Black Mamba Pictures

[larry4831]

I read an article of a woman bitten by a Black Mamba in KwaZulu Natal last year. She spent a week in intensive care. Anti- venom saved her life.

I wonder if any of the pHs have anti-venom on safari with them?

 

[Brent in Az]

I have seen Safari operator websites that said anti venom was available in camp first aid, but that was bush camps deep in the Tanzania hunting areas.
How many outfitters carry anti venom? I have no idea?

 

[larry4831]

I have seen Safari operator websites that said anti venom was available in camp first aid, but that was bush camps deep in the Tanzania hunting areas.
How many outfitters carry anti venom? I have no idea?

I understand, and even if you get anti-venom it still no guarantee you're going to live as deadly as those snakes are.

 

[Brent in Az]

I have always been fascinated by the deadly snakes, even though they scare the crap out of me.

 

[PARA45]

Even if they have anti venom serum, they might not have enough to save your life, but maybe enough to take out of the area into a hospital. A lot goes into how you survive a venomous snake bite, one your physical being, and the other where you get bitten. Obviously other factors will play, was the bite a quick one, did the snake get stuck (pumping more venom) on you, etc, etc. Like I said earlier, I love snakes, and I also give them their respect. They all serve a purpose in our circle of life, and I understand the fear some of you may have. I have my own phobia, for way less dangerous bugs than a snake.

I'll leave you with this quote from Dr. Haast.

"Attitude, rather than disposition is more definitive of serpent behavior. From the moment they emerge into this world until they complete their life cycle, their attitude is "Don't tread on me. I am well equipped to defend myself, but content to pass through life unnoticed. I mean no harm to anything or anyone that our creator has not provided as my bill of fare; I am self sustaining and I like it that way, please pass me by."
- W.E. Haast"

 

[Brent in Az]

Our March weather here in southern Arizona is getting hot. 94 degrees today. Hasn't been this hot in March since 1907.

The Rattlesnakes are out of hibernation.

 

[Nyati]

@PARA45 , one snake I would love to see in the wild is a puff adder, from a respectful distance, of course. I suppose the reason we don´t see many snakes in Africa is that we mainly hunt in winter when most are hibernating. Those I saw were on unusually hot days.

So, you are ex-USAF, well, if you do come around here someday, we can fix that paella and

 

[lcq]

@PARA45 , one snake I would love to see in the wild is a puff adder, from a respectful distance, of course. I suppose the reason we don´t see many snakes in Africa is that we mainly hunt in winter when most are hibernating. Those I saw were on unusually hot days.

So, you are ex-USAF, well, if you do come around here someday, we can fix that paella and

Winter in Africa is good that way. You are going to be much closer than you want to a Puff Adder before you see it. They don't move and are really well cammoed. My PH said they kill the most people in Africa for those 2 reasons

 

[larry4831]

How about the Gabon Viper, I've heard they're very deadly and have the longest fangs of all snakes.

 

[Nyati]

How about the Gabon Viper, I've heard they're very deadly and have the longest fangs of all snakes.

As far as I know the Gabon Viper is from the same family as the puff adder, only larger, deadlier and more colorful.

 

[Nyati]

Winter in Africa is good that way. You are going to be much closer than you want to a Puff Adder before you see it. They don't move and are really well cammoed. My PH said they kill the most people in Africa for those 2 reasons

Yes you do have to watch your step with these

 

[lcq]

Yes you do have to watch your step with these

I was told you listen for huffing if you hear it stop dead and start looking. Being hard of hearing isn't helping me

 

[Wheels]

I have seen Safari operator websites that said anti venom was available in camp first aid, but that was bush camps deep in the Tanzania hunting areas.
How many outfitters carry anti venom? I have no idea?

I had a conversation with a medical professional at a hospital in Tanzania a couple of years ago. I believe the antivenom cost $6,300. Don't remember if that was per dose or treatment. Can't remember if it was species specific, neurotoxic, hemotoxic or a combo of both. It doesn't have a long shelf life and as I recall had to be refrigerated. It seems pretty expensive for most safari companies. I believe the hospital only kept one in inventory at a time.

The good news is that people spend their life in the African bush and very few ever get bitten. Odds of a foreign hunter getting bitten in a 20 day trip that is usually in the winter is pretty small.

Also the fact that a client will normally walk third or forth in line will limit contact with snakes

 

[lcq]

I had a conversation with a medical professional at a hospital in Tanzania a couple of years ago. I believe the antivenom cost $6,300. Don't remember if that was per dose or treatment. Can't remember if it was species specific, neurotoxic, hemotoxic or a combo of both. It doesn't have a long shelf life and as I recall had to be refrigerated. It seems pretty expensive for most safari companies. I believe the hospital only kept one in inventory at a time.

The good news is that people spend their life in the African bush and very few ever get bitten. Odds of a foreign hunter getting bitten in a 20 day trip that is usually in the winter is pretty small.

Also the fact that a client will normally walk third or forth in line will limit contact with

that is why I always let the PH go first

 

[Brent in Az]

I'm not sure which outfitter it was, but they did mention of having anti venom in camp. Not sure what type? I imagine the anti venom for those deadly snakes is quite expensive and probably hard to come by. Mamba's certainly aren't the only deadly snakes one might encounter on Safari.

 

[Wheels]

I'm not sure which outfitter it was, but they did mention of having anti venom in camp. Not sure what type? I imagine the anti venom for those deadly snakes is quite expensive and probably hard to come by. Mamba's certainly aren't the only deadly snakes one might encounter on Safari.

I'm not disagreeing with you. I'm sure some of the high end outfits may do it.

If your spending 125k on a hunt, you might even require the outfitter to provide it and have it added into the cost to keep the wife happy.

 

[Brent in Az]

I'm not disagreeing with you. I'm sure some of the high end outfits may do it.

If your spending 125k on a hunt, you might even require the outfitter to provide it and have it added into the cost to keep the wife happy.

LOL. Nothing made my wife(ex) happy. I would prefer death by Mamba.

 

[lcq]

LOL. Nothing made my wife(ex) happy. I would prefer death by Mamba.

damn that was funny

 

[rookhawk]

LOL. Nothing made my wife(ex) happy. I would prefer death by Mamba.

Do you miss her?

"Not if I have a scope!"

 

[PARA45]

Nyati, thanks for the offer! I've heard that Spain has some good hunting. Do you hunt there???
Good call, actually, I am still in, 16 Mar was my 34 year anniversary. It's been a long haul with no regrets at all, and in Jan 2018 I'll have to retire, if I don't do it earlier.