Snakes and the city :: Mmegi Online

Slithering unseen in the summer heat of Gaborone are six highly venomous snakes that are associated with human fatalities. Encounters between residents and this top six are becoming more common as the city expands into the reptiles’ territory. Staff Writer, MBONGENI MGUNI reports as the capital’s snake season begins

The names themselves strike terror into the heart of the average listener. Black Mamba (mokwepa), Snouted Cobra, Mozambique Spitting Cobra (collectively kake), Boomslang (logwere), Twig Snake (legonyana) and Puff Adder (lebolobolo).

These are the top six venomous snakes crawling around the capital and causing much concern as peak snake season, which runs from January till about April, kicks off. The African Snakebite Institute in South Africa categorises these six as ‘very dangerous’, meaning they have caused human fatalities.

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