FYI ....in Africa, most deaths from Mamba bites are caused by people trying to kill them. They don't just attack people for no reason, but they can be quite territorial, and they obviously don't just sit their when someone is trying to kill them. In scrub-land and grass-land, you do not want to go against an adult Black Mamba. Black Mambas are the second largest venomous snake (after the Hamadryad ....King Cobra), and they are the world's fastest snake. And unless you have the presence of mind to aim and drop an 10+ footer coming straight for you, bobbing and weaving, then you'd better best leave it alone. Unlike Rattlers, Mambas don't just sit squat making noise and wait to get shot.
Not unless you have a shotgun loaded with buck shot, and you have nerves of titanium and are a good shot. Anything else (eg solid rounds, or even worse, a stick or machete) and it's your @$$!
Unless you want to introduce your nervous system to a Mamba's neurotoxic venom. You'd better know how to breath through your skin, convince your body to utilize anaebolic respiration, or sprout gills, because your lungs won't be working in a while. However there is one good thing ....it is not that painful. Quite serene really, quite serene.
Like a gentle kiss by an electrifying lady.
And anyways, you'd make the local news.
Mea culpa.
I have heard stories of mambas tracking people through the trees like they are hunting someone....I know when my friends escaped his flew out of the cage & tried to get away.....when he saw he was being chased....the snake turned the hunt around & started going after my friend. The story ended well....but that was the last day the mamba stayed in his house.