I still can’t believe how close I came to dying that day. I almost reached out—thinking it was just a fallen leaf—but something stopped me. Thank God it did.

What I nearly touched was a Gaboon viper—one of Africa’s deadliest snakes and the largest venomous snake in the world.

With its incredible camouflage, you won’t notice it until it’s already dangerous. These vipers can stretch over six feet, weigh around 18 pounds, and sport the longest fangs of any snake—up to two inches. Their venom is brutal, causing rapid tissue destruction and dangerously thickening blood.

Usually, Gaboon vipers stay calm and only strike if they feel threatened. But one wrong step near one can be deadly. Most bites are accidental—and without immediate medical care, survival chances are grim.

That morning, I was inches from disaster. If I’d hesitated another moment, this story would have had a very different ending.