Vachellia horrida is a low spreading shrub or sometimes tree native to both the wet and dry scrublands of tropical to subtropical East Africa.

[4] Common names for it are Cape gum, Karroo Thorn and dev-babul.

[5] It is also found elsewhere in Africa, Asia, India and South America.

[4][6] V. horrida is an important browse plant in the tropics, particularly during the dry season.

It used to be the most important tree for the tanning industry in South Africa, but extract from its bark leaves the leather with a rather bad smell.