Reptile Garden

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Reptile Garden A fun and interactive reptile display park where people can learn about reptiles.
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We also have a reptile specialist shop where you can get everything you need to care for your herps properly. Reptile Garden is a display park where we have more than 50 species of reptile on display from Mambas, King Cobra to large pythons, geckos, Monitor Lizards and much more. Our main aim to to create interest in reptiles and educate the youth about these amazing creatures. We also have a reptile specialist shop attached where you can get products to care for your critters.

12/10/2026

Been wanting to get a shot like this for a while now. Just a pity the light in this room looks like it is strobbing on camera.

This is Citrine one of my albino West African Gaboon Vipers (Bitis rhinoceros) having a big yawn. 180 degree angle on that one. Fascinating!

These animals are absolutely amazing. I remember first seeing one in a book and thinking WOW, that would be something to appreciate but they highly venomous. Haha now I can't get enough of them and feel blessed to have breed the world first albinos. Mind blown!

We are going to have a stand at Welgemoed Straatwinkel this Saturday the 10th October. Please come check us out and shar...
08/10/2026

We are going to have a stand at Welgemoed Straatwinkel this Saturday the 10th October. Please come check us out and share. Get close to some of these amazing animals and learn about reptiles.

01/10/2026

Nova the Albino West African Gaboon Viper (Bitis rhinoceros) has shed and is looking very pretty.

They must be the best snakes at shedding although they dont shed very often. With every shed the albinos just get better and yes we know normals are prettier so you don't have to comment that everytime. 😂

It is almost time for upgrades and substrate. I always like to get them well established on paper first. She is very defensive but in time she will calm down.

28/09/2026

Rhombic Egg Eater (Dasypeltis scabra) having a chicken egg after her shed.

They have a specially adapted vertebrae in their neck that they used to grid ontop of the egg until it cracks. Which you can hear is audible. They then continue to squeeze out the contents and regurgitated the shell.

They are such an amazing species. Barley any teeth in the mouth as eggs dont fight back. When it comes to defensive they do it best. Flatten the head to look like an Adder, gap an inky back mouth, rasping its scales together like a sawscaled Viper and striking out like crazy. This defensive behavior often gets them in trouble with humans thinking they dangerous and then ignorance kills.

Intimidation is a clever tactic in the animal kingdom. The most harmless snake on the plant has to act tough.

🐍 REPTILE GARDEN IS PROUD TO BE A CATCHERS UNITED SERVICE AGREEMENT HOLDERSnake season is here — and with it comes an in...
16/09/2026

🐍 REPTILE GARDEN IS PROUD TO BE A CATCHERS UNITED SERVICE AGREEMENT HOLDER

Snake season is here — and with it comes an increase in encounters between people and wildlife.

At Reptile Garden, we believe that the answer isn't fear. It's knowledge, preparation and responsible response.

That's why we've partnered with Catchers United as a Service Agreement Holder.

Catchers United is building a new approach to wildlife conflict management — connecting the public with professional wildlife responders while creating meaningful data that can help us better understand where, when and how wildlife encounters happen.

For us, this is about more than simply removing a snake.

It's about safe response, education, conservation and helping people learn to live alongside our wildlife.

If you encounter a snake, don't take unnecessary risks and don't try to handle it yourself.

📲 Visit www.catchersunited.com and get connected to the Catchers United network.

The difference between fear and respect is knowledge. 🐍

🌿 Reptile Garden
🤝 Catchers United Service Agreement Holder

15/09/2026

Skitzo and Skeletor our male Black Mambas having a wrestling match.

This combating is fairly common this time of year/ mating season. They only do it occasionally and dont stress to a point where we have to remove one. They good brothers and still eat well.

Some say the most aggressive snake but they are in fact a very nervous and defensive species.




14/09/2026

Honey not so sweet. She is a West African Gaboon Viper (Bitis rhinoceros) and she is not happy.

These snake can be pretty calm for thespecies butbthey all have their own personalities. A little huffy puffy okay but some posturing tells another story. She is not being aggressive but rather defensive.

So in this video I am working with what she is telling me. I could have easily provoked a strike response but that defeat what I am trying to do with the relationship. So as a snake handler you learn to read this language both physical and audio being pretty obvious. Snakes will often warn you again and again. Just dont push the boundaries.

Don't ever underestimate these animals and their capabilities. I got a hnge surprise when I had nose horn impressions in my forearm. Just normal hook and tailing the snake, it got spoked by a plant touching its neck and I couldn't even blink before it did a full 180 on me. Luckily pulling away and not striking me. Hens the nose horn impression but if you see how these snakes can adjust while striking or missing you will be surprised. I must have been white as a sheet. LOL

When they are like this they get double hook treatment only!

10/09/2026

Ghillie and Suede doing a bit of combating to see who gets the rights to the lady.

These two West African Gaboon Vipers (Bitis rhinoceros) were combating for a few hours so I decided to remove the one male. They might just exhaust themselves too far. So always good to check and that is why I have cameras to keep eyes in them.

We have decided to give Ghillie a turn with a female as he was very busy in his cage. The only time they ever are really. He gets his name due to his amazing camouflage like a sniper in a ghillie suit. He is Bitis rhinoceros so don't let his tear drop fool you. Something stands out about him.

Suede was offered food and surprisingly he ate. He will get time to digest and then I will swap the out again. Covering the female with 2 males might be best. Suede is a poven male het albino, so we will maybe see if Ghillie is too or maybe not. Either way all normal babies will be 100% hets.





08/09/2026

This was a pressed revamp to say the least!

We recently got a donation of juvenile Green Mambas (Dendroaspis angusticeps). So we decided to take our big old girl off display to make space for these unpermitted animals. As we are a registered institution we are allowed to take drop off animals, although this is not always a possibility due to space. Very few facilities are able to take in highly venomous snakes and if they can't find a home then they are often euthanized. So we had to move fast on this.

I always want to be able to give my animals more. This for me is so rewarding, I wish I could just do this alot more.

Citron is giving it his all but Velvet is not very impressed. He is just on breeding age which is around 3 years for a m...
02/09/2026

Citron is giving it his all but Velvet is not very impressed.

He is just on breeding age which is around 3 years for a male. Females I personally want to be at least 5 years before an attempt and it could be longer.

Most important part is having a willing male. Some males just dont care while others are on it within minutes. His great grandfather and grandfather were both absolute champs! So it runs in the genes.

Hopefully we will be seeing a new generation of new blood het albinos. If not this season some time in future.

No waiting list sorry.

Address

Stodels Nursery 0A Eversdal Road Bellville
Cape Town
7550

Opening Hours

Monday 10:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 09:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 09:00 - 17:00
Thursday 09:00 - 17:00
Friday 09:00 - 17:00
Saturday 09:00 - 17:00
Sunday 09:00 - 17:00

Telephone

+27847763537

Website

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