The Limpopo river forms the border between South Africa and Zimbabwe. It is a land of baobabs, mopane and mild winters. An awareness of the bushveld began here at age nine, when the family moved to the area. Wild animals were still found on the farms. Not many areas had been ploughed, and cattle often grazed in the bush. Returning home from outings over weekends, we would watch for kudu, duiker or small animals, usually when their eyes shone in the lights of the car. Most of the roads were dirt, and there were a number of baobabs in various parts of the town, including one outside the classroom window.

Girl Guide activities were bush-oriented - hiking, tracking and cooking were done in the outlying bush areas. A memorable project for a badge was learning about some of the many trees in the area, by pasting pressed leaves, flowers, bark and pods (where possible) into a notebook. A tart drink was made from the fluffy seeds found in the pods of baobab trees. The climate was warm for most of the year with little rain, and it was often very hot in the summer. Many picnics were held near or on the banks of the "great, gray-green greasy Limpopo". Game spotting was a way of life, as was drinking from a dusty water bag attached to the front of the car. Occasionally a late night was spent around a campfire under a pitch-black domed sky, teeming with stars all the way to the horizon.

After only three years of living in the Limpopo area, a period that many years later remains a cherished time, we moved to the central Highveld on the higher elevation plateau where winters are cooler, and where game has mostly been replaced by farming and industrial activities. In comparison to the Girl Guide activities in the bush, the urban surroundings for activities such as tracking were very tame.

However, nature and some wildlife are never too far from many towns and cities. Birdlife and small creatures are always close by. The pictures above were taken at a small area set aside for game just outside of Johannesburg. The time of day that the photos were taken appears to have coincided with the animals' desire to rest their chins.

The small reserve is close to the famous Sterkfontein caves that were visited before we drove around the reserve. The caves and surounding areas, including the small reserve above and one or two others, have been declared "The Cradle of Humankind", South Africa's third World Heritage Site. From this site, the leafy suburbs of Johannesburg can be seen to the south, as in the zebra picture above.

Pretoria, not very far from Johannesburg, has an excellent zoo. The zoo is spread over a good-sized area and holds a number of interesting animals. At the time of the visit in 1988, it may have sheltered the white lions of Timbavati, one of whom could be in the picture above left. In the centre, a pair of cheetahs lying in wait for their next delivered meal and a crowned crane.

Above a magnificent eland and camera-shy gemsbok. The blue crane is the national bird of South Africa. However, just as nice a time was had outside the zoo where various craft items were on sale. A wonderfully cheerful picture of a basket weaver purchased in 1988 hangs on a wall at home, many miles away from where it was painted, with memories of a neat conversation with the artist.

Johannesburg and Pretoria Area (* on map)
Johannesburg is the largest city in the country, and is the business center with the largest airport. Johannesburg is situated in a geographical area known as the Witwatersrand, that serves as a watershed between the Vaal river to the south and Crocodile river to the north. Not far away to the north is Pretoria, where the government buildings are found. There is a wealth of all types of activities for a wide range of interests in both cities

Limpopo River
Rain falling in the hilly areas of the Witwatersrand from northern Johannesburg upwards, drains into a number of streams and rivers - Braamfontein to Jukskei to the Crocodile. This then becomes the Limpopo, which serves as the boundary between the northern part of South Africa and Botswana, then Zimbabwe, before flowing through Mozambique on its way to the Indian Ocean - a 1,000 mile journey.

The river's main tributary, the Olifants River, joins the Limpopo 130 miles before it reaches the sea. After the Olifants river joins the Limpopo, the river is permanently navigable, and it flows through a fertile and heavily populated area to the sea. Before this point, the river can vary from a small trickle in dry seasons to a flood in the wet season. The picture at the top of the page shows a full Limpopo river at Beit Bridge, the border post between South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Once, we were fortunate to picnic in an area of the Limpopo river where it is joined by the Sashe river - a magnificent area with wonderful terrain and vistas. This area is now part of one of the eight Peace Park projects and is known as the Dongola/Limpopo Valley Park. It unites parts of Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Afica.

White Lions of Timbavati
Two white lions were discovered by Chris McBride in the Timbavati area. They were the first non-albono white lions discovered in Southern Africa. They carried recessive genes, capable of producing a range of variations, including colouring. In the past, pale lions have lived in desert areas and the "white" lions may have been a throw-back to those species. The female was given the name "Tombi" (meaning "the girl") and the male, "Temba" (Zulu for "hope"). They were captured for their own protection by McBride, because their colouring afforded them little camouflage protection and there were also fears of poaching or trophy hunting. They were taken to Pretoria Zoo in the late 1980's and then sent to Cincinnati Zoo for a breeding project. Another white lion, "Phumba" discovered in another pride in the same area, disappeared without trace.

Baobab Trees (Cream-of-Tartar tree, Sour-Gourd tree, Monkey Bread Tree)
Baobab trees grow from the very northern part of South Africa in the Limpopo region, up into Zimbabwe and Mozambique, and then in many other belts across Africa. There is said to be a line of baobabs running across the Kalahari, and also 30,000 trees in Sudan.

Baobabs appear to prefer hot, sandy plains and are quite hardy, with huge roots that extend as much as 25 feet from the huge trunk. The diameter of the trunk can be as much as 30ft. Baobabs live for thousands of years, but grow slowly. Despite being hardy, they don't survive extended periods of drought, and fall down in fibrous heap after rotting from the centre. These piles of fibrous material can sometimes self-ignite because of a high phosphorous content.

Baobabs flower for the first time at 20 years, in the month of December, when masses of buds appear. The flowers are white and open at night. The flowers are pollinated by nectar-feeding bats and bush-babies, both nocturnal creatures. The fruit are in the shape of foot-long pods, covered with grayish-green, velvety hairs. If bark is stripped from the lower trunk , new bark is regenerated.

People have drawn water from baobabs for many years. Baobabs are valued very highly by indigenous people throughout Africa. Many people consider them to be immortal and consider it a taboo to cut them down. The baobab has multiple uses for both animals and man.

Baobab & Animals
An old baobab has its own ecosystem, because it can support many animals from the tiniest creatures to the largest mammal, both as a food source and shelter.

The fruit, trunk and bark attract many animals. Elephants like the bark when thirsty, and extract water from strips torn from the tree. They also eat the bark because it is full of nutrients, especially calcium. Monkeys, baboons and elephants relish the the fruit inside the large pods. Giraffe eat the leaves, and impala and grey duiker feed on fallen flowers.

Birds such as rollers, hornbills, and parrots, make their homes in its hollows. The strong branches and forks are ideal for the large stick nests of vultures, eagles and storks. Genets, monitors and geckos are just a few of the smaller animals that find refuge in the holes and crevices. Owls, bush-babies and bats that make their home in the tree, sleep there during the day. Bees sometimes nest inside the trunk of the baobab.

Baobab & Man
Flowers
The pollen is used to make glue.
Fresh Leaves
Have a high level of carotenoids, a precursor to Vitamin A; are rich in calcium, iron, proteins and lipids. They are eaten like spinach, made into soup, used in sauces, mashed into gruels and porridges. Used as an anti-histamine, an anti-diarroheic, to treat kidney and bladder diseases, asthma, and insect bites. Poultice used for inflammation.
Dried Leaves
If dried carefully in shade, retain good level of carotenoids. As above, rich in calcium, iron, proteins and lipids. Dried, used as condiment and mixed with cereals, kouskous and gravy-sauces. Powder fights anaemia, rachitis, dysentry, asthma and rheumatism and used for perspiration control. Used as a tonic and emmollient ointment.
Pulp
High vitamin C and tartaric acid content. Sucked, or soaked in water to make a refreshing drink that is also used to treat malaria. Used to make porridge, for flavouring drinks and curdling milk. Also roasted and ground up to make a coffee-like drink. Extracts yield a natural medicine that nourishes and purifies blood cells, strengthens immune system, destroys viruses internally and externally. Remedy for dysentry. With figs, used for asthma. Can fight small pox and measles.
Seeds
High in protein. Full of vegetable oil, rich in phosphate. Grilled, dried or roasted like ground nuts. Pounded into a nutty butter. Used in making soap and fertilizers, and as livestock feed.
Pod
Water vessels, various bowls, fishing-net floats, snuff-boxes, carving into curios.
Bark/Fibers
Nutritious and rich in calcium. Used as poison antidote, to fight fever and inflammation of the digestive track. Hot bark used for chest ailments. Stuffing for cushions, mattresses, life preservers, fishing floats, upholstery and saddles. Pounded and soaked to make into clothes, ropes, mats, paper, fishing nets, woven baskets. Raw material for certain musical instruments, and waterproof hats. Beautiful carpets are made from processed bark, and dyed.
Trunk
Can hold as much as 4,500 litres of water, and has saved many a life. Hollow trunks have been used as shelter. Dugout canoes have been carved from the massive trunk.
Roots
Roots of young seedlings, can be cooked and eaten in the same manner as asparagus. Used as a purgative.

Baobab Proverb "No single individual can embrace the baobab tree" in many African languages. It means that human wisdom and knowledge is so great that no single person can master it all.

Pretoria
http://www.pretoria.co.za

Sterkfontein
http://www.sterkfontein-caves.co.za/sterkfontein.htm

Dongola/Limpopo Valley Peace Park
http://www.peaceparks.org

Baobabs
http://www.buzau.com/baobab/baolink.htm