Most of the ball python vivariums I've seen here and on Google image search are one of two types. The basic aspen shaving or other substrate, hide, and water dish; or the more advanced planted (live or fake) with the Great/Stuff coco fiber background and a liberal use of cork bark.
I keep my dart frogs in this set up and it looks great. But it looks like a rainforest jungle, not semi-arid West Africa. Most of the BPs in the wild videos and pictures are of red or tan dirt and a mix of tall and short grasses. Near, but not in the forest.
Has anybody done a realistic West African viv? Either live or fake planted. I think having real dirt would make a mess with a water dish and poop, but maybe it could be simulated?