Not venomous
African rock python
Python sebae
Africa's largest snake. It kills by squeezing, not venom, and is a powerful ally against rats.
Sanctuary · Research · Education
Meet the reptiles of The Gambia, up close.
A forest sanctuary on the Coastal Road between Gunjur and Kartong, where snakes, lizards, tortoises and crocodiles displaced by building and farming find a home, and where every visitor leaves a little less afraid of them.
Every dayOpen 8:30 to 17:30
GuidedEvery visit with a keeper
~1 hourSouth of Serrekunda by road
Thousandsof Gambian schoolchildren a year
Not a zoo
A home for reptiles with nowhere left to go.
As towns and fields spread along the coast, reptiles lose their homes, and too many snakes are killed on sight. The Gambian Reptiles Farm, known locally as the snake farm, takes them in. In a well-kept patch of coastal forest it shelters a near-complete collection of the country's reptiles and studies how they live.
Our first job is to help Gambians live in peace with their reptiles, and with their snakes above all.
Snakes eat the rats and mice that spoil grain and spread disease. Once people know which snakes are harmless and which deserve respect, they have far less reason to fear them, and far less reason to kill them.
Education
Guided visits for everyone, and thousands of Gambian schoolchildren each year at a price set for them.
Sanctuary
A safe home for reptiles displaced by development, and for animals brought in hurt or in danger.
Research
Observing reptiles, collecting data and samples, and helping to protect the natural wildlife of The Gambia.
The collection
Who you'll meet
Most snakes in The Gambia are harmless to people. A few are truly dangerous, and our keepers show you how to tell them apart. Who is on show changes as animals arrive and are released.
Not venomous
Royal python
Python regius
A shy, gentle python that curls into a ball when nervous. Often the first snake visitors hold.
Dangerous
Puff adder
Bitis arietans
Heavy, slow and perfectly camouflaged. It lies still rather than flees, so watch where you step.
Dangerous
Spitting cobra
Naja species
Can spray venom toward the eyes in defence. Kept well back and seen from a safe distance.
Mildly venomous
Night adder
Causus species
A small toad-eater. Its bite is painful and needs a doctor, but is rarely serious.
Mildly venomous
Sand & beauty snakes
Psammophis species
Fast, slender hunters of lizards on open ground. Quick to flee from people.
Mildly venomous
Herald snake
Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia
Known for its white-lipped warning display. Its fangs sit far back and it is harmless to people.
Not venomous
Wolf snake
Lycophidion species
A small night snake that hunts skinks and geckos, and often finds its way into houses.
Look, don't touch
Crocodiles
West African crocodile
Ancient survivors of the river creeks, honoured for generations in Kartong's own sacred pool.
Lizard
Nile monitor
Varanus niloticus
Africa's largest lizard: a strong swimmer and climber with a long whip of a tail.
Lizard
Senegal chameleon
Chamaeleo senegalensis
Eyes that swivel on their own and a tongue longer than its body. Patient and harmless.
Lizard
Agama lizard
Agama species
The bobbing lizard of every Gambian wall. Breeding males wear bright orange heads.
Lizard
Geckos
Several species
Sticky-toed night hunters that keep homes free of mosquitoes and moths.
Tortoise
Bell's hinge-back tortoise
Kinixys belliana
Can close the back of its shell like a door to shut out predators.
Turtle
African mud turtle
Pelomedusa subrufa
Lives in pools and seasonal ponds, and buries itself in mud to wait out the dry season.
Not venomous
Mildly venomous, rarely serious
Dangerous: see a doctor at once if bitten
Your visit
Hold a python. Learn who's who.
Every visit is guided by a keeper who knows each animal by name and habit. The dangerous ones stay at a safe distance; the gentle ones you may touch and photograph, if you'd like to.
Arrive
Come any day between 8:30 and 17:30. Mornings and late afternoons are coolest, and the animals are most active.
Walk the forest
Your guide leads you through the shaded enclosures, from tiny geckos to the big pythons.
Meet a snake
Hold a harmless snake under expert care, a favourite with children and a cure for many a lifelong fear.
Rest a while
Cold drinks and toilets on site. Ask your guide anything; nothing is a silly question.
Opening hours
- Every day
- 8:30 to 17:30
- Best time
- Dry season, November to May; morning or late afternoon
- Groups
- Please call ahead
Entry
- Visitors
- About 300 dalasi each, guided tour included
- Gambian school groups
- A greatly reduced price
Prices change from time to time. Call +220 779 5008 to confirm before you come.
Good to know
- Wear closed shoes and bring water and a hat.
- Photos are welcome.
- Children love it; keep them close to your guide.
- Easy to pair with Kartong, Gunjur, the turtle hatchery or a creek boat trip.
Myth or fact?
What people say about snakes
Tap a card to turn it over.
Snake help
Found a snake? Don't kill it. Call us.
If a snake is in your home, compound, hotel or school, keep people and pets away and call the farm. We will tell you what it is likely to be and what to do.
If you see a snake
- Stay calm and step back slowly, at least two big steps.
- Keep children and animals away. Do not try to catch it or hit it.
- Watch where it goes from a safe distance, and photograph it if you can.
- Call the farm on +220 779 5008.
If someone is bitten
- Move away from the snake. Keep the person calm, still and lying down.
- Take off rings, watches and tight clothing near the bite.
- Keep the bitten limb still, as with a broken bone.
- Go straight to the nearest health centre or hospital. Call an ambulance on 116.
✕ No cutting✕ No sucking✕ No tight tourniquet✕ No ice✕ Don't wait on home remedies
Snake help line, every day
+220 779 50084,000+
Gambian children a year visit the farm at a price set for schools.
Every ticket a visitor buys helps keep the price low for them.
Schools & groups
The next generation, unafraid.
A visit gives children something no textbook can: the chance to hold a snake, look a crocodile in the eye, and learn the plain facts that keep them safe for life.
- A guided lesson on the reptiles of The Gambia, matched to the age of the group
- How to recognise the few dangerous snakes, and what to do around them
- Why snakes and lizards matter to farms, homes and health
- Hands-on time with gentle animals, under a keeper's eye
Find us
On the Coastal Road, just north of Kartong.
- Between Gunjur and Kartong, in the far south-west of The Gambia, near the Senegal border.
- 1hAbout an hour's drive south of the Serrekunda, Kololi and Kotu hotels. Taxis and many excursions stop here.
- +Pair it with Kartong's sacred crocodile pool, the beach, the turtle hatchery at Gunjur or a boat trip through the creeks.
Questions
Before you come
Is it safe?
Yes. Every visit is guided, the dangerous animals are kept well apart from visitors, and you only ever hold harmless species with a keeper beside you.
Do I have to touch the snakes?
Not at all. Many visitors only watch. Your guide will never hand you an animal you don't want to hold.
Is it good for children?
Very. Children are often the bravest people on the tour. Keep them close to the guide and follow the guide's lead.
Is this a farm where reptiles are bred for sale?
No. Despite the old name, it is a sanctuary and research centre. Animals are here because they were displaced, rescued or are being studied.
How long does a visit take?
Most visits take under an hour. Stay longer if you have questions; the guides love them.
Can you remove a snake from my property?
Call +220 779 5008 and describe it or send a photo by WhatsApp. We'll tell you whether it is dangerous and what to do next.
Get in touch
Call ahead, or just come by.
+220 779 5008Open every day, 8:30 to 17:30 · Coastal Road, between Gunjur and Kartong, The Gambia