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During my last trip in march 2012 we spotted this snake having a meal. We think it's a female boomslang but not sure. Any help is welcome. It was at the waterhole halfway the tropic of capricorn road.

And is this one a pale cape cobra? Pic was taken in KTP sept 2011 near Grootkolk.

No, not Boomslang but Sand or Whip snake!

Daffy, yes that is a Cape Cobra!

Hi Bobbi Jane,

Thanks for the ID.
I follow you 100 % on the cape cobra. Are you 100 % sure on the Sandsnake? Can't find no further information on this species in kruger.

Daffy, probably Karoo Sandsnake, but Google 'Sand snakes' & you will see the head shape & the typical dotted lips of Sand snakes -that are very clear in your pic! Sorry that I can't point more precisely!

BJ, I agree with you. Wonder how a Karoo sandsnake end sup in the north of kruger, but I presume they were first seen in the Karoo. Thanks again for helping with the ID.

Daffy, these are some really good photos! Not many people can brag with photos like this!

The sand snake is not a karoo sand snake (Psammophis notostictus). The two brown species in the Kruger are the olive grass snake (Psammophis mossambicus) or the short-snouted grass snake (Psammophis brevirostris). Your snake doesn't quite look like the typical olive grass snake as it has a light line down the back, but based on the location I would still put my money on it. Short-snouted grass snakes generally prefer highveld grasslands such as those around Gauteng, but if you look at the recent SARCA maps you will notice that they have been recorded not too far away. Either way, I'd still go for a olive grass snake...

Hope this helps.

Daffy, I am so pleased you posted here, and I agree, beautiful picture.

Thanks Bushsnakes and MM for your support and nice words.
If I learnt one thing of identification a snake: it's very often a hard job. There is something to say for each opinion ( female boomslang, sandsnake and the olive ). I don't dare to put money on one of the suggestions. I think the variety within a species is huge.
I 'm glad I posted the question here. I learned a lot about snakes. Thanks a lot.

That is not a cape cobra, it is a mole snake. You can see that by the pointy nose and those marks on the body. As mole snakes get bigger those marks disappear. Cape cobras do not have those marks. Have a look at a picture of a baby mole snake from google and you will see what I am referring to.

Ales, although I can't see the head as I would like to have, I'm inclined to think you're right!
Having a second look (and googled as you suggested), those are not just random specks but are "blotches" regularly spaced!
I gowith your 'Mole-snake' ID! Thanks for the lesson!

Thanks Ales. It's good to have help in these matters.

During our Dec'11 visit to Kruger I took this photo of a black snake on the H1-5 between Letaba and Olifants. It was just after sunrise, hence the sun causing some reflectin on the head. Could anyone please assist with identification of this snake, please.


Next visit to Kruger: Dec'12

It's pretty hard not being able to use colour, but I'm 100% confident that it is a Mozambique Spitting cobra (Naja mossambica). The head shape, large shiny scales and the posture supports this, plus if you look carefully and you lighten up the photo slightly with photoshop you can see the black blotches on the belly scales near the head. I have to ask whether the snake was really black or whether the black colouration was because of the shadow from the rising sun? Mozambique spitting cobras are generally some shade of brown, and I have not heard of or seen a black specimen. Nice sighting though. Beats any lion sighting