See the Heart-Stopping Video of an Impossibly Long Black Mamba That Slithers Into a Family’s Home

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Written by Sharon Parry

Updated: November 10, 2023

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Black Mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) toughest animal for toxicity - most toxic animal on earth
NickEvansKZN/Shutterstock.com

One family in Reservoir Hills in Durban, South Africa has had a visitor that they will not forget in a hurry! This footage was captured by a local snake rescuer and shows the moment when he discovered a huge black mamba in the family’s bedroom. The family had heard a commotion by the front door and saw the cheeky snake entering their home. It slithered right past them and into the bedroom where they trapped it by closing the door. In this extraordinary footage, we see the terrified snake being rescued. It will be taken away to be relocated to a safe place.

Where Do Black Mambas Normally Live?

black mamba attacking

Black mambas are one of the most dangerous snakes in the world.

Black mambas are members of the Dendroaspis genus of snakes. They are a native species of sub-Saharan south and east Africa. However, they can be found as far north as Eritrean and through South Africa to Namibia in the west. In terms of habitat, they like to live in wooded savannah areas and rocky hills. They also like riverine forests and require either rocks or fallen trees to provide them with cover.

You can often find them hiding out in hollow trees or even in termite mounds. Interestingly, black mambas are not black! They are usually an olive color or they can be a brownish-gray. They can grow up to at least 9 feet in length.

What Do Black Mambas Normally Eat?  

These snakes normally feed on small mammals such as rodents and squirrels. They also occasionally catch birds. They have very good eyesight and pinpoint accuracy when they are striking their prey. These are the fastest land snake in the world and the longest species of venomous snake in Africa. They are diurnal snakes which means that they hunt during the day. Black mambas strike their prey repeatedly and inject large volumes of venom with each strike.

Do Black Mambas Attack Humans?

These snakes have a deadly reputation and are one of the world’s most dangerous snakes. The fact that they can move so fast and produce so much venom makes them potentially deadly to humans. Their venom is potentially lethal for us and even though an anti-venom exists it is not widely available in many areas. Just two drops of black mamba venom is enough to kill a human. It shuts down the nervous system of the victim and paralyzes them. Humans can die within 20 minutes of a bite.

The snakes do not go looking for humans to bite and would prefer to avoid us. However, if they are cornered or feel threatened like the individual in this clip they are very likely to strike!

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About the Author

Dr Sharon Parry is a writer at A-Z animals where her primary focus is on dogs, animal behavior, and research. Sharon holds a PhD from Leeds University, UK which she earned in 1998 and has been working as a science writer for the last 15 years. A resident of Wales, UK, Sharon loves taking care of her spaniel named Dexter and hiking around coastlines and mountains.

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