A tourist recently witnessed a spectacular encounter between a black mamba and a crocodile, in which the snake nearly escaped the crocodile’s bite but was eventually caught and eaten. Giosue Spinosa, the tourist, captured the rare moment on the river Shingwedzi in South Africa’s Kruger National Park and shared it with Latest Sightings. They later uploaded it on April 11 to their YouTube page. A platform called Latest Sightings enables safari visitors—whether they are rangers or tourists—to record the creatures and activities they come across.
Giosue lifted his binoculars and took a closer look at the snake, revealing that it was not ordinary. He had heard so much about the famed black mamba. The snake was making its way to the water’s edge via an area of dry river sand. The snake’s haste prompted him to believe that it was not only heading for a drink but also to cross the river.
According to Latest Sightings, both hippos and crocodiles can be found in the Shingwedzi River. Not too far away, the hippos were unaware of the snake. But very quickly, the gang of crocodiles enjoying the morning sun noticed the mamba’s movement. The one nearest the snake shot off in an attempt to capture it.
But the snake was too quick and fast for the sluggish crocodile; it just turned quickly to get out of the way, and the crocodile clamped its jaws, capturing just a gasp of air. This gave the snake the freedom to flee! It moved quickly into the water, sliding on the surface with lightning speed and changing directions so that it would be impossible for any crocodile that could be lurking to get it!
The crocodiles on the bank stared as the snake successfully crossed the crocodile-infested river. But it was far from over; the snake had, unfortunately, chosen the wrong departure route from the river. It was difficult to get out of the water in a muddy and clay-covered area. The snake slowed as it struggled to travel through the thick mud near the water’s edge.
When one of the crocodiles saw the snakes struggling and the potential for a meal, he sprang into the water and swam over as fast as he could. As soon as he arrived on dry land, he headed straight for the snake, unconcerned about the highly toxic and lethal venom. With his strong leather skin, he knew the snake teeth couldn’t hurt him.
The crocodile caught the snake with a single bite and swung it around, attempting to kill it. The disturbance attracted the attention of a fish eagle resting on the riverbank. When the eagle saw that it was a black mamba and a crocodile fighting, it made the right decision to leave without trying to take the crocodile’s dinner. And with that, the crocodile killed the snake with a bite.
Eating the snake before the other crocodile could steal it was the difficult part, but the easy part was over. With the snake hanging from his mouth, the crocodile fled and quickly returned to the safety of the water, swallowing his hard-earned meal whole.
This intense experience serves as a reminder of how harsh and cruel the wilderness can be.
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