they are. Presumably this is because most guests don’t share my interest in trees.

Great post Dan! If he hasn’t already, you must get Freddy to tell you about the time he tracked and found the Sycamore Fig Tree 🙂 We were all devastated when it washed away!

Dan, thank you for bringing my attention to the trees of Londolozi. The flora of our world is so often overlooked and we forget that is the life blood of our planet. Your favorite trees are indeed magnificent each in its own way. Again, thanks for sharing.

Nice blog, Dan! While I too love the Leadwood, I’m partial to the Marula tree – beautiful, full crown, interesting bark and, of course, that lovely fruit that’s so important to my favorite liqueur!

This is one of the best blogs I’ve ever read. Without trees/plants there would be no life on earth. We all depend on them and they are so immense in their beautiful diversity and monumental features as to have us in awe. Leopards and other animals are a perfect complement to their striking appearance. I had seen a wonderful documentary on southern Africa ‘s trees, it was magical. They look so different from each other you can’t miss them. Thank you so much for writing about them

Thank you very much for this interesting and nice blog.
I love all trees and have a big tree in my garden at home. Birds love this tree and it cools the heat nicely down in our summer months.
Like Gawie Jordaan I can also recommend the book “The secret life of trees”. It is really interesting.

How about some love for the much abused Amarula?

Sycamore fig for me! Sorry to hear about that beauty that got washed away 🙁

Dan I also love the Jackalberry tree, for it’s enormous branches and the very tall trunk. Leopards seem to love the tree for resting and stashing their impala kills in. It feeds quiet a lot of animals and it is just outright a beautiful tree. Good story Dan on the trees, much appreciated.

A nice blog Dan. I am a tree lover and one of my favourite poems is called “Trees” by Joyce Kilmer. If you get a chance – do read it. Here in Canada it is Autumn. I live in Ontario and we have just gone through one of the most colourful and beautiful Autums I can ever remember. You are so right, trees provide a lot of things for both humans and animals. Thank you for sharing with us.

I’m a big fan of the leadwood forest in Londolozi as well as the jackalberry trees, but here at home, I’m drawn to the magnificent redwood and giant sequoia trees. Not only are they beautiful to view, but act as homes to many birds, animals and insects. I love the deep red/brown striated bark that isn’t seen in other trees here. Thank you for your interesting blog!

Senior Digital Ranger

I live in Hong Kong, so I’d have to say my favorite tree is the banyan. It’s a type of strangler fig, and large specimens can be centuries old – the current record-holder is in India and 250 years young. The most prominent feature is that the tree sprouts aerial roots from its branches that grow downwards into the ground and can eventually become prop roots and even form part of the trunk. In the Kruger, baobabs are fascinating to see, but I like any “leopard tree” with promising branches!

Dan, certainly the lion’s claw is on a leadwood (Combretum imberbe). The trees where the elephant is strolling look like marula?

I’m partial to the Sycamore fig… Such a big beautiful tree. I love the base of it as well! The cherry blossoms of Japan are stunning as well when in bloom -like little beautiful miracles with an each blossom. Like another commentor I also live in Ontario Canada and it was a stunning autumn. I was stopped dead in my tracks many times just looking at the colours

Senior Digital Ranger

That sycamore fig is quite impressive! Do you have any idea how old it is? I’ve put it on my list to see! #196 more days and counting.

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