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I think that with the all the bare ground we have at the back after the fires, there are a lot of animals looking for a safe place to live. I hope the puffadders don't get any ideas.

My wife phoned me yesterday to say that one of her colloeagues had a dead snake on the back of the bakkie. She described it to me and it sounded like a rinkhals.

After looking at the pics last night she took of it, it was confirmed. A 1m rinkhals. Was killed because it caused havoc in a chicken den. It is a pity, such a beautifull snake driven out into human habitation because its natural environment is decreasing by the day.

Yesterday lam spotted a cat stalking (we assumed it was birds near our bird feeder) and then ran into a young male boomslang coming in the back door. It's possible he was running away from the cat and that birds weren't on the cats intended menu.

Hi Jumbo, I have spoken to a friend of mine, who grew up with all sorts of snakes in the KZN midlands and later with cape cobras in the Western Cape.

He swears by the common malva plant. But a malva with a strong smell.

Hi Jumbo ...

A little trick to keep snakes out of your garden that my inlaws did ... they spanned a electric wire about 2 cm from the ground around their garden and another about 5 cm (for those who lift their heads) ...

Yes, there was one or 2 that did get through but the majority stayed well clear of that area ...

Just in case you are wondering .. the ones that got through were Black Mamba and Moz Spitting Cobra ...

O, very funny W@H!!!

I returned back from a trip to our “bush house" yesterday. While there, I bathed in Jays Fluid, sprayed chorine under my arms and painted my toe nails with Doom, and touch wood, no snake came close to me. {Also doctored the “snake cage" with chlorine and used a whole bottle of Jays Fluid around the house}
Although, the tail of a rock monitor that was sleeping in the roof of our carport made the electrician do a 100m sprint down the driveway.

Then, when I stopped in Maputo, our neighbour came over to warn us that they found a 1 1/2 meter Mamba in their garden.
Wazup, with these snakes. No seriously, is this a special time of the year for them or what!



WTM, is malva an indigenous plant? I would seriously consider using it, but only if it is indigenous.

So it does seem that snakes are put of from certain smells. I wonder if for instance the smell of the malva deters all types of snakes. Are there any animals that are using smells or chemicals to put off snakes?

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Jumbo, that is very funny.

Snakes love to move around after a good rain session. That is why they are so active right now.

As for whether it is indigenous? I think the best bet is to ask a nursery. I honestly don;t know. I do think so though.

A malva is a geranium, which is indigenous. Those bigger red and pink are hybrids but stil considered indigenous. Ofcourse the ones with the srongest smell are the non hybrids such as rose and lemon geranium. Any nursery will have them, they are also evry waterwise

find it interesting they repel snakes! I do know certain plants definitely deter certain animals.

Hi Jay
Thanks for the info. Think I will give them a try - suppose using them will be much more eco-friendly than the chemicals - and softer on the skin.

How many of you have encountered snakes inside the camps in the various Parks? We only had the Puffy in Satara and a boomslang in Punda Maria.

I remember the photo in the Getaway of the python that caught a bushbuck in Letaba. I also remember a media report a while back of a boy that was bitten by a snake in Nossob. If I remember correctly, the snake got into his bed!

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I was waiting for this one. This definitly will not work.
This is a geniune an old womans tale.....

I have only seen a boomslang at Nkulu, 2 black mambas at Mlondozi in close human habitation in Kruger. Do often get housesnakes in PTA in and around the house.

Hi Jumbo, we talk again.
When I was younger, much younger, I had an absolute phobia about snakes. I used to lie awake believing one was waiting under my bed.
In those days my antidote was cats.
I would not sleep without a cat in my room. I also heard snakes were repelled by tomatoes.
We had many, many tomatoes planted around our house.
Today, I can at least look at snakes. I still have many cats. They have however lost their absolute power as I have realised that I do have some control.

I have seen snakes swimming across the rivers in Kruger and crossing the road, but never in the camps, but ofcourse that doesn't mean they're not there

I once nearly stood on a boomslang at Lower Sabie. Thank goodness the pile of food I was carrying meant that I had to look down.
I have seen: 1 Black Mamba close to Satara
2 Mozambicam spitting Cobras
1 Puff Adder

My dad stood on a sleeping curled up python, huge one, just outside of Kruger many years ago he levitated quite a few feet into the air when it stirred, ofcourse he hotly denies getting a fright