Colouration of dorsal scales may vary from yellowish to greyish-brown, dark brown or blue-black.

[4] This species is found in northeast South Africa, southern Mozambique, eastern Botswana, Malawi, throughout Zimbabwe, and parts of Eswatini.

[5] Snouted cobras inhabit arid and moist savanna, particularly in bushveld and lowveld areas.

As a large cobra, it often has a permanent home base or lair in an abandoned termite mound, where it will reside for years if left undisturbed.

Very large adults are able to lift as much as 0.5 m of the body off the ground while spreading a wide, impressive hood.

It preys on toads, rodents, birds and their eggs, lizards and other snakes, especially puff adders (Bitis arietans).

The latter taxon was subsequently considered to be a subspecies of the snouted cobra, before being split off as a distinct species.