Most people on safari never see a snake. Sightings are uncommon, and your vehicle and guide keep you well away from trouble. Still, it helps to know sensible precautions and why a prompt response to any bite matters.
How much risk is there?
For a traveller on a standard safari, the risk is low. The World Health Organization notes that snakebite harm falls heaviest on poor rural communities, with an estimated 435,000 to 580,000 snake bites a year in Africa needing treatment. The same WHO fact sheet explains that timely access to safe antivenom prevents most deaths, and that access can be poor in remote areas. That is the reason to take precautions and to know where the nearest medical help is.
Sensible precautions
- Stay in the vehicle except at designated places. In the Maasai Mara you may leave it only at picnic sites or gates.
- Do not walk through long grass or put your hands where you cannot see.
- Use a torch at night in camp and wear closed shoes. Check your shoes before you put them on.
- Follow your guide and the camp’s advice on walking.
If someone is bitten
Tell your guide immediately and get to medical care as fast as possible. Do not try home remedies. Ask your operator how they would arrange evacuation, and make sure your travel insurance covers medical evacuation. This is general information, not medical advice.
Crocodiles and other reptiles
The more likely reptile sighting is a crocodile on a riverbank. Crocodiles are present in the Mara River, so never go near the water’s edge. See Mara River crossings explained. You may also spot lizards and monitor lizards, which are harmless to people if left alone.
More health planning
Read our health checklist and see tsetse flies and mosquitoes. If you want to walk, our walking safari guide explains how guides keep guests safe.
Frequently asked questions
Will I see snakes on safari?
Most guests do not. Sightings are uncommon and you spend most of the time in a vehicle.
What should I do if bitten?
Tell your guide at once and get to medical care as fast as you can. Avoid home remedies. This is not medical advice.
Are there crocodiles in Kenya’s rivers?
Yes, including the Mara River. Keep well away from the water’s edge.
Should I get travel insurance with evacuation?
It is sensible, because antivenom and specialist care can be far from remote camps.
Want help planning? Talk to our team and tell us your dates, who is travelling and what you would like to see.
Facts checked on 5 November 2026 on the WHO snakebite fact sheet; crocodiles in the Mara River per Angama. Precautions are general guidance. Not medical advice.
