Well one of the few things even trackers and drivers fear!! They will get out of the landi tracking a leopard or lion with no gun, but dont talk to them about snakes. And Pippa please dont kill me for this story (haha). Where to start? I will start at Sabi Sabi. This is a story Odie told me of something she experienced first hand (if details arent 100% accurate the basic story is). Odie was on her way to move the Sabi Mobile camera to a new location, for some reason she had stopped, not unusal as on any given jaunt U will see something of interest. This particular stop had a very scarey and unexpected turn though. Beside the landi, right beside Odie (there are no doors on drivers side of the landrovers at Sabi), was a black mamba!! There is no more poisonous snake then it, in that area of South Africa. One strike usually packs about 100ml or more of venom enoough to kill U in 20 minutes or less. Odie was more then 20 minutes from camp. The mamba "stood up" (they can support 2/3 of their body on 1/3 of it) beside her open vehicle, standing as tall as her. Shocked and appropriately scared Odie hit the gas to pass the monster snake. As she did it struck... just behind where her door would have been..less then a foot from her. It was that close. Fortunetaly for all of us and especially Odie it was a very near miss,though very shaken she lived to tell the tale. That wasnt the only story nor encounter with snakes!! Over at Djuma, virtual game drive videographers Andre and Anne Marie were out, and saw a black mamba that was as long as the road was wide!! The head was on one side of the road and the tail was still somewhere in the bush. The Djuma roads while bumpy arent narrow so that snake had to be at least 9ft or 3 meters long!! Uh oh now the one Pippa may get me for telling. When U arrive at Djuma Bush Lodge,after a friendly greeting and offer of a drink, a staff member gives U a short speech about some of the dangers. The camp is part of 3 Spot the leopards terriotory, and is not fenced, so animals can come in. We are also warned that there are snakes around. Well shortly after one guest Shelton, went to his room, he came back. Nicci a staff member greeted the rather wide eyed guest saying "You look alert and awake!" to which Shelton calmly responded "There is a very large snake in my bathroom!". Well that sets the Djuma staff in action. Chris goes to look see what kind of snake it is, while I run for my camera(long since malfunctioning so sorry no pics). He runs out as fast as he went in the room, to find Lisa the Bush Lodge manager and resident(or at very least designated) snake catcher. They have an instrument to catch them with, resembling something you would clip a tall bush with. She goes inside, us all waiting outside cameras at the ready. She emerges with a 6ft or 2meter boomslang on the end of it. She holds it away from herself as all snap picutres, and a positive ID is made. Finally without incident, Lisa takes the snake away from the area and releases it. The good news is that if bitten by a boomslang generally U would have 1-3 days to live plenty of time for an emergency flight to hospital!! Fortunetaly none was needed, but henceforth I know almost everyone was checking their showers !! Frank's Place Main
