Hi all,
Like I said finally caught the snake, turns out I got it right and it was indeed a Snouted Cobra.
I tried Aaxel's advice when the sun was hot enough for the snake to bask. I took a hammer and started hitting it against the bricks hard enough to make a good racket. After 5 minutes of this I poured some water in and around the hole. The ground became soft and I decided to leave the cobra alone for awhile.
In this time I noticed a skink in and around the hole. I watched to see whether the snake would take the bait. After an hour or so the cobra appeared. It was flicking its tongue with gusto and spent a good deal of time at the sites where the skink had laid to bask. It got further and further out of the hole.
I made my move when the cobra was completely out of the hole. The capture went by without mishap and I released the snake within 20 minutes of the capture. We live on the outskirts of Nelspruit. I had the luxury of releasing the snake within 500m from where I had caught it.
I must say I am going to miss the cobra. It added quite a bit of entertainment to my mornings.
One last thing. My grandmother, who lives in George and is really not used to having cobra’s in her garden, is visiting us. Whilst she is still afraid of snakes she has had a complete perception change regarding snakes. She noted that all the cobra wanted to do was to get away. She helped me a fair bit in the capture handing me my camera and opening the box in which the cobra was transported. She also demanded that I develop some of the photographs for her to take back to George. It was nice to see.
Here are some of the photographs. The cobra gave me good chance to test out my brand new Canon EFS 15 - 85mm lens.
A Shangaan legend states that any man resting or sleeping in the shade of a baobab will become eccentric and forever be enslaved by Africa and its wilderness, guess it's too late for me.