Advanced Venomous Snake Handling – KwaZulu-Natal – PheZulu Safari Park – 2024-09-15

The course starts at 09:30 sharp. Please arrive a few minutes earlier to enjoy coffee and tea refreshments while the team signs you in.

We kick off with a brief theory session, followed by the practical sessions.

The Advanced Venomous Snake Handling Course will include tailing, tubing, bagging, probing, and necking venomous snakes including Black Mambas.

This is a full-day course with a tea break at around 10:45, and a lunch break at around 13:00 with a light lunch provided. The course usually concludes at around 16:00. Kindly note that these are suggested times and may vary.

The course starts at 09:30 am sharp.

We break for a light lunch at around 13:00 and the course usually finishes by 16:00 (suggested and not exact time)

Our minimum age requirement for this course is 16 years of age.

All course fees include coffee/tea refreshments and a light lunch.
The Advanced Venomous Snake Handling course R 1950.00 per delegate.

The full amount will have to be paid prior to the course to secure your attendance.

Cancellation policy: There are no cancellation fees for changes or cancellation to your booking 48 hours prior to the course date. For cancellations or changes within 48 hours of the course date, we charge a 50% cancellation fee and for non-attendance on the day of the course we charge a 100% cancellation fee.

Cancellation policy: There are no cancellation fees for changes or cancellation to your booking 48 hours prior to the course date. For cancellations or changes within 48 hours of the course date, we charge a 50% cancellation fee and for non-attendance on the day of the course we charge a 100% cancellation fee.

Each delegate will receive a course certificate, First Aid for Snakebite booklet as well as a full colour A3 Dangerous Snakes of Southern Africa poster.

PLEASE NOTE. All successful delegates will receive a certificate. Please ensure that we have the right name and surname as it will appear on the certificate. If details are provided incorrectly another certificate will have to be issued and sent by courier and will cost R250.00

1. Delegates should wear long trousers and closed shoes and are advised to bring a hat.
2. The African Snakebite Institute will supply all equipment needed for delegates to use during the snake handling session (hooks, tongs, buckets, and tubes).

1. This course is largely for individuals working at a reptile park or who keep venomous snakes, or who need to work with venomous snakes frequently. This course is however open to anyone with a valid, accredited Snake Handling Bootcamp course certificate, which is a prerequisite for anyone who wants to attend this course. (Please attach a copy of your valid certificate with your booking submission).
2. No spectators are allowed during the brief theory session, and this includes children. Spectators are welcome to watch the Advanced Venomous Snake Handling session from a safe distance but are not to interfere with the training in any way.
3. Photographs that are taken by the ASI team during the course will be made available via Dropbox. Participants and spectators are also welcome to take photographs of the handling session but video recording is not permitted.
4. Our minimum age requirement for this course is 16 years of age.
5. Delegates that do the advanced venomous snake handling will have to sign an indemnity prior to the practical session. Parents/guardians must sign for delegates under 18 years of age.
6. Should a delegate have any specific dietary requirements, they are welcome to bring their own lunch, or PheZulu Safari Park do have their own on-site restaurant.

Our courses are presented by Johan Marais or Luke Kemp.

Johan Marais is one of Africa’s leading herpetologists with over 40 years of experience. Johan is a prominent author of snake books in Africa and has written the best sellers A Complete Guide to the Snakes of Southern Africa, Snakes and Snakebite in Southern Africa and First Aid for Snakebite. He is also the snake expert for the Tygerberg Poison Centre and the Red Cross Poison centre, as well as an advisor on snakes and snakebite to various hospitals and clinics throughout Africa.

Luke Kemp graduated from Rhodes University with a BSc and Honours Degree and has been working for the African Snakebite Institute for the past five years. Luke is a passionate herpetologist, avid photographer, and has been presenting courses with Johan Marais not just in South Africa, but elsewhere in Africa also. He currently runs the reptile Virtual Museum with ADU, Cape Town University and is co-authoring a book on the reptiles and amphibians of southern Africa with Johan Marais.

Our courses are accredited by ISZS (the International Society of Zoological Sciences) and recognised by the AFGA (African Field Guides Association) and the NFTGA (National Federation of Tourist Guides & Affiliates).