Snakes

So, I am not really too afraid of snakes. I have had one pet snake or another for over 30 years. Of course, my snakes have been captive snakes and they are not venomous. Even when our current snake went missing in the house for 5 weeks I worried more about him getting outside and lost than I ever worried about him showing up in some unsuspecting place in the house, like my bed.

I have a little bit different feeling about snakes here in Africa, especially this week. I am not afraid of snakes here but I am certainly more aware and alert. Maybe it is because the rainy season is starting or maybe it is because I am new here and just hearing more about snakes but they seem to be being seen kind of frequently. Three reports on people seeing Black Mambas last week. All of them seen on the road but all of them as long as the road is wide. I looked up Black Mambas, seems they are the most feared snake in Africa. It is not just their bad bite it is their aggressive behavior. These snakes can lift 2/3rds of their body off the ground. People worry about them jumping into open car windows. Seems a bit of a stretch but on our night game count last week our driver said "just be ready to roll your window up fast if we see a mamba PLEASE". My thought, "we need power windows!" Came back from a different afternoon game count and the driver said "please put your windows up." So I say "yeah, it looks like rain." "No, he says, it is to keep snakes from getting in the truck."

Well, no Black Mambas for me yet. I would like to see one from the safety of the truck. I did find a 6 inch snake in the garden when I was watering. I looked it up and it is just a friendly, little, harmless snake.

Then a few nights ago there is all this commotion after dinner. Someone in the dorm building saw a cobra by her door. All the biologist type folks decide to go looking for it. Of course, not to be left out, I went too, but first I went home and changed out of my flip flops into more sensible Tevas! I figured I could run faster in Tevas.  I also made sure to follow behind someone with a flashlight and boots. My heart was racing and I had the thought that it would be an interesting way to end my time in Africa, but alas no cobra. The very next night however, another spitting cobra was seen in the yard next to the dorm. I have been moving a bit more carefully at night. Looking along the path, checking in front of my door, closing my screen door tightly, using a light when outside.  So far, so good.

We chat at dinner about our various adventures. Top story so far -
While camping in Mozambique, one of the guys did not get his tent zipped up tightly. That night when he crawled into his sleeping bag he felt a snake in the bottom. A big snake. He whispered "please be a python, please be a python." He remained very still as the snake crawled up his leg. He then managed to slowly unzip his bag a bit and the snake, 2 meters long, emerged from the side. He still had his headlamp and he had it on the red, night setting. He clicked it on and there beside him was a cobra (so much for divine intervention). The cobra crawled out of the bag and on to the tent floor. He then reached back, carefully unzipped his tent and tossed the light outside.  The cobra slowly moved outside toward the light, leaving my friend shivering uncontrollably in the corner of his tent. Lesson learned, ALWAYS zip up your tent tightly.

So, it seems Africa has many species of venomous snakes. Some are aggressive and some are docile. There are many types of cobras. I am assured that if you remain calm and do not move the cobras will just slither on their merry way. I am hoping I do not have to check out that theory.