TYPES OF SNAKES AND REPTILES

There varies types of snakes in Uganda  to come across, in case one comes across a snake do not fear they are harmless to you  especially the monitor Lizards that look like crocodiles although they don’t behave like them, monitor lizards are recorded for raiding  crocodile Nests for eggs.

There two types of monitor Lizards such as the water Monitor and the savannah Monitor, one is able to spot them out while on the game drive or boat launch cruise.

The water Monitor is found along the Kazinga channel. Murchison falls has very good chances to come across the savannah Monitor and water Monitor Lizards along the Nile savannah for over 2 meters.

SNAKES

There different types of snakes that are found in Uganda. They are quite shy and slither as they sense your approach towards them.

As you drive across the road in front of your Vehicle, you might spot a Rock Python along your safari trip.

 ROCK PYTHONS

Rock Python is one of the Africa’s largest snakes, that is measured over 5 meters in length. Rock Pythons are not venoms; they kill their prey by strangulation and wrapping their bodies around, swallowing and off a nap that lasts for a couple of months.

Rock Pythons feed on small antelopes, large Rodents; they can as well as kill a small child. There are not so common, one can come across them in a bat cave located in Maramagambo forest in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

PUFF ADDER

This type of snake is the must encountered snake in Uganda, this type of snake is found inhabits the savannah parks. It feeds on rodents the puff Adder will strike when threatened. This type of snake is sluggish leading you to disturb it on your safari trip or when you come across it.

GABON VIPER

African viper is measured over 2 meters long, its black and brown skin, heavy build with some gold on it.

Black Mambas

A black Mamba is a poisonous snake, there as well as various snakes about killing a number of villages. The Black mamba is found in Uganda, inhabits the east African part of the country. Black Mamba is quite fast, it moves faster than human beings.

GREEN MAMBAS

The green Mambas  is not usually seen on ground but it can be spotted in trees, even on the roof tops of homes, bushes, shrubs ,latrines, there are poisonous although not as aggressive as Black Mamba.

BOOM SLANG

A tree snake is back-fanged and non-aggressive in behavior and very toxic snake.

Green Tree Snake. Anon-Venomous snake is found in areas of quite many trees.

MOLE SNAKE

The length of a mole snake is 2 meters and found in the savannah parks, this feeds on moles as its name suggests and other rodents.

EGG EATING SNAKE

As the name of this snake is suggested, it feeds on bird eggs. The name tells the character of this type of snake that feeds on bird eggs.it swallows the egg and after it regurgitate the  shell sometime.

CHAMELEON

There are so many chameleons although there are very few that are spotted. Chameleons are known best for changing their colours, this depends on the mood rather their surrounding and background.

The chameleons can be spotted as one takes on long paths or road to take a walk such as foothills of Rwenzori Mountain.

FLAP-NECKED CHAMELEON

These types of chameleons are found in wooded areas and savannah. There around 15 cm long, green in colour, bright, they can grow a double size they turn brown or tan under certain conditions.

GRACEFULL CHAMELEON

Its green and yellow in color, with white stripes along the flanks.

GIANT CHAMELEON

This type of chameleon is dark and bulky in color with small horns and yellow strips. The chameleon feeds on insects and small reptiles.

HOUSE GECKO

These are very small lookalike lizards they are little and just visit in our rooms or homes, almost plastic alike, very harmless and eat insects.

TORTOISES

They weigh about 30 kilos, the most common one is the leopard tortoise, its shell is a in a leopard pattern alike.

TERRAPINS

There are flatter tortoises very common and found on rocks near water its soft-shelled Terrapin, the flat shell is one meter in length.

Reptiles are rarely seen in Uganda, but snakes are seen including many snakes, you can come across Monitor lizards, crocodiles, chameleons, turtle, you might as well see a python during a game drive at Maramagambo forest in Bat- cave where they live with their prey.

Other types of snakes in Uganda include the black-necked spitting  cobra, Ashe’s spitting cobra, African bush viper, Boom slang, Black mamba, Forest vine, Forest cobra, Jameson Mamba, Rhinoceros viper, Gods tree cobra, Variable burrowing asp, Puff adder, Egyptian cobra, Black mamba, Rhinoceros. These can be spotted.

                                                                                   REPTILES

Reptiles are cold blooded reptiles and Uganda is one of the havens. The Nile crocodile is one of the largest that’s always observed along the River and lake banks, as they bask open-mouthed in the heat as blackbird plovers pick tasty morsels from between their teeth. This type of species was once threatened with extinction as a result of being hunted for its leather.

They grow between 3.5 and 5 meters in length, although over 6.5 meters have been spotted.

There are three-horned chameleons ,living on the slopes of the Rwenzori at higher altitude on the slopes of the Rwenzori .They are bright green, changing their color rapidly  this depends on their temperature and mood. One of their eyes keeps moving around independently on the other side, 360 degree vision, they have extraordinarily long tongues in order to catch insects to feed on.

The Reptiles are many in number these include snakes, Nile crocodiles, Lizards, Terrapins, Tortoises, and many more found in Uganda.

Chameleons are many however few are seen. Chameleons are known for being able to change their colors depending on the mood they are in rather than surrounding and background.

In Uganda you can come across one along path or road as you travel to take a walk such as in the foothills of Rwenzori Mountain.

FLAP-NECKED CHAMELEON

Find this in the savannah and wooded areas, its about 15cm long, green in color and bright, they grow to double size and turn brown under certain conditions.

GRACEFUL CHAMELEON

This type of reptile is yellow and green in color, graceful chameleons are white stripes along the flanks.

GIANT CHAMELEAON

This is a type of bulky and green with yellow strips and small horn.  These type reptiles on small reptiles and insects.

HOUSE GECKO

No matter   where you go, you might find a small/little visitor in your room, this is almost plastic like they are harmless and feed on insects.

TORTOISES

The most common are the leopard tortoise with its shell   resembling that of leopard in pattern. And weigh up to 30 kilos.

TERRAPINS

They are flatter than tortoises that are most common on a rock near the water Nile soft –shield Terrapin; a wide flat shell is one matter in length. Reptiles in Uganda include various snakes below. Most often you can come across the crocodiles, chameleons, turtle; you might as well see a python on a game drive at Maramagambo Bat-cave.

Monitor Lizards

In case you comes across one do not fear, Monitor lizards are harmless .Monitor lizards look like crocodiles although they do not behave like them. These lizards raid crocodile nests for eggs. In Uganda they can be spotted in savannah areas on games drives and on boat launch trips.

Monitor Lizards can be found along Kazinga channel, there is good chance of spotting them at Murchison falls National park there is a good chance to spot it at savannah monitor over 2 meters.

Nile crocodiles

Nile crocodiles   feed on fish and they are found in Uganda their largest reptile in Africa recorded in the 50 million years ago.

They prey on mammals as they come to water, in Uganda there are many cases along lakes where by a number of people are killed by crocodiles, but for those coming on a safari they are very safe since there is a boat launch trip along the Nile at Murchison falls, along the Kazinga channel shores and lake Mburo on the lake.