About Us - African Reptiles & Venom

ABOUT

AFRICAN REPTILES & VENOM

20+ YEARS OF SNAKE HANDLING EXPERIENCE

Welcome to African Reptiles and Venom, your trusted source for comprehensive snake handling courses, snake safety courses, and snake training programs across South Africa. Our mission is to foster a safer and more informed community by providing specialized snake awareness, snakebite rst aid, and venomous snake handling courses for the public, private individuals, and corporate sectors.

Our Story

Our founder, Mike Perry, has been captivated by snakes since 1963, beginning his journey as a young snake handler at the age of 10. Driven by a curiosity for these unique reptiles, he successfully milked his first Rinkhals (Hemachatus haemachatus) at a young age and supplied venom for a local snake park by 1970. Over the years, Mike’s interests have grown to encompass not only venomous snakes—particularly Mambas—but also lizards, crocodiles,tortoises, and frogs. He has also contributed to crocodile farming and has worked actively with herpetological associations, building bridges between conservation authorities and herpetology enthusiasts to ensure reptile protection.

Our Venom Production Process

African Reptiles and Venom is honored to be the contracted supplier of snake venoms to the South African Vaccine Producers (SAVP), a subsidiary of the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS). SAVP uses our carefully processed snake venom in the production of polyvalent (SAIMR) antivenoms, a vital tool in saving lives across South Africa.

To ensure that our venom meets the highest standards, we take extraordinary care during the venom extraction and processing stages. The venom is extracted under sterile conditions, immediately cooled, centrifuged, and then frozen at -190°C to preserve its essential properties. The end product, a stable, freeze-dried powder, retains its potency for many years and plays a crucial role in producing antivenoms that counteract the bites of venomous snakes found across the African continent.

SNAKES WE EXTRACT VENOM FROM

Puff Adder, Gaboon Adder, Black Mamba, Green Mamba, Jameson’s Mamba Cape Cobra, Snouted Cobra, Forest Cobra, Mozambique Spitting Cobra, Rinkhals Boomslang (used exclusively for monovalent Boomslang antivenom)

Our Training Programs

With decades of experience and a deep respect for the role snakes play in our ecosystem, African Reptiles and Venom oers a variety of training courses designed to educate and protect. Our Snake Handling Courses provide hands-on training in handling venomous and non-venomous snakes safely, while our Snake Safety Courses focus on understanding snake behavior and preventing encounters. Our Snake Training programs include identication, snakebite rst aid, and snakebite treatment, empowering individuals and organizations to handle snake-related situations responsibly and confidently.

Whether you are looking to enhance workplace safety, comply with environmental regulations, or simply gain a deeper understanding of these remarkable reptiles, our team of experts is here to guide you.