MAMBA!!!

The most venomous snake in Africa and among the 10 most deadly reptiles on Earth.

There are 2 types : The green mamba, lives in trees, feeds on birds, luckily docile because fatally venomous. The black mamba. A creature you don't want to meet. What adds to its venom, is its attitude. It is aggressive and therefore not scared. It likes the ground. It's preferred habitat being termite mounds, hollow tree trunks granite hillock, the moist savannah and lowland forests. They do the coastal areas.

The black mamba is named for the colour of the inside of its mouth, which is black. This can be seen when threatened. They are not likely to go into human dwellings, although a number has been spotted in property development areas. This is seen as a temporary phenomenon as they recede as development is completed. It's not social or territorial. Interestingly, it doesn't defend its young. These 50ish cm snakes are on their own when hatched. Sounds like a selfish reptile on its own mission. An average length is 2.5 m.The longest mamba found measured 4.4 m. There is no visible difference between the male or female. Doesn't matter if one bites you.

The biggest danger for man is when he tries to catch or kill it. It will fight to defend itself.
The venom is highly toxic. Two drops of venom can kill a person and it holds up to 20 drops in its fangs. The venom contains neuro and cardio toxins. It first attacks the nervous system and then the heart. If you do get bitten when on your own, you will be in trouble.

The initial symptoms of a bite includes slight swelling, pain or burning, loss of speech control, blurred vision, paralysis of all muscle groups and mental confusion. The bite is life threatening if these symptoms appear within an hour of the bite. It's critical to receive medical care as soon as possible. The sooner it's treated, the better chance of survival. An antidote is available, but some have an allergic reaction to it. November to April is snake season in South Africa, especially after the summer rains. If you go camping or hiking anti snake bite kits are available.

https://www.pestwiki.com/snake-bite-kits/

I must admit that I have a snake phobia. I think it's the result of a very scary incident my dad had with a black mamba before I was even born, but this story was often told: My family lived in a suburb of Durban, KwaZulu Natal. On this particular morning, he was trimming the hedge, standing on a ladder. Suddenly he heard a rushing sound and came face to face with a black mamba. The snake struck out at him at lightening speed, but luckily he was already reacting by falling backwards, ladder and all. He had painful areas on his body where he fell, but rather that than a mamba bite!!

It is Africa's most feared and respected snake. It inevitably evokes fear or awe, often by merely mentioning it. It is known as super fast, intelligent and shrewd. Having such danger around, often many myths are prevelent. Magical abilities have been attributed to it. This has added to the mystery of the black mamba.

The fiction abounds, yet they are taken in many ways from facts about this graceful, alert, unpredictable, but deadly poisonous snake. If these myths were just that it could provide some comedy. The natives say that the mamba has superior intelligence, enabling it to plan an attack on humans, by ambushing a car. It waits in the road, then coils itself around the wheel to bite the driver as he reaches his destination. Funny one!! Popular accounts are that the snake can balance Itself on the tip of its tail, this however is a false perception. Locals believe that a whirlwind is caused by the speed and power of the mamba as it moves on its path of revenge! What an infamous creature. Whatever is true or myth, may I never encounter a mamba.

Sources : Wikipedia, Kruger Park Times, Attribution : Donald Stryd om, Websters encyclopedia, Pixabay.