Snakes sightings on your safaris

[BlackRhino]

Dear AH members;
I am not afraid of poisonous snakes. Nevertheless, I am interested in how often (poisonous) snakes have been seen during safaris in Africa. To make this thread meaningful, I would appreciate your feedback on the number of snake sightings (if possible, name the species) in relation to the duration (number of hunting days) of your hunts. However, I also find it interesting to know that, for example, no snakes were seen during yout hunts (please specify the total hunting days), and it would be helpful if this information were also posted. Thank you very much in advance for your feedback!

 

[Betterinthebush]

Namibia, Otjozondjupa Region, July 3-8, 0 snakes seen in camp or while hunting.

Namibia, Swakupmund, July 13, one sidewinder (and the tour guide had to go looking for and dig it up to show us)

 

[Nyati]

Sorry I can´t be more specific, but if it helps, in 8 safaris, I saw 1 Mozabique Spitting Cobra, 1 Cape Cobra, 1 Black Mamba, I Reticulated Python.

All from a safe distance

 

[mark-hunter]

Dear AH members;
I am not afraid of poisonous snakes. Nevertheless, I am interested in how often (poisonous) snakes have been seen during safaris in Africa. To make this thread meaningful, I would appreciate your feedback on the number of snake sightings (if possible, name the species) in relation to the duration (number of hunting days) of your hunts. However, I also find it interesting to know that, for example, no snakes were seen during yout hunts (please specify the total hunting days), and it would be helpful if this information were also posted. Thank you very much in advance for your feedback!

I was on Safari 5 times in various months between June and September.
I saw cape cobra and black mamba only once, on my safari no 1, in first week of September (one week hunting)

 

[Sh1kar]

In 28ish safaris (SA, Zambia, Mozambique) of typically 10 days duration, I have seen a snake only twice - a black mamba in Limpopo and a small non poisonous snake weaving through the grass wall of my shower at face height when I was in it! It looked v like a boomslang so I took a video of it to check with PH post shower. V happy when he said ignore it, its not a problem, he's after the frogs

 

[Schmidty]

4 Safaris in the Limpopo region of South Africa. All taken the end of June into early July. A total of 30 hunting days. I have seen 1 - Mozambique Spitting Cobra and 1 - rock python (I know it's non-poisonous)

 

[bohannon]

7 day hunt in Limpopo, SA - saw a Nile cobra that was easily 6 feet long. 10 day hunt in Gwayi, Zimbabwe - no snakes.

 

[Nosler guy]

3 safaris - 1 desert cobra on each of the two central Namibia hunts
Limpopo - 1 python (don't recall exactly the type outfitter called it - but he figured 4 meters)
and 1 Black Mamba - way too close

We were tracking a big old dark rogue giraffe that was raising havoc with the local farmers property, seemed to enjoy wading through fences. He had been hunted a fair bit, and to say he was sly would have been a huge understatement. We were tracking back into the thick stuff, hot day, and all four of us were glued on the foliage ahead - just hoping to identify a dark spot. Next thing yu know, the lead tracker has jumped back, pretty much on top of the guide / outfitter, who in turn pretty much ended up on top of me. Philoman, had all but stepped on the Black Mamba. It was in full strike mode, and thank goodness chose to retreat. The speed and swiftness was amazing. Had he chose to strike, no possible chance we would have all got outta the way. All of a sudden Mr. Giraffe didn't seem quite so important. We halfheartedly resumed the hunt. Think we were all watching the ground, cause 100 yards later we bumped the Giraffe.

 

[Betterinthebush]

3 safaris - 1 desert cobra on each of the two central Namibia hunts
Limpopo - 1 python (don't recall exactly the type outfitter called it - but he figured 4 meters)
and 1 Black Mamba - way too close

We were tracking a big old dark rogue giraffe that was raising havoc with the local farmers property, seemed to enjoy wading through fences. He had been hunted a fair bit, and to say he was sly would have been a huge understatement. We were tracking back into the thick stuff, hot day, and all four of us were glued on the foliage ahead - just hoping to identify a dark spot. Next thing yu know, the lead tracker has jumped back, pretty much on top of the guide / outfitter, who in turn pretty much ended up on top of me. Philoman, had all but stepped on the Black Mamba. It was in full strike mode, and thank goodness chose to retreat. The speed and swiftness was amazing. Had he chose to strike, no possible chance we would have all got outta the way. All of a sudden Mr. Giraffe didn't seem quite so important. We halfheartedly resumed the hunt. Think we were all watching the ground, cause 100 yards later we bumped the Giraffe.

That’s a great story. Thank you.

 

[375Fox]

This was a good thread not too long ago. I’ve gone 14 day trips in March and October without seeing a snake and I’ve done 7 day trips in May when cold and see several. It’s luck of draw, but the most I’ve seen in one trip has been in Tanzania.

Thread 'What's the most Mambas you have seen on a safari?'

May 12, 2025

Just curious what AH members come back with.....

Please answer with:

number:
country:
year:
month:

and add any other color or story with it you want.

My account is:

2
Zambia
2024
October

One in camp parking area and one wrapped on our cruiser bumper. I thought it pretty unusual to see 2 in a week.

• EPIC SAFARIS
• Replies: 96
• Forum: Hunting Africa

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[375Fox]

My most memorable snake event was a python in Zimbabwe walking out of blind in the dark. We didn’t know it was only a python at time, but you learn really quickly it’s every man for himself when you have a snake at your feet. Once everything settled down, we all had a good laugh.

 

[BJH65]

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.

 

[Muskox]

1 Safari Namibia cape cobra, puff adder 1 each

9 months in East Africa for military work in the hottest part of the year over 3 trips. Zero snakes in Djibouti, Somalia or Ethiopia. Have no idea why.

5 years living in Las Cruces, New Mexico 7-8 snakes a year all 4 species of rattlers and a few hog nose snakes.

3 years living in Ridgecrest, CA 2-3 snakes a year all sidewinders

3 years in Australia 4-5 snakes a year. Everything king brown, pythons, you name it.

Snakes are just kind of where you find them.

 

[mark-hunter]

Speaking of snakes, in which countries they are huntable (exportable)?
(they are "shootable", no question about it, the question is on exportability)

I know that rock python is on license in Cameroon.

 

[375Fox]

Speaking of snakes, in which countries they are huntable (exportable)?
(they are "shootable", no question about it, the question is on exportability)

I know that rock python is on license in Cameroon.

Uganda has them on quota as well. Snakes definitely get shot, but I think they are technically protected in more areas than we would think. I don’t see a game scout objecting though.

 

[MontanaPat]

Over 4 safaris and 30 days afield during May / June in RSA and Botswana I have seen one snake, a black mamba in Limpopo in 2024. It was about 10-12 feet long and slithering through the tree branches at eye level with us standing in the back of the bakkie about 20 feet away. PH was a snake lover and wanted to stay and watch it, we said get the hell out of here!

 

[Hunt anything]

In 2014 in Mozambique Coutada 10 I saw 2, a gaboon viper about 3 feet long and a small black mamba, around 6 feet long. The mamba won’t bother anyone as he was eaten by a crocodile while swimming a sand river we had set up a leopard bait near.

2018 in the Eastern Cape we saw an eagle flying off with what looked to be a Cape cobra around 4 feet long.

2021, one safari in June and one in August 0, it was too damned cold. Limpopo and Northwest Province

2025, August, Free State too cold once again and Limpopo we didn’t see any but they had seen a puff adder in camp the day before we got there. We also saw a python track in the road that was about 12” wide, I wish we would’ve trailed it but we were stalking a wildebeest.

Total days in the field were 40 days or so.

 

[Ryan]

4 hunts, I think 37 days total hunting. 1 rock python, 1 spitting cobra (on the driveway leaving to the airport) on my first hunt in Namibia, and one adder spotted curled up in a hollow base of a tree on the second hunt on the same farm in Namibia. No snakes seen on either hunt in South Africa, though I did get to see a leguan monitor lizard, which was a cool thing to see.

 

[Hedge774]

1 Mozambique spitting cobra busted up our brie, and one 12-14 foot rock python that I missed stepping on by a foot. First safarl.

 

[AZDAVE]

2013 Jun/jul No Snakes sighted (South Africa)
2015 jul No snakes sighted (South Africa)
2018 may 1 Reticulated Python. one African bush snake (Both non poisonous) (South Africa)
2021 Mar/april No snakes sighted (South Africa)
2021 AUG 1 cobra (Namibia)
2022 aug No snakes sighted (South Africa)
2024 sept No snakes sighted (Mozambique)
2024 Oct 1 black mamba (South Africa)
2025 Oct No snakes sighted (South Africa) (Namibia)