kigelia & monkeys | watercolour

The Kigelia tree, or sausage tree, is unmistakable with its long, hanging “chandelier” flowers — deep red, velvety blooms that open at night on rope-like stems. These nectar-rich flowers attract a lively mix of visitors: sunbirds feed from them at first light, while monkeys drink directly from the cup-shaped blooms high in the branches, often dropping the blossoms to the ground. Nyala and bushbuck then browse on the fallen flowers and later on the large sausage-shaped fruits. This feeding creates an important natural cycle. As these animals move and defecate beneath the tree, they return nutrients to the soil, nourishing the ground around its roots. That enrichment helps sustain the Kigelia’s growth, allowing it to flourish in the very environment its flowers and fruit support. A true mutual relationship — the tree feeds the wildlife, and the wildlife, in turn, feeds the tree.