Jul 28, 2025
Children entertain themselves beneath towering Grandidier’s baobabs – the tree giants of Madagascar, which grow up to 25 metres tall. Western Madagascar.
Photographer: Aimin Chen
The juxtaposition of these massive Grandidier’s baobabs and the playing children makes for a telling story. The kids belong to parents that sell their wares to tourists that come to wonder at the baobabs. Without tourism money, those trees will likely go the way of much of Madagascar’s natural vegetation, and the rural villagers would have fewer livelihood options. This is one of Africa’s most compelling stories – the bond between biodiversity, local people and tourists.