Over the past weekend, in Northern KwaZulu-Natal, myself, girlfriend and 2 friends came across something we were all dying to see...
Bitis gabonica!!
Dream find, GABOON!
Moderator: Scott Waters
Re: Dream find, GABOON!
Beautiful! What an amazing serpent, and lucky you for seeing it!
Re: Dream find, GABOON!
Behold the glorious gabonica
- Hans Breuer (twoton)
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Re: Dream find, GABOON!
NICE!
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Re: Dream find, GABOON!
A very special moment in every SA herpers life and one very few will ever get to experience. Gabonica in all its splendour. Well done Nick.
Re: Dream find, GABOON!
I honestly think these are one of the most beautiful species of snake around. It was a pleasure to see your pictures.
- mtratcliffe
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Re: Dream find, GABOON!
Awesome find, and congrats! I feel like I would never see that snake laying there in the leaf litter like that.
Re: Dream find, GABOON!
Spectacular! How did you find it? Was it in the leaves like that? If so you have some great eyes!
- ZantiMissKnit
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Re: Dream find, GABOON!
Oh, yeah!!!! Congratulations!
Re: Dream find, GABOON!
Outstanding Nick. In my opinion, the ULTIMATE snake encounter worldwide. I was in South Africa this past November/December but was strongly urged to stay away from KwaZulu-Natal due to tourist safety concerns. I have since come to realize that admonition was substantially overblown and I regret not making an attempt at gabonica.
Steve
Steve
Re: Dream find, GABOON!
Can't believe you found one without me! Sucker. Congrats. Can't wait to try my hand at it again later this year if I'm over in that zone again.
SONORA,
Totally overblown, whatever you heard. Of course you should take care whenever you're anywhere in the world, but I'll take being in KZN any day over being in/around Johannesburg. Seems way sketchier over there.
SONORA,
Totally overblown, whatever you heard. Of course you should take care whenever you're anywhere in the world, but I'll take being in KZN any day over being in/around Johannesburg. Seems way sketchier over there.
- MattSullivan
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Re: Dream find, GABOON!
awesome! favorite snake on earth. congrats, hell of a find
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Re: Dream find, GABOON!
They are incredible and you got some great photos. I would have shot my 16GB card full on that one.
Re: Dream find, GABOON!
Awesome! So, how was it found? Looks like an accident waiting to happen. Such great camouflage. Congrats!
- Nick Evans
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Re: Dream find, GABOON!
Thanks all for the compliments!
Sonora, like Rothdigga said, very overblown! KZN is the most diverse provinces, for all species. The holiday destinations are safe. The only dangerous parts are in Durban city and some suburban areas (and rural communities), but you could still drive through them and be ok. We've got beaches, mountain ranges, forests, savannahs, the lot! Really is an amazing place with amazing species.
The snake was crossing a road, followed it into the leaf litter.
Sonora, like Rothdigga said, very overblown! KZN is the most diverse provinces, for all species. The holiday destinations are safe. The only dangerous parts are in Durban city and some suburban areas (and rural communities), but you could still drive through them and be ok. We've got beaches, mountain ranges, forests, savannahs, the lot! Really is an amazing place with amazing species.
The snake was crossing a road, followed it into the leaf litter.
Re: Dream find, GABOON!
Truly a "Dream Find"
I'm in the early stages of planning a trip to S.A. Will definitely need some guidance and advice.
Looking forward to EVERYTHING!
I'm in the early stages of planning a trip to S.A. Will definitely need some guidance and advice.
Looking forward to EVERYTHING!
Re: Dream find, GABOON!
Road cruising - an international method for finding cool stuffThe snake was crossing a road, followed it into the leaf litter.
Re: Dream find, GABOON!
Nice!