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Trip report - just back from Kenya today
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by Kenyalover on February 14, 2004
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Several of you were kind enough to respond to my question regarding whether or not I would be helping by getting tongs and catch bags for two places in Kenya that I go on safari. You had asked me to write again upon my return and let you know if I had seen any interesting snakes this time.
As a reminder, the first time I stayed at Satao Camp in Tsavo East National Park in January of 2001 the men found a spitting cobra in my bathroom and had to kill it. The next 2 trips in January 2002 and January 2003 went fine with no snake incidents. In October while sitting on my veranda talking with a Kenya Wildlife ranger a green mamba came up behind my chair and then slithered up onto the macuti roof where again the men had to get it and kill it.
I just got back this afternoon and wanted to report that I had indeed again seen several deadly snakes.
On Monday while driving to Voi we went over a narrow, old cement bridge over a dry river bed. There had been a flash flood there about a month ago and the walls of the bank were terribly eroded. The guide pointed out a large snake lying in the now dry river bed. It was huge. About 15 feet long and about 4 - 5 inches in diameter. It was a black mamba. As soon as it detected the vehicle it immediately slithered up the approximately 30 foot sand bank right toward us. We were in an open Landrover and immediately got out of there. This snake was absolutely huge, came up the sand bank in about six seconds. It had no intention of trying to get away from us by slithering away but was coming right for us. Luckily we got away and left the snake in good condition.
Then Wednesday, my last morning at the camp, I was just thinking I was lucky not to have had a snake incident in camp when my tent steward came to clean the tent while I was sitting on the veranda. I then heard him pounding at something and went to investigate. Another black mamba which had almost gotten him when he went to get his cleaning pail. Luckily there was a large thick stick nearby and he had to dispatch the snake to save himeself.
Some time ago, the previous camp manager's wife had driven to town to shop and was returning to camp. She thought she had run over a snake in the road and backed up to see the damage. She couldn't find the snake and suspected it might be hidden under the vehicle. When she got back to camp the men hosed the undercarriage of the car with hot water but no snake fell out. Upon opening the hood they found the cobra there, still alive.
An elderly woman in camp told me this week that she had once been driving in her vehicle with her window partly open and looked over to see a cobra coming up the side of the car. She immediately rolled up the window completely and took care of the problem. The snake eventually dropped off.
From what I am hearing, African snakes are much more aggressive than those found here in our country. I am no expert and don't intend to be. However, I have made it my responsibility to learn how to identify the most common African snakes just in case. However, the men in camp have stopped calling me Mama Tembo (Mama Elephant) and are now calling me Mama Nyoka (Mama Snake) because on three of my five trips snakes have been involved.
I know you all love snakes and hate to think of their being injured or killed, but when employees or tourists lives are on the line the men there don't have much option other than to kill them.
The big question in my mind is why I have had these three incidences, (I seem to attract them) and yet employees tell me they don't see many except in the rainy season. I never keep food in my tent and the only other animal I have seen near the tent is a bat. I guess I'll never know, but I sure wish the snakes would find some other place to go.
Other than the above incidences the trip was wonderful. The elephants had disappeared from the borehole because there were so many waterholes and lush grass everywhere. However, we did see a number of lions and cheetahs with cubs so I hope some of my pictures turn out.
You should all plan a trip to Kenya and enjoy the snakes there. You would absolutely love it.
Jan
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RE: Trip report - just back from Kenya today
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by Crotalus64 on February 17, 2004
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"a green mamba came up behind my chair and then slithered up onto the macuti roof where again the men had to get it and kill it."
"Another black mamba which had almost gotten him when he went to get his cleaning pail. Luckily there was a large thick stick nearby and he had to dispatch the snake to save himeself."
I'm sorry to hear this.
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