WATCH: Snake catcher Sarel bags python and black mamba in one morning

It's not often you get to witness a python and a black mamba being caught in the space of three hours.

February 28, 2019

Shona Aylward 2 minutes read

Johann Botha, security manager of the Wild Coast Sun and SArel van der Merwe holds the 1.5m python.

The recent hot weather has kept snake catcher Sarel van der Merwe rather busy.

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On Monday this week, Herald journalist Shona Aylward joined Sarel on an expedition to catch a two metre python locked in a bedroom at Sharon Norton’s home in Port Edward.

Sharon had phoned Sarel the previous night, asking for his help in removing the python from her home.

It was far too late for Sarel to venture out, so he advised her to lock the snake in the bedroom, and he would come to her rescue early the next morning.

Sharon said she was concerned as about a year ago, she had had a four metre python in her house and the snake had killed one of her dogs.

The massive python which ate Sharon’s dog a year ago.

Sarel and Shona arrived just after 6am, and after searching for the python, finally found it curled up under a cupboard.

Sharon, Sarel van der Merwe, and the uninvited guest.

It took Sarel more than 30 minutes to wrest the python out from under the cupboard, as pythons are extremely strong when they contract their muscles.

But, of course, the coast’s very own ‘Crocodile Dundee’ managed, and the one and half metre beauty was released near the Wild Coast Sun.

“Thanks go to Wild Coast Sun CEO Myan Moodley and security manager Johann Botha for caring about the environment and wildlife, and for allowing me to release the python on their premises,” said Sarel.

He advised people to keep their houses clean, and to not have too many dogs in order not to attract snakes.

As he was leaving the Wild Coast, Sarel received a phone call from Marinda Strydom in Leisure Bay regarding a black mamba lurking in the ceiling of her outbuilding.

Now, the black mamba has quite a reputation – it is one of the world’s deadliest snakes, the fastest land snake in the world, the longest species of venomous snake in Africa and the second longest in the world.

It didn’t take Sarel very long to grab the highly venomous snake from the roof trusses, and wrangle it safely into a bag.

Sarel (with the bagged black mamba) with relieved trio Lucky Jaka, Marinda Strydom and Annette Nhluwayo of Leisure Bay.

The successful catch left behind a very relieved group of onlookers (including this journalist – who declined an invitation to ‘interview’ the snake before it was released!)