Snakes around

Over the last week I have been lucky to see a few snakes. On an afternoon drive we had done our sundowners and on our way back to the lodge when we came across a Black Spitting Cobra. It is the first one I have seen for some time now. Some of the other guides that I work with have had recent sightings of the Black Spitting Cobras going into Sociable Weaver nests.

Sociable Weavers build large, hey-stack like nests. They roost in the nests year round. When breeding, the nests are often radded by Cape Cobras. But this year was the first time we had seen the Black spitting Cobras having a go at them.

I have also seen Namib Sand Snakes around. They are fast, very beautiful snakes.

Today we saw a Horned Adder at the lodge. It was sunning itself on a rock near the lodge. After we had a look, we simply left it there. At this lodge we have really developed a love for wildlife in all (well, almost) it's forms with the general staff.

Snakes are active year round in this area, but seen most frequently just before and just after the coldest months (July, August, September.) This is because in the warmest months they don't need to sun themselves - thereby avoiding the risk of being seen by a predator, and therefore are less often seen by us.

Reptiles in general are common in the desert. There is high numbers of endemics, or near endemics, of reptiles in the Namib. Being 'cold blooded' has the advantage that when conditions are not ideal, they can 'sit it out.' This offers a real advantage in deserts where conditions vary so much.

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