Marlene Swart and Leon Swanepoel watched on in horror as they saw a 16 foot python slither through the grass and up underneath their car bonnet while they were on holiday in Kruger National Park in South Africa.
The couple from Brits in South Africa were looking out for lions when they came across the python just before it disappeared under their car and settled on the engine, refusing to move.
Ms Swart said: ‘It was certainly a once in a lifetime experience that we will never forget.
‘I was totally in shock and terrified.
‘When we spotted a couple of safari vehicles on the road we thought it was the lions we were looking for but we were informed there was a python in the grass.
‘I waved to the vehicle behind us asking him to reverse but he didn’t realise what was going on.
‘The python disappeared underneath our car and about two minutes later everyone started laughing when it failed to reappear.’
At the lookout they built up the courage to open the car bonnet.
Ms Swart said: ‘When we eventually opened the bonnet the snake was just relaxing on the bonnet watching all of the commotion around him.
‘Later that evening we had a good chuckle about the reactions of the bystanders when it exited the vehicle.
‘People were scattering in all directions, I’m only disappointed that I was numb with fear and shock and didn’t take more pictures.’
The national park is the largest game reserve in South Africa and is home to some 114 reptile, 507 birds and 147 mammal species across 7332 square miles.
The African Rock Python is the continent’s largest snake with females growing up to 16 foot long and males up to 14 foot.
The park dates back to 1898, when it was founded as the Sabie Game Reserve, in an attempt to control hunting in the area. It did not see a tourist until 1927, however – one year after it took on National Park status.
Each year about 950,000 people visit Kruger and 80 per cent of those visitors are South African.
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