The Sacred Baobab Tree (and Animals, Too!)

Mana Pools, Zimbabwe, November 1, 2012

The early morning at Mana Pools National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, breaks grey and threatening. The clouds provide a welcome relief from the heat of the past several days. As we clamor aboard the Land Rover for a game drive, our guide Robert tells us that the animals may be on the move in anticipation of rain. It's true, we do not see the wealth of animals that are typically here.

We do spot an occasional animal but not the herds we have seen in other parks.




A lone kudu, Mana Pools National Park

One elephant mother and child, Mana Pools

A small lion family resting in the sparse shade, Mana Pools



Small group of zebras at Mana Pools

But there other things besides wild life to interest us here.

Our guide parks near a huge baobab tree. "This tree," he says, "is 2600 years old. It is sacred to the tribal people."

2600-year-old baobab tree and 66-year-old Nancy, Mana Pools National Park

Robert describes the visit from the chief of the local Tonga tribe the previous day. He had walked many kilometers to visit the park (once his tribe's land) and this tree. The country has been suffering from a drought, and he came to ask the gods to forgive the transgressions responsible for it.

And today the clouds have come. No rain, yet, just the gray promise of rain. The parched earth and hungry animals await.