Couple finds huge snake in car on holiday in South Africa

Caters

A couple on holiday in South Africa were shocked to find a deadly snake hitching a ride in their car.

The 16ft rock python slid underneath the bonnet of Marlene Swart and Leon Swanepoel's Renault car while they were on holiday at the Kruger National Park in South Africa.

The stunned couple were on the look-out for lions when the five-metre python shot out of the grass and disappeared under their car.

When the stubborn snake refused to reappear, Marlene, 38 and Leon, 51, from Brits in South Africa's North West province, were forced to endure a three-mile journey with the python in tow before arriving at the nearest lookout point.

When they opened the bonnet the deadly python was lying on the engine and had to be coaxed out of its warm retreat.

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Marlene said: "It was certainly a once in a lifetime experience that we will never forget.

"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.

"While we were searching the snake suddenly sailed out of the grass in our direction.

"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.

"I was totally in shock and terrified.

"When we eventually opened the bonnet the snake was just relaxing on the bonnet watching all of the commotion around him.

"It eventually sailed away unharmed and luckily there was no damage to the car.

"Later that evening we had a good chuckle about the reactions of the bystanders when the 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."

See more animals of the look-but-don't-touch variety that you might come across on your travels:

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