The Ombalantu baobab tree, known also as a Tree of Life or Omukwa waaMbalantu, is a giant Baobab

Baobab

Adansonia is a genus of eight species of tree, six native to Madagascar, one native to mainland Africa and the Arabian Peninsula and one to Australia. The mainland African species also occurs on Madagascar, but it is not a native of that island....

 tree, an Adansonia species, situated in the town of Outapi in the north of Namibia

Namibia

Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...

. It is 28 metres (91.9 ft) tall and estimated to be 800 years old.

The tree trunk has a door going onto it and can accommodate about 35 people. It has served as a chapel

Chapel

A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...

, post office, house, and a hiding site during various stages of Namibian history

History of Namibia

The history of Namibia has passed through several distinct stages from being colonised in the late nineteenth century to Namibia's independence on 21 March 1990....

. the tree is a tourist attraction

Tourist attraction

A tourist attraction is a place of interest where tourists visit, typically for its inherent or exhibited cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, or amusement opportunities....

, featuring a display of its history and role in the Owambo community, as well as the history of the Namibian struggle for independence

Namibian War of Independence

See also South African Border War.The Namibian War of Independence, also known as the South African Border War, which lasted from 1966 to 1988, was a guerrilla war, which the nationalist South-West Africa People's Organization and others, fought against the apartheid government in South...

.

The site offers a variety of facilities such as:

• Craft shop
• Camping facilities
• Ablution block with toilet and shower
• Braai facilities
• A heritage centre

How to get there
From Oshakati:
take the C46 main road to Ruacana. Outapi is a 90km drive over tar road from Oshakati. Turn left into town, turn left again circa 1km from the junction. The tree is located behind the open market.

From Ruacana:
take the C46 main road to Oshakati. Outapi is circa 100km from Ruacana. Turn right into town, turn left circa 1km from the junction. The tree is located behind the open market.

From Tsandi:
take the D3612 gravel road towards Outapi. Follow the tar road into town (1km before you reach the junction with the C46), the tree is located behind the traditional authority and open market complex.