Reptiles Active at night

Cape House Snake

Boaedon capensis

iNaturalist Wikipedia

The ultimate backyard ally, the Cape House Snake is a non-venomous rodent hunter that thrives in the shadows of Southern African gardens. With its iridescent scales and distinctive head stripes, it is a master of the night.

0 Sightings

0 Habitats

Quick Identification

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Size

60-90 cm (24-35 inches) on average; large females can reach 1.2 m (4 feet). Weight typically ranges from 100-400g.

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Colors

Uniform light brown to dark chocolate or olive-green. Features two distinct pale stripes on the sides of the head passing through the eyes. Belly is a characteristic pearly white.

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Key Features

Two pale cream stripes on the side of the head
Smooth, glossy scales with an iridescent sheen
Vertical 'cat-eye' pupils
Pearly white or cream-colored underside
Slender, muscular build

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active at night

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Peak hours 8 PM - 2 AM

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Season September-March (Southern Hemisphere Spring/Summer)

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Diet Primarily rodents like mice and rats, which they dispatch via constriction. They also consume lizards, skinks, and occasionally small birds.

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Habitat Highly adaptable; found in suburban gardens, farmlands, rocky outcrops, and savanna. They are frequently found near human dwellings where rodents are present.

public Geographic range

Where Does the Cape House Snake Live?

Native to the southern and eastern regions of the African continent, the Cape House Snake is a widespread and highly adaptable reptile. Its core range spans across South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, reaching into parts of Zambia and Namibia. Because they thrive in human-modified environments, these snakes are frequently encountered in residential neighborhoods and agricultural lands where their prey is abundant, making them one of the most common snakes seen in Southern African backyards.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

8 Countries

4.5M km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

ZA South Africa BW Botswana ZW Zimbabwe MZ Mozambique ZM Zambia NA Namibia Swaziland Lesotho

Elevation range

0 m1,000 m2,000 m4,000 m

Sea level – 2,400 m

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

The Cape House Snake is a nocturnal powerhouse, renowned for its calm temperament and exceptional hunting skills. In the wild and suburban gardens alike, they act as a natural form of pest control, spending their nights tracking the scent trails of rodents. Unlike many more aggressive species, they are non-venomous and generally reluctant to bite unless severely provoked, making them one of the most 'human-friendly' snakes in Southern Africa.

During the day, they are masters of concealment, hiding under garden refuse, rocks, or inside wall cavities to escape the heat and predators. They are solitary creatures, only seeking out others during the spring mating season. When confronted, they may flatten their heads or strike as a bluff, but they much prefer to glide silently into the shadows of a backyard woodpile or shrubbery.

photo_camera EverydayEarth exclusive

Camera Tips

To capture the Cape House Snake on camera, placement is everything. These snakes are ground-dwellers that stick to 'edge' habitats where they feel secure. Position your camera no more than 6-10 inches off the ground, aiming it along the base of a garden wall, a stack of firewood, or the edge of a dense flower bed. These are the 'highways' snakes use to move through a backyard undetected.

Since they are strictly nocturnal, ensure your camera has a high-quality infrared (IR) flash. Standard white flashes will often startle the snake, causing it to flee before you get a clear shot. Set your PIR (Passive Infrared) sensor to maximum sensitivity, as snakes are cold-blooded and may not always trigger sensors designed for warm-blooded mammals unless they have recently been basking or the ambient temperature is high.

While you shouldn't use food bait (which can attract unwanted pests or harm the snake), you can increase your chances by placing the camera near a known 'lizard lek' or a spot where you've seen rodent activity. The best time for activity is on warm, humid nights, particularly after a light rain shower when the humidity is high and their prey is active. Use a 'Burst Mode' or short video clips (10-15 seconds) to capture their fluid, rhythmic movement.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Cape House Snake.

Aurora House Snake

Smaller and olive-green with a striking orange or yellow stripe running down the center of the back.

Olive House Snake

Generally larger with a more uniform olive-to-black coloration and lacks the prominent facial stripes.

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Frequently Asked Questions

No, Cape House Snakes are completely non-venomous. They are constrictors that pose no danger to humans or pets like cats and dogs.

The best way is to provide habitat: wood piles, rockeries, and dense ground cover. Avoiding pesticides and rodenticides also ensures they have a safe food source.

They are strictly nocturnal, typically emerging after sunset and remaining active until the early hours of the morning, especially on warm nights.

The Cape House Snake has two distinct pale stripes on each side of its head and vertical pupils, whereas the Brown Water Snake lacks these stripes and has round pupils.

They usually reach between 60cm and 90cm, but well-fed females can occasionally grow to 1.2 meters (4 feet).

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