The Nguni Series

Title: Field Guide to the Snakes of Eswatini

Publishing date: May 2025

Pages: 301

Synopsis: This field guide is the first book of its type to describe all 63 of the recorded snake species found in Eswatini. 

Of those 63 species, only 7 are capable of inflicting a fatal bite on humans. Despite this, many of the remaining species are needlessly killed, either due to misidentification or fear.

This book hopes to provide an easy-to-use identification guide and enable a greater understanding of these very misunderstood and special creatures. 

We were extremely fortunate that fourteen photographers generously donated their stunning species images to this book. Nine of them are based in South Africa. 

All 63 snake species are beautifully presented with detailed descriptions, 63 accurate distribution maps and over 350 photographs.

This makes Field Guide to the Snakes of Eswatini a must for the hiker, naturalist and experienced herpetologist alike. 

Finally, a milestone guide for Southern Africa has arrived. Eswatini has, until now, lacked its own dedicated snake guide, often being combined with or overlooked in broader Southern African publications. Regional-specific guides are invaluable as they accurately represent colour forms and habitats.

Field Guide to the Snakes of Eswatini is meticulously crafted and beautifully presented, making it accessible to readers of all levels. It provides a wealth of detail to satisfy seasoned herpetologists while remaining approachable for those who may not be native English speakers. This guide is a must-have for any naturalist's collection.

The guide’s section on similar-looking snakes, green snakes, and lizards mistaken for snakes is especially noteworthy, addressing common issues not often covered in field guides. Additionally, it thoroughly explores the problem of snakebite in Eswatini, including challenges and treatment in resource-limited rural areas.

Congratulations to Rupert and Sarah for this exceptional work. I hope it reaches many in Eswatini, where it is urgently needed.

Tyrone Ping

26th July 2024.

A book devoted to the snakes of Eswatini is long overdue. Having been interested in reptiles from a young age and later in life being directly involved in educating the public about snakes and their conservation, I am delighted to be associated with this book. Apart from brief accounts of some of the more common snakes presented in Wild Swaziland almost two decades ago, no comprehensive work has been written on the snakes of Eswatini. Due to its varied and dramatic scenery, topography, vegetation and climate, the country is blessed with a rich and diverse herpetofauna represented by both temperate and subtropical elements.

Snakes are generally successful in surviving in a whole range of habitats found in natural as well as man-altered environments. This is especially so where the habitat provides a secure hiding place and prey. Consequently, just about every person will at one time or another cross paths with a snake and in many cases would like to know if it is dangerous or harmless. With more than sixty species being known from the country, only seven are considered potentially dangerous. For those who might feel daunted by trying to identify them all, this book will be very useful in helping them to identify the Big Seven and to learn where they are likely to occur. 

Snakes are an important integral part of ecosystems and food chains and play a critical role in controlling pests. They, in turn, are preyed upon by a wide variety of birds and mammals and other reptiles. Much habitat degradation and loss has occurred in the country. Conservation biologists noted declines in amphibians and reptiles in the 1980s and some of Eswatini’s snakes were listed as endangered, threatened or rare, and have over the years featured in no less than four red data books published in 1988, 2003, 2014 and 2023. At least three or four species have not been recorded in the country for more than 40 years. It is hoped that this book will create greater awareness, understanding and appreciation for this fascinating group of animals and help ensure their survival.

Rupert Wilkey and Sarah Nann are true enthusiasts and what is revealed in the pages of this book is their great passion for snakes and their keenness in sharing their extensive knowledge on the subject. People who have had anything to do with developing and setting up a publication like this must feel staggered at the amount of work that lies behind it. The end product is the easiest and most inviting of books for the reader to use. They are to be commended for ensuring that the book is liberally illustrated with outstanding photographs that enhance and facilitate the identification of the country’s snakes.

The book starts with a section that describes clearly how to use the book. Then jumps straight into the species accounts which are presented in five sections; highly venomous, venomous, venomous but not dangerous, not venomous and harmless. The species accounts are very well presented with specific information on distribution, size, description, colour, field notes and diet, and where applicable, notes on venom, bite symptoms and treatment. Readers will be very appreciative of the succeeding colour sections, frequently omitted from field guides, of similar-looking snakes, lizards confused with snakes and additional photographs that will assist in identifying species. 

This is then followed by a few sections that describe the country and the types of habitats available to snakes. This leads into a section on classification and biology of snakes, with the latter section covering anatomy, food and feeding, and defensive behaviour. The next chapter is on snakes and man, in which myths and superstitions and threats to snakes are described. Finally there are well presented informative accounts on how to avoid being bitten by snakes, snakebite and the management of snakebite in Eswatini.

Field Guide to the Snakes of Eswatini represents a monument to the authors’ personal patience and dedication and they are to be congratulated on their achievement. Apart from serving the general public, herpetologists, conservation and educational institutions, it will prove very useful in rural communities across the country.

Richard C. Boycott

Former Acting Director of Parks

Eswatini National Trust Commission

I have known Rupert Wilkey for a considerable number of years and it was both a privilege and honour to receive a pre-publication copy of Rupert and Sarah Nann’s new book FIELD GUIDE TO SNAKES OF ESWATINI.

It is a wonderful work and clearly, an enormous amount of passion, perseverance and hard work has gone into its creation. Rupert and Sarah are to be congratulated and should both feel incredibly proud and positive about the result. I believe it will be of great value to people throughout Eswatini and the wider herpetological community.

I have read many field guides from many different areas of the world over the past sixty years and I have to say that this is without doubt my favourite. It is more than a field guide! 

The format of the book differs markedly from what we are used to seeing in field guides. Opening the book, apart from the foreword, introduction, review, author's notes, acknowledgements and how to use this book, we are immediately taken to the “Stars of the Show” that are of course “The Snakes!”

The colour coding system is bright and clear, descriptions of the 63 snakes species covered are concise, supporting photographs are magnificent and make the possibility of identifying Eswatini species much easier for everyone using this guide. I particularly like the comparisons between Similar Looking Snake Species, Similar Looking Green Snakes, Lizards Confused with Snakes -  they are really useful.

Following on from the snakes there is a plethora of supporting and interesting reading about Eswatini and its habitat types, classification, biology and behaviour of snakes and existential threats to their survival. There is information on 'Snakes & Man', 'Beliefs & Superstitions' and a comprehensive section on snakebite, an extraordinary work on its own and much more. This information is at the front of most field guides, where as here it supports the snakes.

I applaud this new book structure, where the snakes are described and presented first, from both a practical and aesthetically pleasing standpoint and I thoroughly recommend this wonderful new book.

Andy Martin

19th June 2024.