Reptiles Reptile Least Concern (IUCN)

African Rock Python

Python sebae Kiswahili: Chatu

Africa’s largest snake, reaching five metres or more, and one of the few reptiles that guards its own young.

Where to look: Nyerere National Park and the Rufiji Serengeti National Park — kopjes and riverine bush Tarangire and Lake Manyara national parks Ruaha, Mikumi and Katavi national parks
Best time: Year-round near water; most often seen basking on cool mornings in the dry season.
Habitat: Riverine bush, savanna, rocky outcrops, reedbeds and forest edge, almost always near permanent water.

In the field

Photograph coming soon

We publish our own photographs rather than stock pictures, so this profile is waiting on a african rock python image from one of our guides. It will be added as soon as we have one worth showing — the field notes below are complete in the meantime.

Species profile

About the african rock python

The African rock python is the largest snake on the continent, with big individuals exceeding five metres. It is a non-venomous constrictor, patterned in blotches of brown, olive and tan that break up its outline beautifully in dappled riverine bush.

It is a strong swimmer and is usually found near water, where it ambushes antelope, warthog and monkeys coming to drink. Unusually for a snake, the female coils around her clutch through incubation and stays with the hatchlings for up to two weeks afterwards — real parental care.

Life in the wild

Behavior & relationships

Behavior

Ambushes prey from cover or water, killing by constriction. Basks in the open in cool weather and lies up for weeks after a large meal.

Social life

Solitary, but the female guards her eggs throughout incubation and shelters the hatchlings for a short period — rare among snakes.

What makes it remarkable

Special features

Heat-sensing pits along the lips that detect warm-blooded prey in complete darkness, and genuine maternal care of eggs and hatchlings.

At a glance

Kiswahili name: Chatu
Wildlife group: Reptiles
Type: Reptile
Family: Pythonidae
Habitat: Riverine bush, savanna, rocky outcrops, reedbeds and forest edge, almost always near permanent water.
Tanzania locations: Nyerere National Park and the Rufiji
Serengeti National Park — kopjes and riverine bush
Tarangire and Lake Manyara national parks
Ruaha, Mikumi and Katavi national parks
Sighting availability: Uncommon to see; widespread but secretive and largely nocturnal.
Best time to see: Year-round near water; most often seen basking on cool mornings in the dry season.

Where to see it

Browse every profile recorded in one of these destinations.

Food & life cycle

Diet: Carnivore. Antelope, warthog, monkeys, large rodents, birds, monitor lizards and occasionally crocodiles.
Gestation / incubation: Incubation about 65–80 days; 20 to 100 eggs guarded by the coiled female.
Lifespan: Around 12–20 years in the wild.