These trees are common all over central Namibia and can be found in areas of the Namib Desert such as Sesriem Canyon, and on a hot day provide welcome shade to tourists as they tuck into a delicious packed lunch, after climbing the magnificent sand dunes at Sossusvlei. Apart from this very useful function, camelthorns play a very important role in the lives of all the desert creatures, providing shade, shelter, food and moisture. But how many visitors bother to take a closer look at these hardy, desert survivors, some of which are several hundred years old.

The camelthorn is easily identified by large, grey, kidney-shaped, seed-carrying pods. These ready-made meals are food for many animals and insects, and gemsbok often come into Sesriem Campsite to feed on fallen pods. The pods are highly nutritious and are collected in commercial and communal areas to feed domestic stock in times of drought. The yellow flowers and leaves are eaten by many animals though and the straight, paired-thorns, protect the trees from over-browsing.

Birds, rodents and even mankind feed from the camelthorn. The seeds can be finely crushed and used as a coffee substitute and the gum exuded by the tree is edible. Tree rats, insects, scorpions, spiders and lizards, all visit the camelthorn, and they also provide nesting sites for numerous species of bird.

Visitors to Namibia should take note that the camelthorn is a protected species and may not be damaged, cut or chopped.

Trees of Namibia

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