Steve-

Although snake venom is largely proteins and it's true that shock can break up proteins in certain circumstances, current best practices in snake bite treatment for humans do not include electric shock.
The recommended treatment details vary somewhat depending on the type of snake and the composition of its venom. The venoms of elapids like cobras and mambas are very different in their effects (neurotoxic) than the venoms of vipers like a puff adder(hemotoxic/tissue destroying). And within a given type of snake there are species differences and even sometimes regional differences in the venom which may have bearing on optimal treatment.

Here is a link to a recent World Health Organization publication on snake bite. It mostly deals with Asia
but the principles are generally applicable.

http://www.searo.who.int/LinkF..._bite_guidelines.pdf

Although my PH had anti-venom he also mentioned that he could not administer it. It would be against the law for him to give anti-venom as he was not a doctor.

quote:

The recommended treatment details vary somewhat depending on the type of snake and the composition of its venom. The venoms of elapids like cobras and mambas are very different in their effects (neurotoxic) than the venoms of vipers like a puff adder(hemotoxic/tissue destroying). And within a given type of snake there are species differences and even sometimes regional differences in the venom which may have bearing on optimal treatment.

quote:

Originally posted by bowmanh:
Steve-

Although snake venom is largely proteins and it's true that shock can break up proteins in certain circumstances, current best practices in snake bite treatment for humans do not include electric shock.
The recommended treatment details vary somewhat depending on the type of snake and the composition of its venom. The venoms of elapids like cobras and mambas are very different in their effects (neurotoxic) than the venoms of vipers like a puff adder(hemotoxic/tissue destroying). And within a given type of snake there are species differences and even sometimes regional differences in the venom which may have bearing on optimal treatment.

Here is a link to a recent World Health Organization publication on snake bite. It mostly deals with Asia
but the principles are generally applicable.

http://www.searo.who.int/LinkF..._bite_guidelines.pdf

Buddy, I can't load the link at the moment but you miss my point.

Common practice out here in Africa, esp when umpteen miles from help is whatever is available.

As I said, I'm no expert and in 31 years of hunting Africa, I've never had to deal with a snakebite but if all I had was a cattle prod, a taser or an HT lead, I'd try it without hesitation...... If the farmers etc find it works on pets & livestock, I wouldn't hesitate to try it to save a human life.

I'd certainly prefer to zap 'em and use the accepted bandages, mouth to mouth and CPR etc than bugger about with injecting anti venom.... even if I had it and knew how to administer it.

I am sure you have heard the old saying: "laughing all the way to bank!"

quote:

I'd certainly prefer to zap 'em and use the accepted bandages, mouth to mouth and CPR etc than bugger about with injecting anti venom.... even if I had it and knew how to administer it.

With this mind-set...the only thing that comes to mind is: "dying all the way to the hospital!"

Although...If Hook were there to use the cattle prod/taser...might be fun to watch.

If you did happen to have the proper antivenom to the exact snake you were bitten by (which would be extremely rare in hunting situation) and did NOT use it...well...to put it lightly...that would be unfortunate.

There is no evidence to support electric shock and a plethora against.

I'm just a layperson but I have read extensively about venomous snakes and the treatment of their bites. The notion of using electric shock was first brought forward as a treatment for bites in which a hemotoxic was known or suspected. It was not considered, to my knowledge, in cases where other types of venom were known or suspected.

I can remember when it was the subject of outdoor magazine articles here in the US and touted as an effective method of first aide for both humans and canines. What usually happened was a series of severe burns to the patient, making legitimate treatment more complicated. The concept has long since been discredited as being without merit. Perhaps there is new research or science on this, but I have not seen it.

Shakari, I love you man, but you may be reading old or unsubstantiated literature. Give this one up, mate.

In 7 safaris to three African countries I have seen three puffys, one cobra, one boomslang, one mamba and one unidentified brownish/gray number about 7 feet long disappearing through the grass.

I think what interests us most about venomous snakes is the deadliness of some of the species. Look at it this way. If a buff gets you, it's probably just going to be an asskicking. You'll probably survive. But if you're bitten good and proper by a mamba and can't keep your heart and lungs going, you are going to die. Period. Likewise with a cobra, where you will need both a ventilator and dialysis.

I read of a case where a ranger in Kruger was bitten by a mamba and his only treatment was 10 days on a ventilator. He survived without any long term issues. Likewise I have read where in the case(s) of cobra bites, victims are now being treated with anti-venom, ventilator and dialysis.

Any trauma/ER docs out there reading this?

quote:

Shakari, I love you man, but you may be reading old or unsubstantiated literature. Give this one up, mate.

The good news is that if Steve zaps you with a cattle prod or uses the jumper cables and it was a Momba then you wont be around to complain.


SSR

quote:

Originally posted by Pegleg:
I'm like Indiana Jones---I hate snakes!

African Rock Python, non-poisonous, however a large aggressive constrictor similar to a Burmese Python in size and pattern. I had a smaller one as a pet. OK when little, attitude when big. Capable of killing a man by constriction. Ambush hunter.

I hate electricity all most as much as snakes and my one legged jumping up and down is even uglier than the ugly dance

I knew it; snakes are everywhere in Africa, and everyone sees them, but no one talks about it unless asked because they do not like them, for good reasons. Just reading the stories makes my heart pound. Like hunting in Georgia where they have very big diamondbacks; you never think about them until you see one; then the rest of the day, you watch where you step very carefully. I cruised timber in West Virginia for Pocahontas Land Company one summer in college. We walked the hills every day, as that is where the timber is. I never thought about snakes until seeing one, which was once a week. I hate them. I still want to hunt Africa (I think)

I don't want to be totally contrary to the argument but there is evidence to support electric shock therapy for snakebite. You are correct in the assumpution that it can be harmful in the case of a neurotoxic bite, (mamba, cobra). In the case of a hemotoxic bite (viper) there are documented cases of success. Missionaries in South America carried stun guns as part of an anti-snake bite kit. Just an interesting observation but it seems South America got mostly hemo snakes and africa got the neuro snakes. I will stay right here where we didn't get any of them !!!

quote:

Originally posted by Pegleg:
Although my PH had anti-venom he also mentioned that he could not administer it. It would be against the law for him to give anti-venom as he was not a doctor.

That's exactly what my PH told me. He said that if I get bit, I will probably die.

Here's a quick one:

One day, while in the bush, a client noticed his PH was carrying a ball point pen in his shirt pocket. The client thought it an odd piece of bush kit and asked the PH what it was for. The PH replied it was part of his venomous snake bite kit. The client, somewhat confused, asked what in the world a ball point pen could be used for in the event of snake bite. "So the client can sign his travelers' checks", the PH responded.

Easily identifiable snakes like this rock python don't bother me. They are actually kinda neat to look at.




Its the ones you can't see in the grass or rocks that get my heart racing! Stepping on one during my leopard chase almost caused a heart attack, even if it was non-poisonous!

This 9-10 foot black mamba was sunning on a termite mound in the sun. Just another reason I feel no need to climb up on them. We ran down and dispatched a hartebeest which had been bitten by one once.



In three trips totalling 45 days, I have only seen 6 snakes.

Guys,

If you re-read my posts, you'll see that I said I'm no expert and that there is evidence to suggest it works and that certainly it's fairly common practice for people to use it successfully on pets and livestock..... No where did I say it definitely works or always works.

However, putting that aside for a minute, if you do a search here on AR, I think you'll find the subject has come up before and some of the SA based members agreed and if my memory serves me right, also provided on line proof of some kind.... but I am going from memory on that.

Putting that aside, you might like to look at these:

Based on a report in the Lancet


Dr Kryger 1988

snake bite help

more

In fairness, I should say there also appears to be some people who are arguing against it as well.

My point is that I'd be prepared to give it a try if I'd run out of options and certainly I'd prefer to use that rather than anti venom that can have so many problems such as how much, where, when, is it the right anti venom etc etc....... To me, anti venom should only be administered by a doctor or possibly an expert in the field...... but certainly not by me.

quote:

Originally posted by bentframe:
I don't want to be totally contrary to the argument but there is evidence to support electric shock therapy for snakebite. You are correct in the assumpution that it can be harmful in the case of a neurotoxic bite, (mamba, cobra). In the case of a hemotoxic bite (viper) there are documented cases of success. Missionaries in South America carried stun guns as part of an anti-snake bite kit. Just an interesting observation but it seems South America got mostly hemo snakes and africa got the neuro snakes. I will stay right here where we didn't get any of them !!!

that's strange. when i got rattlesnake bit 2 years ago, they just gave me 18 vials of the antivenin( at $3000/vial). hell i could have saved a lot of money with some jumper cables-NOT!!!!!!!!! while laying in an ICU bed for 2 days (and a regular room for 2 more- plus a 10 days at home in bed)waiting to see if i was going to lose my leg, i did a bit of research. FORGET THE JUMPER CABLES.

Dispatched a spitting cobra in Namibia which was the only snake seen during 10 days there in early September. Moz, near the coast, in late Sep/early Oct was a different story. Two puff adders, two cobras and a beautiful green tree mamba. I was trying to get a pic of the mamba before it crawled up a massive fig tree. Our PH advised, in no uncertain terms, not to trifle with the "pretty little green snake".

quote:

In the case of a hemotoxic bite (viper) there are documented cases of success. Missionaries in South America carried stun guns as part of an anti-snake bite kit.

quote:

If you re-read my posts, you'll see that I said I'm no expert and that there is evidence to suggest it works and that certainly it's fairly common practice for people to use it successfully on pets and livestock..... No where did I say it definitely works or always works.

However, putting that aside for a minute, if you do a search here on AR, I think you'll find the subject has come up before and some of the SA based members agreed and if my memory serves me right, also provided on line proof of some kind.... but I am going from memory on that.

Putting that aside, you might like to look at these:

This is the last time I am going to say it:

There is NO "credible" evidence to support electric shock.

In regards to the Lancet article...it has since been disproven...emphatically.

Many if not most animals live over hematoxic bites without treatment and...there are many bites without envenomization (sp?).

If antivenom is available...use it...it is the only specific treatment available...all others are symptomatic...albeit...very necessary.

If Steve want somebody to shock him...all I say is...take pictures!!!

Sorry my friend...evidence trumps the farmers opinion here!

Lane,

I take your point and as I said, I'm no expert and nor do I pretend to be..... but frankly, I'd bet that there's not 1 PH in 100 (and I'd fall into that 99) that could identify the right anti venom and administer it in the the correct dosage in the right place etc.

Administer the wrong anti venom or the wrong dosage or in the wrong place and I'm 99% sure the patient would be in considerably more trouble than without it. (I'm sure you could advise better than I on that though). As an example of that..... (I happen to know the answer to this one but would bet many do not) Should a smaller bodied person receive more or less anti venom because of their lower body mass?

My own options would be to do what I was taught to do which is the standard CPR etc and call for urgent help but if shock was my only option, I still reckon I'd consider it as a possibility.

I'll also add that in all my years of kicking around Africa, I don't recall ever seeing anti venom in a hunting camp because it's so sensitive to heat and/or age damage etc.

BTW, (FWIW) that opinion doesn't just come from farmers, it comes from vets and a (now deceased) zoologist.

Me: What happends if I get bitten by a mamba ? Do you have any antivenom ?

PH: NO, if you get bitten you should look for the biggest three and sit in the shade under it.

ME: Aha, is it better to be in the shade/cold beacause of the poison ?

PH: No not really you just dont start to rot as fast.

Here in the states there is a new device called a "Therapik Laser" It is used to treat inscet bites,, wasps, scorpions,mosquitos as well as jelly fish etc., as far as I know there have been no trials on reptile bites and they make no claims as such. It basically is a battery operated portable, small laser light which placed over the bite generates heat in the tissue and breaks down the protein toxin. You hold it in place until it gets "to Hot" to leave on. I don't have the specifics on wave length, etc. but they are under a hundred bucks and I have seen it used effectively on a bee sting. I am buying one for my wife, she does not do well with bites and we keep an epi pen for emergencies.

Technology will provide us better methods to treat bites,, just not sure about battery cables being high tech enough.

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
Lane,

I take your point and as I said, I'm no expert and nor do I pretend to be..... but frankly, I'd bet that there's not 1 PH in 100 (and I'd fall into that 99) that could identify the right anti venom and administer it in the the correct dosage in the right place etc.

Administer the wrong anti venom or the wrong dosage or in the wrong place and I'm 99% sure the patient would be in considerably more trouble than without it. (I'm sure you could advise better than I on that though). As an example of that..... (I happen to know the answer to this one but would bet many do not) Should a smaller bodied person receive more or less anti venom because of their lower body mass?

My own options would be to do what I was taught to do which is the standard CPR etc and call for urgent help but if shock was my only option, I still reckon I'd consider it as a possibility.

I'll also add that in all my years of kicking around Africa, I don't recall ever seeing anti venom in a hunting camp because it's so sensitive to heat and/or age damage etc.

BTW, (FWIW) that opinion doesn't just come from farmers, it comes from vets and a (now deceased) zoologist.

Agree with all your thoughts on antivenom...unlikely to be available. But...if it was...and you were very sure of the type of snake...which in my experience...most PH's would know...it is the best treatment.

Stick with CPR.

Electric shock carries the risk of ventricular fibrillation (always fatal...w/out a defibrillator) and more trauma (burn) to tissue that is going to have severe issues anyway (at least with the hematoxic venom).

Any professional that rendered an opinion that shock was the way to go...does NOT keep up with the literature in that area. Nuff said.

i agree with Dr.Easter. As I have been a snake nut my whole life and have been bitten twice I am not an expert but I have talked to the experts, Bill Haast and others and they have convinced me you don't die automatically by Mamba's or any other of the african snakes. The CPR is crucial to keep you breathing and some believe a tight bandage does help that I am not sure of. The puff adder and gaboon scare me more because of pain and tissue damage. Anti venom is heat sensitive and if available and kept properly it will generally say what type it is. I have friends who handle these deadly reptiles and are members of a venom bank and when bitten they usually have it within 2 hours, myth say you will be dead from mamba, cobra, etc but they have been bitten and are still with us. i think the you have alot better chance of being killed by a buff or elephant than a snake while on safari but you do have to pay attention to your surrondings

FIRST AID in SNAKEBITE:
DO NOTS

*
DO NOT INJECT ANTIVENOM.

Unless you are hours away from a physician or medical facility anti-venom should not be injected by the layperson. Anti-venom is refined from horse serum and a percentage of people are highly allergic to it. Anaphylactic shock WILL kill your patient - whereas the patient stands a good chance of surviving the bite without anti-venom. Anti-venom is best left to the professionals in a proper facility where life-support systems are available.

It should normally be unnecessary for the layperson to use anti-venom anywhere within the Peninsula.

*
DO NOT APPLY ELECTRICAL SHOCK TO THE PATIENT

A myth has grown up that application of shock or a stun gun is of assistance. This is a pure myth without any basis in fact whatsoever. You are more likely to kill than cure using this method.


DO NOT CUT INTO THE BITE

All you will probably do is assist the venom to spread more rapidly.

*
DO NOT SUCK ON THE BITE

If you have cuts in your mouth there will be two patients where there was one. If you have a suction device it may be applied or you can attempt sucking through a dental dam - should you have one handy.

*


*
DO NOT GIVE DRUGS OR INTOXICANTS TO THE PATIENT

Unless advised by a medical practitioner. Application of these substances make diagnosis far more difficult once you arrive at the hospital.

*
DO NOT RUB TOPICAL SUBSTANCES INTO THE WOUND

You may clean the wound with a little mild disinfectant and dress it lightly with something like Betadine ointment - but preferably leave it alone.

*
DO NOT APPLY A TOURNIQUET

You are likely to do far more damage with the tourniquet than without.

*
DO NOT APPLY ICE OR HEAT TO THE WOUND

Neither is of any use - but both may harm.

I don't know who wrote the DO NOT's posted by Dave, but I agree almost 100%. The top of the list should be: 1. Do not panic! Do not let your mind and sound reasoning be overcome by panic. Sure, any snakebit is best always regarded as very serious, at least until the type of snake is accurately identified.

I will attempt to describe the general DO list as if the bite occurred during a hunting safari situation: Quite a few peaple around: The PH, trackers, skinners and maybe some more, a vehicle but far from any immediate medical help.

Top of the TO DO LIST: 1. If possible phone 911 or similar emergency number or notify base camp by radio. This is to stop all other activities and warn of a potential serious emergency. second from top of my list of DO's: 2. Reassure the patient that you are very knowledgeable about snakebite and that he/she has nothing to worry about. Keep patient clam - mostly by you adhering to the top of the list of do nots! Keep yourself and the patient calm. Maybe No. 1 and 2 can be changed around. But do not spent hours trying to phone and let the patient die in the meantime!

By the time you have done this the patient's reaction will tell you if the bit was from an adder. He will be in very severe pain, not in pain like a hornets' sting, but really excruciating real serious pain. Besides the pain and the bite area will already be severely swollen. From these two symptoms alone one can make a pretty accurate diagnosis that it was some adder that bit the patient. Know the prognosis for the worst adder that occurs in the area - often but not always puff adder. You now have a very serious situation and the patient will suffer severe tissue damage and should be kept as calm as possible aand moved - but not involving any walking or so by the patient - to medical care. Whatever you do, make sure that a road accident does not compound the problem. Rather drive carefully and arrive at hospital safely with an 'almost dead' patient, than drive like a maniac and soon sit with an overturned Land Cruiser far from any help!

If the bite is merely sore and not severely swollen after a few minutes - needed to calm the patient and the crew it could be a mamba-type at worst. Reassure the patient that it is most possibly just a harmless snake, but for safety the patient should be kept calm and watched very well, while help is summoned and the crew informed of what may be expected from them. Sure stop hunting and with safe speed proceed to get help, but keep patient in the sade and resting. Watch patient all the time for signs of shortness of breath, rolling eyes, slow or irregular heartbeat or any sign that you, even as a layperson, would interpret as signs of a nerotoxin taking effect. Keep on reassuring patient and keep him/her resting. In the meantime you carefully plan and assess the situation. How far from the nearest village, help, telephone, civilization. Ask rest of crew and do not listen to any old wives tales about folk-remedies.

If any sign of nerotoxic action is noted, dispatch more people to get help and plan what the next step is to be. Remember to communicate so that everyone knows what is going on, but keep patient calm and resting. Naturally the best place for such a patient to now be is on the back of the hunting vehicle that is driving at a safe and comfortable speed to get help. But do not leave any abe body behind, you may need all the help you can get soon.

Assume that the worst has happened and the bite was indeed by a mamba, like a black mamba. Then withing a short while you will see obvious signs that the pateint is being affected by a neurotixin. Assume it was a black mamba and treat situation as absolutely sure death of the patient if you screw up in any way! Plan for a long time of CPR administration and set up relief teams. Once you are sure the bite is from a mamba - then getting the patient to medical care begiuns to override the requirement to keep the patient resting. Move now! But move with caution: If you get the vehicle overturned the patient will almost for sure die! Either from the accident, or the fact that the CPR team is hurt or dead! Continue CPR even if patient looks dead, and "is" in fact dead, well sort of, as you will eventually feel no pulse and detect no breathing. The patient's brain and almost all of his internal organs are still functioning quite normally! Just the nervous system was poisoned. And the effect of that can be quite well overcome by continued CPR.

Continue moving the patient to medical care. Once you get to a hospital your patient care has reached the really critical stage: If you just hand over the patient to a hospital nurse that is more interested in filling out the admission forms and waiting for the doctor to arrive, your still very much alive patient will die! All your effort wasted by a young inexperienced nurse - just bacause he/she wears a uniform. Insist that CPR be continued until either rigor mortis is evident, or yoru are satisfied that the patient is in much better medical care than what you can give. Remember, if you can keep on with CPR the patient will not die!

The two easy to diagnose snakebite types are the adders - pain and lots of it, and mambas - visible neurotoxic effects. Then the boomslang and other heamotoxic snakes should be separated from the multitude of harmless snakes. With boomslang there is no need to rush the patient to hospital - you probably hae a few days to do that. But if you don't treat boomslang bite properly the patient will sure as hell die! But it will take a few days, not minutes like a mamba bite can cause.

quote:

I don't know who wrote the DO NOT's posted by Dave, but I agree almost 100%.

Venomous Snakes of the Cape Peninsula

As an aside, the only reason I killed that cape cobra was my PH was shouting in my ear to do so. Incessantly.

Here are some fairly current snake stories from South African news reports:

Woman drives around with snake for 2wks

Snakebite victim drives to hospital

Snake spits venom into man's eyes

Boy critical after snake bite

I have seen several snakes in tanzania and botswana and a few in south africa. Had a game scout shoot one I didnt see 4 yards in front of me in tanzania and it was a rather large black mamba. Took several vodkas to get over that. Spitting cobras are nice to see from a distance but the best snake is a dead one and they still stink. Still I go back to africa every chance I get and you should too. Ther is really no place like it.

Thanks for starting this topic. I too am concerned about snakes on safari. I think that staying calm and preventing the bite in the first place is the best course of action. Having never gone to Africa I have nothing to base my observations on. However, having lived in Texas, Arizon and crawled all over Eastern Oregon I have a healthy respect for snakes and poisonious insects. As a psychiatrist and a Prev Med specialist I can not easily explain my own fear of poisonous snakes. I do believe their is a genetic component since my mom didn't set a very good example when I was growing up. Yes, I plan to some day if possible travel to Africa and hunt. As far as medical supplies and treatment. I will most likely research where the closest medical treatment is and find out what type of assistance they can provide. Most Medical doctors will tell you that you need both a trained provider and a facility to improve the chances of a sucessful out come. As Prev Med specialist I would take a play it safe attitude and be just as concerned about disease, accidents as I would about snake bites. I think the fear comes from the helpless feeling ones gets thinking about something deadly lurking out there and theres is not much you can do about it. Hence how snipers really can mess with a units morale when they start picking off troops at random. My plan. Do my homework stateside, find an outfit that can handle a medical emergency without leaving me to die! Get the correct gear to minimize my exposure and go have FUN! A drunk driver statistically is more like to kill us on Friday night that a snake is on a safari.

Cheer's

Brad

In 7 days of hunting in Namibia in August we saw 2 dead cobras and 1 black mamba. In 30 years of hunting in the western US I've seen 1 rattler, almost makes me want to spend more time in the western US than Africa, then again, maybe I'll just let people walk in front of me.

Twice now while turkey hunting in March/April in S. Texas have had my hunting companion do a perfect impersonation of M. Jackson's moon walk and leaving me to dispatch said rattle snake. Yes, a good one is a dead one, IMHO!

Dear Dpcd
Not sure what all the fuss is about.
In Australia we have 13 of the top 15 most deadly snakes in the world.
He have some area's we hunt were we see 2-3 snakes a day.

1. If you are a good stalker then you will already be looking at the ground. Just need to look for snakes as well as what will scare of the game.

2. There is a reason that you walk 2nd or 3rd in line. I think your chances are better of no incidents there.

3. You can learn how to crack them. Pick up by tail, swing around head, crack like a stock whip. Provided they are under 5ft the head will come of every time. Just consider where it will land.
I know a good teacher, just drop in on your way to africa. Australia is just next door.

Hope this helps.

Mark

Mark:

You rock! Leave it to an Australian to poke fun at us snake phobic yanks. I was told by my tour guide in Australia (Brisban)that the most deadly snake in your neck of the woods was the one eyed boa constrictor. It hits you once and then in 9mo you blow up like a ballon. I got it immediately it took my wife a few seconds and then she got it. Luckily she's a good sport and realized it was just more Australian humor. Good show and thanks for the advice. I sure miss those Victoria Bitter's....

Cheers

Brad

Brad: Here in the States we refer to it as the deadly trouser snake. It's venom causes the symptoms and outcome outlined in your post!

That for sure is the deadliest! But on the serious side, if cool weather snakes are generally much slower moving and much less agressive. If sunning on a warm day a they can be very fast. I stupidly have handled a couple on safari and I have done it for the last time. If you witness someone bitten by a puff adder for instance it will be an eye opener. The danger while hunting is kind of like our austrailian friends say snakes are around but being bitten usually happens when you mess with them. Those guys down under have some bad snakes and just being careful is the answer.

Speaking of snakes in Aus, I used to watch Steve Irwin play with some very deadly snakes (brown snake, which is supposed to be very bad) and he seemed to enjoy it. Look what finally did him in. (Stingray in case you have been on Mars for the past few years)

During my ten days in Botswana in '09 I only saw one snake. We woke from out siesta in the rover to see a mamba curled up on a branch just several feet over our head. Moved rather fast.

The tracker made a couple of quick moves away from bushes on occasion as he saw snake sign heading into a nearby growth.

I was third in line so didn't worry too much.

I have seen my share of snakes in Zim and Nam. This last year one of my partners killed a 10ft black mamba. I do not like snakes, however my PH is a snake lover and catches them. He wasn't with the folks who killed the mamba.

Last March in Nam, I was sitting in a chair in the courtyard of the ranch we were at and was reading/dozing mid day. I felt something lightly brush on my left elbow. As I looked to my left, I was met by the head of a boomslang 4 inches from my nose. Of course, I reached over and ripped its head off....I can't fool you all. I screamed like a little girl and bolted from that chair like a sheep running from a...You get the picture. The PH came running as did my compadres and captured the 5ft boomslang.

A bit of a fright and as my buddy's laughed at me, it just figured, because, I hate snakes.
Cheers, PG

We were attacked by a black mamba.Will add story later.

Mike