Machaba is the Setswana name for the Sycamore Fig tree whose fruit attracts animals from afar.
The Sycamore Fig is an ancient tree found in tropical Africa and in parts of the Middle East. Evidence of the tree has been found in tombs of ancient Egyptians and it is even mentioned in the Bible.
Sometimes it is called a Sycamore mulberry, due to the shape of the leaves and like the common fig, which most of us know, it requires a fig wasp for pollination and survival.
Leopards use the tree as a vantage point; reptiles and tree squirrels make their homes in holes in the trunk; birds, bats, baboons, elephants and even antelope love the fruit and parts of the tree can be used for medicinal purposes – a truly remarkable tree and not surprising that it is sometimes called the ‘tree of life’.
At Machaba Safaris we know that it’s not only the tree and her animals that need our protection, which is why we lend our support to the fragile local communities whose people have lived in these remote regions for centuries. It is also why Machaba Safaris attracts like-minded explorers from all over the globe to share in the joy that ethical eco tourism has to offer.