I still thank my lucky stars I didn’t linger. Had I stayed just a second longer or reached out in curiosity, things could’ve ended very differently. What I nearly stumbled upon? A Gaboon viper.

This snake isn’t just dangerous — it’s one of Africa’s deadliest. The Gaboon viper (Bitis gabonica) is the heaviest venomous snake in the world and a master of camouflage. It blends so perfectly with fallen leaves that you’d never notice it until it was too late.

Here are some chilling facts:

• Length: Up to 2 meters (6.5 feet)

• Weight: Up to 8 kilograms (18 lbs)

• Fangs: A record-breaking 5 centimeters (2 inches) — the longest of any snake

• Venom: Destroys tissue, causes internal bleeding and deadly clotting

• Temperament: Usually still and calm — until it’s provoked

• Diet: Eats small mammals, birds, and can even swallow a hedgehog or small antelope whole

While the Gaboon viper is rarely aggressive toward people, most bites happen by accident. And when they do, they’re devastating — without immediate antivenom, survival is unlikely.

It’s a silent predator. And I walked away from it. Barely.