The black mamba is one of Africa’s most dangerous and feared snakes. Most people would kill it on sight. But in the tiny country of Swaziland, one husband and wife team has taken a different approach to the mamba. They’ve initiated a study that they hope will change perceptions of what they feel is the world’s most misunderstood snake.
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This program premiered November 8, 2009.
23 Responses to “Video: Full Episode”
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(37 votes)

Wow Fantastic Work Guys :-D Keep Up The Great Work!
Fascinating documentary. Thea and Clifton are to be greatly admired. Is there an address to which donations for their clinic can be sent?
How informative. Hopefully the next step will be milking the snakes for the antivenin to help victims like Tengetile.
The documentary was excellant. Educating the people cannot be stressed strongly enough. God Bless you and keep you.
Thank you everyone for your words of encouragement. If you would like to help us help snakebite victims please visit our web page: http://www.antivenomswazi.org
Thank you, Thea, for educating us on these much maligned animals and for your continuting work protecting both humans and snakes from harm.
i was just waching you show. great work . pleas never git rid of this gob. bye.
Didn’t know much about these snakes until viewing your program. God Bless you & keep you both safe!
I couldnt get the video to work but i think snakes are very interesting!
I still be less afraid of pythons than elepids and vipers but still use intelligence of handling either, know your limits and theirs.
i think what you guys are doing is very couragous and outstanding. Keep up the good work and may god be with you when you are handling those dangerous snakes
How interesting! Although I must say, I am glad that I didn’t run into any of these snakes while I lived in Swaziland…
Amazing u both!just incredibly courageous of you guys to do this !its really a comfort knowing bguys like u are working on this i can only guess how comforting it must be for the locals there just to know you guys are around . you guysrock god bless you and your family !
THANK YOU THEA FOR A WELL DOCUMENTED STORY ON THE BLACK MAMBA. WHEN I LIVED IN SWAZILAND I FEARED THE BLACK MAMBA. YOU GUYS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB..
Watching this chapter of Nature brought back memories from my visit to Botswana in the 1990’s. We were in the bush when our jeep rolled into a hole and the engine cut out. At that very moment I saw something move out of the corner of my right eye. Low and behold a black mamba that was sunning reared up and struck the passenger door of our ‘open’ jeep twice. We had accidentally rolled over it as we were driving never seeing it as it was stretched out like a narrow brown log. Upon returning to camp, I made a beeline for the bar and downed a brandy to calm my nerves. With all my travels to Africa, getting into some hairy situations, this one, by far, topped the list.
thank you guys very much. this is really inspiring and i hope God continues to grant you all the help and strength to continue the great work your doing. God bless you
Well done! I cannot believe I lived there and did not come to harm, I put it down to Luck, I saw a few, And probably lived with them without knowing! Thank you for doing this !
It is amazing to watch Thea and Clifton deftly bagging the deadly Mambas. Anesthetizing them to plant the transmitter was cool. The individuals behind the camera should be credited for producing a fabulous documentary. Very well done.
I want to watch it again, but I’m still too scared to look!
wow how brave thea and her husband are after watcing bbc natural world this really made me proud of themespecially when she cried in the field where she helped recover the unfortunate girls sandals i myself had a tear just shows how humans can be moved. keep up the good work and please take care and hoping to see more on this subject
Thank you, Thea and Clifton, for saving all these snakes, educating the public about these fascinating and misunderstood animals, and maintaining a refuge for them. Your determination and energy is remarkable, and your work is so incredibly important to the snakes and the people. I will be making a donation on your website in hopes that you continue to successfully rescue as many snakes as you can!
THEA AND CLINTON I THINK THE SHOW WAS FANTASTIC YOU TWO HAVE ALOT OF HEART DEALING WITH BLACK MAMBA’S AS I WAS WATCHING THE SHOW IT HAD ME LOOKING AROUND MY ROOM EVEN THOUGH I DONT HAVE ANYTHING TO WORRY AND LAST MOST KEEP SAVING LIVES AND BE SAFE GOD BLESS.
Rob Elliott
As someone who grew up in Big Bend, seeing you guys in action with snakes such as Black Mambas has left me in awe of your work. Growing up these snakes were the most feared creatures along with crocodiles, so to see you go into peoples homes and ridding their living areas of imminent danger is one of the best things that could have happened to the low veld. Your research is also cutting edge and vital to the area. I wish I was as brave as you guys. I wish you the best of luck in making the anti venom more accessible to those who need it. Stay alert and remain carefull, but im sure you don’t need me to tell you that, God bless.