Cape Wolf Snake
Cape Wolf SnakeCape Wolf SnakeCape Wolf SnakeCape Wolf Snake

Cape Wolf Snake

Lycophidion capense

Silhouette: SeismicShrimp · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
at Garden Route National Park
4 Verified sightings at Garden Route National Park From 2019 to 2026
71 Verified sightings across all 13 parks From 2019 to 2026
☀️🌙 Day & Night When it's spotted Active throughout day and night

About the Cape Wolf Snake

The Cape wolf snake (Lycophidion capense) is a species of oviparous, nonvenomous snake which occurs over a wide area of Southern, Central, and East Africa. Though docile and harmless, it may be confused with the very venomous stiletto snake.

The species contains three subspecies, including the nominotypical subspecies, L. c. capense: Lycophidion capense capense (A. Smith, 1831) Lycophidion capense jacksoni (Boulenger, 1893) Lycophidion capense loveridgei Laurent, 1968

Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Lycophidion. Adults regularly reach 40 cm in length, but some grow to 64 cm. It has a flattened, tapering head and marbled eye. The brown or black lateral and dorsal scales are tipped white, while the ventral scales are all-white. Long recurved fangs are present on the upper as well as lower jaws, for which they are named.

They are widely distributed but prefer damp locations, with lowland forest and fynbos being preferred habitats. They feed mostly on geckos and skinks which they bite and kill by constriction. They are believed to reach... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Garden Route National Park

Common Brown Water Snake
LC

Common Brown Water Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Lycodonomorphus rufulus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Brown House Snake
LC

Brown House Snake

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Boaedon capensis

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
~20%
2 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
3 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
4 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
5 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data
6 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
Insufficient data
7 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data
8 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
Insufficient data
9 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
10 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
11 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
12 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
13 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
← Back to Garden Route National Park