Information
Landmark: Bio-Ken Snake FarmCity: Malindi
Country: Kenya
Continent: Africa
Bio-Ken Snake Farm, Malindi, Kenya, Africa
Overview
Just outside Watamu on Kenya’s coast, Bio-Ken Snake Farm stands out as a hub for snake research and conservation, where you might spot a cobra coiled in a shaded corner.Here’s a closer look at what’s inside: Bio-Ken Snake Farm, founded in 1980 by James and Sanda Ashe, was built to protect snakes and study them-sometimes up close enough to see the scales catch the light.It’s now a top destination for snake conservation in East Africa, where experts work under the shade of acacia trees to protect endangered species.The farm teaches people why snakes matter-how they keep ecosystems in balance-while its team studies them through hands-on research, sometimes in the rustle of tall grass at dusk.Here’s what you’ll find: more than 260 reptiles, with roughly 127 different kinds of snakes-some coiled lazily under warm lamps, others sliding silently through their enclosures.It covers both venomous and non-venomous species, from the lightning-fast Black Mamba to puff adders, cobras, spitting cobras, vipers, and plenty more.Home to one of Africa’s biggest snake collections, this place is perfect for anyone into herpetology-the study of reptiles and amphibians-and you might even hear the soft hiss of a python shifting in its enclosure.Venom Milking: At Bio-Ken, one of the most unusual sights is the careful “milking” of venomous snakes-glass vials catching drops of pale liquid that will later help make life-saving anti-venom.During special demonstrations, visitors can watch the process unfold-glass vials glinting under bright lights-and see firsthand how anti-venoms are made to save lives.Guided Tours: Spend about 45 minutes exploring the farm with a guide who shares lively stories and points out details like the scent of fresh hay in the barn.On the tours, visitors dive into the snakes’ world-learning how they hunt, where they live, and why their scales gleam under the light.Guides who know their stuff share insights that help visitors see how each snake-like a glossy green tree python-plays its part in the local ecosystem.Bio-Ken offers a vital public service, removing snakes from homes and businesses around Watamu-whether it’s a cobra curled in your kitchen or a python in the garden shed.Their team knows how to deal with snakes safely and treat them kindly, even when one’s coiled and hissing in the grass.After they're caught, the snakes are let go in the wild, far from houses and roads, where only the rustle of grass surrounds them.Snake Safaris: If you’d like to watch snakes glide through their natural habitat, Bio-Ken runs trips to nearby spots like Jimbe and Gede.On these trips, visitors can watch snakes glide through tall grass or curl under sun‑warmed rocks, a rare thrill for anyone who loves wildlife.The farm sits along Gede Watamu Road in Watamu, Kilifi County, Kenya, where the dusty track runs past coconut palms swaying in the heat.If you’re staying in a nearby coastal town like Watamu or Malindi, you can reach this area in no time-just a short, breezy drive along the shore.The farm welcomes visitors every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., giving you plenty of time to wander past the sunlit barns and join in the daily activities.Admission to the Bio-Ken Snake Farm won’t cost you much, and it comes with a guided tour-complete with the hiss of live snakes just a few feet away.Prices shift a bit from place to place, but most visitors find them easy on the wallet-and the experience delivers real value, like a guided walk that leaves you grinning.The ideal time to see the farm is in Kenya’s dry season, from July to October, when the air is crisp and the paths stay firm underfoot.These months bring plenty of warm sunshine and easy, pleasant days-the kind that make you want to wander through a bustling market or join a guided tour.Getting there’s easy-Bio-Ken sits in Watamu, just a quick 20-minute drive from Malindi and barely 10 minutes from the soft sands of Watamu Beach.You can get there by car or taxi, and many local tour operators fold it into a bigger safari or day trip-sometimes with a stop for cold mango juice along the way.Contact the farm at +254 723 386 558 if you’d like to ask a question or arrange a visit-whether it’s about the crops or to see the goats in the pasture.Beyond its research and conservation work, Bio-Ken puts a lot of energy into teaching the public-sometimes showing a snake’s patterned scales up close to spark curiosity.At the farm, visitors shed old myths and fears about snakes while getting close enough to see the way their scales catch the sunlight, all through lessons rooted in science and conservation.The farm shelters many endangered snakes, some with scales the color of wet sand, and works to safeguard them through careful breeding and hands‑on education programs.Beyond extracting venom, Bio-Ken actively works to protect Kenya’s snakes, from guarding fragile nests to rescuing injured ones from dusty roadside ditches.It offers injured reptiles a safe place to recover, and it works to protect species facing the squeeze of shrinking habitats or the noise and danger of human activity.The farm’s outreach program teaches nearby communities how to live alongside snakes, showing them simple steps-like leaving a sun-warmed rock untouched-that make peaceful coexistence possible.If you need more details, contact Bio-Ken through their website or give them a quick call to book a tour or ask about anything else.You can find them online at www.bio-ken.com, where the homepage greets you with a bright splash of yellow.If you’re drawn to wildlife, fascinated by reptiles, or care about conservation in East Africa, you won’t want to miss Bio-Ken Snake Farm, where the hiss of a cobra might greet you at the door.
