African moringa

One of the strangest, and most spectacular trees in the highlands of Namibia is perhaps the African moringa, (Moringa ovalifolia) or ghost tre. They grow in a variety of of weird and wonderful shapes, and many trees have several trunks emerging from a swollen base. They are often confused with baobabs, but are not related to them.

This tree has a light-grey, squat and swollen, but smooth trunk with gnarled branches, rather like a root system sticking up into the air. In summer, they produce small, sweet smelling, white flowers, from which a long, slender, pendulous fruit, resembling giant green beans, are developed. They can be seen in Etosha National Park, some 30km west of Okaukuejo, in a specially fenced off area, as well on the hills around Halali and in the camp. Here, elephant, giraffe and springbok browse the fruit and leaves with relish. Elephants push the trees over (with consummate ease) to obtain the moisture-holding pulpy fibre.