#17 - The Rock Python

The largest snake in southern Africa: how it hunts, constricts, climbs, swims, and guards its eggs. The African rock python is the largest snake in southern Africa—and one of the most impressive sights on a safari. In this episode, I recount a personal encounter from my time training as a safari guide: what looked like a branch on the track suddenly turned out to be a four-to-five-meter-long rock python. We explore the lifestyle of this powerful constrictor, looking at its camouflage, hunting techniques, and astonishing ability to swallow large prey whole. We also discuss its affinity for water, its climbing skills, how it moves without legs, the female’s brood care, and some common misconceptions about pythons. The African rock python is non-venomous, yet it commands respect. It is an animal that reveals just how much remains hidden within the African bush. …………………………………………………………………… Become my patron on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheSafariGuide/membership Thank you! ……………………………………………………………………