Summer Trees in Victoria Falls – A Spectacular Splash of Colour

Two remarkable trees are putting on a magnificent show in Victoria Falls this November – one an exotic visitor from Madagascar, the other an ancient African giant.

Summer in Victoria Falls brings a wonderful transformation. After the long, dry winter, the landscape suddenly bursts into life with fresh green leaves and spectacular splashes of colour.

What's particularly remarkable is that much of this transformation begins before the first proper rains arrive. Somehow, the trees seem to know that summer is on its way.

This November, two species in particular have caught our attention. Both are looking magnificent, although they couldn't be more different.

The Flamboyant Tree – A Blaze of Scarlet

The first is the flamboyant tree (Delonix regia), also known as the royal poinciana or, more simply, the flame tree.

And flamboyant it certainly is!

At this time of year, these beautiful trees burst into a spectacular display of scarlet-red flowers, creating brilliant splashes of colour against the fresh summer greenery.

Although now widely cultivated throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the world, the flamboyant has an interesting history. For many years, botanists were unsure of its origins. It wasn't until 1932 that it was discovered growing wild in the forests of Madagascar.

The flamboyant isn't an especially tall tree, but what it lacks in height, it more than makes up for in beauty. Its broad, spreading canopy provides wonderful shade, something we particularly appreciate during the intense summer heat of Victoria Falls.

It's easy to see why this exotic visitor has become such a favourite in our part of the world.

The Baobab – An Ancient African Giant

Our second summer showstopper is a very different tree altogether – the magnificent African baobab (Adansonia digitata), known locally as umkhomo in isiNdebele.

Unlike the flamboyant, the baobab is native to Africa and is one of the continent's most recognisable and extraordinary trees.

Here in Victoria Falls, we are fortunate to have a particularly impressive specimen, affectionately known as the Big Tree, situated along Zambezi Drive and visited by countless travellers exploring the area.

And big it certainly is!

Radiocarbon dating suggests that the oldest parts of this remarkable tree are approximately 1,150 years old. Standing around 25 metres (80 feet) tall, with a trunk circumference exceeding 22 metres (70 feet), it is a living monument to the passing centuries.

For much of the year, baobabs stand almost completely bare, their enormous trunks and twisting branches creating those distinctive silhouettes against the African sky.

But come summer, everything changes.

Right now, our Big Tree is covered in a beautiful crown of fresh, five-fingered green leaves, looking almost unrecognisable from its stark winter appearance.

And there's another treat in store. The baobab produces enormous, showy white flowers that open towards evening and usually fall by the following morning. During their brief appearance, they attract bats and moths, which play an important role in pollination.

A Tree That Gives So Much

The baobab is far more than just an impressive sight. For centuries, it has provided food, materials and other valuable resources to both people and wildlife.

Its fruit contains a tangy, refreshing pulp rich in vitamin C, while the leaves can be cooked and eaten as a relish. The bark, roots and other parts of the tree also have a variety of traditional uses.

Perhaps one of its most remarkable features is its ability to store water within the fibrous tissues of its enormous trunk, helping it survive the long, dry months. The trunk can even swell as its water reserves increase.

It's an extraordinary example of how beautifully adapted Africa's trees are to their environment.

If Only the Big Tree Could Talk...

One of the things we love most about the Big Tree is imagining everything it has witnessed over the centuries.

When early explorers such as David Livingstone and Thomas Baines travelled through this region more than 150 years ago, this enormous baobab was already an ancient tree.

It's quite possible that they passed beneath its branches, perhaps even stopping to rest and brew a cup of tea in its shade.

What stories it could tell!

Today, as we admire its fresh summer foliage, it's wonderful to think that this same tree has been welcoming the changing seasons for well over a thousand years.

Every season brings something different to Victoria Falls, from the fresh green landscapes of summer to the cooler, drier winter months. If you're wondering when to plan your visit, have a look at our month-by-month guide to the best time for a Victoria Falls safari, which explains how the seasons affect the Falls, wildlife and surrounding landscape.

If you're visiting Victoria Falls at this time of year, take a moment to appreciate the trees around you. The Falls themselves may be the main attraction, but sometimes it's these quieter natural wonders that remind us just how special this corner of Africa really is.

For more inspiration on what to see and do while you're here, have a look at our Must Do activities in Victoria Falls.

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Published: 10 November 2026

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