Bitis arietans is better known as the common puff adder. It is a highly toxic, cytotoxic, venomous viper species found in savannah and grasslands from Morocco and western Arabia throughout Africa except for the Sahara and rain forest regions. They avarage about 1m in length but some have been known to be almost double this length. Although mainly terrestrial, these snakes are good swimmers and can also climb with ease. They often they are found basking in low bushes.
With the warm and wet seasonal conditions experienced in the West Rand over the summer months and the proliferation of the rodent population, it has provided the ideal conditions for these snakes to thrive. The owner of the house where this cache is located has found these snakes on the property coming in from the park as well as the river in the valley below. Therefore, always be cautious when looking for caches in these parks and the the nearby open spaces on the hills.