The kiaat or wild teak tree grows in a woodland habitat and therefore only in the riverine areas of the northern Namibian border with Angola, from the west coast and the Kunene River, stretching to the Caprivi Strip, Kavango and Chobe Rivers. It grows to a medium to large height of around 5-13m, but can reach up to 30m. It is a deciduous tree with a tall trunk and a sparse, spreading crown of drooping leaves.

This tree has a dark, rough, grey-brown bark and the leaves are compound and have 5-9 pairs of leaflets, 25-70 x 20-45mm, and a terminal one. The fragrant, yellow flowers hang in branched sprays and bloom from August – February. The large pods of the kiaat are very distinctive; up to 150mm in diameter, round and pale brown with a broad flat wing and long stiff bristles in the central part of the pod (Jan-Jun).

Kiaat is well-visited and in much demand. The leaves are browsed by game, including elephant and kudu and the flowers attract bees. Butterflies breed on the tree and the pods are eaten by baboons, monkeys and squirrels. The timber is used for building, is a well-known wood for carving and in the furniture making business. The red sap is used as a dye and the bark and root are used in traditional medicine.

Trees of Namibia

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