I was in town with Gogo (grandmother) Nzalo one day, working on a couple of grants that I was writing for rebuilding 3 preschools that had been damaged by the cyclone that passed through a couple years before I got there. She was a community activist, and very interested in getting the grants, and getting the preschools back in bidness. She was worldly and educated, and had come back to Swaziland, her home, to spend her golden years working with communities here. After we submitted the grant proposals, she took me over to the Ministry of Education, and introduced me to Timothy, who wanted to talk to me about some grants he had in mind. He also was going to Nhlangano that evening, and if I wanted to stay until he was off work, he would give me a ride back to my school, which was on the way. I agreed, and we hashed out some details for grants, and I left to go to the market. I needed provisions, and loved haggling with the mothers there, so I planned to fill my pack to the brim. I arrived at the Ministry about 5, heavily laden, and hopped into the cab of his truck.

Timothy was an educated, well spoken man, and a delight to converse with as we ground our way along the dirt roads heading toward my school. It got dark while we drove and talked. At one point, we went down a little slope and across a small bridge over a dry river. Just as the edge of the bridge was passing out of the headlights, I glimpsed an enormous snake head on the side.

Me: Stop ! Stop! Timothy, please stop and turn around. I saw something and I want you to put your headlights on it.

Timothy: What, Maseko? What did you see?

Me: A large snake. I just want to take a look at it.

The road was maybe 20′ wide, and he backed and filled until we were pointing back at the dry river, and eased forward, and abruptly stopped. There was the snake in our lights. Or, at least part of it. The snake had crossed the road, and his head was lost in the brush, but his body was still coming on. It was about as big around as my thigh, and was stretched all the way across the road with the front going off, and the rear still coming on. I jumped out of the truck to get a closer look, and Timothy freaked out.

“Maseko, get back in the truck right now. The snake will kill you!”

I was still about 10 feet away, and on the tail end side of the truck, so I felt sort of safe as I watched the end of the snake finally get to the road and across it. I knew it was at least 20 feet long, and had an enormous head, the size of a basketball. It was beautiful. I am sure it was a python. Biggest snake I ever saw. Probably going to find him a couple of tasty goats for dinner.

Snakes need to eat, too