Big Tree Mount Selinda, Chipinge

Описание: Manicaland Province is home to some of the most amazing places and natural must see features. Today we take you our viewers to Chipinge's Big Tree located in Mt Selinda (Chirinda) Rain Forest.

How to get here:
From Birchenough Bridge take the A9 heading toward Mutare, 2.82 KM turn right onto the A16, 24.98 KM turn left onto the A10, 49.0 KM the A10 meets the Road to Chipinge and Espungabera (Mozambique border) 63.2 KM reach Chipinge; 95.4 KM reach Mt Selinda Hospital and Chirinda Forest. The Big Tree is about 1.8KM due South of Mt. Selinda Hospital, follow the gravel road and signposts.

The Big Tree of Chirinda Forest is a red mahogany. It stands by itself in a little clearing within the forest. When first measured in 1920 by staff at the Mount Selinda Mission it was over 64 metres high. Mrs Tawse Jollie in an article published in 1927 says it is 66.4 metres high (218 feet) but in 1939, it was measured at 59 metres tall; sadly some of the upper branches died off and it now stands at 54 meters high. The Big Tree blooms in November, when the small white flowers open to the sun. The fruit, a large capsule full of winged seeds, does not ripen till the following September, when the capsule breaks and scatters/ its seeds through the forest.

Source: ZimFieldGuide.