Simon Keys from Snake City: salary, wife, net worth, tattoos, death rumours
Simon Keys from Snake City is a fearless snake catcher and TV personality known for rescuing venomous snakes across South Africa. Simon enlightens other human beings on how to coexist safely with them in Snake City, a show that airs on Nat Geo. Here's a quick look at his biography.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- Profile summary
- Who is Simon Keys from Snake City?
- Where was Simon Keys born?
- How old is Simon Keys from Snake City?
- Where is Simon Keys now?
- Career
- What is Simon Keys' net worth?
- How much does Simon Keys make per episode?
- Is Simon Keys still with Siouxsie Gillett?
- Does Simon Keys have children?
- Is Simon from Snakes in the City still alive?
- Has Simon from Snakes in the City ever been bitten in season?
- How tall is Simon Keys?
- How to watch Snakes in the City?
- Where is Snake City filmed?
- How do I contact Simon of Snakes in the City?
- Fast facts about Simon Keys
Key takeaways
- Simon is best known for co-hosting Snake City (also known as Snakes in the City)
- Simon was married to Nadine Keys, with whom he co-founded a snake removal service and co-hosted the first season of Snake City.
- Simon splits his time between Durban, South Africa, and Dunstable, England.
- Beyond his work with reptiles, Simon is a tattoo artist and operates Taipan Tattoos in the UK.
Profile summary
| Full name | Simon Keys |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | 15th July 1974 |
| Age | 50 years old (as of 2025) |
| Zodiac sign | Cancer |
| Place of birth | England |
| Current residence | Dunstable, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Height | 5'10" (178 cm) |
| Weight | 172 lbs (78kg) |
| Marital status | Married |
| Ex-wife | Nadine Keys |
| Current wife | Siouxsie Gillet |
| Profession | Television personality, conservationist, snake catcher, and tattoo artist |
| Net worth | $300,000 |
| Social media |
Who is Simon Keys from Snake City?
Simon is a television personality, conservationist, snake catcher, and tattoo artist. People best know him from Snake City on Nat Geo.
His unusual career path has caught the attention of numerous people globally. The heavily tattooed television personality has British nationality, and his ethnicity is White.
Where was Simon Keys born?
The reptile conservationist was born in England. He spent most of his childhood in Hertfordshire, where his love for nature and reptiles grew.
He discovered his first newt at age five, which he found exciting. Although his friends and family were terrified of reptiles, he did not keep away from them. Instead, he explored reptiles, amphibians, and fish more.
He would go out searching for these animals. He also read every book he could find on reptiles, and at 12, he convinced his parents to allow him to have a pet corn snake.
How old is Simon Keys from Snake City?
Simon Keys' age is 50 years as of 2025. He was born on 15th July 1974, and his zodiac sign is Cancer.
Source: Instagram
Where is Simon Keys now?
The reptile conservationist spends half a year with his partner on a property known as The Secret Sanctuary in Dunstable, England. The couple lives with over 80 snakes and other reptiles. He spends the other half of the year in Durban, South Africa.
Career
The television personality started his career as a reptile conservationist. By 30, he owned England's largest exotic and venomous snake business. He kept different species, ranging from taipans and vipers to kraits and rattlesnakes.
After getting married in 2005, he relocated to Durban, South Africa, and opened a wildlife rescue company there. His firm rescued and removed reptiles and animals from people's homes and properties, then released them back into the wild.
In 2014, the reptile conservationist secured a job as a show host. He started hosting Snake City, a wildlife documentary television series filmed in Durban, South Africa. In the first season, he hosted alongside Nadine.
Since the second season, he has co-hosted the show with Siouxsie Gillett. At one point, he temporarily moved back to England, where he worked in a local reptile park run by Siouxsie.
In the show, he offers educational content on catching and releasing life-threatening snakes, including pythons, cobras, and black mambas. The hosts travel across South Africa to save snakes, usually by hand, because they are experienced reptile handlers. Their joy is watching the snakes slither away back into the wild without being harmed.
Simon and Siouxsie Gillett are also event performers. They provide animals, especially exotic species, to events such as school talks, corporate events, and parties.
They have an Animal Activity License and meet all the requirements to participate in events. The animals they bring are safe and handled regularly. Therefore, they are well-behaved and pose no danger to the public.
Tattoo business
Besides running a snake removal business, the television personality is a tattoo artist. He runs a tattoo business known as Taipan Tattoos in the United Kingdom.
Due to his busy schedule, the reptile conservationist's tattoo business only operates on appointments. He offers eccentric services, and his keen eye for detail makes him one of the sought-after artists. He advertises his art using his heavily tattooed body.
What is Simon Keys' net worth?
According to Naija News, the reptile catcher has an alleged net worth of $300,000. He makes money from his tattoo business, co-hosting Snake City, and running a reptile removal business.
How much does Simon Keys make per episode?
The amount the television personality makes from hosting Snake City is yet to be revealed.
Is Simon Keys still with Siouxsie Gillett?
The television personality is still in a relationship with Siouxsie Gillett. Simon Keys' wife has a degree in herpetology. The couple resides in Dunstable, England, and Durban, South Africa.
The couple lives with many snakes and other reptiles in their conservatory, The Secret Sanctuary. They also spent half their time in Durban, South Africa, where Snake City was filmed.
How did Simon Keys and Siouxsie meet?
The snake catcher and his partner had known each other for 14 years before they started dating because the reptile conservationist community is close-knit.
Simon Keys and Siouxsie Gillett met again in a reptile shop owned by Siouxsie in England. At the time, Siouxsie was his boss. The two were friends for a while before they started dating. In the second season of Snake City, Siouxsie became his co-host.
Before his relationship with Siouxsie Gillett, the snake catcher was married to Nadine Keys. Nadine was originally from South Africa, so the couple relocated to Durban, South Africa, in 2005.
On the other hand, Siouxsie was previously married to a zoologist named Mark Amey. He and Nadine hosted the first season of Snake City. The snake catcher moved back to England after his relationship with Nadine ended.
Who is Simon Keys' ex-wife?
Simon Keys' ex-wife, Nadine Keys, married him in 2005 after meeting in England. They moved to Durban, started a snake removal service, and co-hosted Snake City in 2014. After seven years, they divorced due to work pressures and personal differences.
What happened to Simon and Nadine of Snake City?
Simon and Nadine Keys co-hosted the first season of Snake City in 2014, showcasing their shared passion for reptiles. Following their separation, Simon returned to the UK and began working at a reptile shop owned by Siouxsie Gillett, a longtime acquaintance.
Where is Nadine Keys now?
Nadine Keys has since withdrawn from public life. After leaving the show and her divorce from Simon, she seems to have opted for a low-key lifestyle, avoiding the media spotlight.
Does Simon Keys have children?
As of now, there is no publicly available information indicating that Simon Keys, the co-host of Snake City, has any children. His personal life has primarily been shared through his professional endeavours and partnerships, notably with his ex-wife Nadine Keys and current partner Siouxsie Gillett.
Is Simon from Snakes in the City still alive?
Although there have been speculations that the snake catcher is dead, he is still alive. There have been rumours about Simon Keys' death, but they are unfounded. Despite his high-risk profession involving venomous snakes, Simon is alive and continues his work as a snake catcher and conservationist.
Has Simon from Snakes in the City ever been bitten in season?
Simon Keys from Snake City has been bitten by snakes multiple times over the course of his career. One of his most serious bites was from a Copperhead snake, which caused him excruciating pain due to the unavailability of anti-venom at the time.
He sustained a bite on his finger and started sweating heavily and vomiting shortly afterwards due to the venom. He treated the bite with antibiotics and plenty of ice and returned to his feet after a while.
How tall is Simon Keys?
The television personality is 5 feet 10 inches, or 178 centimetres, tall and weighs approximately 78 kilogrammes, or 172 pounds. He has brown eyes and a bald head.
How to watch Snakes in the City?
You can watch Snakes in the City through various streaming platforms and TV channels. Here are a few ways:
- National Geographic Wild: The show airs on Nat Geo Wild, so you can check your local TV listings for showtimes.
- Discovery+: The show may be available for streaming on Discovery+, a subscription service that hosts various wildlife and documentary shows.
- Hulu: Some seasons of Snakes in the City may be available on Hulu (depending on your region).
- Amazon Prime Video: You can buy or rent episodes/seasons on Amazon Prime Video.
- YouTube: Select clips or full episodes might be available for purchase or free streaming on YouTube.
Where is Snake City filmed?
The show is filmed in Durban, South Africa, in the KwaZulu-Natal province, known for its warm subtropical climate. It follows professional snake catchers responding to calls from residents encountering snakes in and around the City.
How do I contact Simon of Snakes in the City?
To contact Simon Keys for snake removals in the Durban area, you can reach him and his partner, Siouxsie Gillett, through;
- Business Address: They operate from Simon's Snake Removal, located at 35 Elgie Road, Glenmore, Durban. You can also reach them at 078 382 7819.
Fast facts about Simon Keys
- He was born in England and grew up in Hertfordshire.
- His passion for reptiles started early, at age 5.
- He splits his time between Durban, South Africa, and Dunstable, England.
- He has extensive experience handling and rescuing snakes, particularly in urban environments.
- Simon is known for his daring approach to snake handling.
Simon Keys from Snake City continues to captivate audiences with his fearless snake rescues and unique lifestyle. Despite swirling death rumours, Simon remains very much alive and active in his work. His fascinating tattoos, devoted relationship with his wife, and steady career contribute to a notable net worth that reflects his success in the world of wildlife television.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
Emmanuel Tamaro (Lifestyle writer) Emmanuel Tamaro is an editor with over 4 years of working in digital media for Tuko.co.ke, Yen.com.gh, and iWriter. He is an alumnus of the Faculty of Media and Communications at Multimedia University (2019). Tamaro mostly focuses on the entertainment and technology niches. He won the Best Writer award in 2022 (Tuko.co.ke). In 2023, Tamaro finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. Email: ryanellismutuku@gmail.com
Cyprine Apindi (Lifestyle writer) Cyprine Apindi is a content creator and educator with over 4 years of experience. She holds a Diploma in Mass Communication and a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Kenyatta University. Cyprine joined Tuko.co.ke in mid-2021, covering multiple topics, including finance, entertainment, sports, and lifestyle. In 2023, Cyprine finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. In 2024, she completed the Google News Initiative course. Email: cyprineapindi@gmail.com
