Lions … tick, Leopard … tick … cheetahs … tick, tick.
It’s the same old, same old out here in the Kgalagadi, well at least it was until this lovely Cape Cobra slithered out of a hole and crossed the road in front of us. Actually I tell a lie; it was actually in front of two French tourists and quite frankly its lucky to be alive.
The one young woman driving the small rental car, looked at me amazed through her window. I thought all snakes were green … I thought this was a leaf and I almost drove over it. The snake’s eyes remained fixed on the car its head swaying from side to side, hood erect.
Luckily we had a ranger with us and we were allowed to get out to take a closer look, much to the tourists concern. “But it will attack they murmured under their breath.” I was close. Lying on my tummy getting a really tight angle on the snake for a picture listening to this. And there is no way that snake was going to attack – well at least that was what I had convinced myself. All the snake info I have says blatant attacks are practically non-existent. Self defence – yes. Attack never. But then again there’s nothing quite like two frenchies murmuring “it will attack … he will be dead …” to make you think twice.
And so I backed off and the snake retreated down a hole nearby. Not quite the dramatic parting the French had hoped for, but still a memorable sighting in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park all the same.
