Editor’s Note: This article is part of CNN Travel’s Monthly Ticket series, which explores unique and offbeat travel topics. In October, we delve into the world of the unusual, featuring haunted spaces and abandoned places. In the bustling city of Hong Kong, William Sargent’s eyes light up as he spots the glimmer of snake skin in his torchlight. In a split second, he gears up, dons a protective glove, and thrusts himself into the dense green jungle. Emerging moments later, he proudly presents a many-banded krait, a venomous snake with stunning black and white stripes. Sargent, a police-approved snake expert, has been leading “Snake Safaris” in Hong Kong since 2017, providing adventurous visitors with the opportunity to experience the city’s lush landscapes up close.
Sargent, a British expat who developed a passion for herpetology while exploring Hong Kong’s subtropical scenery as a teenager, is not only fulfilling his own interests but also combating the stigma and fear surrounding snakes. He firmly believes that snakes are misunderstood creatures and aims to raise awareness and appreciation for them through his guided tours. “Many snakes are needlessly killed due to fear,” he explains. Sargent’s tours take place in Hong Kong’s protected country parks, where residents often come into contact with over 50 different snake species, including the deadly King Cobra and massive Burmese Python.
Despite the high number of snakes in Hong Kong, snakebites are rare, with only about 100 reported cases each year. The last snakebite-related death occurred in 1988 when a shopkeeper was bitten by a non-native snake without access to antivenom. Hong Kong’s excellent healthcare system ensures that snakebite victims receive prompt and effective treatment, making it one of the safest places in the world in terms of snakebites.
Sargent himself receives regular calls to capture snakes in various locations, ranging from schools and prisons to homes and even beaches. He recently participated in a “Rapid Release Program” that allows him to release captured snakes directly into the nearest country park, reducing paperwork and ensuring the snakes’ well-being. This policy change has faced challenges due to cultural practices that view snakes as a threat or a source of food. As a result, many snake species in China, including large ones, are classified as vulnerable or endangered. However, Sargent’s efforts, such as giving talks at local schools and creating an active Facebook group called Hong Kong Snakes, are gradually transforming public perception and fostering a sense of appreciation for these beautiful creatures.
Participants in Sargent’s Snake Safaris, such as Michelle Yu, have experienced a complete shift in their attitudes towards snakes. Yu, a member of the Facebook group, says that she went from finding snakes repulsive to actively seeking encounters with them. The tours not only offer the opportunity to observe various snake species but also allow participants to appreciate the unique contrast between Hong Kong’s urban skyline and its exotic natural landscapes.
During a typical Snake Safari, participants encounter a diverse range of snakes, including bamboo pit vipers, diamondback water snakes, bicolored stream snakes, and the stunning many-banded krait. Sargent ensures the safety of his guests while providing them a chance to stroke the soft underbelly of the krait, although he playfully warns them not to go further up its body to avoid triggering insurance concerns.
In addition to snakes, the tour also offers sightings of other wildlife, including barking deer, leopard cats, porcupines, and various bird species. Participants might even come across the striking fire-bellied newts with their vibrant orange and red markings. The tour takes visitors along rocky paths lined with bamboo, crossing babbling brooks amidst the sounds of cicadas. Towards the end of the route, Sargent encounters a baby diamondback water snake, which bites him on the fingertip. Unfazed, he reassures everyone that the snake’s venom is harmless to humans.
As the tour comes to an end, Sargent releases the snake, watching it gracefully glide across the moonlit water’s surface into the tranquil Hong Kong night. The Hong Kong Snake Safari offers a unique opportunity for adventure and connection with nature in the midst of a bustling metropolis. Prices for the tour start at $550 HKD ($70 US) per person.
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