You are always going to encounter snakes in the bush, but especially so during the rainy season when snakes are far more active than the dry season, so when hunting you are less likely to encounter them in general, but you may see the odd cobra or mamba basking in the morning near a termite hill or other retreat. In terms of getting bitten, it is really very rare, most bites occur from trying to kill or capture a snake and 99% of snakes will retreat first before attacking, so there is really nothing to worry about, but one should always look where one treads in the bush with puff-adders as they are the exception to the rule when it comes to getting out of the way. Obviously snakes do also find their way indoors from time to time, and then things can get quite exciting, but even then, they will almost always try to hide somewhere rather than try attack unless they have no-where to go or hide.

As most everyone here says, if you go in the cool(june, july, and august)time of year snakes are rare. Having hunted in Africa 9 times, five countries, most of the snakes I've encountered were on one trip to the Selous in October. It was very hot, even at night, and we saw 2 mambas, one large puff adder, and a 10 ft rock python. Stay Cool!

Just curious if anyone wears snake proof boots or chaps in Africa. My closest encounters with snakes were puff adders on paths and I have been told they are usually foot level strikers. I wonder how many puff adders have been stepped over and no one realized it??? We stopped for a beer one day at lunch time and came out to find one right under the rear of the truck. I don't have any idea where it came from since we were parked in an area that didn't have a blade of grass in sight. I saw more bad snakes in one trip to the lowveldt than 4 or 5 trips in northern Zim.

I know there are a lot of snake lovers and had one PH that went out of his way to see that they weren't hurt. However, that said, to me KILL 'EM, KILL 'EM ALL!!!!!! The only good one is a dead one and he hasn't much value to me.

My second day hunting in Namibia I saw a Cape cobra at about 10 feet.

We stayed at a game ranch about an hour from Windhoek where I was hunting warthog and Steenbok and the resident PH (Roy) told us why he always wore knee high leather boots (even with shorts). It seems that out in the field one day he was bitten by a puff adder in the calf but miraculously the life flight helicopter was flying a training mission at that exact moment near his farm and they got it diverted to pick him up and take him to the hospital for the anti-venom and treatment. He lost a lot of the muscle in his calf but he lived. Not many people can claim to survive a puff adder bite.

I will offer some serious info now.

Keep your eyes on the ground when walking past:
Logs lying on the ground.
Leaves that have fallen from trees and piled up.
Very thick grass with a well worn track through it. Some snakes love to sit in the grass in the strike position.
Be extra carful if there is a log of ground food around. Mice, grass hoppers etc.
When it is cool they want to warn up in the sun.
When it is hot they will be in the shade in the Area when it goes from light to dark at the point when your eyes need to adjust.

If you have no idea what type of snake it is get about 3 meters back and get the wind at you back.
Most snakes will be trying to work out what you are. With there tough they will be testing the air.
Once they get human scent they will move off.
Or
If they rear up then step back keeping eye contact.
If they don't you better not be the slowest runner in the group as a snake is a lot harder to hit than any other big game you expected to charge.

If you are really concerned then get some bite proof gaiters.

Find out where the nearest anti venom is.
Learn you snake types for the area.
But remember 1 in 10,000 the anti venom dose not work.
If bitten you need to keep you self calm. The more blood that is pumped around your body the faster you will die.

In my mind you have as bigger issues getting robed out side the air port in Africa.

Just express caution just as if you stepped into the snow in Alaska. Every new environment has it own element of danger.
But that is part of the fun.

Regards
Mark

While I have killed a few posionious snakes in Zimbabwe, I have also killed a BUNCH in Texas...

Truely snakes are not even a worry for me when in Africa. And I have stepped on 2 cobras when chasing cape buff...

Well it is not like they were Rattlers, Copperheads or really mean like a Water Moccosin

Mambas, Boomslang and Puff-adders are a worry for me, particularly during early season hunts.

quote:

Originally posted by cameronaussie:
I will offer some serious info now.

Keep your eyes on the ground when walking past:
Logs lying on the ground.
Leaves that have fallen from trees and piled up.
Very thick grass with a well worn track through it. Some snakes love to sit in the grass in the strike position.
Be extra carful if there is a log of ground food around. Mice, grass hoppers etc.
When it is cool they want to warn up in the sun.
When it is hot they will be in the shade in the Area when it goes from light to dark at the point when your eyes need to adjust.



Regards
Mark

Pretty much sums up ten minutes of a tracking hunt unfortunately.