Kenya has 126 snake species yet most people will probably never see a single one of these elusive reptiles in their entire life! We shall profile five of Africa’s deadliest snakes found in Kenya – the so-called Big Five snakes.

Black Mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis)

Regarded as one of Africa’s deadliest snakes and feared in East, Central and Southern Africa, the Black Mamba is aggressive when cornered and will not hesitate to strike.

The Black Mamba’s reputation as one of Africa’s deadliest snakes is unquestionable. This snake evokes fear in East, Central and Southern Africa where it thrives. Its aggressiveness when cornered is legendary. The Black Mamba can reach speeds of up to 20 KMH (12 MPH). It is the largest venomous snake in Africa with adults reaching an average of  2.5 M (8 F) in length.

Black Mambas are not black at all, but brown/olive-skinned. Their mouths are inky black which they show when threatened. Black Mambas live in Savannah, scrub, tree hollows, and sometimes people’s homes.

If a Black Mamba encounters prey it can strike up to 12 times, each time delivering enough neuro and cardio-toxic venom to kill a dozen men within an hour. Without anti-venom, the mortality rate is 100%.

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Puff Adder (Bitis arietans)

The Puff Adder is considered to be Africa’s deadliest snake because it is responsible for the most human fatalities.

The Puff Adder earns its place in our list of Africa’s deadliest snakes because it is responsible for the most human fatalities. Puff Adders have a solid build with a wide girth. They can reach an average length of around one metre.

Colour patterns vary depending on where they live. Their habitats extend throughout Africa except for dense rainforests and deserts.

The Puff Adder has large fangs and its venom is powerful enough to kill a grown man with a single bite. Puff Adders rely on camouflage for protection and lie still if approached. Because of this, people tend to step on them and get bitten. Many fatalities occur because bites are not treated correctly, leading to infection and gangrene.

Boomslang (Dispholidus typus)

The Boomslang is an extraordinarily dangerous tree-dwelling snake found in sub-Saharan Africa. In fact, its name in Afrikaans means, 'tree snake'.

The Boomslang is an extraordinarily dangerous tree-dwelling snake found in sub-Saharan Africa. In fact, its name in Afrikaans means ‘tree snake’. Females are brown and males are light green with black highlights.

The Boomslang can reach an average length of 1.5 M (5 F). Human fatalities are rare since this snake is very timid but spectacular. Its venom, which it delivers through its fangs located at the back of its head, is haemotoxic, which means that it affects the body’s natural blood-clotting mechanism resulting in the bleeding of the internal organs.

Sometimes it can take as long as 24 hours before the symptoms of the venom can be felt or seen. Once it gets to work, however, a person can bleed to death from every orifice.

African Rock Python (Python sebae)

The African Rock Python is the largest snake found on the African continent and the 3rd largest in the world.

The African Rock Python is the largest snake found on the African continent and the third-largest in the world. It grows up to 6.5 M (25 F) long and can weigh over 90 KG (200 LBS). The African Rock Python feeds on gazelle, birds, rodents, lizards, warthog, baby crocodiles and anything else in that size range that it is able to ambush.

The snake is non-venomous but that does not make it any less dangerous. It relies on stealth to get close and then latches onto prey with its teeth to coil around the victim’s body to prevent escape. Attacks on men are rare because humans are outside the normal size range for prey.

After a large meal, the snake will take a week or more to digest the contents of its stomach and at this time, it is very vulnerable to other predators because it becomes very lethargic and less mobile.

Cobra

Kenya has 4 Cobra species, the Black Necked Spitting Cobra, the Red Spitting Cobra, Egyptian and Forest Cobra. One of Africa’s largest Cobras, the African Black Spitting Cobra (Naja nigricollis) can reach up to 7 feet in length.

Kenya has 4 Cobra species, the Black-Necked Spitting Cobra, the Red Spitting Cobra, the Egyptian and Forest Cobra. For a long time, the African Black Spitting Cobra (Naja nigricollis) was Africa’s largest Cobra. It reached a length of h up to 7 feet in length.

But now the title of the world’s largest spitting cobra currently rests with the Large Brown Spitting Cobra (Naja ashei). Naja ashei, discovered recently in Kenya, measures an amazing 15 feet.

This predator feeds primarily on snakes and rodents. As is the case with all cobras the female lays the eggs. One clutch per year is deposited in rotting vegetation. 75-80 days are the average incubation time for this species.

Monitor lizards, as well as other predators, exert a heavy toll on the eggs in the nest but baby cobras possess powerful venom to protect themselves.

The cobra can kill its first meal at birth which it does not, however, consume for almost a week while it completes absorbing nutrients from the egg.

Where to See Snakes in Kenya

These five snakes are deadly. Africa fears them as much as it respects them. They have earned a place in my Big Five list of Africa’s deadliest snakes. A few places exist where you can catch the big five snakes in Kenya. The Nairobi Snake Park at the Nairobi National Museum is one of them. The East African Reptiles in Watamu (formerly Bio-ken farm) owned by the East African Venom Supplies (EAVS) particularly stand out.

Founded in 1980, EAVS combines reptile research and education to deliver an all-round-snake experience. They milk snake venom to produce antivenom used in the treatment of snake bite victims. In case you spot a snake in your compound and need it removed, EAVS provides removal services within the Watamu area. Hop onto their snake safari and perhaps you may learn a thing or two about dangerous snakes – not to worry though, they also have the not-so-dangerous ones!