Based on the ranges of the African monitor lizard species, this must be either Varanus albigularis, the White-throated Monitor, or Varanus niloticus, the Nile monitor. It's hard to estimate the size from such a distance, but I would guess it was between 5 and 6 feet long (including tail). And it was beautifully patterned, which maybe you can slightly tell from this terrible picture. In favor of the Nile monitor: the species is very large and comfortable in trees. In favor of the White-throated monitor: the pattern seems too colorful for an adult Nile monitor, which seem to get pretty plain-colored as they get huge. But I'm not a monitor lizard expert, so I'm waffling.

Please send me mail if you have any further information, reference suggestions, or wild guesses that might help me identify this lizard.

7/8/00 -- After reading up a little more about monitors, I've decided this one is Varanus albigularis, based on (1) very large size with pronounced markings, and (2) not located particularly close to water.