Musina Nature Reserve

About Musina Nature Reserve

If you want to see baobab trees, head just south of the town of Musina to the Musina nature reserve, about an hour drive from Makhado (or 95,6 km on the N1).

Did you know? The African baobab (Adansonia digitata) is the only of the now nine species (up until recently there were eight) of baobab trees native to the African mainland. These monster trees with their swollen, gnarled bodies and incongruous branches that look more like roots than arms are also known as ‘elephant trees', ‘big trees' or ‘upside down trees'.

Musina Nature Reserve in the Soutpansberg Region has one of the largest collections of baobabs in the country, and incorporates the former Baobab Forest Reserve – formed in 1926 to protect the baobabs from commercial interests.

These huge 'upside down' trees, more formally known as Adansonia digitata, grow as tall as 25 metres and can get as wide as 28 metres. They're also known as monkey bread trees, tabaldi or bottle trees.

Some baobabs are thought to be thousands of years old, something that is difficult to verify since the wood does not produce annual growth rings. The largest tree around Musina is found on the farm Nonsiang, 40 kilometres south east of the town, estimated at 4 500 years old.

But the reserve is not about baobabs alone. It is also home to the rare sable antelope, and there is evidence of the rock formation known as Sand River gneiss – said to be the oldest datable rock in the world and almost 4 000 million years old. It is protected within the reserve.

When visiting Musina Nature Reserve, drive the circular route to see both the baobabs and further game such as giraffe, zebra, kudu, eland and other antelope. Conversely follow the hiking trails, or mountain bike through the reserve finishing up with a picnic at sites available for the purpose.