| 1 | Spotted harlequin snake |
The spotted harlequin snake is one you can’t miss in the African savannah, and that was their goal all along. Rather than blending into dry grass, they want the whole world to notice them – specifically their bright orange, black and white colours, which are a globally recognised signal of extreme venom. This species looks similar to coral snakes of the Americas, but in reality, their venom is a lot milder. It rarely kills, instead causing swelling and minor necrotic lesions. Rather than biting, they prefer to wrestle furiously if picked up.
Spotted harlequin snakes (Homoroselaps lacteus) are very shy and spend their lives lurking under old termite mounds or rock piles. With a length of 40-50cm, they’re effective at staying hidden, before shocking people into fleeing when they are uncovered. Spotted harlequin snakes even appear near buildings under rubble and debris. Reptiles are their primary prey, including legless skinks, other snakes and small lizards.
While always bright and colourful, the precise pattern varies strongly by region. Spotted harlequin snakes can be very common in parts of South Africa, even if they rarely come out into the open.
| 2 | Bibron’s stiletto snake |
Along with the cape cobra, stiletto snakes (Atractaspis bibronii) are responsible for a large chunk of South African snakebites. With oily black scales and virtually no patterns, stiletto snakes don’t look much different to harmless underground snakes. There’s no iconic neck flare to alert people as with a cobra, and this is why they’re so risky.
Unlike a coral snake or honeybee, stiletto snakes don’t need to be harassed constantly to attack. This species is relaxed about biting and will do so if they feel even the slightest concern. All it takes is for an animal larger than them to get within touching distance. A large proportion of South Africans are bitten while carrying this snake away from gardens, mistaking it for harmless species. Stiletto snakes largely live underground and tend to emerge after heavy rains.
If injected, the venom causes intense pain, swelling and possible necrosis. The saving grace is that it arrives in small quantities, like the boomslang. On the other hand, their fangs are unusually long, hence the stiletto name, which references the stiletto daggers wielded by assassins. They also have a spiky tail, and if you’re lucky they’ll choose this weapon instead.
| 3 | Cape sand snake |
The cape sand snake is a twig-like species which could never knock over a zebra with one mighty lunge. Instead, they have the gift of agility, allowing them to slip through your fingers as you try to grab them for a photo op. They’re part of the 33-member Psammophis family, and have the usual pattern layout. Rather than encircling bands, cape sand snakes have parallel brown-black stripes stretching down their entire body. They have a mild venom secreted from their rear fangs, but are no threat to human beings.
The cape sand snake (Psammophis leightoni) has a long tail which only adds to their extreme agility. They prefer coastal areas, specifically the southwest coast, through to southern Namibia. Cape sand snakes like sandy areas, but are usually found near shrubs which they’re eager to take shelter in.
Cape sand snakes average at 50-80cm, yet the ones who’ve had the most success grabbing lizards over their lives can balloon to 100cm. They’re a daytime hunter, and like the black mamba, they can speed forward freakishly with the upper third of their bodies raised off the ground.
| 4 | Eastern tiger snake |
This 75cm species has no relation to the feared tiger snakes of Australia. It’s named for its pattern of black bands on orange scales. Eastern (AKA common) tiger snakes have an extremely weak venom, and live a lazy lifestyle. They’re excellent tree climbers, and often wedge themselves beneath strips of bark and rest there in perpetuity. They have a diverse diet, focussing on lizards but supplementing with small mammals and nestling birds.
Though harmless, eastern tiger snakes (Telescopus semiannulatus) can be intimidating to newbies. They flare their necks wildly, gape open their mouths with an insane expression, and leap forward to deliver a thudding bash.
Eastern tiger snakes are most commonly spotted while crossing roads. The patterns and bulging eyes make them one of the easiest IDs for an amateur, allowing you to wow your friends while on safari, making yourself seem like a renaissance man who’s an expert on all things. Eastern tiger snakes are mostly found in eastern South Africa, as their cousin the Karoo tiger snake takes over to the west.
| 5 | Red-lipped snake |
This 70cm species is simple to identify even before the signature red lip. They have a dark olive body, with sprinkled white dots that contrast sharply. Red-lipped snakes also have an oily black tongue, and extremely black eyes. The red lip contrasts sharply against a black patch just behind their eye.
Red-lipped snakes (Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia) often appear in South Africa’s suburban gardens. They’re attracted to moisture more than most snakes, meaning that their habitats include marshland, moist savannahs, forests and lush grassland. Red-lipped snakes are an amphibian specialist, which has the power to swallow unusually large toads. Rain frogs are a particular favourite.
If you see this snake heading directly towards you, seconds from pouncing range, there’s little to fear. They have a mild venom which barely affects humans, and their fangs aren’t especially vicious. However, they have an intimidating defensive display, where they draw their head back into striking position as though preparing to unleash imminent death.
| 6 | Western natal green snake |
This very green snake sticks to the moister areas of South Africa, particularly ponds smothered by reeds and knee length grass. Their camouflage is supreme and it’s very tricky to see them when they rest motionless in long grass. Western natal green snakes (Philothamnus occidentalis) are strong swimmers but mostly stick to the water’s edge, along streams and ponds, where they like to climb into low branches. Geckos and frogs are their main prey.
Up close, the greenness gets more complex, as almost fluorescent patches appear. There are also black cracks visible between each scale. Western natal green snakes have very large eyes, which are purely black, with a round pupil. They’re quite similar to boomslangs in appearance and are often killed by locals in fear.
The western natal green snake has one of the most time-tested survival routes of the animal kingdom. As long as grass grows, there’ll be an ecological niche for an ultra green snake to appear, and this is South Africa’s version. This species cannot be found slithering down the streets of Cape Town, nor in the driest savannahs. It’s unlikely you’d see a green natal snake from a safari vehicle, otherwise it would probably drive straight into a pond.
| 7 | Cape reed snake |
This species is only found in southern Africa, including South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. They’re the sole member of the Amplorhinus family, a completely isolated snake which is stuck at the far end of the Afro-Eurasian land mass with no connections to other living snakes. Many-spotted red snakes prefer moist environments, rather than parched giraffe territory. Riverine vegetation and reed beds are their favourite of all, while grasslands and fynbos are also acceptable.
Many-spotted reed snakes have subtle colours, with blackish to almost honey brown scales, interspersed with small white dots. Though not dangerous, a bite from Amplorhinus multimaculatus could still ruin your day with a nasty bout of swelling. Their first move when cornered is to coiled into a tight spring to persuade people to leave. It goes without saying that this almost always works, except maybe for teenagers out for a dare.
Many-spotted reed snakes can be hard to find – they’re common where they’re live, yet are secretive and don’t pop up for photo opportunities on request.
| 8 | Fisk’s house snake |
This small, non-venomous species lives in South Africa’s west, perhaps crossing into extreme southern Namibia. Fisk’s house snake (Lamprophis fiskii) is hardly ever seen by humans – hence why we only have an explorer’s sketch for the image. They were first unearthed in 1887, and in 1982 a pair were found near Springbok, the first discovery in nearly a century, although local villagers had probably seen it and not realised the significance.
Little is known of Fisk’s house snake, but a lizard was found in one’s stomach. A few have been raised in captivity, and they mostly ate geckos. Most sightings nowadays are on lonely dirt roads. Their small size of 25-35cm also means that they stay out of humanity’s roving vision. On the other hand, Fisk’s house snake is one of South Africa’s more colourful, with orange and black colours like a totem pole, with finer matrix patterns on their flanks. In fact, this species looks more like a tiger than the eastern tiger snake.
| 9 | Berg adder |
This is a venomous snake of mountains, climbing to 3000 metres and rarely appearing below 1500 metres. Berg adders (Bitis atropos) like cool areas of South Africa with high precipitation, and are the opposite of cobras in their habits. Instead of manic and energetic, they prefer to wait motionless in the undergrowth with a constant menacing expression.
Berg adders sometimes adjust their position, finding new grass strands to nestle in, but they’re an inactive snake mainly. This is why they’re so dangerous. People can step on berg adders easily, with only wise village elders having the experience to walk through the serpent minefield. On the other hand, they also like basking in the sun, which brings them to more exposed mountain paths and rocky ridges.
Berg adders have a mainly neurotoxic venom. It disrupts nervous system signals and patients may end up on a ventilator as their lungs become incapable of sucking in enough oxygen unassisted. No antivenom is available, but fortunately, there are no confirmed deaths either. Berg adders can be violent and vicious if disturbed, rarely coiling up in fright.
| 10 | Olive snake |
A harmless, lazy species. The olive snake takes no sides in South Africa’s various conflicts, whether it’s park rangers versus poachers or cape cobras versus mongooses. They’re a humble snake which is simply trying to survive, hoping to keep quiet so that blundering predators don’t notice them. Olive snakes (Lycodonomorphus inornatus) are nocturnal, and average at 30-60cm.
While not a water snake, olive snakes prefer areas with higher moisture such as fynbos, grassland and bushland, instead of savannahs. Olive snakes are indeed mostly olive, with few noticeable patterns. They reach a maximum of 1.3 metres and have round black eyes with a small rusty red iris, which is only noticeable close up. Another ID sign is their shiny reflective scales, almost looking like they’re coated in extra virgin olive oil for real.
This snake is popular prey with secretary birds and snake eagles, so their careful ways don’t always succeed. Olive snakes live only in South Africa and the surrounded country of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland). There are also reports from Namibia, but these haven’t been confirmed.