Finding out how many different kinds of snakes there are in Kenya is easy thanks to the Nairobi Snake Park (if you don't like snakes, ignorance is bliss!).
On the other hand, there is a wealth of information available if you want to know what you are dealing with. The Snake Park also has crocodiles, lizards, and turtles on display in addition to snakes.
You can get assistance identifying various snake breeds or have spotted house snakes removed by calling the snake park. For reptiles that have been abandoned, mistreated, or illegally collected, The Snake Park Nairobi Kenya offers reptile rescue services.
The Mount Kenya carpet viper and other extremely rare cobras, together with the green and black mambas, are kept in well-kept cages and fed.
The many species of lung fish and cat fish swimming gracefully in the aquarium, along with the increasingly rare and endangered indigenous cichlids in lakes like Victoria, make for an exciting experience.
Toward the cage housing the Gabon viper from the snake pit. A charming snake moves gently around its cage. The few snake interpreters in the museum are outnumbered by the throngs of youngsters. The children are mesmerized by the snakes, but because they lack knowledge, they foolishly tap the glass, provoking the snakes to strike.
The American Alligator, Fresh Water Terrapins, and Tortoises are just a few of the crocodile and other species that may be found in the snake park. The aquariums holding coral fish from the East African lakes and rivers are the park's major attraction.
Many scientists were drawn to the snake park, and they provided a variety of specimens. Specimens were brought in from South Africa, Europe, the USA, Madagascar, India, and Madagascar.
When live snakes were experimentally shown in 1958 near the museum's entrance, there was a strong public response. The museum trustees bought the plot of land in front of the museum that extends all the way to the Nairobi River when it became clear that it was popular in order to build a botanical garden and display real snakes there.
In addition to serving as a well-liked amenity, it was extremely beneficial for research on both flora and reptiles. In 1962, lizards and tortoises were first made available.
Within the grounds of the Nairobi National Museum, Nairobi Snake Park is one of the attractions operated by the National Museums of Kenya. The Nairobi Snake Park is a portion of the Nairobi National Museum, which is connected to both public and private transportation, and is situated on Museum Hill, about ten minutes' drive from the Nairobi city center.
Snakes at Nairobi Snake Park Kenya?
Several remarkable snake species can be found in the Snake Park on the grounds of the National Museum, including;
The Puff Adder Snake at the Snake Park Nairobi Kenya
The Puff Adder, so named because it has a tendency of not slithering away from approaching footfall but instead blowing out air as a warning, is the snake that causes the most bites and fatalities in Kenya.
This big, flattened, triangular-headed snake is robust and strongly constructed, and its large nostrils point vertically upward. The body is yellow-brown to light brown with bars on the tail and black chevrons on the back with pale edges. The Puff Adder's scale colors help it to mix in with leafy clumps and is effectively camouflaged.
All people who come into contact with the puff adder should be respectful of it because it possesses one of the fastest strikes of any snake. Always keep in mind that snakes are more frightened of you, so treat them nicely and respect their habitat.
The Black Mamba Snake at the Snake Park Nairobi Kenya
In reality, black mambas are brown. They are so named because when they feel threatened, the inside of their jaws turn blue-black. Black mambas are swift, jittery, very poisonous, and highly aggressive when threatened. Numerous human deaths have been attributed to them, and African traditions often overstate their power. For these reasons, the black mamba is regarded as the deadliest snake in the entire world.
Both terrestrial and arboreal animals, black mambas live on land. They often seek refuge in termite mounds, abandoned burrows, rock crevices, and tree cracks while moving around on the ground with their head and neck up.
Black mambas are solitary animals that bask twice a day, usually in the morning and the afternoon. They could visit the same basking spot every day. Unsteady and frequently unpredictable.
The Egyptian Cobra Snake, at the Snake Park Nairobi Kenya
Nairobi Snake Park Kenya is home to the poisonous Egyptian cobra. On the entire continent of Africa, it is one of the biggest cobras. This snake's big, sunken head is somewhat different from its neck. Like all other cobras, this one has lengthy cervical ribs in the neck that may stretch to form a hood.
The Egyptian cobra has a somewhat large, rounded nose. The creature has a lengthy tail and a cylindrical, robust body. The skull and hood of this species are the most distinctive features. Although there is a wide range in color, most examples are some shade of brown with lighter or darker mottling and frequently a "tear-drop" mark behind the eye.
Some have more gray-brown or copper-red coloring. Egyptian cobras are almost totally black and are native to northwest Africa (Morocco, Western Sahara). The coloring of the ventral side is predominantly creamy white, yellow-brown, grayish, blue-grey, dark brown, or black, frequently with dark markings.
The Black-Necked Spitting Cobra Snake at the Snake Park Nairobi Kenya
The black-necked spitting cobra (Naja nigricollis) is a species of spitting cobra that is mostly found in sub-Saharan Africa. They are medium-sized snakes that can reach lengths of 1.2 to 2.2 m (3.9 to 7.2 ft).
Their markings and coloring can vary greatly. Small rodents are their primary prey.
Although the fatality rate for untreated bites on humans is quite low (5–10%, in endemic locations), they have venom that is medically significant. When provoked, they can discharge venom from their fangs like other spitting cobras (one drop over 7 meters (23 ft) and more in perfect accuracy).
The Red Spitting Cobra Snake at the Snake Park Nairobi Kenya
The largest spitting cobra in the world, dubbed Naja ashei in honor of the illustrious James Ashe—the snake park's curator at the time—was found in Kenya in 2007. He was the world's largest snake at the time.
An African species of medium-sized spitting cobra is called the Red spitting cobra. A thick black throat band and subocular teardrop patterns contrast with the handsome snake's typical bright salmon-red colouring.
However, depending on where in Africa they are found, red spitting snakes typically come in a variety of colors. For instance, people from southern Kenya and northern Tanzania are orange-red in hue with a wide throat band that is either dark blue or black. Two or three throat bands are occasionally seen in specimens, but they are unusual in East African species.
The throat region can occasionally be creamy white, and the ventral side is similarly reddish in hue. Other regions' red spitting cobras can be yellow, pinkish, pink-grey, pale red, or steel grey in color. The throat band is present in the majority of specimens, although in larger adults, it sometimes fades or sometimes vanishes. As they age and enlarge, the real red specimens turn a reddish-brown tint.
The Forest Cobra Snake at the Snake Park Nairobi Kenya
Despite not having the same ability as other cobras to spit, they are nevertheless very threatening to people. They have three distinct color morphs, all of which are completely dependent on the area in which they reside.
Although adult forest cobras range in length from 4.6 to 7.2 feet on average, the longest one ever measured was 10 feet long. Males and females are typically of equal size as adults, having broad, big heads that have hoods that hang down to the neck. The snake can intimidate potential predators by giving the appearance that it is larger because to its lengthy cervical ribs. It also conveys its feeling of threat via its broad hood.
Nevertheless, sightings of melanistic forest cobras have been reported from every part of Africa where they are found. Avoid these snakes like the plague, especially when they're reproducing since they have the potential to become very aggressive.
The Mount Kenya Carpet Viper Snake at the Snake Park Nairobi Kenya
These vipers are distinguished by their sturdy bodies and pear- or elliptical-shaped heads. They have narrow tails and vertical pupils. These viper species have bodies that are covered in transverse whitish patches and come in a variety of brown, gray, red, and light or olive brown background colors.
They move by crawling in a sidewinding manner. Only one side of a viper's body moves sideways, raising the other, which is stationary.
Carpet vipers are just not sexy. They’re not very sleek or large in size and not possessed of eye-catching colors. Biologists believe one reason these reptile predators are so successful is the variety of their diet. Basically, they’ll eat any animal they can handle, including other snakes and scorpions.
Snakebites are very frequent in Mount Kenya, many villagers and farmers being at maximum risk. A bite by the ocellated carpet viper of the African savannahs is very dangerous and can even cause hemorrhaging.
The Milk Snake at the Snake Park Nairobi Kenya
The idea that these snakes milked cows gave rise to their popular name, milk snake. This myth most likely got its start when farmers were looking for an explanation for why a cow was producing less milk than usual. The mice in the barn attracted snakes, making them easy targets.
Milk snakes are nonvenomous, brightly colored, and beautifully patterned. Despite being frequently mistaken for more dangerous coral or copperhead snakes, milk snakes are not dangerous to people. They may actually be easily bred in captivity and are a popular pet.
The African Rock Python Snake at the Snake Park Nairobi Kenya
Nairobi Snake Park Kenya is home to the sizable, non-venomous African rock python. Despite the fact that it rarely kills humans, it is one of the six largest snake species in the world and is greatly feared. African rock pythons have a robust body covered in colourful spots that frequently come together to form a wide, wavy stripe.
The color of the body patterns, which range from brown to olive to yellow to chestnut, fades to white on the underside.
These snakes have triangular heads that are marked with a dark brown "spear-head" that is bordered in buffy yellow on top. The subocular mark, a characteristic triangle feature, is located beneath the eye. The African rock python has small, smooth scales like those of all snakes.
Heat-sensitive pits on those near the lips allow them to find warm-blooded prey even at night. Additionally, unlike more sophisticated snakes, which only have one functional lung, pythons have two working lungs. They also have small, noticeable pelvic spurs that are thought to be the remains of their rear limbs. In this species, males are frequently smaller than females.
The Green Mamba Snake at the Snake Park Nairobi Kenya
The green mamba has a long, slender body, smooth scales, and a skull that is narrow and coffin-shaped. The scales are set out like paving stones and cover a darker skin tone. The color of the green mamba's belly ranges from yellow to light green.
Moreover, the front of the lips of green mambas are equipped with short, fixed fangs. These snakes have a high amount of venom. For this species, case reports of fatal outcomes that occurred quickly—in as little as 30 minutes—have been kept.
Green mambas have several sexes (males and females will both have several mates). Scent trails are used by males to locate females. Male competitors for girls may also engage in wrestling or dancing. These fights, which can last for hours, don't involve any biting; instead, one guy tries to knock the other down. A clutch of 4–17 eggs, which hatch in 10–12 weeks, will be laid by a female.
Green mamba eggs hatch independently, and the young are already venomous. Around three to four years old is when sexual maturity is reached. They have a lifespan of up to 14 years.
People, mongooses, snake eagles, genets, and other animals all prey on the green mamba. Young green mambas are frequently preyed upon by hornbills and other snakes.
Rhinoceros Viper at the Snake Park Nairobi Kenya
The rhinoceros viper, or river jack, is a vividly colored, venomous snake of the family Viperidae that lives in West and Central African wetlands and rainforests. Its scientific name is Bitis nasicornis. It can be found on plantations and favors moist or damp settings. Massive, heavily keeled scales cover the body.
It has a triangular head in green or blue with two or three pairs of horn-like scales on the tip of the snout and a huge black arrowhead mark on top. Although specimens up to 1.3 meters (4.3 feet) long have been documented, the usual length is 70 to 90 cm (28 to 35 inches). Triangles, rectangles, and diamond-shaped regions in the colors red, yellow, blue, green, and black make up the body's stunning velvet-like pattern. Although the rhinoceros viper's design is more colorful, it is similar to that of the Gaboon viper.
The Boomslang Snake at the Snake Park Nairobi Kenya
Say hello to boomslang. a snake from Africa that is extremely poisonous. The Afrikaans word "Boomslang" literally translates to "tree snake." The snake's approved English name is derived from its Afrikaans name.
The boomslang is a medium-sized snake that can grow up to two meters in length at its largest. They are not as thin as some of the other snakes that live in trees, but they are still rather slim.
Boomslangs are commonly assumed to be green, however there are significant color changes between age classes, sexes, and regions. They have very large eyes that provide them binocular and color vision, which can look almost comical in children due of their great size.
Typically, the young have a drab gray or brown underside and a darker top. They can have spots of different colors around the body, sometimes with a startlingly blueish tint, and can be pink, yellow, or orange on the throat.
A huge emerald green eye contrasts with this to create a very beautiful tiny snake. Adults can be just as beautiful, although they differ greatly from juveniles in appearance.
The Gaboon Viper Snake at the Snake Park Nairobi Kenya
The extremely poisonous but mostly placid ground-dwelling Gaboon viper (Bitis gabonica), sometimes known as the Gabon viper, is located in tropical forests in central and western Africa. It rises to a length of 2 meters and is the largest venomous snake in Africa, weighing 8 kg (18 pounds) (about 7 feet).
Additionally, the Gaboon viper has the largest fangs of any snake, which can reach a length of 4 cm (1.6 inches). Rectangles and triangles of buff, purple, and brown are boldly patterned on the sturdy body to give the snake its velvet-like appearance. This pattern offers great camouflage and enables this lethargic viper (family Viperidae) to blend in with the forest floor's leaves and roots.
The broad-headed Gaboon viper has two horn-like protrusions on its nose. It hisses when threatened, which is a behavior displayed by almost all snakes. Its primary victims, rodents and ground-dwelling birds, are bitten by the viper's deadly bite and held there until they die. Every two to three years, the Gaboon viper reproduces, giving birth to 15 to 40 live offspring.
Kenya Sand Boa at the Snake Park Nairobi Kenya
The Kenyan sand boa (Eryx colubrinus), which is not only native to Kenya, may also be found in Egypt, western Libya, Yemen, Sudan, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Chad, Niger, and northern Somalia. Although some keepers call it the East African sand boa because to its wide geographic range, the popular name of Kenyan sand boa is still the one most commonly used in the pet industry.
If you like the notion of constantly handling your pet snake and are just starting out with reptiles, a Kenyan sand boa might be the snake for you. Adult females typically reach a height of a little over 2 feet, while adult males a height of around 20 inches, and it is typically quite hospitable.
Although the majority of sand boas are extremely calm, occasionally one could get a little jittery, but in my personal experience, bites are uncommon. Even the most ferocious sand boa prefers to jerk, spasm, or attempt to flee rather than bite.
A little reddish snake coils beneath the hollowed-out tunnel; it is an American milk snake. It was probably being brought in as a pet when it was seized at the airport.
Flap-Neck Chameleon at the Snake Park Nairobi Kenya
Rarely do chameleons ever take a nap on sturdy branches. The flap at the back of its neck, which aids in concealment, gave rise to the species' name. The flap-necked chameleon's body is a mottled shade of green, matching the color of the trees where it lives.
The belly and throat of the giant chameleon known as the Flapped-Necked Chameleon are covered with a continuous crest of tiny, white, triangular tubercles. The color ranges from mild yellow through various colors of green to brown. The sides typically have a light bar, and the belly crest is white.
With the Flap-Neck Chameleon, it is pretty simple to differentiate between the sexes because the males have a wider base to their tails and a spur that protrudes from the back of each hind foot.
The Nile Crocodile at the Snake Park Nairobi Kenya
The largest Nile crocodile in Africa can grow to a maximum length of 20 feet and a maximum weight of 1,650 pounds. However, average height and weight are more along the lines of 16 feet and 500 pounds. In rivers, freshwater marshes, and mangrove swamps all over sub-Saharan Africa, the Nile Basin, and Madagascar, they can be found.
Snake Park Nairobi Entry Fee
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Category
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Kenyan Citizens
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Residents – East Africa
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Non-Residents
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Nairobi National Museum
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Below 16 yrs
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100
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400
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600
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Adults
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200
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600
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1,200
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Snake Park
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Below 16 yrs
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100
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200
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600
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Adults
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200
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400
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1,200
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Nairobi National Museum and Snake Park Package
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Below 16 yrs
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150
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300
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1,000
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Adults
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300
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600
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1,500
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The Nairobi National Museum usually opens from Monday to Sunday (8:30 am to 6:00 pm) – including Public Holidays.
Nairobi National Museum contacts
Phone : + 254 721 308 485 / +254 733 296 142
Email: publicrelations@museums.or.ke
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