Wildlife

Black Mamba

Dendroaspis polylepis

The black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) is a highly venomous snake endemic to parts of sub-Saharan Africa.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordBlack Mamba9 stays list it on site or nearby

Species insights

When to visit

Recorded year-round

Recorded in every month, so no month is the wrong month to look. We would rather say that than invent a best time.

Best monthsAny month

Recorded in Mpumalanga~75 records

Curve from 339 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property and not from this province. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.

Where you'll find it

KwaZulu-Natal and beyond

Provinces where Black Mamba is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.

339 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the Black Mamba

Kruger National Park
Limpopo · Best Apr to Sep
6 places
Kruger National Park
Limpopo · Best Apr to Sep
6 places
Kruger National Park
Sabi Sand Game Reserve
Mpumalanga · Year-round
2 places
Sabi Sand Game Reserve
Mpumalanga · Year-round
2 places
Sabi Sand Game Reserve

Stays that give back

Across Mpumalanga

Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp

Kruger National Park

Black Mamba recorded here · Savanna biome · Impala · Spotted hyena

Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 11,980 a night

Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge

Kruger National Park

Black Mamba recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion

Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 17,400 a night

Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp

Kruger National Park

Black Mamba recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion

Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 17,500 a night

Mdluli Safari Lodge

Kruger National Park

Black Mamba recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion

From R 10,670 a night

Singita Ebony Lodge

Sabi Sand Game Reserve

Black Mamba recorded here · Savanna biome · Lion · Leopard

Price on request

Singita Boulders Lodge

Sabi Sand Game Reserve

Black Mamba recorded here · Savanna biome · Lion · Leopard

Price on request

Singita Sweni Lodge

Kruger National Park

Black Mamba recorded here · Savanna biome · Lion · Leopard

Price on request

Singita Lebombo Lodge

Kruger National Park

Black Mamba recorded here · Savanna biome · Lion · Leopard

Price on request

Plains Camp @ Rhino Walking Safaris

Mpumalanga

Black Mamba recorded here · Savanna biome · Aardvark · African elephant

Gives back to BirdLife South Africa

Price on request

More stays nearby

Mbizane Escarpment Retreat

Mbombela

Forest biome

Gives back to BirdLife South Africa

From R 3,800 a night

Mvuradona Safari Lodge

Marloth Park

Savanna biome · Giraffe · Warthog

Gives back to DAKTARI Bush School

From R 2,473 a night

Forellenhof Guest Farm

Wakkerstroom

Grassland biome

Gives back to BirdLife South Africa

From R 1,500 a night

Rhino Sands Safari Camp

Hazyview

Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion

Gives back to Zululand Conservation Trust and 1 other

From R 22,680 a night

Ubuntu Lodge at Elephant Point

Kruger National Park

Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion

Gives back to DAKTARI Bush School

Price on request

The Orpen Kruger

Kruger National Park

Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion

Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 9,024 a night

Lion Sands Ivory Lodge

Sabi Sand Game Reserve

Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion

Price on request

Dulini Moya

Sabi Sand Game Reserve

Savanna biome · Leadwood · Leopard

Gives back to DAKTARI Bush School

From R 28,990 a night

Ziziphus River Lodge

Mjejane Game Reserve, Hectorspruit

Savanna biome · Hippopotamus · African elephant

Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 14,000 a night

Lion Sands Tinga Lodge

Kruger National Park

Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion

Price on request

Summerfields Rose Retreat & Spa

Hazyview

Savanna biome · Jackalberry · Ana tree

Gives back to DAKTARI Bush School

From R 3,500 a night

Lion Sands Narina Lodge

Kruger National Park

Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion

Price on request

Wetlands Country House & Sheds

Wakkerstroom

Grassland biome

Gives back to BirdLife South Africa

From R 2,550 a night

Hinkwenu Villa, Lion Sands

Kruger National Park

Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion

Price on request

Greystone Lodge

Dullstroom

Grassland biome

Gives back to DAKTARI Bush School

From R 1,200 a night

The Elephant Coast

Next stop

iSimangaliso wetlands, sand forest, and Sodwana reefs

See places that give back

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the Black Mamba

Hosts have recorded the Black Mamba at stays in or beside Kruger National Park and Sabi Sand Game Reserve.

How and when to see the Black Mamba

When to go, park by park

Here all yearEasiest viewing

Best months to visit each park where hosts record the Black Mamba
Park	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Kruger	Here	Here	Here	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Here	Here	Here
Sabi Sand	Here	Here	Here	Here	Easiest viewing

Darker months are each park's own best season, when thinner bush or scarce water makes viewing easier. A sighting is never guaranteed.

Best hours of the day

The warm hours of the day. The Black Mamba needs the sun's warmth before it moves.
Cold mornings and nights. Tucked away until the day warms up.

Where to base yourself

Limpopo
Kruger
Big FiveSelf-drive
Stays in Limpopo
Limpopo
Mpumalanga
Sabi Sand
Big FiveGuided drives
Stays in Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga

Ways to look

Drive yourself

Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.

Where hosts record it

Kruger

Guided drives from a lodge

A guide who knows where to look, with off-road and night drives in the private reserves.

Where hosts record it

Sabi Sand

Species

Dendroaspis polylepis

Records

339

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

A record means a host has seen the Black Mamba on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.

Which parks and reserves are best for the Black Mamba in Mpumalanga?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Black Mamba at stays in or beside Kruger National Park and Sabi Sand Game Reserve. A record means a host has seen it on the property or nearby, which makes these the places to base yourself; it is never a guarantee of a sighting on any given day.

Where can you see the Black Mamba in South Africa?

The Black Mamba is most recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (39% of records), Limpopo (30% of records), Mpumalanga (22% of records), based on 339 iNaturalist observations. 9 places to stay on Spekboom in Mpumalanga have recorded the Black Mamba on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the Black Mamba?

The Black Mamba is recorded throughout the year, so no month is the wrong month to look for it. For the parks where hosts record it most, these are the best seasons they give. Kruger National Park: Apr-Sep; Sabi Sand Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep optimal. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.

What is the Black Mamba?

The black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) is a highly venomous snake endemic to parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Skin colour varies from grey to dark brown. Juvenile black mambas tend to be paler than adults and darken with age. It is the longest species of venomous snake indigenous to the African continent; mature specimens generally exceed 2 meters (6.6 ft) and commonly attain 3 meters (9.8 ft).