The Ancient Baobab Tree Bar That Time Finally Claimed

For over two decades, thirsty travelers in South Africa could belly up to one of the world's most unusual bars: a fully functional pub carved into the hollow trunk of a 1,000-year-old baobab tree. The Sunland Baobab, also known as Big Baobab, stood 72 feet tall with a trunk circumference of 154 feet—massive enough to house a bar complete with draft beer taps, seating for 15 patrons, 13-foot ceilings, and even a sound system.

The tree's story began long before anyone thought to pour drinks inside it. Carbon dating revealed the baobab was approximately 1,060 years old, meaning it first sprouted around the time Vikings were raiding European coasts. Located on Sunland Farm near Modjadjiskloof in Limpopo Province, the tree naturally developed a hollow interior as it aged—a common occurrence in ancient baobabs.

How Do You Build a Bar in a Tree?

In 1993, the farm's owners recognized the tourist potential of their magnificent tree and established a bar and wine cellar in its cavernous trunk. No chainsaws were needed—the hollow was a natural formation. They simply added the essentials: a bar counter, stools, shelving, and taps. The space maintained a constant cool temperature, perfect for storing wine and keeping beer cold in the South African heat.

Visitors from around the world made pilgrimages to this botanical wonder, ordering drinks while surrounded by ancient living wood. The experience was surreal: drinking inside a tree older than most European cathedrals.

The Beginning of the End

In August 2016, tragedy struck when roughly one-third of the massive tree suddenly split off and collapsed. Then, at 4 a.m. on April 13, 2017, the rest came crashing down. By November 2017, the legendary tree had crumbled completely, reduced to fragments of what had stood for over a millennium.

The Sunland Baobab wasn't alone in its demise. A 2018 scientific study revealed something alarming: the majority of the oldest and largest African baobabs had died over the previous 12 years. These deaths occurred across southern Africa, affecting trees that had survived for 1,000 to 2,500 years. Researchers suspect climate change as the culprit—rising temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns that these ancient giants couldn't adapt to quickly enough.

A Legacy in Photos

Today, the tree bar exists only in photographs and memories. Images show curious tourists crowded around the wooden bar, pints in hand, grinning at the absurdity of their surroundings. The natural wood walls curve around them, rough bark texture visible in the dim lighting. It was kitsch, it was magical, and it's gone forever.

The story of the Sunland Baobab serves as both a celebration of nature's incredible formations and a sobering reminder of what we're losing. For twenty years, this tree offered something no brewery or distillery could replicate: a drink served by history itself. Now it stands as a monument to the fragility of even the most ancient living things in our changing world.