As Jurassic World: Rebirth rocks movie theaters by storm this Summer 2025, a hidden region in Africa has been brewing its own Jurassic World-esque scenario since primordial times. This region is rumored to be teeming with mysterious living dinosaurs and other strange reptilian creatures in its wake. This place, in a way, is like Jurassic World in real life. Welcome to the Congo Basin—known as the “Lungs of Africa”—an essential rainforest for our planet. The Congo Basin, along with the Earth’s other critical rainforests like the Amazon in South America, have an important role in reducing carbon dioxide emissions on a global scale; helping regulate Earth’s climate conditions. In addition, the Congo Basin is home to a vast array of endangered flora and fauna ranging from majestic gorillas to delicate endemic orchids, making it one of our planet’s most vital ecological treasures. While the Basin is a sanctuary for many animals that we’re familiar with today; this place is also home to primal myths and memories of saurian beasts thought to echo Earth’s prehistoric past.  Sit tight, dear reader, for we’ll explore these rumored living dinosaurs pronto. Might of the Mokele-Mbembe “One Who Stops the Flow of Rivers” is what the name Mokele-Mbembe means to the local Bantu peoples of the Congo Basin. Often described as a massive herbivore resembling a sauropod dinosaur (think Brontosaurus or Diplodocus), Mokele-Mbembe is said to dwell in the remote swamps, rivers and dense jungles. It is in the Congo Basin’s wetlands where the Mokele-Mbembe has dominion in, as local folklore suggests that the creature is so territorial that it would attack full-grown hippopotami and humans alike. This enigmatic creature has captivated imaginations for centuries, with its origins rooted deep in both oral traditions and speculative accounts. The earliest recorded references to the long-necked cryptid date back to the 18th century, when European missionaries and explorers documented unusual stories spoken by the indigenous peoples of the region. These accounts are often filtered through the lens of colonial curiosity, but the accounts depicted a creature of astonishing scale and power; inspiring debates about the survival of prehistoric life in hidden corners of the Earth. Throughout the 20th century, multiple expeditions sought tangible proof to confirm the sauropod cryptid’s existence. Cryptozoologists and researchers alike braved the harsh environment of the Congo Basin with the attempt to gather anecdotes, sightings and even alleged footprints. Despite the intrigue, no concrete scientific confirmation of the creature’s existence has emerged, leaving Mokele-Mbembe still in the realm of legend as of 2025. In local oral traditions, Mokele-Mbembe is sometimes viewed as a guardian spirit that protects the sanctity of waterways and warding off external threats. Others see it as an ancestral echo of Earth’s prehistoric epochs—a living relic that bridges the ancient past and present. Whether interpreted as a symbol of nature’s mysteries or a literal inhabitant of the Congo’s vast wilderness, Mokele-Mbembe continues to inspire wondrous exploration. After all, this creature has gained popularity in recent memory into the pantheon of famous cryptids alongside Bigfoot and Nessie. Rage of the Emela-Ntouka Translating to “Killer of Elephants” in the local Lingala Bantu language, this enigmatic creature is often described as a rhinoceros-like animal with a bulk size rivaling that of an elephant’s. Its most distinctive feature is a single prominent horn on its head, which is said to make it capable of disemboweling even the largest elephants in the region—an act central to its fearsome reputation. The Emela-Ntouka first gained Western attention in the mid-20th century, largely due to reports documented by Lucien Blancou, a French wildlife inspector. Blancou described local tales of a large creature feared by indigenous peoples for its aggressive nature. In the 1980s, renowned cryptozoologist Dr. Roy Mackal led expeditions into the Likouala swamps, with his goal of searching for Mokele-Mbembe. At the same time during his trek, Mackal met up with local informants who then introduced him to the legend of the Emela-Ntouka.  The informants described it as a semiaquatic horned beast with characteristics similar to ceratopsian dinosaurs like Centrosaurus; a smaller cousin to the famed dinosaur Triceratops. Like the Centrosaurus, the cryptid sported similar horn structures, though this theory faced skepticism due to the absence of a frilled neck according to eyewitness accounts of the Emela-Ntouka. Others speculate that the cryptid is rather an overgrown extinct rhino or horned mammal rather than a saurian, but the ceratopsian theory remains the most popular belief. Local traditions portray the Emela-Ntouka as both a guardian of the region and a deadly threat. Indigenous communities, particularly the Aka Pygmies, describe it as fiercely territorial, willing to attack humans and other animals that encroach upon its domain. Its behavior is framed within a cultural context, where it is respected as a powerful force of nature, embodying the untamed spirit of the Central African swamps. Tyranny of the Kasai Rex The Kasai Rex is a cryptid believed to be a carnivorous dinosaur or mega sized lizard, reported to be lurking in the Kasai Valley of the Congo. Legend of this saurian emerged in 1932, when a plantation owner of Swedish descent named John Johanson (alternatively spelled Johnson) provided the first detailed account to the West. According to Johanson, he and his servant stumbled upon the creature while traveling through the Kasai Valley. As the story goes, both men witnessed the enormous beast emerge from the vegetation to attack a rhinoceros, before tearing its limb apart with a single powerful bite. Johanson claimed the creature measured approximately 13 meters (or approximately 43 feet) in length, featured reddish scales with dark stripes, and had thick hind legs built for speed. The most infamous aspect of this legend lies in the photograph Johanson allegedly captured during the encounter, depicting a large lizard feeding on the carcass of a rhinoceros. However, this image was later exposed as a hoax, created by superimposing a Komodo dragon onto a photograph of a rhino. Critics have argued that the story itself is likely fabricated given its inconsistencies, including