The Kruger National Park is full of interesting and amazing animals, including snakes. Here are 10 of the many snakes that can be found in the Kruger…
1. Puff Adder
One of South Africa’s most iconic yet dangerous snakes, The Puff Adder is a 1.7 m long snake that loves to hide in leafy areas and other areas that complement its camouflage. The Puff Adder has a few colour varieties but the most iconic is the brown, cream and black zig-zag pattern. Being a very aggressive snake, there is little to no warning before an attack which makes the Puff Adder a very dangerous animal. With a very potent bite, if not treated, the victim can die after 12- 24 hours. Luckily, Antivenom for the Puff Adder is widely available and many people survive the encounter if treated early enough.
2. Common Boom Slang
The Boom Slang or Tree Snake is a very beautiful and dangerous snake that can be found almost throughout South Africa and in areas stretching up past Mozambique and Namibia. The Boom Slang has an all green body when mature, with the male being a brighter and sharper green than the female, who is slightly bluer. The hatchlings and adolescent Boom Slangs have brown and white markings instead of the iconic green colour, with their eyes being a bright green. The Boom Slang is a highly venomous but isnt aggressive and would rather avoid attacking humans. Antivenom is readily available.
3. Rhombic Egg Eater
The Rhombic Egg Eater is a rather unusual looking snake that can be found all throughout South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Easily confused with the Night Adder, with similar colours and markings, the Rhombic Egg Eater is a harmless snake. The way to differentiate between the two is by looking at the multiple V shaped markings on the Egg Eater’s Head, the Egg Eater also has keeled Scales and a vertical pupil. The Egg Eater will curl up and rub its scales together to make a loud hissing sound when threatened. No Antivenom is available for e Rhombic Egg Eater as it is Non-Venomous.
4. Eastern Tiger Snake
A rather slow-moving snake that only hunts at night, feeding on rodents, lizards and nesting birds. Found in the North Eastern parts of South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, The Tiger Snake isn’t a common sight but can definitely be found in the Kruger Park during Kruger Park Safaris. The Tiger Snake has a dusty orange colour with large black spots on its back. The Tiger Snake is classified as a mildly venomous snake but you can rest assured as the venom does virtually nothing to a person.
5. Mozambique Spitting Cobra
The Mozambique Spitting Cobra is a very common snake in the North Eastern part of South Africa and can commonly be found in or near human settlements, houses, garages or dark or roofed area. The Mozambique Spitting Cobra has a dusty brown, black and grey colouration on its scales with two large black stripes behind its head. The Mozambique Spitting Cobra also has a large head and can stretch out its neck to make a hood when threatened. The Mozambique spitting Cobra is a very dangerous snake that has a very potent bite, with poison that can devastate tissue and causes immense swelling and pain. Antivenom is required as sooner rather than later as it effects the severity of skin damage. Very few deaths have been recorded from Mozambique Spitting Cobra bites.
6. Red Lipped Snake
The Red Lipped Snake is a snake that is very common along the eastern coast and southern coast of South Africa, as well as most provinces of South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The Red Lip has an olive-grey or greyish colour with some being very dark in colour. The head is always darker than the body and the Signature markings on the upper lip can be either bright red, orange or a yellowish- orange. Like most other snakes, when they are threatened, they will curl up and start striking continuously at the attacker to chase it away. The Red Lip is classified as a mildly venomous snake which means it is of very little threat to humans.
7. Brown House Snake
The brown House Snake is an extremely common snake that can be found all over Southern Africa and neighbouring countries. Brown House Snakes are brown or reddish-brown in colour, with white undersides that resemble mother of pearl. The brown House Snake is non venomous which means its bite is harmless, aside from the actual bite being a bit painful. The lack of venom means that the Brown House Snake has to rely on constricting its prey using its powerful muscles. This snake is a popular snake for pets as they aren’t venomous and aren’t aggressive.
8. South African Python
The South African Python or African Rock Python is the largest python in South Africa, weighing in at 65kg and with a length of over 5 meters. The African Rock Python, like all pythons, are non-venomous meaning they resort to squeezing their prey to death. They have a very large mouth with a split lower jaw that further increases the size. It has a few sets of backwards facing curved teeth that digs into the skin making it almost impossible to yank out of the mouth without inflicting serious wounds to yourself. There are virtually no reported cases of deaths by African Rock Python on record.
9. Southern Twig Snake
The Southern wig Snake is a very rare snake only found along the Eastern coast of South Africa and Mozambique and all of Zimbabwe. The Twig Snake is very rarely seen because it is a tree dwelling snake that has great camouflage. It has a primarily milky coloured body with its head and a part of its body having long brown stripes on it. When threatened, the Twig Snake will inflate its throat and flicker its brightly coloured tongue or strike continuously if it is provoked. The twig snake is a very peaceful snake but will attack if it is provoked. The Twig Snake is a very dangerous snake and no antivenom is available. There have been very few fatalities, but none in South Africa.
10. Black Mamba
The Infamous Black Mamba is one of the most venomous snakes in the world, if not the most. Unlike the name, the Black mamba isn’t black at all but a light grey or olive-green. According to myth, the Name Black mamba is a shortened form of Black mouthed Mamba. The Black Mamba, unlike the Puff Adder and Mozambique Spiting Cobra, isn’t an aggressive snake and will easily try to avoid any contact. Though it is considered the most venomous snake in the world, there are rarely bites from this snake. If bitten, and left untreated, the victim can die between 3 to 16 hours and with rare cases of people suffering from breathing problems within 30 minutes.
