A couple of Qs for the veterans

The Mrs. is getting into the spirit of things but has asked me a couple of questions that I can't answer so I'll leave it to the old timers who have done it before:

1) Apparently SA has a lot of snakes, many of which are venomous. What is the likelihood of encountering something like a mamba, puff adder, or cobra? Are snakeproof gaiters recommended? We ran into a water moccasin last year while hog hunting in Texas. I blew it apart with my 45-70, which she found amusing getting rained on with snake bits but afterwards started getting a little anxious about running into another one.

2) A question probably better suited for the women of the forum, but what do you do when you gotta go while out in the field?

ElevenBravo said:

Are snakeproof gaiters recommended?

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The snakes we get down under are deadlier than anything you will get in Africa. In the warmer months I wear snake proof gaiters. Where I am at that time I don't have 30min to get to get to treatment. With Eastern Browns that is all you have.
As for when nature calls, it is more a matter of pride than function - you just have to suck it up princess!

BlueFlyer said:

The snakes we get down under are deadlier than anything you will get in Africa. In the warmer months I wear snake proof gaiters. Where I am at that time I don't have 30min to get to get to treatment. With Eastern Browns that is all you have.
As for when nature calls, it is more a matter of pride than function - you just have to suck it up princess!

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I have no problem whipping it out and watering the local flora, but it's not so easy for the fairer sex which is what I'm talking about.

I never seen a snake while hunting on foot seen a couple from the truck in south africa. For the ladies find some cover to hide behind and squat. Just be careful of the thorns and snakes.

If you are looking into hunting South Africa, I can highly recommend Game 4 Africa, their main hunting areas adjoins the lodge which means you can always return to the lodge for toilet breaks or lunch. And on one of their other hunting areas which is 40 mins drive away they have recently had a flushing toilet built.

ElevenBravo said:

The Mrs. is getting into the spirit of things but has asked me a couple of questions that I can't answer so I'll leave it to the old timers who have done it before:

1) Apparently SA has a lot of snakes, many of which are venomous. What is the likelihood of encountering something like a mamba, puff adder, or cobra? Are snakeproof gaiters recommended? We ran into a water moccasin last year while hog hunting in Texas. I blew it apart with my 45-70, which she found amusing getting rained on with snake bits but afterwards started getting a little anxious about running into another one.

2) A question probably better suited for the women of the forum, but what do you do when you gotta go while out in the field?

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Right for your Q1: it depends on when you go and where you go winter time you won’t see that many but depends on the species.
Warmer months you will start to get more activity Wet months lots of activity as most snakes prey on frogs. Then the rest is just down to luck. Just remember that you will generally have the trackers in front of you so there noises should move on the little fallas.
As for Q2: you need to be the gentleman and check it out first.
My good lady hates spiders as that arknaphobia (spelling) thing going big time. So I’m always clearing the room or said relief area before hand. You get to stand guard….or not.
Seen some good snake sightings from bomslangs in Malawi that dropped out of a tree after biting a chameleon camp dogs took care of that one Fascinating to watch how fast the poison killed the chameleon as soon as it stopped breathing the ants turned straight up.
But the best was driving down a track in Tanzania just off the Massi plane going to a lunch spot down by a river. Must have seen over 20 snakes crossing that sand track. Turned straight around and left em too it.

Ohoo try to make sure you pick a spot away from fallen logs and old holes. Good hiding places for them. Don’t for pity’s sake tell here that our she will see them around every corner.
Good luck enjoy.

Sideshow said:

Right for your Q1: it depends on when you go and where you go winter time you won’t see that many but depends on the species.
Warmer months you will start to get more activity Wet months lots of activity as most snakes prey on frogs. Then the rest is just down to luck. Just remember that you will generally have the trackers in front of you so there noises should move on the little fallas.
As for Q2: you need to be the gentleman and check it out first.
My good lady hates spiders as that arknaphobia (spelling) thing going big time. So I’m always clearing the room or said relief area before hand. You get to stand guard….or not.
Seen some good snake sightings from bomslangs in Malawi that dropped out of a tree after biting a chameleon camp dogs took care of that one Fascinating to watch how fast the poison killed the chameleon as soon as it stopped breathing the ants turned straight up.
But the best was driving down a track in Tanzania just off the Massi plane going to a lunch spot down by a river. Must have seen over 20 snakes crossing that sand track. Turned straight around and left em too it.

Ohoo try to make sure you pick a spot away from fallen logs and old holes. Good hiding places for them. Don’t for pity’s sake tell here that our she will see them around every corner.
Good luck enjoy.

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She's somewhat interested in seeing a boomslang as she's a Harry Potter fan and boomslang skins are part of a recipe for some magic potion in the books.

Snakes - If you go to RSA sometime from May to September (winter in the southern hemisphere) it will minimize the chances of an encounter. Chances aren't zero, but much better with the colder weather.

Field bathroom for the ladies - My bride has been able to find a suitable place and squat, but she's also accustomed to this. Another option is a "she wee" that makes standing up and peeing easier for women when squatting isn't an option. Available on Amazon for $10. My wife has used it, but it's just one more thing to pack when we prefer to travel light and she's OK with the squat. FYI - I have yet to find a PH or bakkie that isn't equipped with toilet paper.

ElevenBravo said:

She's somewhat interested in seeing a boomslang as she's a Harry Potter fan and boomslang skins are part of a recipe for some magic potion in the books.

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Okay you will most likely need to go to a reptile zoo. They mostly live in the trees chasing small birds lizards etc. Very pretty colours, fangs are at the back of the mouth. Poison is one that causes you to bleed from your pours and you need a total blood transfusion to clear. Might be wrong on the last one.

We always treated all snakes with extreme care.
Climbing around koppies and donggas never place your hands where you can’t see them. Same with feet try staying on the same track as the person in front.

Ohoo do ask her to please scrape a small hole and bury her loo paper. Nothing worse that tracking through the bush and finding some buggers toilet stop.

Don't worry about the snakes, normally you are hunting in Winter & snake movement is much less, very very few clients see the few snakes we do see as I/we maneuver away from them without saying any thing, just use common sense & follow directions from the staff, peeing in the bush for women is also over blown, they were doing it for 10 - 20,000 yrs & it worked out Ok, just use a Bush as screen or even behind/beside the Bakkie, safer still.

Boomslangs while highly venomous aren't much of a problem to humans, Puff Adders are a bit but not too bad, same with most Cobras if you leave them alone.

Black Mamba is a worry, if seen or told one was seen try to keep well away, considered by many to be the most Dangerous Snake in the world, I know Australia has a lot of venomous snake with some of the most toxic venom, but Inland Taipans are rarely seen where most humans roam, Eastern Browns are serous most likely close to Mamba but I think Black Mamba is even more aggressive/defensive, let face it they don't want to kill & eat us so all self defense !

Black Mamba otherwise know as old “3 step”
Because that’s about as far as you get after being bitten

in 9 safaris and 3 photo safaris. Have seen only a few snakes.
in May 2015 saw 6 in of the tail on a african bush snake. (Was going into rocks) Non-poisonous (South Africa)
In May 2015 saw a very large python Non-poisonous (South Africa)
In october 2024 saw a black mamba crossing the road from the truck. We waited for it to cross. (south africa) (Poisonous)
In August 2021 saw a cobra crossing the road, PH ran over it. (Namibia) (poisonous)

Have never seen on in late may to the end of July.


For the ladies my wife says basically the same as @Sarg. Women have been squatting behind bushes for thousands of years. And she also is very vocal about properly burying the TP.

Just make sure you have a small roll of toilet paper for her to use in your pack!!!

Just go have fun and be observant, enjoy all the Africa has to offer.

My wife as an aversion to sitting down in porta-potties. We frequent music festivals pretty often. She always carries her She Wee. She swears by it. Make a lady be able to pee standing up like a man.

Middle two weeks May 2021, Zimbabwe, buffalo hunt, spotted a black mamba on road first day, arrival day afternoon. It went into the tall grass and we (PH, his wife, 2 trackers, and myself), dismounted the bakki followed the mamba saw it go up a tree, gave it space and an escape route, took a few photos, and backed away to the bakki.

Hunt day 3, I was following 3 in line behind 2 trackers. Leading tracker didn't see it, the second tracker almost stepped on it, he back pedalled into me falling to the ground. PH and I responded readying our rifles expecting, an Oh Sh't! moment, a buffalo charge, tracker said mamba. We froze, started scanning the tall grass near us.No snake. Tracker having recovered from his fall said the snake moved off away from us. For the rest of that morning buffalo hunt we looked just as hard for snakes as we did for buffalo.

I wore my Rocky Snake boots while out hunting.

These were the only two times we came across snakes during the 14 day trip.

Third week of May 2025, East Cape, RSA, afternoon PG hunt, driving around in search for animals when PH spotted a stationary puff adler in the road, at the vehicle's approach the puff adler moved into the brush along side the road, we continued on our way in search of animals.

On this trip I only wore lightweight hiking type "sneakers".

This was the only time I seen a snake during the 41 days, 29 April - 07 June in RSA.

ElevenBravo said:

I have no problem whipping it out and watering the local flora, but it's not so easy for the fairer sex which is what I'm talking about.

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Accompany her behind some brush or trees. If she has balance issues, stand in front of her with your back turned so she can grab your belt.

As for snakes, neither of you will be in the front during walks/stalks so it is very rare to have a problem.

Not a veteran, but one trip to RSA saw zero snakes. One trip to Zim saw a mamba and a puff adder. Mamba had gotten into a ruckus with something. Had bites on its head and mid section. We thought it was dead...and it wasnt. Puff adder was found by our game scout while clearing the way to recover my water buck. Pretty and moved away. We were stalking a kudu and found a very long large snake skin and there was some discussion as to what it was. Game scout said "Mamba...very dangerous". Thanks bub. We were in some tall grass and thick stuff and it occurred to me that there were likely snakes. It also occurred to me that there was nothing I could do about it. Go to wild places and you are around wild things. Enjoy the trip and tell your missus to do the same. But for goodness sake please tell her not to WISH to see a boomslang.

For Just In Case in my day pack in the bakki I have a smaller toiletries kit bag: when I feel the urge at our next stop I take the toiletry pack with me into the bush.

wet wipes in a gallon size freezer press seal baggie with the air pressed out.

Toilet Paper in a quart size freezer press seal baggie with the air pressed out and the roll as compact flat as possible. With 2- extra gallon size freezer bags folded.

Wet wipes are multi purpose use:

Wiping/cleaning the sweat, blood, dirt off the face, neck, hands, arms, legs (when wearing shorts), general use to cool off saving water.

The TP for the obvious use.

Also for non obvious uses:

a quick band-aid when needed to stop superficial nicks and minor cuts from bleeding.

Nose wipe

Cleaning moisture and debris off my scope and eyeglass lenses

Sweat, dust, from around and out of my eyes.

The alternate used TP goes into one of the extra gallon size freezer bags and that sealed freezer bag then goes into the trash bag in the bakki.

For the TP obvious use look for loose soil or a place that can be covered up after relieving.

ElevenBravo said:

The Mrs. is getting into the spirit of things but has asked me a couple of questions that I can't answer so I'll leave it to the old timers who have done it before:

1) Apparently SA has a lot of snakes, many of which are venomous. What is the likelihood of encountering something like a mamba, puff adder, or cobra? Are snakeproof gaiters recommended? We ran into a water moccasin last year while hog hunting in Texas. I blew it apart with my 45-70, which she found amusing getting rained on with snake bits but afterwards started getting a little anxious about running into another one.

2) A question probably better suited for the women of the forum, but what do you do when you gotta go while out in the field?

Click to expand...

For question 1. Tell her you’re carrying a pressure bandage and that “she’ll be right mate “.

For question 2. Tell her to harden up and stop being a princess.

Good luck

ElevenBravo said:

The Mrs. is getting into the spirit of things but has asked me a couple of questions that I can't answer so I'll leave it to the old timers who have done it before:

1) Apparently SA has a lot of snakes, many of which are venomous. What is the likelihood of encountering something like a mamba, puff adder, or cobra? Are snakeproof gaiters recommended? We ran into a water moccasin last year while hog hunting in Texas. I blew it apart with my 45-70, which she found amusing getting rained on with snake bits but afterwards started getting a little anxious about running into another one.

2) A question probably better suited for the women of the forum, but what do you do when you gotta go while out in the field?

Click to expand...

Q1: In my experience (Tanzania) Chances are 100%; multiple encounters with Mambas and Puff Adders, one of those Puff Adders was in camp. I personally don't believe blowin0g a snake apart just because you saw it is an appropriate response. Leave the things alone and they will likely go their own way; if they are aggressive, well, blow it apart.

Q2: Squat, what else are they supposed to do.

BTW, A Black Mamba in the wild is an incredible creature.

well that's two Aussies in two days calling my wife a princess. Maybe something's getting lost in translation.