SANParks.org Forums

Diesel, wow its very interesting!!! Genaaaade (goodness me).Thanks for sharing.
Armata, very interesting research! Please post some of your experiences on the forum. I am intrigued by BM's as I think they are the most scary things on the planet.

Just finished reading this thread and I need to add my opinion here.
So please don't take anything I say resonantly.
It's only my opinion and I'm more than willing to listen to other people's opinions over a beer or 2!

Ok. I must start by saying that I am a snake lover and only for reasons beyond my control am I currently not able to keep them as pets! (no BM's that is just constrictors and a few mild venomous species! ) I love them but also respect them!
This is a risk that I am willing to take.
I understand that in a situation where people are at risk the BM must be eliminated, however sad this is. However I have run into puff adders, Boomslang and a few other nameless species and even when startled they always moved of rather then attack me!
I can't understand the fear associated with snakes?
If one is in a area where these species are found one should know the risks!
Ignorance kills !
Information can save your life!
Know what to do when you get bitten!
It's the same with anything in life!
There are always risks involved! Steve Erwin is a case in point ! (Yes I was a fan! ) I guess I'm speaking to the wrong people here right!
All the snake killers out there are not on this forum!

I have seen one BM in the wild.
In the Pongola area on a private game reserve.
It reared up to the height of the 4x4 we were traveling in.
Eye contact of note.
I also think that BM's have personality's .
Some are more placid than others.
They are beautiful if one takes the time to look closely.
I wouldn't mind running into one in the Kruger myself!
So everyone on this thread who has seen one is very lucky and has my complete

I completely agree with this
I've been catching snakes since I was in nappies as a hobby, as well as for photographic purposes as of late....I don't find any reason to be a afraid of them, as I've never been chased, brutally attacked, snuck up on by any legless creature ......
When I was young once, I had no idea of what I was catching, and picked up a Southern Stiletto snake....which, being impossible to handle safely (Which I learnt afterwards), bit me, and put me in hospital....
This, strangely gave me a new respect for these little guys...
As they only really attack, if threatened...
And don't sit waiting to ambush people....as some may think
The only chance you have of being harmed, is if you come close enough to be harmed...
Most snakes are harmless anyway and vanish in the presence of humans........
People use the excuse that Mambas and Mozambique spitting cobras are territorial and have to be killed on the spot
Just moving them a far enough distance will solve the problem....
They will set up new territories elsewhere.....
Killing snakes just seems the easy way out!!


I've come across Black Mamba many times out on foot, mostly seeing them vanishing in the grass ahead of me.....
On a few occasions I was unlucky enough to have them cornered amongst rocks etc, where they have reared up in defense.....
Never striking out once...I backed off, and so did they (Not aggressive unless actually provoked), you'll see there's definitely more going on inside that snakes head then we think, when you look one straight in the eyes........
And I agree, that snakes do have personalities!

Remember it is illegal to catch a snake without a permit.
Even I you have done a course and even if it is a problem animal.
And if you have a permit you are not allowed to keep it for more than 24 hours.
If you want more info on the subject and handling PM me

I do not think that you guys are the only ones by far!!

RJ: Please remember that it is FGASA policy that a guide should not pick up snakes! (I'm not talking about removing snakes from threatening situations.) A guide should never disturb any animal if it is at all possible.

No guide should go around picking up say (just as an example) a baby antelope they may find. It is just not done. It is un-ethical!

For some strange reason some guides have the ego-thing about picking up snakes! Always with the excuse that it is for educational purposes.

A good and ethical guide will use the opportunity of educating his guests, without disturbing the snake. There is no excuse for picking up that snake!

It is just as wrong to remove a snake from his natural environment because you want to keep snakes, or because you want to photograph them.

If you want to be a good guide, you have to respect nature. Respecting its inhabitants is just as important.

Thought I would share this experience with you.

I went out birding in the Magoebaskloof area last weekend and whilst driving on a gravel road I heard a very familiar bird call. I switched of the car, walked about 10 meters to the front and tried to locate it with no success, as I turned around, there was a Black Mamba busy crossing the road, from where I had just walked by.

He looked up at me, probably didn't feel threatened and sailed away in the bush.

Suffice to say, I had to change my boxers. Imagine if I had waited 10 secs later I might have stepped right on top of him and with no cell signal and the nearest hospital 100 km's away I would have been in serious trouble.

Yip, you can definitely count your lucky stars!!!
Really cool that you got this photo, tho….thanks for sharing ….it is still dream of me to get a proper photo of a BM…

Hello DotDan, good to see you again.
Magoebaskloof, what a wonderful place. Yes you really were lucky with the mamba, great photo, I always thought BM's were more of a greyish colour, this one is brownish, lovely speciman!
Thanks for sharing.

This must surely be close to a record size black mamba?
Unfortunately the farm workers killed the snake (on my friend's farm) in the Levubu area. Apologies to sensitive viewers.

Now that is a monster!!!
About 4 meter…if not more!!!
Sad that is was killed…but I don’t think there are many people in this country who are qualified enough to capture a snake like that.
That snake can easy bite a person at chest height….with a full bite like that, your gone….you will not make it to the nearest hospital!!

Yip,that is partly why they are so dangerous. They are big animals.

Driving in Kruger one day, gamespotting, the surrounding area was much savannah like.
A flicker of movement caught my eye and there was
a gentle swaying swift movement above the tips of the grass stalks. Maybe 3 to 4ft high so to speak.

Sometimes we find ourselves in situations where
because of education or experience we are somewhat unsure of ourselves yet that day I knew
that was a black mamba. It was fast and with intent.

This thread is about BM's and not GM's.

If my memory serves me well the game wardens had a problem with the motorized mode of transport in the park. ie; scrambler motorcycles. One reason being snakebite. I stand under correction here.

Jumbo quite correct. A bite from one of those in a
faraway place means trouble for the victim with
reference snakebite in Pafuri. We always talk about
Big 5 and somehow BM fits in there somewhere.
believe me.

Taken from the News24 website.
This article shows that BM's should be avoided at all costs. How did it know to attack the driver and not the tractor?

4m Is a BIG black mamba.

Just to Show you.
Little test how long do you guys think this snake is?
I measured it , how good are your judgements.

This was found just outside of Kruger last year.

Fooble, I would like to guess that mamba is about 3 meters long?