Dendroaspis polylepis
Silhouette: SeismicShrimp · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%
The black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) is a species of highly venomous snake belonging to the family Elapidae. It is native to parts of sub-Saharan Africa. First formally described by Albert Günther in 1864, it is the second-longest venomous snake after the king cobra; mature specimens generally exceed 2 m (6 ft 7 in) and commonly grow to 3 m (9.8 ft). Specimens of 4.3 to 4.5 m (14 to 15 ft) have been reported. It varies in colour from grey to dark brown. Juvenile black mambas tend to be more pale in colour than adults, and darken with age. Despite the common name, the black mamba is not black; the colour name describes rather the inside of its mouth, which it displays when feeling threatened.
The species is both terrestrial (ground-living) and arboreal (tree-living); it inhabits savannah, woodland, rocky slopes and in some regions, dense forest. It is diurnal and is known to prey on birds and small mammals. Over suitable surfaces, it can move at speeds up to 16 km/h (10 mph) for short distances. Adult black mambas have few natural predators.
In a threat display, the black mamba usually opens its inky-black mouth, spreads its narrow neck-flap and sometimes hisses. It is capable of striking at considerable range and may deliver a series of bites in rapid succession. Its venom is primarily composed of neurotoxins that often induce symptoms within ten minutes, and is frequently fatal unless antivenom is administered. Despite its reputation as a formidable and highly aggressive species, the black mamba attacks humans only if it is threatened or cornered. It is rated as least concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)'s Red List of Threatened Species. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilanesberg National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 2 | Kruger National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Durban | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cabarceno Natural Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 2 | Kolmården Wildlife Park | 🇸🇪 Sweden | |
| 3 | Zoo Pilsen | 🇨🇿 Czechia | |
| 4 | Abilene Zoological Gardens | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Haller Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 6 | Sedgwick County Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 8 | Johannesburg Zoo | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 9 | Saint Louis Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 10 | Terra Natura Benidorm | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 11 | Indianapolis Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 12 | Houston Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 13 | ABQ BioPark Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 14 | London Zoo | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 15 | Faunia | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 16 | The Abilene Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 17 | Alligator Adventure | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 18 | Reptile Gardens | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 19 | Montecasino Bird Gardens | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 20 | Hartbeespoort Dam Snake and Animal Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 21 | Lawnwood snake sanctuary | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 22 | Terrariet | 🇩🇰 Denmark | |
| 23 | iZoo | 🇯🇵 Japan | |
| 24 | Kentucky Reptile Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Black Mamba sighting in Kruger National Park on a given day, based on 30 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 32nd most-seen of the 62 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.
August–September and November–June
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Black Mamba in Kruger National Park on a given day, against under 5% in July and October, the lowest months.
Between 10 am and 1 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Black Mamba sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Among the best
Of the 2 parks where we can rate Black Mamba sightings, Kruger National Park ranks 2nd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Pilanesberg National Park (South Africa, about 10%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Black Mamba is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Kruger National Park (30 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
