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Africa has some of the most dangerous and venomous snakes in the world. Get your facts and information about the Black Mamba, Boomslang, Puff Adder, Gaboon Viper, Egyptian Cobra, and more of Africa’s deadly snakes. Find out what the different types of snake venom will do to the victim’s body. Remember, fatalities from snake bites are quite rare, and the vast majority of snakes are actually not venomous. Venomous snakes will often avoid humans, and if they bite, they rarely inject their full venom load.
Black Mamba
The Black Mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) is one of Africa’s most dangerous snakes and is feared in East, Central, and Southern Africa. It’s aggressive when cornered and will not hesitate to strike. It can reach speeds of up to 12 mph (20 km/ph). It’s the largest venomous snake in Africa, with adults reaching an average of 8 feet in length (2.5m).
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 the savanna, 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 1 hour. Without anti-venom, the mortality rate is 100%.
Puff Adder
The Puff Adder (Bitis arietans) is considered to be Africa’s deadliest snake because it is responsible for the most human fatalities. Puff Adders reach an average length of around 1 meter, and they’re solidly built with a wide girth. Color patterns vary depending on where they live, and 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
The Boomslang (Dispholidus typus) is an extraordinarily dangerous snake found in sub-Saharan Africa. Human fatalities are rare, since this snake is very timid, but spectacular. Its venom is haemotoxic, which means that it affects the body’s natural blood clotting mechanism, resulting in 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. The Boomslang is a tree-dwelling snake (Boomslang means “tree snake” in Afrikaans). Females are brown, and males are light green with black highlights. The Boomslang reaches an average length of 5 feet. Its fangs are at the back of its head.
Gaboon Viper
The Gaboon Viper (Bitis gabonica) has the longest fangs and the highest venom yield of any venomous snake in the world. Gaboon Vipers can be found in West, Central, and parts of East Africa. They prefer forested areas. Adults reach an average length of around 5 feet. While the Gaboon Viper delivers a huge dose of venom, the venom is not as toxic as some of the other snakes on this list.
A single bite could kill a man, however. Gaboon Vipers are very interesting-looking snakes with huge triangular-shaped heads and pretty black, brown and pink markings. Gaboon Vipers are quite passive and rarely bite unless provoked or stepped on (even then, they don’t always bite).
Egyptian Cobra
The Egyptian Cobra (Naja haje) is a deadly venomous snake most commonly found in Egypt, but also in other parts of North Africa. The Egyptian Cobra has glands located behind its eyes, which produce a deadly neurotoxic venom that’s released through its large fangs. The venom of an Egyptian Cobra is so deadly that it can kill a full-grown Indian Elephant in 3 hours. In humans, its venom causes paralysis and death due to respiratory failure.
The adults average about 2m in length and are usually yellowish to dark brown with brown cross bands. Egyptian Cobras are aggressive snakes that live in dry to moist savanna and semi-desert regions. It is thought that Cleopatra used an Egyptian Cobra to commit suicide.
Saw-Scaled Viper or Carpet Viper
The Saw-Scaled or Carpet Viper (Echis genus) are small, bad-tempered, highly venomous snakes found north of the equator in Africa. Adult vipers reach an average length of just 20-30 inches. Their venom is hemotoxic and very virulent.
This means the venom causes spontaneous internal bleeding, sometimes days after the bite has occurred. The Saw-Scaled viper is named for the sound it makes as its scales rub together, producing a warning sound similar to a “sizzle”. These venomous vipers are active after dark, and that’s when most of their victims are bitten.
Cape Cobra
The Cape Cobra (Naja nivea) has a powerful venom and is one of the deadliest snakes in Southern Africa. Cape Cobras grow to an average of around 4 feet. Cape Cobras are particularly dangerous because they tend to be nervous and aggressive. Without treatment, the mortality rate in humans is 60%, and death normally occurs 2-5 hours after being bitten, usually as a result of respiratory failure due to the onset of paralysis.
The Cape Cobra is a beautiful-looking snake; some are yellow, some copper/mahogany colored, and some are purplish/black. The Cape Cobra loves to hunt for rodents and can climb trees to raid weaver bird colonies. The Cape Cobra is common throughout dry regions in Southern Africa.
Eastern Green Mamba
The Eastern Green Mamba (Dendroaspis angusticeps) is a venomous snake related to the highly dangerous Black Mamba. The Green Mamba is less aggressive and smaller than the Black Mamba, they average around 6 feet. The Green Mamba’s venom is also significantly less toxic, however a single bite could certainly be fatal to a human.
Green mambas are highly arboreal and rarely touch the ground. They are generally found in south-eastern Africa. Like their name, Green Mambas are a lovely grass green color, but yellow when born.
Snake Venom and What it Does to Its Victims
Depending on the species of snake, there are 5 types of venom that have been identified. Each venom acts differently inside the body of the victim:
- Neurotoxic venom – Cobras and Mambas – attacks the central nervous system, and starts to affect movement, breathing, swallowing, speech and sight.
- Haematoxic venom – Boomslang – affects the blood by using up the clotting factors so it no longer coagulates leading to extensive blood loss into the tissues.
- Cytotoxic venom – Puff Adders – attacks the body cells or tissues, this bite is extremely painful, with much swelling and marked symptoms of shock.
- Myotoxic venom – sea snakes – attacks the muscles and can lead to death from kidney and heart failure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which snake is considered the most dangerous in Africa?
The Black Mamba is often considered the most dangerous snake in Africa because of its speed, aggression when threatened, and highly toxic venom. It can grow very long and move surprisingly fast across the ground. Despite its name, the snake is usually gray or olive in color, while the inside of its mouth is black. A Black Mamba bite can be deadly if treatment is not given quickly. These snakes are mostly found in eastern and southern parts of Africa and prefer rocky hills and savannah areas.
Why is the Puff Adder feared across Africa?
The Puff Adder is feared because it causes more snakebite incidents than many other African snakes. It is slow-moving but very well camouflaged, making it easy for people to accidentally step near it. When disturbed, it inflates its body and makes a loud hissing sound before striking quickly. Its venom can cause severe pain, swelling, and tissue damage. Puff Adders are found in many habitats across Africa, including grasslands, forests, and even near villages.
What makes the Boomslang dangerous even though it is shy?
The Boomslang is a shy snake, but its venom is extremely dangerous if a bite happens. This snake spends most of its time in trees and usually avoids humans whenever possible. Its venom affects the blood and can cause serious internal bleeding. Symptoms may appear slowly, which sometimes makes people underestimate the danger at first. The Boomslang has large eyes and excellent vision, helping it hunt birds and small animals in the wild.
Is the Egyptian Cobra one of Africa’s deadliest snakes?
Yes, the Egyptian Cobra is one of the deadliest snakes found on the continent. It is famous for its strong venom, which attacks the nervous system and can lead to breathing problems. This snake is common in North Africa and is often connected to ancient Egyptian history and stories. Egyptian Cobras can become defensive when cornered and may raise the front part of their body as a warning. They usually feed on small mammals, birds, and other reptiles.
Why do people fear the Gaboon Viper?
The Gaboon Viper is feared because it has very long fangs and delivers a huge amount of venom in one bite. It has a beautiful pattern that helps it blend perfectly into fallen leaves on the forest floor. Even though it is usually calm and slow, it can strike with incredible speed when threatened. A bite from this snake can cause serious tissue damage and medical emergencies. Gaboon Vipers are mainly found in rainforests and wet habitats in central and western Africa.
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