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What a stunning picture, Armata

Did you take that?

I'm not so sure that I would relish such an encounter in Cobra City

Yes, I have a large library of reptile photos.
Here is another photo of that male cobra, just before he got annoyed. At this stage he was just curious; large cape cobras, particularly the males, tend to be quite laid back. This chap I have known for a while lives in a patch of fynbos close to Oudsthoorn Prison.

Wow

can't say I have ever had the chance to get that familiar with a snake.. not a reptile one, that is

You seem to know your snakes then. What you are saying here is that they are very territorial.

Here is another male I have known for four years at DeHoop Nature reserve. Here he is coming out of his burrow having a good look around before leaving. Spreading the hood is not necessarily a sign of aggression, just curiosity. I watch him from my bakkie. With other cobras and mambas I use binoculars, just like bird-watching. Yes, this male has been in the same burrow (refuge) for all that time. Another unusual thing is that the females come to him. With most snakes it is the males that go mate-searching. He also has a stumpy tail, lost it to a predator or perhaps a car! Will post a photo of him basking soon you can see the stumpy tail.

Here he is basking, quite relaxed, you can see the stumpy tail.
In summer he usually emerges at 1030hrs, you can almost set your watch by him. He basks for about half an hour and then moves off. I have seen him hunting away from the refuge on a number of ocassions, including lying on the road. He once picked up a dead skaapstecker of the road, the thing was really squashed, but he swallowed it gravel 'an all! He's quite a character, hate to see him get run over.

Again, a lovely photograph. It's incredible seeing the scales so clearly. Beautiful colour.

I didn't know that snakes would go for dead prey. I thought that they needed live bait.

Thank you for all these amazing photos and info, Armata.
Maybe the mods can put all of these posts in a “Cape Cobra” thread….really valuable content!
Quite interesting the fact that the females come to the male!
These cobras are really beautiful creatures….especially the yellow ones…and they have such attitude. When we visit the Kgalagadi, the Cape Cobra is the first on my SO’s wish list….before seeing lions or leopards.
I prefer to keep my distance….keep on thinking about Mashona’s story of the cobra that climbed into their car.

I agree, Jumbo.

There is so much myth and misunderstanding about snakes that it is enlightening to get this kind of input.

I will admit that I still freeze when I see a snake, but through the information that I have been getting from various sources, my terror is turning to curiosity.

Cape cobras have a thing about climbing into the engine compartment of cars. I have taken quite a few out of such in tbhis area. Also black spitting cobra has been known to 'hitch a ride' from Namaqua to Cape Town!!

Armata wrote:[/quote]Also black spitting cobra has been known to 'hitch a ride' from Namaqua to Cape Town!!

Armata Great Pic's! What camera are you using? The Cape Cobra is a really beautiful species.
Do you keep snakes as pets? I want to start keeping a few species as pets, so I can always use help.

Mfezi. I agree with your listings for the reptile big 5. Is this list for south Africa in general or just for the Kruger. If it is in general then I would say :
1 Black Mamba;
2 African Rock Python;
3 Gaboon Adder;
4 Boomslang;
5 Cape Cobra

I would think we should make it a big 6. This would help distinguish it from the mammal big 5 and also we can then include the Puff Adder.

The reptile big 5 I'd say:
1 Croc;
2 Water monitor;
3 Python
4 Leopard tortoise (as it is a member of the small 5)
5 Chameleon (don't know the species that well)

is there a general rule on where snakes would be? Do they like to lay on sand road / roads to warm up?
When if any is the best time to see them?