Kenya is home to 126 snake species, showcasing a remarkable diversity within its ecosystems. While encountering a snake may be rare for the average person, understanding the common and deadliest species is crucial for both residents and visitors. This article provides a detailed overview of snake identification in Kenya, focusing on the most frequently encountered and dangerous snakes.
Scientists classify life using a system that has been under construction for several hundred years. For organisms like snakes that are well-known and well-studied, this classification system does not change very often. But now it has. An international team of scientists has discovered what they think is a new family of snakes.
During the research process, the team examined the snake’s structure using micro-CT technology (high-resolution magnetic imaging), focusing primarily on the skull. According to researchers, Micrelaps snakes separated from the rest of the snake evolutionary tree roughly 50 million years ago.
Here, we’ll introduce the “Big Five” deadliest snakes of Africa found in Kenya, and also list the MOST COMMON snakes you can expect to see.
Kenya has several places to see the big five snakes, including the Nairobi Snake Park at the National Museum. The Watamu Snake Park in Watamu has one of East Africa’s largest and most diverse collections of venomous snakes.
Read also: Venomous Snakes: A South African Guide
If you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of some amazing snakes in their natural habitat, then you might want to consider visiting Tsavo East National Park, Amboseli National Park, or Lake Nakuru National Park. These incredible parks are home to diverse reptiles thanks to their richly unique ecosystems.
The venomous snakes of Africa - SAVANNAS, Boomslang, Rinkhals, spitting cobras, Black mamba
Common Snakes in Kenya
You’ll see that the snakes in Kenya are very different from each other. They range from venomous species to snakes that use constriction to immobilize their prey.
1. Puff Adder (Bitis arietans)
This ill-tempered native snake roams savannas, grasslands, and - to the great misfortune of inhabitants - densely populated areas. Its distinctive chevron pattern in yellow, white, and brown colors allows the Puff Adder to blend into its surroundings. This camouflage is particularly useful for its lifestyle as an ambush predator. The Puff Adder’s venom contains a cytotoxin that can kill a healthy adult human within a day.
Their potent venom and tendency to loiter around footpaths make this snake one to avoid. The Puff Adder earns a place in our list of Africa’s deadliest snakes because it is responsible for the most human fatalities. Puff Adders have a solid build with a wide girth. They can reach an average length of around one metre.
Colour patterns vary depending on where they live. 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.
Read also: Identifying Moroccan Snakes
Because of this, people tend to step on them and get bitten. Many fatalities occur because bites are improperly treated, leading to infection and gangrene.
2. Boomslang (Dispholidus typus)
Coloration varies greatly, allowing these snakes to camouflage in different terrains. Boomslangs have an egg-shaped head and notably large eyes. This slender snake in Kenya makes its home in low-lying trees. In fact, its common name Boomslang means “tree snake” in Afrikaans and Dutch.
This snake’s venom is highly potent, causing bleeding and death for humans, even in small doses. When confronted, the Boomslang will freeze and then swing its head from side to side before quickly attacking. Fortunately, Boomslangs won’t attack humans except as a last resort. If you are bitten, seek immediate treatment.
The Boomslang is an extraordinarily dangerous tree-dwelling snake found in sub-Saharan Africa. In fact, its name in Afrikaans means ‘tree snake’. Females are brown, and males are light green with black highlights. The Boomslang can reach an average length of 1.5 M (5 F). Human fatalities are rare since this snake is very timid but spectacular.
Its venom, which it delivers through its fangs located at the back of its head, is haemotoxic, which means that it affects the body’s natural blood-clotting mechanism, resulting in the bleeding of the internal organs. Sometimes, it can take as long as 24 hours before the venom symptoms can be felt or seen. However, once it gets to work, a person can bleed to death from every orifice.
Read also: Deadly Snakes: South Africa Guide
3. Spotted Bush Snake
You might encounter the Spotted Bush Snake in Kenya in forested areas or suburban gardens. These beautifully-patterned snakes have keeled, or ridged, belly scales, allowing them to easily climb walls, trees, and bushes. The upper half of the body can be yellow, green, or blue, while the tail-end is brown. You might also find black spots or stripes.
Often misidentified as the more dangerous Green Mamba, Spotted Bush Snakes are non-venomous and harmless to humans. Spotted Bush Snakes are alert, nervous animals and will immediately flee upon sensing danger. They don’t have established territories and are noted to travel far and wide in pursuit of their prey.
4. Black Mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis)
In small woodlands and rocky outcrops of sub-Saharan Kenya lurks what many consider the world’s deadliest snake. The Black Mamba is named after the inky coloring of the inside of its mouth, something you should hope never to see! Adults are 200-450 cm (79-177 in). Its coloring is usually brown, olive green, or yellow.
The fatally potent venom of the Black Mamba targets the nervous system and the heart. Difficulty breathing can occur within 10 minutes. If you get bitten, it’s a race against time, so get medical attention immediately!
In addition to their highly toxic venom, Black Mambas are terrifyingly fast. Contrary to popular belief, these snakes are rather shy and will choose to escape when given a chance. They raise their heads, spread their cobra-like neck hoods, and hiss loudly as a warning to would-be attackers.
The Black Mamba is widely considered one of Africa’s deadliest snakes. It instils fear in East, Central, and Southern Africa, where it is most commonly found. When cornered, it can become very aggressive. On average, adults of this species reach a length of 2.5 M (8 F), making it the largest venomous snake in Africa. It can also reach speeds of up to 20 KMH (12 MPH). 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 Savannah, scrub, tree hollows, and sometimes people’s homes. If a Black Mamba encounters prey, it can strike up to twelve times, each time delivering enough neuro and cardio-toxic venom to kill a dozen men within an hour. Without anti-venom, the mortality rate is 100%.
5. Red-lipped Snake (Herald Snake)
You’ll find Red-lipped Snakes near marshlands, bogs, and lowland forests in Kenya. They also gravitate towards the suburbs, so you might bump into one in your backyard after an evening rain. This snake can grow to 70-100 cm (28-39 in) long. Coloration is usually olive green or gray on the back, sometimes speckled white. Its head is notably black.
The head is broad and triangular, while the tail is short. Most active during the night, these land snakes prey on amphibians such as toads and frogs. Their venom is mild, effective only on their chosen prey, and harmless to humans. Don’t test your luck, though.
Red-lipped snakes have a trigger-happy temper when provoked. Interestingly, the Red-lipped Snake got its other common name, the Herald Snake, from a newspaper story.
6. Southern African Python (Python sebae)
The Central African Rock Python is the largest snake on the African continent and the third-largest globally. It grows to 6.5 M (25 F) long and weighs over 90 KG (200 LBS). The Central African rock python (Python sebae) is a species of large constrictor snake in the family Pythonidae. The species is native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is Africa's largest snake, and one of the eight largest snake species in the world, along with the green anaconda, reticulated python, Burmese python, Southern African rock python, Indian python, yellow anaconda and Australian scrub python. Specimens may approach or exceed 6 m (20 ft).
Also, P. natalensis is typically smaller in size relative to P. sebae.[25] P. natalensis reaches an average length of between 2.8 and 4 m[26] (max.size measured 5.8 m.[27]) and, while P. In P. natalensis, the dark patch in front of and posterior to the eye is paler and narrower than in P.
The snake is found in a variety of habitats, from forests to near deserts, although usually near sources of water. The snake becomes dormant during the dry season. The Central African rock python kills its prey by constriction and often eats animals up to the size of antelope, occasionally even crocodiles.
The Central African Rock Python feeds on gazelle, birds, rodents, lizards, warthogs, baby crocodiles, and anything else it can ambush in that size range. The snake is non-venomous, but that does not make it any less dangerous. It relies on stealth to get close and then latches onto prey with its teeth to coil around the victim’s body to prevent escape.
Attacks on men are rare because humans are outside the normal size range for prey. After a large meal, the snake will take a week or more to digest the contents of its stomach, and at this time, it is very vulnerable to other predators because it becomes very lethargic and less mobile.
It regularly grows longer than four meters (13 feet), and some rare individuals reach a staggering six meters (20 feet) long! This python’s main diet consists of warm-blooded animals like monkeys, large birds, and even young antelopes. If warm-blooded prey isn’t abundant, it will eat fish and even small crocodiles. Although they’re non-venomous, they’re big enough to kill and eat humans on rare occasions! Thankfully, Southern African Pythons are not aggressive and usually don’t bother people.
7. Gaboon Viper
Watch your step because this nocturnal viper has near-perfect camouflage. It’s practically invisible amid fallen leaves on the forest floor and can remain motionless for hours hunting small birds and mammals. Incredibly, they can grow up to 6 cm (2.3 in) long. Interestingly, its fangs aren’t the only unusual thing about this species.
It also has the highest venom yield of any snake worldwide because of its hunting style. The Gaboon Viper’s venom can be fatal in large doses or cause severe necrosis in the bite area. Fortunately, bite incidents are rare.
8. Central African Rock Python (Python sebae)
The Central African rock python (Python sebae) is a species of large constrictor snake in the family Pythonidae. The species is native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is Africa's largest snake, and one of the eight largest snake species in the world, along with the green anaconda, reticulated python, Burmese python, Southern African rock python, Indian python, yellow anaconda and Australian scrub python. Specimens may approach or exceed 6 m (20 ft).
The Central African Rock Python is the longest snake in Kenya! Striped blotches decorate the body, colored olive, brown, or yellow. Central African Rock Pythons may be non-venomous, but don’t let that give you a false sense of security. This species is strong enough to kill a human with its powerful constriction.
Unlike most snakes, Central African Rock Pythons are protective mothers. They fiercely guard their nest after laying eggs, protecting their young from predators and lashing out at unsuspecting passersby.
9. Rhinoceros Viper
You can easily identify this viper by its striking geometric markings in shades of blue, green, yellow, and black. The Rhinoceros Viper is named for its elongated scales on top of its nose, which resemble rhinoceros horns. It prefers forested and marshy areas and is mostly terrestrial.
If patience is your virtue, then you might appreciate this ambush predator. Most of the Rhinoceros Viper’s life is spent lying motionless, waiting for prey to pass by. This snake’s venom is incredibly potent and lethal to humans. The poison attacks cell tissue and blood vessels, leading to internal bleeding.
10. Olive Grass Snake
This snake in Kenya is a common resident of grasslands and swamplands. You might find the Olive Whip Snake prowling near water sources during the day, so keep a keen eye out! It’s mostly olive-brown, but some specimens are black. There are dark-edged scales along the neck and body.
The Olive Grass Snake is not nearly as venomous as the Black Mamba, but it often gets mistaken for one. This is due to its size and tendency to lift its forebody off the ground to an impressive height. Despite its weight, the Olive Grass Snake moves incredibly fast. And while it prefers a speedy retreat when sensing danger, it may choose to lunge and bite. Fortunately, its venom is mild for humans.
11. Brown House Snake
The Brown House Snake is one of the most common snakes in Kenya. Its name hints at its habit of visiting homes, which is where most people see this species. Adults average a length of 60-150 cm (24-59 in). However, this nocturnal snake can also thrive in woodlands, savannas, scrublands, and grasslands.
Brown House Snakes seek small mammals and reptiles as a food source. They put their prey into a stranglehold and swallow them whole without chewing. Luckily, the Brown House Snake is non-venomous and timid.
12. Brown Forest Cobra
Brown Forest Cobras are mostly limited to savanna woodlands in Kenya. They are mostly brownish yellow on the head, darkening to pitch black on the tail. Other notable characteristics are black stripes under the eyes and a band of small black dots near the throat.
This highly alert and intelligent cobra leaves its lair when the sun is out. Thankfully, snakebite incidents are rare because Brown Forest Cobras live far away from human civilization. Even if you encounter them, their first instinct is to flee.
13. Black-necked Spitting Cobra
Look for these snakes in Kenya near streams and rivers in savannas. A. B. C. Black-necked Spitting Cobras are highly adaptable and can be active day or night. When confronting possible threats, Black-necked Spitting Cobras rise from the ground and spread their impressive neck hoods.
Then, true to their name, they will spit venom to blind their aggressors. Black-necked Spitting Cobra bites can cause symptoms such as swelling, blistering, extreme pain, and loss of limb function.
14. Common Slug-Eater
Common Slug-Eaters are non-venomous snakes endemic to the damp grasslands of Southern Kenya. True to their name, they feed on a specialized diet of snails and slugs. Adults grow to only about 40 cm (16 in). Typically, they have black-striped green or brown backs, white and yellow bellies, and gray sides.
This snake is known to hunt its prey down by following slime trails.
Deadliest Snakes of Africa Found in Kenya
According to KWS Warden Boit, “The indiscriminate killing of snakes is not good for the environment”. Malonza said, “These are quite friendly snakes that are mostly harmless to humans, and they should not be persecuted (killed)”.
Here is a summary of the deadliest snakes of Africa found in Kenya:
| Snake Species | Venom Type | Habitat | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) | Neurotoxic and Cardiotoxic | Savannah, scrub, tree hollows | Fast, aggressive when cornered, brown/olive skin, inky black mouth |
| Puff Adder (Bitis arietans) | Cytotoxic | Throughout Africa (except dense rainforests and deserts) | Solid build, wide girth, relies on camouflage |
| Boomslang (Dispholidus typus) | Haemotoxic | Sub-Saharan Africa, tree-dwelling | Timid, green (males) or brown (females), affects blood-clotting |
| Cobra (Various Species) | Neurotoxic | Savannahs, grasslands, near streams and rivers | Spreads neck hood when threatened, some species spit venom |
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