“One Bite, and It’s Game Over”: Most Liked Snake of 2025 Gives SA the Chills
- A massive puff adder became the star of the show after footage captured the reptile moving through the bush on a hot summer day
- The fascinating video was shared on Facebook, where it was revealed as the nature reserve’s most popular post from the previous year
- Social media users expressed a mixture of fear and admiration for the snake while discussing its impressive size and stealthy movement
- Briefly News spoke with Denzel Ncube, a local snake handler, about the most viewed snake of 2025
Source: Getty Images
A thick puff adder was filmed navigating the dry terrain of the Little Karoo, in the Western Cape, during the peak of the summer heat.
The clip was shared on Facebook via the Sanbona Wildlife Reserve account and quickly reached over 1.5M views and 24.8K likes after being shared on January 1, 2026.
The video shows the reptile moving slowly through the vegetation between Montagu and Barrydale while showcasing its unique physical traits. The reserve shared that puff adders are recognised as masters of camouflage because their mysterious colouration allows them to blend into the South African landscape. This ability to lie motionless makes them extremely difficult to spot and often leads to people accidentally stepping on them in the wild.
Fun facts about puff adders
The reserve, Facebook account Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, shared that the name puff adder comes from the loud hissing or puffing sound they produce when they feel threatened by an intruder. Instead of the typical bending wiggle, these snakes use direct movement to slide in a straight line by contracting and stretching their belly muscle. They further shared that South Africa is the most reptile-rich country on the continent and holds over 350 different species within its borders. The Little Karoo region provides an ideal habitat for these snakes to thrive due to the warm climate and rocky surroundings. Using specialised belly muscles allows them to move with a stealthy rhythm that does not alert potential prey to their presence.
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Source: UGC
Getting to know puff adders better
The Briefly News team spoke with Denzel to try to understand why puff adders are many people’s favourites.
We asked the man what makes puff adders interesting to many. He responded:
“The puff adder is a notable species with several distinctive characteristics. It's a highly venomous snake found in sub-Saharan Africa, recognised for its appearance and behaviour.
For those who are less familiar with snakes, the team asked how to differentiate a puff adder from other reptiles. He said:
“Puff adders have a thick body, broad triangular head, and strongly keeled scales, providing camouflage in their habitat.”
The team asked about the reptile’s behaviour and if they are venomous, and the snake expert said:
“They possess potent cytotoxic venom, causing severe pain, swelling, and tissue damage. They’re responsible for significant snakebite incidents in Africa. These snakes are ambush predators, relying on camouflage and striking quickly when threatened.”
When asked where puff adders can be found. Denzel shared:
“Puff adders reside in different environments, including savannas and rocky areas, throughout sub-Saharan Africa.”
SA reacts to the massive puff adder
The viral clip gained massive views and over 300 comments from an online community that was stunned to see the snake's size. Many viewers said they were shaken by the snake’s video, admitting they had no intention of ever meeting such a snake face-to-face. A few viewers were shocked by the sheer girth of the reptile and questioned if it had recently swallowed a large meal. Some complimented the natural beauty of the creature but warned others to stay alert when walking in the bushes. Others simply marvelled at the education provided by the reserve regarding the diverse wildlife found in the region.
User @Zandile Sibiya said:
"Which parts of South Africa are they most likely to be found?"
User @Andrew Valentine commented:
"I'm absolutely fearful of a puff adder. I survived two dry bites from one."
User @أصيل الزعبلي shared:
"I have never seen a snake like this before."
User @Singh Raju added:
"One bite and it's game over."
User @Eric Joseph Leal shared:
"Beautiful rattlesnake. Please be careful."
User @Josiel Dzariwari Tsereru said:
"I'm fascinated by puff adders! They seem so mysterious and stealthy. Great post! Adding the adder to my favourite snakes list!"
Watch the Facebook reel here.
3 Briefly News articles about snakes
- A peaceful Christmas afternoon nap turned into a nightmare after a venomous snake bit and killed a man resting under a tree in Zastron, Free State.
- A dramatic video of a handler extracting a Cape Cobra that had gone deep inside a family's couch sparked concerns on social media.
- The factual video demonstrating a black mamba’s climbing ability to dispel the myth that the snake can stand up to meet a human eye-to-eye stunned viewers.
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Source: Briefly News
