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Yesterday was a record day for me ……but I really hope that this record will never get broken – I had 3 snake encounters in one day.

Zebra and me went to Marloth for the day. When we got there this young Vine Snake was waiting for us.
(BTW, why is his body so full of bumps – is it always like that or did he eat something? )



I tried to persuade it to rather get into a tree – was scared we will step on him. This is supposed to be a shy snake, but like I have said previously, none of my Marloth snakes read the book. First I hit the ground with a broom close to him, and even thought there was more than enough get-away space, he did not budge. Then I lightly touched him with the soft bristles of the broom and he just got angry – lifted himself up like this and flickered his red tongue.



Eventually I just left him. Only then he slowly made his way to a tree.

Later the day I went to have a look at our waterhole. While standing at the edge, I saw a movement out of the corner of my eye. There was a BIG snake on his way, at full speed, straight at me. I responded with a few back flips, midair splits, and some other movement that I don’t think I will ever be able to redo again. My subtle screams got Zebra to run out. She was just in time to see a piece of him after he turned around and went back to where he came from. Unfortunately I was not able to ID him while I was busy with my acrobatic routine. I was absolute shivers and Zebra found that quite amusing, but she got her chance later…

The afternoon Zebra went out at the front door onto the veranda. I just heard the scream “HEEEEEELP, big snake”. There a Mozambican Spitting Cobra was busy climbing the stairs to get onto the veranda. It wisely desised to retreat (at least one that read the book) and went through our carport to the back of the house.

Most of my photos I took of him came out like this - shivers .



But miraculously I got this one while he was in the carport.



At the back of the house he went straight to our outside basin, climbed the brick wall and disappeared into a crack behind the basin. I got the feeling he often uses this spot and could not leave him there – we frequently use this basin. I had to call the “snake-catch man” again and had to pay R50 out of my “snake-catch” budget again.


More info on the Vine Snake ( A complete guide to the snakes of Southern Africa, Johan Marais)

*Average size: 1.2m (max 1.47m)
*It is back-fanged
*They are mostly tree-living and are superbly camouflaged as a branch or twig
*It moves gracefully and swiftly when disturbed. It may remain in the same position for several days if not disturbed
*Thought to be timid and retiring, it will inflate its neck to display the bright skin between the scales when threatened. Lunging strikes usually follow this, while the bright tongue flickers in a wavy motion.
* Males engage in combat, intertwining their bodies while attempting to push one another’s heads down.
*The common name “Bird Sake” appears to be inappropriate, as birds do not make up the bulk of this snake’s diet, probably because they are not easy to capture.
*This snake usually strikes from above and often swallows its prey with the anterior part of its body hanging downwards
*Its venom is a dangerous haemotoxic and very similar to the venom of the Boomslang. Bites are rare, which is fortunate because at present there is no antivenom.

Hectic though!

Vine snake looks like he had too much crinkle cut chips. Stopp feeding the Marloth animals, Jumbo. Geez!

Nice Jumbo

I had a sad day yesterday. A mozzie died on me after she was injured by an idiot who tried to catch her....
Tried my best but she lasted 3 days.....

I hope you don't mind, but while reading I was especially when you described your gymnastic moves.

@WTM
The Vine Snake was still very young…I wonder if he didn’t eat something like ants or termites (there are several nests)



Would have loved to see your reaction Sir!

DQ if you found that funny, read the following:
I’m VERY paranoid about a snake getting into the house and into the nice dark cupboards.
After the snake that “charged” me, I was very much on edge. Inside the house, on the moment I opened a cupboard, Zebra sprayed something out of an aerosol can right behind me. My brain said: you opened the cupboard, the snake hissed its warning…..do a few acrobatics again, quickly! Zebra obviously cracked herself laughing again!! (O but this morning she tells me she could not sleep at all last night…..had dreams about snakes on her face )

I have a confession to make – please do not scold me about this…..I feel bad about this as it is.
The “snake men” shot the M’fezi. They told me that if they catch and release it, it would just return. They had to unscrew the bottom part of the basin to get the snake out. When they pulled the basin away the snake fell out and he was very agro – spitting all over the place. They first tried to kill it with a stick, but with the spitting decided to shoot it.
Trust me, I feel like a real idiot that I allowed the people to kill the perfectly healthy M’fezi, that while Pilane tells how he tried to save one….
But it is not always an easy decision to make. Zebra found the M’fezi while he was still busy getting onto the veranda. What if she went out a few minutes later and stepped on the snake right at the front door! I would have had to race to get her to the nearest hospital – Nelspruit…about 1hr away.
Pilane it is such a pity that you do not live closer…

Anyway this is not a day I would like to relive – after the 3rd snake I had to convince myself not to leave everything as it is and just jump into the car to go back to Maputo.
BTW, I think I “cursed” the place when we got it. I jokingly told my SO we should name the house M’fezi – hoped it will call on the traditional fears of some criminal minded individual and they will then not brake into the house… Well I suppose you have to be careful what you wish for.

Pity about the Mfezi... I simply dig snakes. But sometimes they just have to be killed.

Hi Jumbo
I your earlier post you mentioned that for Vine Snakes there is no antivenom. I have also read this and people say it therefore makes the Vine Snake the deadliest snake in SA.
Maybe Pilane can help us, but why is there no antivenom for this snake ?

It is very dangerous as boomslang antivenom does not help for this bite. But its is very shy and luckily back-fanged meaning that its bites don't often inject venom as well. The black mamba is still very much the most dangerous snake cause even with anti-venom if you don't get medical support soon with 30-45mins its good night nurse china for you. Puffadder bites are the most common and does serious tissue damage even with anti-venom or not. The other snakes also injects huge quantity of venom. A human's body generally start breaking venom down after a while, thus if u get hit by a bird snake (vine or twig snake otherwise known) you can get thru it with medical help.

Ah ha thanks WTM.
I really do respect and kind of like snake but have never done any serious homework on them so am a bit ignorant
Best I start a new section on the book shelf for snakes

the reason why there is no anti-venom for vine snake is quite simple.... there is no recorded bite except for those that are "snake handlers" ... i think there are 11 bites on record .. 2 of which were fatal ... so there is no real market for anti-venom .. therfore all the years of research costs and trials etc etc. are not warranted. ±90% of SA's snake bites are from cytotoxic snakes.

I received a PM from Pilane that explained some of the things I saw and experienced with my latest snake encounters. Thought I will quote it here for those who are interested. {Thanks AGAIN Pilane – I, for one, truly appreciate it that you take the time to share your fast knowledge }






Christo, we eventually got hold of this repellent – same price, but I suppose desperate times calls for desperate measures. Thank goodness we did not see a snake this weekend and thus cannot give comment on whether it works or not. However, it did deter a baboon spider from going onto the veranda…. Made a u-turn at the spot where I sprayed the repellent.
Freda advised me that in i.s.o. spraying the repellent around the house as per the instructions, I should rather spray it on myself like I do with Tabard.

Another snake question if anyone can help. My son and I have this argument, he claims he read somewhere that you can drink snake venom and it won't harm you (unless you have an ulcer somewhere). I would think it will harm you as it would be absorbed into your blood and that way harm you. Does anyone know what the truth is

Ur son might have a point there, but I won't bet my life on it. As far as I know it must be getting into your bloodstream to be regarded as dangerous. I know if u get spit in the eyes by Mfezi or his cousins that it could enter your blood vessels. I will definitely not go and play mythbusters on this one.

Your son is 100% correct Snoobab. You can drink snake venom- provided that you do not have any bad teeth and or ulcers in your mouth and stomach. I think someone or myself posted this somewhere before, but to keep it simple I'll explain it as follows;
Snake venom consists of protiens which will be broken down by the gastric acids and absorbed stomach lining. should you drink it- no harm. Remember venom is only modified saliva.
When it gets into an open wound it gets absorbed by your lymph system and enters your bloodsteam via the arteries in your neck this is when it gets to work. Result- BIG problems... Your immune system will eventually break down the venom but normally too late.... There are other factors like venom type (cytotoxic, neurotoxic, heamotoxic and myotoxic) and the compositition thereof and type of bite that also plays a role.

BTW it tastes almost like batery acid or maybe I can describe it as a metallic taste. Now please don't try this at home...

While we are on the subject and espesially to the youngsters out there. I know keeping snakes are becoming a cool/ fasion or whatever 'thing' but take this simple advice from me.
Snake bite is not a joke and believe me you do not want to be bitten. Doesn't matter by what snake. It is simply just not worth it. I can post some snakebite pic's but I think I'll be banned from this forum for posting matter not suitable for sensitive viewers
Rather leave these creatures alone and they will leave you alone. (Jumbo is the only exception here because they like her.. ) If you mess with them you are going to be bitten sooner or later- It is just a matter of time.... and it is also illegal to catch or keep indigineous snakes without permits. (permit system differs from province to province). (But you can kill them .... no problem)

Pilane, have you ever been bitten by a snake?