The 29-year-old man was attacked while taking pictures of the serpent, police spokeswoman Mali Govender said.

Emergency medics tried to revive the man but he died soon afterwards.

According to Govender, it was not clear how the poison entered his body. The man had a collection of 89 poisonous snakes, including vipers.

The red spitting cobra is commonly found in Africa and is one of the most venomous snakes.

In South Africa, some people keep a dangerous snake as a form of protection against intruders or as a hobby.

In March thieves broke into a Reptile Centre in Edenvale, east of Johannesburg and stole six Uracoan rattlesnakes.