In times of drought, Aborigines chewed the fibrous wood of the tree and its roots, which provided precious moisture. During good wet seasons, the native people sometimes found water trapped in hollows in the tree and at the base of branches.
Ieilguša sausuma laikā aborigēni mēdza košļāt baobaba poraino koksni un saknes, lai iegūtu vērtīgo valgmi, bet labā lietus sezonā viņi dažkārt uzmeklēja ūdeni, kas sakrājies baobabu dobumos un žāklēs.