What is the Puff Adder?

Bitis arietans is a venomous viper species found in savannah and grasslands from Morocco and western Arabia throughout Africa except for the Sahara and rain forest regions. It is responsible for causing the most snakebite fatalities in Africa owing to various factors, such as its wide distribution, frequent occurrence in highly populated regions, and aggressive disposition.

Wildlife

Puff Adder

Bitis arietans

Bitis arietans is a venomous viper species found in savannah and grasslands from Morocco and western Arabia throughout Africa except for the Sahara and rain forest regions.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordPuff Adder20+ stays list it on site or nearby

Species insights▾

When to visit

Recorded year-round

Recorded in every month, so no month is the wrong month to look. We would rather say that than invent a best time.

Best monthsAny month

Records3,670 records

Curve from 3,670 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.

Where you'll find it

Western Cape and beyond

Provinces where Puff Adder is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.

3,672 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the Puff Adder

Places to stay

20+ results in South Africa

Singita Sweni Lodge

Mpumalanga

Puff Adder recorded here · Savanna biome · 53 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Singita Lebombo Lodge

Mpumalanga

Puff Adder recorded here · Savanna biome · 50 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Plains Camp @ Rhino Walking Safaris

Mpumalanga

Puff Adder recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Aardvark, African elephant · Guided walk, Game drives

Supports BirdLife South Africa

Price on request

Mdluli Safari Lodge

Hazyview

Puff Adder recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Game drives

From R 10,670 per night

Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge

Hazyview

Puff Adder recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 17,400 per night

Izingwe Lodge

Welgevonden Reserve, Vaalwater

Puff Adder recorded here · Savanna biome · 15 birds recorded · Aardvark, Banded mongoose · Hiking, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

Price on request

Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp

Marloth Park

Puff Adder recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Impala, Spotted hyena · Safaris, Guided walk

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 11,980 per night

Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp

Marloth Park

Puff Adder recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Guided walk

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 17,500 per night

Inzalo Safari Lodge

Welgevonden Reserve, Vaalwater

Puff Adder recorded here · Savanna biome · 15 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

Price on request

Ouberg Private Nature Reserve

Montagu

Puff Adder recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · 109 birds recorded · Black backed jackal, Honey badger · Cycling

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 350 per night

Grootkolk Wilderness Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Puff Adder recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Gemsbok, Springbok

From R 2,634 per night

Bitterpan Wilderness Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Puff Adder recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Gemsbok, Camel thorn · Stargazing, 4x4 trails

From R 2,634 per night

Kieliekrankie Wilderness Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Puff Adder recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Camel thorn, Gemsbok · Stargazing

From R 2,634 per night

Gharagab Wilderness Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Puff Adder recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Gemsbok, Giraffe · Stargazing, 4x4 trails

From R 2,634 per night

Kalahari Tented Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Puff Adder recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Gemsbok, Springbok · Stargazing

From R 2,314 per night

Urikaruus Wilderness Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Puff Adder recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Gemsbok, Springbok · Stargazing

From R 2,634 per night

Cobham

uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park

Puff Adder recorded here · Grassland biome · 30 birds recorded · Southern rock agama, Tree fuchsia · Guided walk, Hiking

From R 190 per night

Weenen

Weenen Game Reserve

Puff Adder recorded here · Savanna biome · Giraffe, Plains zebra · Hiking, Game drives

From R 130 per night

Monk's Cowl

uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park

Puff Adder recorded here · Grassland biome · 30 birds recorded · Real yellowwood, Chacma baboon · Guided walk, Hiking

From R 130 per night

Highmoor

uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park

Puff Adder recorded here · Grassland biome · 32 birds recorded · Real yellowwood, Chacma baboon · Guided walk, Hiking

From R 200 per night

Royal Natal (Thendele, Mahai & Rugged Glen)

uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park

Puff Adder recorded here · Grassland biome · 30 birds recorded · Chacma baboon, Bushbuck · Horse riding, Guided walk

From R 360 per night

Injisuthi

uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park

Puff Adder recorded here · Forest biome · 30 birds recorded · Real yellowwood, Chacma baboon · Guided walk, Hiking

From R 170 per night

Lehele Lodge at Gondwana Game Reserve

Gondwana Game Reserve, Mossel Bay

Puff Adder recorded here · Fynbos biome · 33 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Spa, Guided walk

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

Price on request

Kwena Lodge at Gondwana Game Reserve

Gondwana Game Reserve, Mossel Bay

Puff Adder recorded here · Fynbos biome · 33 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Spa, Guided walk

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

Price on request

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the Puff Adder

Hosts have recorded the Puff Adder at stays in or beside Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Kruger National Park and Gondwana Game Reserve.

When to go, park by park

Here all yearEasiest viewing

Best months to visit each park where hosts record the Puff Adder
Park	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Kgalagadi	Here	Here	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Here	Here	Here	Here	Here	Here	Here
Kruger	Here	Here	Here	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing

Darker months are each park's own best season, when thinner bush or scarce water makes viewing easier. A sighting is never guaranteed.

Best hours of the day

After dark and around dawn. The Puff Adder is mostly active at night, so a night drive gives the best chance.
Daytime, resting. Usually out of sight in cover, a burrow or water.

Where to base yourself

Ways to look

Drive yourself

Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.

Where hosts record it

Kgalagadi Kruger

Guided drives from a lodge

A guide who knows where to look, with off-road and night drives in the private reserves.

Where hosts record it

Gondwana Welgevonden

Species

Bitis arietans

Records

3 672

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

A record means a host has seen the Puff Adder on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.

Which parks and reserves are best for the Puff Adder in South Africa?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Puff Adder at stays in or beside Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Kruger National Park, Gondwana Game Reserve and Welgevonden Game Reserve. A record means a host has seen it on the property or nearby, which makes these the places to base yourself; it is never a guarantee of a sighting on any given day.

Where can you see the Puff Adder in South Africa?

The Puff Adder is most recorded in Western Cape (52% of records), Eastern Cape (12% of records), Limpopo (10% of records), based on 3 672 iNaturalist observations. 24 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Puff Adder on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the Puff Adder?

The Puff Adder is recorded throughout the year, so no month is the wrong month to look for it. For the parks where hosts record it most, these are the best seasons they give. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: Aug-Oct, flowers, Mar-May; Kruger National Park: Apr-Sep; Gondwana Game Reserve: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Welgevonden Game Reserve: May-Sep, dry season. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.