Snakes sightings on your safaris

[wvfred]

My first safari in Zimbabwe I saw a forest cobra and two puff adders.My next trips to Zimbabwe and Zambia zero snakes.

 

[odonata]

I was on a photo safari with my daughter in Zambia & Botswana when I found myself standing next to what I thought was an "empty" case in a building one day. It took me a minute to realize there was actually something in it. I'm glad I didn't encounter this guy in the wild. Good camouflage!

 

[Albert GRANT]

9 days East Cape, RSA end of Aug./beginning of Sept. unusually hot (exceeded 95F) for 3 days- 2 Puff Adders

 

[Bandera]

Two hunts in June 23. & 25 no snakes in the wild spotted.
There where snakes, two legged kind, spotted in J’burg and in Cape Town.
One in particular was definitely a trophy, probably 375 pounds, The Soweto Jaba de Doughnut muncher variety.

 

[Jagerrand]

2 hunts in Limpopo. First one in August, no snakes spotted. Last year we hunted in April and saw a huge black mamba our last day. He was out hunting, luckily we were in the truck heading back to the skinning shed.

 

[uplander01]

5 safaris, total of about 50 days in the bush,...3 pythons. I'm not a fan of snakes,...as a matter of fact, I would rather wrestle with a lion than get bit by any of the bad poisonous varieties that make you dead for sure. I feel if a guy is going to die in the bush, I'd rather it happen very quickly.

 

[steve white]

One dead, long black mamba on road, one small black mamba in front of me in the grass, about 2 1/2 feet away, but moved on, two puff adders.

 

[Tex .416]

Three weeks in Tanzania with a camera only, we saw a black mamba, which after reading how fast they can move had me wishing for my .45 with shotshells. Also saw a python of some sort overhead coiled up on a tree limb. I wore the same snake boots I do in South Texas. The mamba spooked way more than any rattlesnake. There is no way I am going out without snake boots.

 

[BlackRhino]

I would cordially thank you all for your detailed and informative reports!! I'll still wait a little bit before I 'll try to wrap your data up.

 

[BlackRhino]

Of course should read: .....wrap up your data.

 

[DLSJR]

I copied this from the thread back in May.
1983, Zimbabwe, Deka, Zero
1986, Zimbabwe, Charara, 1 Puff Adder
1989, Botswana, Kalahari & Linyanti Swamps, 2 puff adders, 2 black mambas including a 10 footer way too close (<5 feet away), 1 spitting cobra, 1 cobra I don’t recall species and one BFS (Big F*cking snake) but all we could tell is it was about 10-12’ long, couldn’t identify.
2009, South Africa, Limpopo, 1 mamba
2018, Zambia Kafue, Zero
2019, Tanzania Maswa, Zero
2021, Tanzania Mlele South, 1 black mamba and one very large Forest Cobra, about 7-8’ long
2023, Kenya, Mara North, Tsavo East & West, Zero
2023, Tanzania, Selous, 3 puff adders, 1 black mamba, 1 vine snake and a python. We accidentally ran over one of the puffers and it popped like a balloon.
2024, Cameroon, Mayo Nduel & Vaimba, 1 night adder
2025, Zimbabwe, Vic Falls area, none so far after five days. Headed to Cawston tomorrow , then Savé Conservancy and hope to keep it at zero. EDIT: saw a Vine Snake at arm’s length distance, laying along a branch we were about to duck under. Vine Snakes are deadly but pretty docile, so we took out our iPhones and took pictures.

We don’t kill snakes unless there’s a good reason, like it’s around camp. Only snake I’ve killed in Africa was a cobra that I used for a rather cruel practical joke on PH Terry Palmer. Otherwise I admire them from a safe distance.

Vine Snake laying on the branch. Easy to miss if you’re not paying attention. Deadly, but not aggressive at all.

 

[DLSJR]

I was on a photo safari with my daughter in Zambia & Botswana when I found myself standing next to what I thought was an "empty" case in a building one day. It took me a minute to realize there was actually something in it. I'm glad I didn't encounter this guy in the wild. Good camouflage!

Gaboon Viper!

 

[DLSJR]

Since we’re discussing snake sightings, I’ll share this video I took in September of 2023 in the Selous. Volume up to hear how a pissed off Puff Adder sounds. We took videos of this puffer for probably 5 minutes then left him unmolested to go about his business.

 

[cwpayton]

30 years ago, day 2 of 8 day hunt in Mozambique, Save River Region in July, drove over large black mamba while in Land Cruiser.

More recently in Limpopo SA last year September 2024, in camp, actually day before 6 day hunt, Mozambique spitting cobra found in storage room. Smiley finally killed it after beating it with a stick and rake.

It appears the best snake weapon is the one at hand, good thing no one had a double 458.

 

[cwpayton]

1 safari in Aug ‘22 on Botswana border

1 snake on last evening of last day
View attachment 732495

Man that pic is shocking!!! Gonna have to report you. LOL

 

[ArmyAV8tor]

Six Namibia safaris and only on the last one did I finally see snakes. I cobra and as my guide noted a big "Puffy".

 

[dlmac]

okay, I have ran into snakes and most don't bother me. Rattlesnakes, copperheads and a couple cotton mouths. But African snakes scare the crap out of me. There, I admitted it, now I will change my shorts.

 

[BJH65]

Three weeks in Tanzania with a camera only, we saw a black mamba, which after reading how fast they can move had me wishing for my .45 with shotshells. Also saw a python of some sort overhead coiled up on a tree limb. I wore the same snake boots I do in South Texas. The mamba spooked way more than any rattlesnake. There is no way I am going out without snake boots.

I’m glad you mentioned snake boots (I guess you could throw in snake gaiters and chaps too). I know of no PH, tracker or even African hunter that have worn snake boots? I guess I haven’t given it much thought since it would be so rare to get bit? I wear low cut hiking boots for Africa. Of course lots of more experienced African hunters than me, just seems nobody wears them in Africa?

There was a time years ago while wild pig hunting in Paso Robles (before it turned into wine country) I almost stepped on a rattlesnake and then we noticed what seemed like a rattlesnake every 15 yards sunning themselves on the south facing slope of the hillside, in mid April I believe. Clearly they recently came out of their den and hadn’t dispersed yet. I wish I had snake boots then. We lost all interest in hunting pigs and got the hell out of there!

 

[slam8031]

during rifle collection in Atlanta in 2014 I was in line with a couple returning from an elephant hunt. The wife had a pair of 16 inch snake boots over her shoulder. I couldn’t help myself so I asked. She said I know they won’t work in Africa but it made me feel safe…
In close to 70 days in Namibia and South Africa, I’ve seen one very large black mamba, two small puff adders, two small boomslangs, and a non venomous snake. My son however stepped over a cobra in cool weather…

Last week from RSA

 

[Tex .416]

I’m glad you mentioned snake boots (I guess you could throw in snake gaiters and chaps too). I know of no PH, tracker or even African hunter that have worn snake boots? I guess I haven’t given it much thought since it would be so rare to get bit? I wear low cut hiking boots for Africa. Of course lots of more experienced African hunters than me, just seems nobody wears them in Africa?

There was a time years ago while wild pig hunting in Paso Robles (before it turned into wine country) I almost stepped on a rattlesnake and then we noticed what seemed like a rattlesnake every 15 yards sunning themselves on the south facing slope of the hillside, in mid April I believe. Clearly they recently came out of their den and hadn’t dispersed yet. I wish I had snake boots then. We lost all interest in hunting pigs and got the hell out of there!

Living with rattlesnakes is a fact of life for us in our area in South Texas. I’ve had a few close calls, but only know one person actually bitten. It hit him in the lower leg. Usually, he wore snake boots, but not this one day. Murphy’s law proven true yet again.

I wear Danner snake boots. They are very comfortable and keep sand and ticks out, as well as protecting the lower leg against thorns and brush in addition to snake protection. I also wear thick heavy jeans even in 100f+ temps.