Snakes

[IAhawks84]

In the short time I have been a part of AH, I have noticed an awful lot of pictures of people with snakes. Is this pretty common on a safari to come across these critters? Is it also common practice to whack them when they are seen? It could be kind of cool to tan a skin I suppose. Either way, I'll be wearing my leather boots when we go!

 

[dory]

Dont panic !
Its not really that common as most hunts are done in the cooler months when snakes are not that active .
Ive only spent a month in Africa hunting all up .
And as much as I wanted to I havnt seen a bloody snake yet !!
We dont have any in our country so I really keen to see some .
Next trip I hope .
By the way yuor feet will get bloody hot in leather boots .

 

[IAhawks84]

I'm not too worried. It would be very interesting to see a puff adder or black mamba, just not too close haha

 

[CAustin]

In the short time I have been a part of AH, I have noticed an awful lot of pictures of people with snakes. Is this pretty common on a safari to come across these critters? Is it also common practice to whack them when they are seen? It could be kind of cool to tan a skin I suppose. Either way, I'll be wearing my leather boots when we go!

As mentioned during the cooler months it isn’t so bad. However, watch where you step just as you would where you live if going into the woods. Have no use for snakes no matter where I see them.

 

[Mike B.]

I ran into 3 last June in Namibia. Two were puff adders and the other a black mamba. I'm a huge snake person so it was absolutely amazing to run into them in the wild instead of seeing them in a glass enclosure at a zoo.

The black mamba was spectacular to watch. We were in a vehicle and when we slowly drove by, it was trying to climb a tree. It easily had half its body up in the air trying to get to the first branch. The speed at which it moved was astounding. I can see how quickly things could turn deadly if you made a mistake with one of them.

One of the puff adders I saw was only a couple feet off the path we were walking. My PH saw the track across the trail we were on and it made him stop right in his tracks. I was grateful of his very keen eye.

 

[Hallgeir Gravråk]

On my trips thru 15 years I`ve seen 3 puffadders and one spitting cobra (kwazulu Natal)
Never seen a Mamba.
One of my friends got bitten by a what they called Horned night adder, he spent 1 week at the hospital in Pretoria and 6 months in reconvalenced back in Norway, He`s leg swalled up and get bluish really fast.
If he had used his leather boots, he would be ok.
I think it`s more usuall to se snakes in Namibia because of the farms, and the farms and livestock give mouse and rats good condition.
It seems that the puff adders get carryed away on a stick or somethings, but the Mambas they shoot.

Puff adder that the dogs in camp find one early morning.

 

[IAhawks84]

On my trips thru 15 years I`ve seen 3 puffadders and one spitting cobra (kwazulu Natal)
Never seen a Mamba.
One of my friends got bitten by a what they called Horned night adder, he spent 1 week at the hospital in Pretoria and 6 months in reconvalenced back in Norway, He`s leg swalled up and get bluish really fast.
If he had used his leather boots, he would be ok.
I think it`s more usuall to se snakes in Namibia because of the farms, and the farms and livestock give mouse and rats good condition.
It seems that the puff adders get carryed away on a stick or somethings, but the Mambas they shoot.

Puff adder that the dogs in camp find one early morning.

I’ve heard it’ll be hot, but I’m leaning towards wearing my leather boots!

 

[Pondoro]

I returned from Bots 22.december...I have seen snakes now and then on earlier trips but this last one...jeez...40 degr. C and snakes all over...I counted 4 black mambas and 8 puffadders. My tracker almost stepped on an adder, he stomped it with the sticks...I came right behind him and heard the loud HISS...

 

[Upton O. Good]

Before my first trip, I told my PH and the outfitter that I would love to see a cobra in the wild. Didn’t see any cobras but did see two puff adders, big brutes, and heard that HHSSsssss of another. It’s part of the whole experience. Hunt from June to early September and I doubt you’ll see any.

 

[lwaters]

My wife about stepped on a puff ader

 

[G Skinner]

MORE HUGE SPIDERS ! LOL ?
Glen

 

[Divernhunter]

1st hunt in April/May 2013 we saw one snake and I gave it plenty of room.
My 2nd hunt was a month long in may 2017 and did not see any.
Both hunts were spot and stalk except the last hunt when I spent some time in a blind shooting monkeys and baboons.

 

[BenKK]

Was in Botswana in late September of 2014 and although it was warm we only saw one boomslang, a beautiful creature, vivid green.

 

[Peter Larsson]

First time i South Africa we saw no snakes.
Last time there were snakes everywhere!
Was in end of Mars and beginning of April.
Black mamba, cobras, huge python and a bunch other snakes!

Even at the campfire there came a snake! (bad pic)

Allot of spiders everywhere too!

 

[IAhawks84]

It’d really be an experience to see any of these, just as long as it’s not up too close and personal haha

 

[Nyati]

Saw four snakes in six trips, just leave them alone, they won´t bother you .

 

[Lee M]

Before my first trip, I told my PH and the outfitter that I would love to see a cobra in the wild. Didn’t see any cobras but did see two puff adders, big brutes, and heard that HHSSsssss of another. It’s part of the whole experience. Hunt from June to early September and I doubt you’ll see any.

Then July sounds like a great month! Lol

 

[Dr Ray]

First time i South Africa we saw no snakes.
Last time there were snakes everywhere!
Was in end of Mars and beginning of April.
Black mamba, cobras, huge python and a bunch other snakes!
View attachment 217322

Even at the campfire there came a snake! (bad pic)View attachment 217321

Allot of spiders everywhere too!

Snakes are good! ... for keeping you focused on the job! They keep you from getting complacent and then you start losing focus & your mind wanders. Therefore, snakes help you keep focused on your objective!