Re: any snakes to see in botswana this time of year?

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ HerpForum - Africa ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by Chris on July 07, 2000 at 18:57:12:

In Reply to: any snakes to see in botswana this time of year? posted by jay on July 07, 2000 at 13:35:49:

Jay,

I just got back from a month in Botswana and saw quite a few herps (for the winter). The daytime highs were in the 80s and the nightime lows were in the 40s and sometimes the 30s. Species seen included:
Puff Adders (common on the roads, even some after dark - saw a lot of roadkills)
Common Night Adder (swimming in the Okavango marsh)
Mole Snakes (Pseudaspis - 3 DORs seen just over the border near Vic. Falls, Zimbabwe).
Psammophis sp. - darting off sandy roads
Ornate Bush Snake - along Zambezi river (Zambezi NP in Zimbabwe near the BOT border).
Rufous Beaked Snake - DOR north of Maun

Other herps
Painted Reed Frogs - on reeds in the Okavango
African Clawed Frogs
Bufo species
Day Geckos (buildings in the day)
Chameleo dilepis!!! (very cool!)
Agama sp.
Bibron's Gecko (buildings at night)
Nile Monitors - basking on Zambezi river bank
Nile Crocs - sunning along rivers
Leopard Tortoises (Moremi and Chobe NP)

All of this was seen without really herping. I am sure you could see a lot more if you tried.
We saw lots of other DORs that we did not stop for (I was travelling with a caravan of three cars which precluded stopping for every roadkill).

BTW, if you are staying in the National Parks, be aware that the NPs in Botswana have raised their rates significantly in the last few months. It costs around US$25 per day to camp in the parks (and if you only camp one night, you have to pay both days = $50!). Also, be aware that many of the roads are sand roads that require 4WD.

Have a great trip in this incredible country.

Need more info, email me. My email address is
XXXXsandboaYYYYY@ZZZZZtcainternet.AAAAcom (eliminate all the capital letter).

Chris

Follow Ups:

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: Jay, : I just got back from a month in Botswana and saw quite a few herps (for the winter). The daytime highs were in the 80s and the nightime lows were in the 40s and sometimes the 30s. Species seen included: : Puff Adders (common on the roads, even some after dark - saw a lot of roadkills) : Common Night Adder (swimming in the Okavango marsh) : Mole Snakes (Pseudaspis - 3 DORs seen just over the border near Vic. Falls, Zimbabwe). : Psammophis sp. - darting off sandy roads : Ornate Bush Snake - along Zambezi river (Zambezi NP in Zimbabwe near the BOT border). : Rufous Beaked Snake - DOR north of Maun : Other herps : Painted Reed Frogs - on reeds in the Okavango : African Clawed Frogs : Bufo species : Day Geckos (buildings in the day) : Chameleo dilepis!!! (very cool!) : Agama sp. : Bibron's Gecko (buildings at night) : Nile Monitors - basking on Zambezi river bank : Nile Crocs - sunning along rivers : Leopard Tortoises (Moremi and Chobe NP) : All of this was seen without really herping. I am sure you could see a lot more if you tried. : We saw lots of other DORs that we did not stop for (I was travelling with a caravan of three cars which precluded stopping for every roadkill). : BTW, if you are staying in the National Parks, be aware that the NPs in Botswana have raised their rates significantly in the last few months. It costs around US$25 per day to camp in the parks (and if you only camp one night, you have to pay both days = $50!). Also, be aware that many of the roads are sand roads that require 4WD. : Have a great trip in this incredible country. : Need more info, email me. My email address is : XXXXsandboaYYYYY@ZZZZZtcainternet.AAAAcom (eliminate all the capital letter). : Chris

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ HerpForum - Africa ] [ FAQ ]