Steve starts his South African adventure in one of the weirdest places he has ever gone looking for animals – a power station, in the dark! He is staking out the location for a little big cat that has so far eluded the Deadly 60 – the serval.
After a couple of failed attempts to find one, including an unfortunate crash with a camera drone and Steve getting covered in thorns, Steve and the crew film a serval hunting rodents right in front of them, showing off the cat’s amazing radar ears and lethal pounce. The serval finally gains a well-deserved place on Steve’s list!
South Africa is home to some of the world’s deadliest snakes and Steve has three fangy contenders vying for the title of Deadly Champ of Chomp! First up is an African rock python, owner of more than 100 rearward-pointing teeth for gripping its prey. Next is the Mozambique spitting cobra with its highly specialised fangs for launching venom at high speed. But the crown goes to the mighty gaboon viper, a snake superstar and owner of the longest fangs of any snake.
Out in the bush, Steve goes on the trail of the elusive golden baboon spider with the help of some local school kids. The baboon spider is a gentle giant of an arachnid that is under threat from illegal collecting for the pet trade. Steve uses a special camera called an endoscope to observe one in its burrow before tempting it out to meet the boys and show off its huge fangs. Spiders are a mainstay of the Deadly 60 – will this one make the grade? Show less