Gigantic trees transplanted

2005-06-09 15:17

Nkosana ka Makaula

Nelspruit - It's not uncommon for elephant, rhino and giraffe to be relocated around the Kruger National Park, but it is unusual for gigantic trees to be moved about.

Last week, with great engineering, two majestic baobabs were moved from Letaba main camp to beautify the soon-to-be-opened Giriyondo border post on the Mozambican border.

"The trees would have been destroyed if they were left at Letaba camp because of their close proximity to buildings," said project leader Johann Oelofse.

"That would have been tantamount to sacrilege. You simply do not destroy something that majestic if you have a chance to save it."

Although it was not the first time baobab trees were shifted in the park, the two giants presented a challenge because of their size and closeness to buildings and other camp facilities.

Both trees are well over 10m tall and weigh more than three tonnes each.

One of the baobabs is 30 years old, with a trunk diameter of about 1.5m and weighing about seven and a half tonnes.

The younger tree weighed about three tonnes.

The operation was sponsored by Sasol Nitro in Phalaborwa who did blasting work at the new site so that the trees could be properly rooted, and JP Crane Hire. A team of volunteers provided the grunt work.

"It is comforting to know that these trees will still be in place a thousand years from now," said Sasol Nitro head of operations Rudi Tonsing.

Angry gods

The trees were transported by truck to their new home 45km away. The trees, which grow in arid areas, can live for thousands of years. Legend has it that angry gods planted the baobab upside down, exposing its roots to the sky.

The new baobabs will form the focal point of the South African side of the Giriyondo border post.

The border post is scheduled to open on August 11, giving guests direct access to Mozambique as part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park initiative.

The initiative will link the Kruger with the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique, and Gonarezhou National Park, Manjinji Pan Sanctuary and Malipati Safari Area in Zimbabwe.

The park will also include the Sengwe communal land in Zimbabwe and the Makuleke region in South Africa.

The total surface area of the transfrontier park will be approximately 35 000 km2 and will be the first phase of creating a bigger transfrontier conservation area measuring 100 000 km2.

Tourists will be able to cross the international borders of the three countries, within the boundaries of the park.

- African Eye