Baobab Trees at Wilpatttu (විල්පත්තු බයෝබැබ් ගස්)

Wilpattu National Park, Sri Lanka’s largest wildlife sanctuary, is renowned for its majestic leopards, sprawling grasslands, and ancient villus (lakes). But amidst the diverse flora and fauna lies a surprising resident: the baobab tree. Native to Africa, these iconic giants with their bulbous trunks and spindly branches stand as a fascinating anomaly in the Sri Lankan landscape.

The Baobab Tree

The baobab (also referred to as biobab, boab, boaboa, bottle tree, upside-down tree, and monkey bread tree) is native to Africa, Madagascar, and Australia. There are eight species of baobab: six in Madagascar and one each in Africa and Australia. In Sri Lanka, the tree is also known as the Ali-Gaha (Elephant Tree) because its bark resembles the skin of an elephant. The Tamils refer to it as ‘Perukka’.

Baobab Trees in Sri Lanka

The baobabs in Sri Lanka are believed to have been brought by Arabian traders. According to a 2003 study, around 40 baobab trees are surviving in Sri Lanka, with 34 identified and measured in Mannar. Most of these trees are estimated to be 300-400 years old. The largest and oldest of these, the Pallimunei Baobab Tree, is a true marvel. Its colossal trunk, with a circumference exceeding 19 meters, is estimated to be over 700 years old, a silent witness to centuries of Sri Lankan history.

Despite the baobab being an introduced species, it is protected in Sri Lanka given its rarity and antiquity. In earlier times Baobab trees had been growing in Jaffna and Puttlam as well.

Baobab Trees in Wilpattu

Wilpattu boasts two magnificent baobab trees. One graces the road leading to Pukkulama, while the other, an even grander specimen, stands proudly on the banks of the Pomparippu Aru, a tributary of the Kala Oya.

The baobab at Pomparippu Aru is the most mystical of all baobabs in Sri Lanka due to its inaccessible location. Because it cannot be reached by land, only a few people have ever seen this tree. To find it, you must travel to Gangewadiya in Wilpattu and hire a fishing boat to navigate up the Pomparippu Aru. The tree stands at the river’s edge, with part of it exposed to the river water.

Baobab Tree on the route to Pukkulama inside Wilpatthu National Park

References

Gunawardena, K. (n.d.). Species of wilpattu national park. www.wilpattu.com – Kithsiri Gunawardena. Retrieved July 24, 2024, from https://www.wilpattu.com/species-AfricanBaobabTree-543

Also See

The status of the baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) in Mannar Island, Sri Lanka

Map of Baobab Tree at Pomparippu Aru

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The map above also shows other places of interest within a approximately 20 km radius of the current site. Click on any of the markers and the info box to take you to information of these sites

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Travel Directions to Baobab Tree at Pomparippu Aru

Directions to the tree can be seen at the Mannar town itself. Travel along this road for 1 km and a tree lies next to the road in an open space at Pallimunei.

Route from Colombo to Baobab Tree at Pomparippu Aru (Upto Gangewadiya)

Through : Puttalam – Eluwankulama
Distance : 168 km
Travel time : 4 hours
Driving directions: see on Google map

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