If you love picnics, hikes and other outdoor activities, you might want to pay attention. While most common snakes found in the Cape are harmless, there are a few that could do serious harm if they bite you.

Here’s a quick look at the three most common snakes to look out for in Cape Town:

1. Puff Adder

snakes

Although the Puff Adder’s venom is super toxic, death only occurs in about 10% of all untreated cases. That’s not to say its bite isn’t deathly. About 100 mg can kill a healthy human adult male after approximately 25 hours. Puff Adders measure around one metre in length and their colour varies according to region. The best way to identify a Puff Adder is by two dark bands on the head – one on the crown, the other between its eyes. Don’t get too close though. While they may be hefty, they are quick to strike.

2. Cape Cobra

snakes

Also known as the yellow cobra or ‘geelslang’, the Cape Cobra is highly venomous and feeds on other snakes, rodents, lizards, birds and carrion. It is mostly found on rocky hills around the Cape as well as in desert and semi-desert areas. When disturbed, the Cobra raises its forebody off the ground, raises a hood and hisses. Slowly retreat if this occurs as these snakes strike without hesitation when they are on the defensive.

3. Boomslang

snakes

Be wary of this creature, which has large round eyes and exceptional eyesight. Measuring up to 160 cm in length, the boomslang will often move its head from side to side to get a better view of objects. Male boomslangs are light green with blue or black scale edges while females are predominantly brown. The good news? The boomslang is a timid snake and will only attack if they feel threatened.

Source tablemountainbikers.co.za

Photography Gerrie Heyns/Cape Snake Conservation – Cape Town Snake Catchers 24/7pixabay.com, Gerhard Fourie/Cape Snake Conservation – Cape Town Snake Catchers 24/7

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34 Comments
  • Maisie Parker
    Maisie Parker
    December 11, 2016 at 9:41 pm

    I’m sure a boomslang is not as lime green as this picture.

  • Akima Lee
    Akima Lee
    December 11, 2016 at 9:47 pm

    That is not a boomslang!#fail

  • Reynete Engelbrecht
    Reynete Engelbrecht
    December 11, 2016 at 10:07 pm

    Boomslang of nie…. Hoop nie ek ontmoet hom ooit nie…..

  • Navare Leigh Wilson
    Navare Leigh Wilson
    December 11, 2016 at 10:10 pm

    Arno Naude hows this “boomslang”? ridiculous…

  • Steven Steyl
    Steven Steyl
    December 11, 2016 at 10:13 pm

    Photo of a Green mamba.

  • Ian Steven
    Ian Steven
    December 11, 2016 at 10:56 pm

    That pic does not look like one of our ” boomslang”. I don’t think the cobra pic is of a “geelslang” either.

  • Bob Bernstein
    Bob Bernstein
    December 11, 2016 at 10:59 pm

    Just when I thought I found someplace safe. Arthur Gaffley you should have warned me.

  • Mariska Van Nijkerk
    Mariska Van Nijkerk
    December 11, 2016 at 11:02 pm

    Not a boomslang, not a green mamba I think either. Certainly not a cape cobra but a Mozambique spitter more like it. (Which you don’t get around here.) Marcel Witberg what do think??

  • Zania Collin
    Zania Collin
    December 11, 2016 at 11:13 pm

    Oooooooe ê ê. Bye bye

  • Bruce Molzen
    Bruce Molzen
    December 11, 2016 at 11:13 pm

    Yup, boomslang fail!

  • Ted Reimann
    Ted Reimann
    December 11, 2016 at 11:29 pm

    Green snake pie, love it!

  • Cape Town Etc
    Cape Town Etc
    December 11, 2016 at 11:43 pm

    I think you’re right Akima, will look into the image

  • Craig Smithers
    Craig Smithers
    December 12, 2016 at 12:04 am

    There goes hiking in summer haha

  • Jacques Jacobs
    Jacques Jacobs
    December 12, 2016 at 12:10 am

    You take money from advertisers but you can’t spend some on an actual photo of a boomslang? Totally defeated the purpose of your own article there. #fail

  • Jacques Jacobs
    Jacques Jacobs
    December 12, 2016 at 12:12 am

    Oh wait. Just noticed your Cape cobra #fail too. U0001f602

  • Sven Vrdoljak
    Sven Vrdoljak
    December 12, 2016 at 7:03 am

    A poorly written and misinformative article about snakes. The headline photo is certainly not a boomslang, it looks more to me like a constrictor of some type. Possibly an emerald boa or green tree python.

  • Sean O'Toole
    Sean O'Toole
    December 12, 2016 at 7:23 am

    Always think of you Victoria HarperU0001f605

  • Marcel Witberg
    Marcel Witberg
    December 12, 2016 at 7:36 am

    agree . . . pics are totally incorrect. not a boom slang at all.

  • Marcel Witberg
    Marcel Witberg
    December 12, 2016 at 7:36 am

    agree . . . pics are totally incorrect. not a boom slang at all.

  • Arthur Gaffley
    Arthur Gaffley
    December 12, 2016 at 7:46 am

    If I remember correctly I did mention this on tour that more people in Africa are by hippos than by snakes. ☺

  • Rodger Payne
    Rodger Payne
    December 12, 2016 at 7:48 am

    So whats the snake named.

  • Dean Bastick
    Dean Bastick
    December 12, 2016 at 8:20 am

    Marcel Witberg if it’s not a boom slang then what is it. Answer a snake…..

  • Mariska Van Nijkerk
    Mariska Van Nijkerk
    December 12, 2016 at 8:26 am

    Like Sven Vrdoljak said. Green tree Python by the looks of it and you don’t get them here in Africa unless it is someone’s pet.

  • Rodger Payne
    Rodger Payne
    December 12, 2016 at 8:29 am

    Not a bad name bruce for a snake.

  • Liezl Conradie
    Liezl Conradie
    December 12, 2016 at 9:02 am

    Bramley Jemain Lemine lekker tafelberg!!

  • Garth Johnson
    Garth Johnson
    December 12, 2016 at 9:21 am

    That is surely a stock picture chosen by someone who knows zip about snakes. It has to be some exotic constrictor, not one of ours. I know a tiny bit about snakes starting with the premise that I can’t positively identify EVERY snake I see. And, not every snake is a mamba.

  • Brett Wordon
    Brett Wordon
    December 12, 2016 at 10:15 am

    Not a boom slang haha U0001f602

  • Fadiel Davis
    Fadiel Davis
    December 12, 2016 at 11:01 am

    one day sitting in this hot shack smoking weed meditating I suddenly felt an icy breeze over I lap, I looked down saw something green, said wow and thank the lord for the beautiful sie I seem, they really beautiful, have couple of insidents with cape cobras too, that’s life in slangkop, but I never meditate to kill them of chop them up, they part of us so….

  • Cape Town Etc
    Cape Town Etc
    December 12, 2016 at 11:01 am

    Thank you to everyone who has alerted us to the inaccuracies in this post. We apologise for making these errors and have amended the article. Kind Regards, Cape Town Etc.

  • Victoria Harper
    Victoria Harper
    December 12, 2016 at 11:03 am

    I would always be on edge if I went there!

  • Jacques Jacobs
    Jacques Jacobs
    December 12, 2016 at 11:07 am

    Good job. Now your readers will know what to look out for. As an ex western cape snake rescue volunteer I also have to ad that it’s not just the puff adder that varies in colour. They all do. People should just avoid any snake they encounter to be 100% safe. Keep your distance without running away. None of these snakes will chase you if you don’t mess with them.

  • Sven Vrdoljak
    Sven Vrdoljak
    December 12, 2016 at 12:09 pm

    Lazy “journalism”. Looks like the author forgot about their Monday morning deadline, pulled some free stock photos off the internet and cobbled together singe inane copy without consulting anyone who actually knows anything about snakes.

  • Willem Van Zyl
    Willem Van Zyl
    December 12, 2016 at 2:17 pm

    Willem Van Zyl  I see the images have been corrected, thanks guys!

  • Marinda Le Roux
    Marinda Le Roux
    December 12, 2016 at 7:51 pm

    Andre André du Preez

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