Black Mamba Pictures

[hunting4sanity]

This thread was like watching a bad car wreck, I didn't want to see it - but watched the whole thing. Let me guess, late February and early March the snakes are probably out in full force? I hope I don't see any, other people's photos are good enough to quell my curiosity.

 

[DOC-404]

This one kept the boys busy, that's for sure..

 

[bluey]

from a defensive stance, how far foreward could a mamba that long .strike ???

 

[Savage Hunter]

That would be a great hat band and belt.

you could make 2 belts for Jackie Gleeson and Fat Albert with a snake that long.

 

[BRICKBURN]

from a defensive stance, how far foreward could a mamba that long .strike ???

Watching this one climb back into a tree says it all for me. Damn.

 

[observe]

 

[Glferman]

I saw two in Zimbabwe if Feb. 2012 while hunting leopard. One slithered across the road in front of us and then stopped for a look-see right beside us. It was large! Definitely over 12 feet and thicker than the ones pictured here. Gun metal greenish -gray!

 

[Velo Dog]

Mambas remind me of politicians, because they are almost as slippery and dangerous as politicians.

 

[Ozondjahe Hunting Safaris]

Another nice Mamba...

 

[bluey]

there two words that rarely go together , nice and mamba
he is pretty big , are they always real skinny ?

 

[Ozondjahe Hunting Safaris]

he is pretty big , are they always real skinny ?

Yes, lean and really fast...

 

[Bsums]

This is why I check my bed before getting into it each night when I'm in Africa. The last thing I need is to cuddle with a mamba or a spider the size of a small dog.

 

[CAustin]

I trust you folks shoot these things on site

 

[Ruark]

Wow, what a thread. After reading that, I feel like I have a college degree in black mambas...

A question here: given that a mamba bite can kill you in 20 minutes, is it feasible for PHs to carry an anti-venom injection in their first aid kits? I don't see that mentioned anywhere in this thread. It would certainly give me a peace of mind if I were running around in mamba country!

 

[Nyati]

This is why I check my bed before getting into it each night when I'm in Africa. The last thing I need is to cuddle with a mamba or a spider the size of a small dog.

Looking under your bed is also a good idea, and if you have a thatched roof, you should also take a look.

 

[Ozondjahe Hunting Safaris]

A question here: given that a mamba bite can kill you in 20 minutes, is it feasible for PHs to carry an anti-venom injection in their first aid kits? I don't see that mentioned anywhere in this thread. It would certainly give me a peace of mind if I were running around in mamba country!

Not only anti venom needs to be kept refrigerated at all times but it's expensive and also expires so it is not something that outfitters keep in their fridge. It also needs to be administrated by trained professionals... More importantly Mamba bites and snakes bites in general are very rare, usually it's people messing with them who get bit... Anti venoms are very specific to the type of snake that bit you so there is not one that fits all... The more common snake that bite human in Africa is the Puff Adder, a slow moving snake with great camouflage and one of the fastest strike of all. Their bite is very treatable unlike the Black Mamba. Mambas affect your nervous system and Puff Adders cause necrosis.

 

[PlainJane]

Every time I went into my room I did recon with my torch, under the bed, behind the toilet, in my shoes, everywhere. Found a couple of surprises (scorpions and a big ass baboon spider) but thanks to my hyper-vigilance everything turned-out okay, despite a little bit of wee in my drawers.

 

[jeff]

I think what he meant by nice mamba is that it was dead! LOL

 

[enysse]

The more common snake that bite human in Africa is the Puff Adder, a slow moving snake with great camouflage and one of the fastest strike of all. Their bite is very treatable unlike the Black Mamba. Mambas affect your nervous system and Puff Adders cause necrosis.

I did see one in Namibia at close range (like 2 feet), now I will STAY AWAY.

 

[Ozondjahe Hunting Safaris]

Here is a Zebra Cobra aka Zebra Snake that was at my door to greet me when I got home at 11:30 last night… A beautiful snake!

From Wikipedia…
Naja nigricincta is a species of spitting cobra in the genus Naja; it is native to parts of southern Africa. This species had long been considered to be a subspecies of the black-necked spitting cobra (Naja nigricollis), but morphological and genetic differences have led to its recognition as a separate species.

Two subspecies are currently recognized under Naja nigricincta. The nominate subspecies N. n. nigricincta, commonly known as the zebra spitting cobra or western barred spitting cobra (shown below), is given its name because of the dark crossbars that run the length of the snake's body. The subspecies N. n. woodi, commonly known as the black spitting cobra, is solid black and is found only in the desert areas of southern Africa. Both subspecies are smaller than N. nigricollis; with average adult lengths of less than 1.5 metres (4.9 ft).