INSTITUTE
Snake Awareness, First Aid for Snakebite and
Venomous Snake Handling courses in Africa,
as well as the largest distributor of quality
snake handling equipment on the continent.
OF PRODUCTS
selection of snake- and snakebite-related
products available in Southern Africa.
GUIDE TO THE SNAKES OF
SOUTHERN AFRICA
A Complete Guide to the Snakes of Southern Africa.
Close on 800 new photographs, updated taxonomy,
some new species, updated distribution maps
and a lot of new information on snake biology,
behaviour, first aid and the medical treatment of snakebite.
GUIDE TO FIRST AID FOR SNAKEBITE
to do in a snakebite emergency, this 28 page
booklet, written by Johan Marais, now includes
a section about First Aid for Pets.
GUIDE TO SNAKES AND SNAKEBITE
snake identification features,
snake removals information,
free information posters, and more.
Ronel Smith1 week agoA course I would definitely recommend to everyone. The presenter had a vast amount of knowledge and was able to answer questions from participants with ease and confidence. An absolute highlight was the snake handling portion. I truly learnt a lot from this and was secure in the fact that the trainers were closely watching each participant with the different snakes and were ready to intervene if need be. Thank you, guys, your patience and diligence were much appreciated. I walked away feeling less scared and more empowered.
The Catamaran Club2 weeks agoOn behalf of The Catamaran Club, we would like to extend our sincere thanks to the African Snakebite Institute for presenting the snake handling course.
The training was informative, practical, and greatly appreciated. Your expertise and professionalism have helped improve the safety and awareness for our members and staff, while also teaching us to treat the snakes we encounter with greater care, respect, and understanding when handling them.
A special thank you is also extended to the staff who presented and assisted with the course, namely Sake, Shwan, Tim, and Teacher and not least Michelle for all the emials. Your patience, knowledge, and hands-on guidance contributed greatly to the success of the training and were sincerely appreciated.
Thank you for your valuable contribution and support.
Johan Du Plooy
The Catamaran Club
Louis Schutte2 weeks agoASI Bootcamp Course is a must do for any outdoors person to handle situations correctly and safely.
Bettina Engert2 weeks agoHighly recommended! I recently completed the Venomous Snake Handling Course including theory (relevant spiders, scorpions, snakes) and First Aid in Klapmuts. The course was perfectly structured, combining in-depth theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience. Our instructor Tim was extremely knowledgeable, and passionate about snake conservation and public safety. The practical sessions (handling with a Puff Adder, Cape Cobra and a Boomslang very different snakes, using various materials & techniques) have been amazing.
Tim not only taught technical skills but also fostered a deep respect for these animals and their behavior. Learned a whole lot, had an amazing experience, every single Rand well-spent.
ewa gurny2 weeks agoBeautiful experience.Very well presented and very informative.Will do it again soon.Thank you .
Karen McCarthy2 weeks agoThe African Snakebite Institute presents venomous snake handling training in an exceptionally professional, safety-focused, and responsible manner. Their emphasis on risk assessment, correct handling techniques, and respect for snakes ensures that participants gain practical skills while maintaining the highest safety standards.
I attended the Level 2 Snake Handling Bootcamp which was extremely educational, providing valuable hands-on experience under expert supervision. The instructors shared a wealth of knowledge and experience, creating an engaging learning environment that reinforced both confidence and competence in venomous snake handling. It is a highly worthwhile course for anyone seeking to improve their understanding and practical skills in the safe management of venomous snakes
Johan Smit3 weeks agoSnake handling course attended 30/05/26. Very well presented by Sake & Shauwn. Both very knowledgable and subject matter experts.
Can highly recommend
Jaymee Gobetz3 weeks agoMy boyfriend and I absolutely loved the Level 1 course with the African Snakebite Institute. We learnt so much and left feeling far more confident and informed about snakes, spiders and scorpions.
Sake and Shawn were exceptional – knowledgeable, patient, engaging and clearly passionate about what they do.
This course is invaluable for anyone wanting to educate themselves, learn essential snakebite first aid, and understand how to safely deal with snakes.
It is also perfect for anyone wanting to overcome fear and better understand some of South Africa’s most misunderstood species.
We are incredibly grateful for the experience and cannot wait for Level 2. Highly recommended!
Karen Heydenrych5 months agoI attended the Snake Awareness and First Aid for Snakebite course held at Cradle Moon Lakeside Lodge in Muldersdrift on 31 January 2026. Our instructor for the theoretical section was Sake, who was excellent. I highly recommend this course to anyone interested in learning more about the snakes, spiders and scorpions of Southern Africa. Thank you to the ASI for all the hard work that went into this course, and for educating us about these incredible reptiles. I’d also encourage people to visit their website, which has a wealth of valuable content and information.
Lauren Agenbag12 months agoFantastic course! I attended the level 1 snake awareness and venomous snake handling course. It was very interesting, insightful and enjoyable. I had a great time and would highly recommend this course to anyone interested in learning about snakes.Response from the owner 12 months ago Thanks Lauren, hope to see you at Bootcamp soon. 
Emma Fagan12 months agoGreat courses teaching safe handling for both the handler and the snake. Highly recommend!Response from the owner 12 months ago Thanks Emma, looking forward to seeing you at a future course. 
Francois du Toit1 year agoAmazing course! Had a wonderful time.Response from the owner 1 year ago Great to have you there Francois! 
Moyra Keane1 year agoThe Snake Awareness and Snakebite First Aid course was amazing. I learnt a great deal of interesting and useful information. Excellent presenter and very professionally organised.Response from the owner 1 year ago Thanks for your review Moyra! Glad to hear you enjoyed the course. 
Darren Evans1 year agoI really enjoyed the amount of practical time we had. Gives you time to gain the right confidence. The trainers had a wealth of practical advice and experience. So it was lovely picking their brain. This was the third time I've done the Bootcamp, but first time the tree scenario was included - which was great. I also liked the smaller group giving everyone a few more opportunities to practice the techniques.Response from the owner 4 years ago Thanks for the kind words. See you at a future course.
Rudie Cronje1 year agoI wanted to improve my nature guiding skills, but I had little knowledge about snakes and had never handled them before. The team that presented the course was extremely knowledgeable and ensured that all handling was safe. The critical role of first aid was well presented. Thank you for this great opportunity.Response from the owner 1 year ago Great to have you there for both days Rudie! 
Leigh-Ann Van Der Linde1 year agoHad such an amazing experience last year with Level 1 & this year with Level 2! Keep up the awesome work ASI! 😉
Response from the owner 1 year ago Thanks Leigh-Ann! Great to have you on the courses. 
Maria Scheepers1 year agoNeeded snake gaters, GOT IT
Highly recommended!Response from the owner 1 year ago Hi Maria, thanks for your review, we are so glad you are happy with your purchase. 
Leani De Villiers1 year ago
Doron Frantzen1 year agoThank you Sake, Shawn and team for an awesome weekend about snake awareness and handling !!!!
Appreciating snakes with more insight and confidence 😃
Response from the owner 1 year ago Thanks for your kind words Doron. It was great to have you there! 
Crispin Thompson1 year agoThe ASI Snake Awareness, First Aid for Snakebite and Venomous Snake Handling course provided an ideal opportunity for me to expand my knowledge of Southern African snakes, scorpions and spiders. The information and instruction provided by Johan Marais and his team was very useful and the calm, friendly atmosphere made the experience even more enjoyable.
Antje Madden1 year agoI attended the Advanced Snake Handling course because I needed more confidence with how to handle a snake situation by myself. I was so impressed by Johan and the Trainers. The way the course was run was top class and I now have more confidence. I can highly recommend the course. Good luck for the future.
Bernard Madden
Mariëtte Van Rooyen1 year agoI attended the had the greatest experience on 18 & 19 January 2025 with the ASI team!
I attended both the "Snake Awareness, First aid for snakebite and Venomous Snake Handling", and the "WC- Venomous Snake Handling Bootcamp" courses.
The team (Johan Marais, Tim, Quin and Megan) is professional, they assisted and supported each person under their individual circumstances (fear, doubt, hesitancy, eagerness) during both the courses.
It was great to have a female instructor's (Megan) guidance and understanding during the course.
Thank you ASI team!
Sorita Holtzhausen1 year ago(For the website) I found a scorpion in my house and this was the best identification and helpful information. PS it was Plain Pymy-thicktail, safely relocated it to the garden it came from.
Matthew Boshoff2 years agoAll the instructors were really nice and helpful with any questions, they all made sure your safety was the number one priority. I recommend if you regularly encounter snakes or just love snakes to do the course.
Daniella Jones2 years agoThank you to the ASI team, we completed the venomous snake handling course on Saturday. We thoroughly enjoyed the course. A special thanks to Johan, Shawn, Tim, Brian and Teacher - your team is absolutely incredible! We will definitely be partaking in the bootcamp training very soon!
Thank you team!
Ronel Smith
1 week ago
A course I would definitely recommend to everyone. The presenter had a vast amount of knowledge and was able to answer questions from participants with ease and confidence. An absolute highlight was the snake handling portion. I truly learnt a lot from this and was secure in the fact that the trainers were closely watching each participant with the different snakes and were ready to intervene if need be. Thank you, guys, your patience and diligence were much appreciated. I walked away feeling less scared and more empowered.
The Catamaran Club
2 weeks ago
On behalf of The Catamaran Club, we would like to extend our sincere thanks to the African Snakebite Institute for presenting the snake handling course.
The training was informative, practical, and greatly appreciated. Your expertise and professionalism have helped improve the safety and awareness for our members and staff, while also teaching us to treat the snakes we encounter with greater care, respect, and understanding when handling them.
A special thank you is also extended to the staff who presented and assisted with the course, namely Sake, Shwan, Tim, and Teacher and not least Michelle for all the emials. Your patience, knowledge, and hands-on guidance contributed greatly to the success of the training and were sincerely appreciated.
Thank you for your valuable contribution and support.
Johan Du Plooy
The Catamaran Club
The training was informative, practical, and greatly appreciated. Your expertise and professionalism have helped improve the safety and awareness for our members and staff, while also teaching us to treat the snakes we encounter with greater care, respect, and understanding when handling them.
A special thank you is also extended to the staff who presented and assisted with the course, namely Sake, Shwan, Tim, and Teacher and not least Michelle for all the emials. Your patience, knowledge, and hands-on guidance contributed greatly to the success of the training and were sincerely appreciated.
Thank you for your valuable contribution and support.
Johan Du Plooy
The Catamaran Club
Louis Schutte
2 weeks ago
ASI Bootcamp Course is a must do for any outdoors person to handle situations correctly and safely.
Bettina Engert
2 weeks ago
Highly recommended! I recently completed the Venomous Snake Handling Course including theory (relevant spiders, scorpions, snakes) and First Aid in Klapmuts. The course was perfectly structured, combining in-depth theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience. Our instructor Tim was extremely knowledgeable, and passionate about snake conservation and public safety. The practical sessions (handling with a Puff Adder, Cape Cobra and a Boomslang very different snakes, using various materials & techniques) have been amazing.
Tim not only taught technical skills but also fostered a deep respect for these animals and their behavior. Learned a whole lot, had an amazing experience, every single Rand well-spent.
Tim not only taught technical skills but also fostered a deep respect for these animals and their behavior. Learned a whole lot, had an amazing experience, every single Rand well-spent.
ewa gurny
2 weeks ago
Beautiful experience.Very well presented and very informative.Will do it again soon.Thank you .
Karen McCarthy
2 weeks ago
The African Snakebite Institute presents venomous snake handling training in an exceptionally professional, safety-focused, and responsible manner. Their emphasis on risk assessment, correct handling techniques, and respect for snakes ensures that participants gain practical skills while maintaining the highest safety standards.
I attended the Level 2 Snake Handling Bootcamp which was extremely educational, providing valuable hands-on experience under expert supervision. The instructors shared a wealth of knowledge and experience, creating an engaging learning environment that reinforced both confidence and competence in venomous snake handling. It is a highly worthwhile course for anyone seeking to improve their understanding and practical skills in the safe management of venomous snakes
I attended the Level 2 Snake Handling Bootcamp which was extremely educational, providing valuable hands-on experience under expert supervision. The instructors shared a wealth of knowledge and experience, creating an engaging learning environment that reinforced both confidence and competence in venomous snake handling. It is a highly worthwhile course for anyone seeking to improve their understanding and practical skills in the safe management of venomous snakes
Johan Smit
3 weeks ago
Snake handling course attended 30/05/26. Very well presented by Sake & Shauwn. Both very knowledgable and subject matter experts.
Can highly recommend
Can highly recommend
Jaymee Gobetz
3 weeks ago
My boyfriend and I absolutely loved the Level 1 course with the African Snakebite Institute. We learnt so much and left feeling far more confident and informed about snakes, spiders and scorpions.
Sake and Shawn were exceptional – knowledgeable, patient, engaging and clearly passionate about what they do.
This course is invaluable for anyone wanting to educate themselves, learn essential snakebite first aid, and understand how to safely deal with snakes.
It is also perfect for anyone wanting to overcome fear and better understand some of South Africa’s most misunderstood species.
We are incredibly grateful for the experience and cannot wait for Level 2. Highly recommended!
Sake and Shawn were exceptional – knowledgeable, patient, engaging and clearly passionate about what they do.
This course is invaluable for anyone wanting to educate themselves, learn essential snakebite first aid, and understand how to safely deal with snakes.
It is also perfect for anyone wanting to overcome fear and better understand some of South Africa’s most misunderstood species.
We are incredibly grateful for the experience and cannot wait for Level 2. Highly recommended!
Karen Heydenrych
5 months ago
I attended the Snake Awareness and First Aid for Snakebite course held at Cradle Moon Lakeside Lodge in Muldersdrift on 31 January 2026. Our instructor for the theoretical section was Sake, who was excellent. I highly recommend this course to anyone interested in learning more about the snakes, spiders and scorpions of Southern Africa. Thank you to the ASI for all the hard work that went into this course, and for educating us about these incredible reptiles. I’d also encourage people to visit their website, which has a wealth of valuable content and information.
Lauren Agenbag
12 months ago
Fantastic course! I attended the level 1 snake awareness and venomous snake handling course. It was very interesting, insightful and enjoyable. I had a great time and would highly recommend this course to anyone interested in learning about snakes.
Response from the owner 12 months ago
Thanks Lauren, hope to see you at Bootcamp soon. Emma Fagan
12 months ago
Great courses teaching safe handling for both the handler and the snake. Highly recommend!
Response from the owner 12 months ago
Thanks Emma, looking forward to seeing you at a future course. Francois du Toit
1 year ago
Amazing course! Had a wonderful time.
Response from the owner 1 year ago
Great to have you there Francois! Moyra Keane
1 year ago
The Snake Awareness and Snakebite First Aid course was amazing. I learnt a great deal of interesting and useful information. Excellent presenter and very professionally organised.
Response from the owner 1 year ago
Thanks for your review Moyra! Glad to hear you enjoyed the course. Darren Evans
1 year ago
I really enjoyed the amount of practical time we had. Gives you time to gain the right confidence. The trainers had a wealth of practical advice and experience. So it was lovely picking their brain. This was the third time I've done the Bootcamp, but first time the tree scenario was included - which was great. I also liked the smaller group giving everyone a few more opportunities to practice the techniques.
Response from the owner 4 years ago
Thanks for the kind words. See you at a future course.Rudie Cronje
1 year ago
I wanted to improve my nature guiding skills, but I had little knowledge about snakes and had never handled them before. The team that presented the course was extremely knowledgeable and ensured that all handling was safe. The critical role of first aid was well presented. Thank you for this great opportunity.
Response from the owner 1 year ago
Great to have you there for both days Rudie! Leigh-Ann Van Der Linde
1 year ago
Had such an amazing experience last year with Level 1 & this year with Level 2! Keep up the awesome work ASI! 😉
Response from the owner 1 year ago
Thanks Leigh-Ann! Great to have you on the courses. Maria Scheepers
1 year ago
Needed snake gaters, GOT IT
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
Response from the owner 1 year ago
Hi Maria, thanks for your review, we are so glad you are happy with your purchase. Leani De Villiers
1 year ago
Doron Frantzen
1 year ago
Thank you Sake, Shawn and team for an awesome weekend about snake awareness and handling !!!!
Appreciating snakes with more insight and confidence 😃
Appreciating snakes with more insight and confidence 😃
Response from the owner 1 year ago
Thanks for your kind words Doron. It was great to have you there! Crispin Thompson
1 year ago
The ASI Snake Awareness, First Aid for Snakebite and Venomous Snake Handling course provided an ideal opportunity for me to expand my knowledge of Southern African snakes, scorpions and spiders. The information and instruction provided by Johan Marais and his team was very useful and the calm, friendly atmosphere made the experience even more enjoyable.
Antje Madden
1 year ago
I attended the Advanced Snake Handling course because I needed more confidence with how to handle a snake situation by myself. I was so impressed by Johan and the Trainers. The way the course was run was top class and I now have more confidence. I can highly recommend the course. Good luck for the future.
Bernard Madden
Bernard Madden
Mariëtte Van Rooyen
1 year ago
I attended the had the greatest experience on 18 & 19 January 2025 with the ASI team!
I attended both the "Snake Awareness, First aid for snakebite and Venomous Snake Handling", and the "WC- Venomous Snake Handling Bootcamp" courses.
The team (Johan Marais, Tim, Quin and Megan) is professional, they assisted and supported each person under their individual circumstances (fear, doubt, hesitancy, eagerness) during both the courses.
It was great to have a female instructor's (Megan) guidance and understanding during the course.
Thank you ASI team!
I attended both the "Snake Awareness, First aid for snakebite and Venomous Snake Handling", and the "WC- Venomous Snake Handling Bootcamp" courses.
The team (Johan Marais, Tim, Quin and Megan) is professional, they assisted and supported each person under their individual circumstances (fear, doubt, hesitancy, eagerness) during both the courses.
It was great to have a female instructor's (Megan) guidance and understanding during the course.
Thank you ASI team!
Sorita Holtzhausen
1 year ago
(For the website) I found a scorpion in my house and this was the best identification and helpful information. PS it was Plain Pymy-thicktail, safely relocated it to the garden it came from.
Matthew Boshoff
2 years ago
All the instructors were really nice and helpful with any questions, they all made sure your safety was the number one priority. I recommend if you regularly encounter snakes or just love snakes to do the course.
Daniella Jones
2 years ago
Thank you to the ASI team, we completed the venomous snake handling course on Saturday. We thoroughly enjoyed the course. A special thanks to Johan, Shawn, Tim, Brian and Teacher - your team is absolutely incredible! We will definitely be partaking in the bootcamp training very soon!
Thank you team!
Thank you team!
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Online Courses
Online Beginners Guide to Snake Identification
There are 176 species and subspecies of snakes in southern Africa. Some of these snakes are rare or uncommonly encountered as they may have restricted distributions or are not abundant. Other species may be wide-ranging and are commonly encountered.
This course will examine the basic and common groups of snakes in Southern Africa.
Online Advanced Snake Identification
Snake identification can be a tricky task for beginners and even for snake enthusiasts or experts. Of the 176-odd species and subspecies that occur in Southern Africa, there are a few groups that seem to confuse people frequently.
This course covers easily confused snakes and commonly misidentified species. We include distribution maps, scale counts and a key to identification within each group.
Online Snake Awareness and First Aid for Snakebite
This course covers the basics of snake awareness in southern Africa, first aid for snakebite, behavior, anatomy, venom, and myths. Spiders and scorpions are also covered but not comprehensively.
Online Kids’ Snake Awareness Course
This course covers, an introduction to snakes & reptiles, how snakes work, snake senses, snake behavior, snake defences, snakebite and venom, snakes of southern Africa, profiles on 45 snakes, quizzes, worksheets and colouring pages.
Snake Removers Database
We maintain a list of snake removers throughout Southern Africa.
