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25 October 2026

On Madagascar’s western plains, some trees appear to have been planted with their roots pointing towards the sky. Their enormous trunks narrow into branches that spread overhead like a network of exposed roots.

These are baobabs, among the most recognisable trees of the island. Of the eight traditionally recognised baobab species, six are native only to Madagascar. They have evolved into different forms, adapted to the island’s varied environments.

One of the best-known sights is the Avenue of the Baobabs near Morondava, where tall trees stand along a dirt road. At sunrise and sunset, their silhouettes rise against the changing sky. Yet the trees are more than a striking backdrop for photographs. They are part of a landscape shaped by generations of people, wildlife and changing environmental conditions.

Baobabs are adapted to seasonal climates, and their swollen trunks can store water. Their flowers and fruits also support ecological relationships, while local communities have long used different parts of the trees for practical purposes.

The familiar image of a baobab with its roots in the air is a poetic explanation for its unusual shape, not its actual origin. Its branches are branches, and its trunk is built for survival in demanding conditions.

Madagascar’s baobabs remind us that nature does not always follow the shapes we expect. Sometimes an extraordinary silhouette is simply the result of a tree finding its own way to live.

#Madagascar #Baobab #AfricanNature #RajatChandraSarmah

Rajat Chandra Sarmah, Guwahati, Assam, India, Instagram @rajatchandrasarmah, YouTube: conversewithasmile, email rajatchandrasarmah@gmail.com