EVERY DAY IS ARBOUR DAY!

Trees are beautiful and majestic, but they’re hard to identify unless you’re staring at a baobab. (Hang on, are you sure it’s not a wild fig?) That’s why you need TheTreeApp SA – it has all the info you want without having to lug an encyclopaedia around.

Created by Val Thomas and a team of South African specialists, the app has information on more than 1 114 tree species found in South Africa, including 135 invasive species. It has original detailed drawings of each species and no Internet connection is required once the app has been downloaded. Most national parks and smaller reserves are listed too, so the app is great for localised searches. You can find a video tutorial of how to use the search function here: treeproapp.com. It’s super simple – even for newbie tree enthusiasts.

Why we love it? With Arbour Day on 30 April, there’s no better time to start identifying and appreciating our trees. When you know about trees, you can add colour and wonder to any adventure, especially when the Big Five are hiding. Already a pro? If you’re a botanist – whether qualified or self-taught – another app by the same company called TreeProBotanical might be more useful. It uses scientific botanical terms but is otherwise quite similar.

Cost: R180 for the first app, for an annual subscription. If you get both apps, the second one costs R120 per year. The subscription model is to allow the developers to continually update the app as new information becomes available, and as technology changes.