A routine game drive in South Africa’s Kruger National Park became an extraordinary sighting for wildlife photographer Adele Sneyd. While exploring the S110 route between Malelane and Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp, Adele spotted something curious lying in the middle of the road.
At first, it looked like a chameleon struggling to move after having been hit by a car. Adele then slowed down and reached for her camera, as she quickly realized the reality of the situation.
A sleek form slithered into view from emerging from the nearby grass, shifting the scene from tragic to astonishing. It was alert, focused, and deadly.
Adele had unknowingly stumbled upon a live ambush, set in motion by one of Africa’s most venomous snakes: the boomslang!
Face to Face With a Silent Killer
Boomslangs may be beautiful with their shimmering emerald scales, but they’re not to be underestimated. Armed with potent hemotoxic venom, these snakes can silently strike and kill prey with terrifying precision.
They are agile climbers, and are often found among tree branches hunting birds, eggs, and reptiles like chameleons. This boomslang, however, had chosen to strike on the ground, and it had already bitten its target.
Though the chameleon had managed to crawl to the roadside edge, its fate was sealed as the snake’s venom slowly worked its way through its body. The boomslang continued to approach its target, but an oncoming vehicle drove down the road and caused it to slither back into the grass, temporarily disturbing the hunt.
Adele waited patiently with her camera ready, knowing the story was far from over. “I knew from previous experience the snake would not abandon its prey, so I waited”.
The Fatal Return
Sure enough, the boomslang returned moments later, rising from the grass like a shadow in slow motion and locating its injured victim. Despite Adele’s awkward position inside her vehicle, she carefully leaned over to the passenger side, determined not to make a sound or startle the predator.
What followed was brutal but fascinating. The boomslang captured the chameleon and began the slow process of swallowing it whole!
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It methodically dragged its prey off the road and back into the undergrowth. Eventually it fully vanished into the grass, bringing its successful ambush to a close.
Nature’s Power on Full Display
After returning to camp and reviewing her footage, Adele was able to confirm that the predator was a female boomslang. The power and precision of the snake left her deeply moved and a little on edge.
She admitted that for the remainder of the night, she was highly aware when walking outside of her tent for fear of the snake returning. “I was weary of a snake coming for me”, she joked.
In the wild, the smallest moments can carry the biggest shocks. This rare and remarkable scene reminds us that the African bush never rests, even at the edge of the road.
As perfectly demonstrated by Adele, respect, patience, and caution are the best tools for anyone hoping to witness its most secretive dramas unfold.