Black Mamba

We saw a black mamba crossing the road when I was in Limpopo last month, but we didn't kill it.
 
This is Africa podcast last week with Ph Ross Johnston had a good bit of snake discussion. Ross is apparently a man who appreciates his snakes. A very good story about a “pet” mamba he kept indoors and much more.
I’ve seen several huge constrictors killed on camera and honestly would not seek out that kind of footage nor care to see it again, but that’s me.
 
I was told by a previous P.H that we could hunt black mambas in S.A no problem. We even spoke to the taxidermist and he said he would mount it. But after doing some research it appears to be highly illegal in all parts of Africa? Can anyone chime in on this as I would love to get one anywhere in africa if legal.
I attached internet wisdom.
Maybe can help in your research.

What is your hunting show? I would like to taka a look.
Screenshot_20260905_055931_Google.jpg
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As a side note, when I was sailing to china and south korea, they were selling the snake wine.

Oriental version of mexicam warm in tequila.
Not sure what that wine is, though.

To this day i still regret i did not buy this.

It is also being sold online.

Pics from internet.

Screenshot_20260905_063702_Google.jpg
 
We saw a black mamba crossing the road when I was in Limpopo last month, but we didn't kill it.
I pray pretty frequently on a safari that I don't see a snake of any kind. Over the trips I've made I have seen 7 or 8 poisonous snakes, and I never saw a PH kill one.
 
I have watched videos of snake hunting for the ratter round up
And a few for snake handling church’s.

And I would say there some interest in it
The history channel has the gator hunters snake hunting in fl. And there was a show about rattlesnake hunting for hides and round ups.

Killing venomous snakes yea I would watch it.
Hate venomous snakes lost dogs and livestock to them including a very good cow horse
 
Maybe you cannot legally hunt one or not, but that doesn't change the fact that the only good black mamba is a dead one.

BTW, I cannot envision a more terrifying charge than to anger a mating mamba and have it come weaving for you at full speed!
 
Just finished a couple of Capstick books (Audio) . In one of them there is a chapter about Black Mamba. Enough to dissuade any sane person from messing with them. Ymmv.
 
Saw a puff adder in RSA (which is another thing to watch out for) but no mambas. One of the guys in our group did and they said it was terrifying. 6' long and slithered away, thankfully, at a speed you can't even imagine. Combine that with the fact that they can stand, and move, on only like 50% of their body, no thank you.

That's the only thing that really scares me there.
 
Saw two black mambas and one puff adder on first trip to Limpopo. the mambas were in the road right next to camp....they are no longer with us. The adder was at the heal of the PH who was 4 steps in front of me. That one is still out there.
Thankfully my last trip to Eastern Cape I saw zero snakes!
 
I saw a black mamba in Limpopo first week of August this year and saw a cape cobra last September in the Free State. I've seen a total of six mambas, two puff adders and one cobra on my 13 trips. A whole bunch of pythons as well to go along with the venemous snakes.
 
@TR Alternatively, if you are set on serpentine shenanigans, how about a day out fishing with us?
You never know what you might catch ! (I even hooked a cow once, 60 miles out in the Indian Ocean, but that's another story)


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BTW No antidote for Elapid venom, but very docile creatures out of the water with small fangs at the back of their mouth. But they ain't no Black Mamba.

There are plenty of them too

Saw me dog messing with something at the high tide mark one time back in January, this fellow;
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He was messin' with this;

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Stranded by the receding tide looking dead as a dodo and as dehydrated as half-done biltong.
It was anything but.
A proper wriggle-stick !
A swift fling into the sea and it went its merry way.

But you can keep your Mambas !!
 
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migrabill wrote on Surgeon1's profile.
Be careful of this Wolfen guy. 2 messages. Both trying to sell something. He PM'ed me trying to sell something and he PM'ed my friend on here trying to sell something. Fishy.
autofire wrote on Dr Ray's profile.
Hi Dr. Ray, I will be in Cooktown from Oct 16 to Oct 23 fishing Lizard Island Black Marlin Tournament.

I have several "slack" days after fishing before I head for stay in Sydney and Fiji.

Do you have any recommendations for 1 or 2 day hunt near Cooktown?

I've hunted both DG and PG in 4 different countries in Africa.
Thank you,
Bob
 
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