Namibian Flying Snake

FLYING REPTILE of South Africa.

Variant name: Noya a thaba.

Physical description: Length, 9–25 feet. Yellow, 
black, or brown with light spots. Rumored 
to change colors like a chameleon. Large head, 
with a luminous or reflective spot on a caplike 
structure. May also have a pair of backwardcurving 
horns. Inflated neck. Batlike wings. 
Wingspan, 30 feet.

Behavior: Hurls itself down hills, making a 
loud roaring sound. Said to be capable of sustained 
flight, not only gliding. Smells like tar or 
“burned brass.”

Tracks: Serpentine, showing the marks of 
scales.

Distribution: Karas Region, Namibia; Drakensberg, 
South Africa.

Significant sightings: In January 1942, Michael 
Esterhuise was tending sheep near Keetmanshoop, Namibia, when he saw a large snake 
launch itself down a rocky ledge into his flock. 
He encountered the snake on two later occasions.

Marcus Oarum ran into a snake gliding down 
the Drakensberg Mountains in 1985.

Possible explanations: 
(1) Unknown African species of Golden tree 
snake (Chrysopelea ornata), a colubrid snake 
of Southeast Asia that jumps from tree to 
tree by gliding. 
(2) Alleged skulls of this flying snake found 
in 1988 turned out to be the pelvic bones of 
Ostriches (Struthio camelus).