Africa, you folks that are planning the trip;

You don't usually see too many snakes. So far when I have been over there I have seen a HUGE reticulated python (not poisonous), 2 puff adders (poisonous), 1 cobra (we all know that one), 1 boomslang (really nasty venom) and one very dead mamba (hit by a truck).

I know other guys that have been a few times and never saw a snake.

Less chance of snakes during the cooler months. During the wet season they are really out and about and tend to have a nasty disposition at that time as well.
 
The camp that I stayed at had an american owner as the second owner. From what I hear it wasnt run as a camp for that short spell ,just a party spot.Anyhoo without any knowabouts he picked one up to bring in to show everybody,and on the camp went to the third owner:eek:
 
A black mamba...it was in Namibia. That's also where I saw one puff adder and the boomslang.

We pulled up to a wire gate and there was a clump of bush at the fence corner by the gate. One of the crew jumped out to open the gate and the trackers looked over and saw the boomslang hanging in the branches of the bush right next to the landcruiser.

You should have heard the screeching. The PH dropped the clutch and the vehicle lurched forward, almost running over the young fella that opened the gate.

They are not a good thing to get bitten by as the venom is both a hemotoxin and neurotoxin. Apparently the anti-venin is in very short supply and has a very short shelf life, so it is not kept in stock by the safari crews.

With the black mamba.........well it doesn't really matter as they can't get a needle in you fast enough to do any good anyways.
 
Boomer said:
It would be an interesting sensation to come face to face with one of those things while you were crawling on your belly through the tall grass.
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Or a Taipan, cobra, puff adder ...........................:eek:
 
Boomer that is how I came to see a cobra. We were crawling through the grass, putting a sneak on some gemsbuck, when about 20 feet infront of us up raises this snake with it's hood fanned.

The PH said "Turn your head, don't look at that snake and back-up."

We backed up a few feet and then got up. Turns out it was a spitting cobra.
 
Sasquatch said:
Boomer that is how I came to see a cobra. We were crawling through the grass, putting a sneak on some gemsbuck, when about 20 feet infront of us up raises this snake with it's hood fanned.

The PH said "Turn your head, don't look at that snake and back-up."

We backed up a few feet and then got up. Turns out it was a spitting cobra.
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Hey Sasquatch any snakes in Manitoba;)

Is there a difference between a regular Cobra and a Spitting Cobra or is that you just hear a " hok, thewwy" before he bites you

Brambles
 
Oh yes...milions and millions of garter snakes......but those don't really count.

I'm sure your sucking me in, but yes there is a difference....they spit their venom and aim for your eyes. The venom can blind you and you need to flush your eyes immediately.

They can nail you from about 12 feet away I believe.

Since they apparently aim for the shininess of your eyes, they occasionally shoot at shiny belt buckles.

If they hit you in the eyes and you don't have water, the locals will hold you down and urinate in your eyes. Sounds pleasant doesn't it.;)
 
I lived in Malawi back in 2001/2002 and we had a huge 7 foot plus Black Mamba take up residence in a bush in our backyard. Funny thing the snake is not black, its kind of dark green/grey slate colour. He only stayed around for a couple of days because we had seven dogs and they would pee on the bush and sniff around the base sensing something was in there. I guess the snake liked its peace and quiet and the dogs would never let it rest.
 
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