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 an implausible fainting episode by Johanson, who claimed to have fainted from shock only to awaken and photograph the beast moments later. Despite these doubts, the Kasai Rex’s story quickly captivated the imagination of cryptid enthusiasts.
While proponents of the saurian’s existence suggest it might be a surviving theropod dinosaur, such as a Tyrannosaurus cousin or even a Majungasaurus, these ideas face significant criticism from the scientific sphere. Dinosaurs went extinct around 66 million years ago, and no fossil evidence has supported the survival of large theropods into the modern age. Skeptics also point to more mundane explanations, such as misidentifications of known animals like monitor lizards or even exaggerated accounts of encounters with Nile crocodiles. Still.. who knows.. a reptilian beast capable of mauling a grown rhino? That screams Jurassic World vibes loud and clear.
Mbielu-Mbielu-Mbielu: Mossy Mystery Beast
Often referred to as the “Animal with Planks Growing Out of its Back,” the Mbielu-Mbielu-Mbielu is one of the more peculiar cryptids reported from the Congo Basin swamps. Eyewitness descriptions portray it as a large semi-aquatic creature with distinctive plate-like structures running along its back. These plates are often described as covered in green algae or moss, giving the impression that the creature is well-camouflaged to its wetland habitat.
The first documented references to this creature in Western records emerged during expeditions led by the aforementioned cryptozoologist Dr. Roy P. Mackal in the early 1980s. Mackal’s interest in the region, again sparked by reports of Mokele-Mbembe, led him to uncover local testimonies about this mysterious creature. Villagers in the Likouala region, particularly from places like Bounila and Epena, spoke of an animal that would surface in rivers and lagoons, with only its plated back visible in sight. In these accounts, the Mbielu-Mbielu-Mbielu appeared to be herbivorous and peaceful, though its sheer size and unusual features inspired both awe and caution.
Some cryptozoologists have speculated that the Mbielu-Mbielu-Mbielu could be a relic species, possibly related to the stegosaur family, due to its distinctive “planks” resembling the dorsal plates of Stegosaurus. However, this hypothesis has drawn skepticism, as stegosaurs were terrestrial dinosaurs not well-suited to aquatic environments. Others propose that the creature might represent an undiscovered species of large reptile or amphibian uniquely adapted to the swamp’s ecosystems.
While no definitive sightings have been taken in recent decades, the Mbielu-Mbielu-Mbielu’s legend evokes the mystique of the Likouala swamps. Whether regarded as a living dinosaurian relic, a misunderstood natural phenomenon, or a vivid myth, this elusive beast continues to captivate the imaginations of explorers and enthusiasts to this era.
Serpentine Swimmer Nguma-Monene
The Nguma-Monene, meaning “Large Boa” in Lingala, is a cryptid also from the dense swamps and rivers of the Congo Basin. Described as a massive serpentine animal, it boasts a distinctive ridge of triangular protrusions along its back reminiscent of prehistoric reptiles. Witnesses have likened its head to that of a snake, complemented by a powerful, low-slung body moving elegantly through the waterways.
The earliest documented sightings of the Nguma-Monene date to 1961, when villagers near the Motaba River reported a disturbance in the water. Villagers then saw a large snake-like head emerge approximately 15 meters away from them, flicking its tongue. As soon as more villagers arrived to witness the incredible view, the creature soon left as it swam upstream. A second sighting occurred in 1971, when missionary Joseph Ellis observed a 30-foot serpentine animal cross the same river before disappearing into dense foliage.
Cryptozoologists have speculated extensively about the Nguma-Monene‘s origins. Early theories suggested it could be a new species of large monitor lizard, adapted to the semi-aquatic environments of the Congo Basin. Other people, meanwhile, liken the cryptid’s ridge-backed form to that of a Spinosaurus; though not historically found in Central Africa, this dinosaur once inhabited prehistoric North Africa’s freshwater routes during the age of dinosaurs. Some even hypothesize the cryptid to be a descendant of prehistoric lizards called Mosasaurus too due to its aquatic behavior. Whatever the case, these theories remain speculative due to the absence of fossil or physical evidence in the Congo Basin.
Despite decades of interest and occasional claims of sightings, the Nguma-Monene remains elusive. Cryptid enthusiasts continue to include it among the menagerie of Central African mystery beasts, reminding us of the tantalizing unknown lifeforms still hidden in the Congo Basin’s uncharted wilds.
Attack from Above: Kongamato
The Kongamato, or “Breaker of Boats” in indigenous languages such as Kaonde and Bemba, is a cryptid said to haunt the skies over Zambia, Angola and the Congo Basin. With its terrifying winged form and fearsome reputation, the Kongamato has long been a source of fascination and dread for river travelers. Descriptions commonly liken it to pterosaurs (close relatives to dinosaurs), featuring membranous leathery wings and a sharp beak lined with teeth. Even more disturbing, the mystery beast is said to have glowing red eyes that pierce the darkness.
Western documentation of the Kongamato began in the late 19th century during the era of colonial expeditions into Africa’s uncharted regions. European explorers and missionaries recorded accounts from locals who spoke of a winged beast overturning canoes and attacking fishermen who strayed too close to its territory. Some speculated these tales might have been inspired by fossilized remains of pterosaurs, hinting at ancient ties between folklore and paleontology.
One of the most prominent reports came in 1923 when Frank Hulme Melland, a British colonial officer, published accounts of the Kongamato in his book In Witch-Bound Africa. Melland described stories from the Kaonde people of Zambia, who identified the creature from illustrations of pterodactyls despite having no prior exposure to such images. Subsequent sightings added to the cryptid’s mystique, such as the 1956 report by engineer J.P.F. Brown, who claimed to see two large, tail-end creatures gliding through a valley near Lake Bangweulu.
Theories about the Kongamato’s origins vary widely. Some cryptozoologists speculate it may be a surviving pterosaur that has adapted to the present day, while others suggest it might be an unknown species of giant bat or gliding lizard. Skeptics argue these accounts could simply be misidentifications of large storks, such as the Marabou stork, known for its imposing size and distinctive features. Nevertheless, the creature’s nocturnal attacks and the consistent descriptions of its glowing red eyes feed its reputation as an otherworldly predator.
What Lurks Below: The Mahamba Mystery
The Mahamba is a reptile often described as a ginormous crocodile said to lurk in the Congo Basin’s wetlands. According to local accounts, it reaches astonishing lengths far beyond those of modern large Nile crocodiles, with some reports claiming it measures between 40 and 50 feet in length (or about 12 to 15 meters). Its sheer size and purported ferocity have established its reputation as a creature to be both feared and respected.
The Mahamba features prominently in the oral traditions of the Bobangi people, who refer to the cryptid as Nkoli, their word for crocodile. These traditions portray the creature as a relentless predator capable of attacking livestock, overturning boats and even threatening humans who venture too close to its watery domain. For the Bobangi and other tribes living near the Likouala swamps, tales of the Mahamba serve not only as cautionary tales but also as a profound reminder of the untamed power beneath the region’s rivers.
Western attention to the Mahamba began in the late 19th century, during the era of colonial exploration in Africa. British engineer John Reinhardt Werner reported multiple sightings of enormous crocodiles during his work on steamboats along the Congo River. In one account from the 1880s, Werner described a crocodile exceeding the length of his steamer, which measured 42 feet. Werner’s stories fueled speculation about prehistoric relics hidden in Africa’s uncharted landscapes.
Later expeditions, such as those led by Roy P. Mackal in the 1980s, linked the Mahamba to larger cryptid narratives, like those surrounding Mokele-Mbembe. Cryptid theorists speculate that the Mahamba might be a new undiscovered type of crocodilian that has adapted to the swampy locale of the Congo Basin. Others believe it could be a freshwater relative of the colossal marine lizard Mosasaurus, while some thinkers are reminded of the extinct supercrocodile Sarcosuchus that once roamed prehistoric Africa. While such theories are exciting, no fossil evidence or scientific documentation supports these claims… as of yet.
A Marriage of Myths & Media: From Jurassic World to YouTube Independents
The dense world of the Congo Basin holds secrets older than human memory itself—a labyrinth of untamed wilderness where whispers of living fossils like Mokele Mbembe persist. Though some of these accounts have been debunked as hoaxes or mistaken identities of other existing animals like elephants, the allure of the unknown remains captivating. With vast stretches of this rainforest still uncharted, who’s to say what creatures might yet be discovered in its depths?
The Basin’s mysterious creatures have transcended from myth into pop culture, leaving their primal footprints in movies such as the heartwarming 1985 Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend or the found footage The Dinosaur Project from 2012; in comics like the riveting pages of The Punisher War Journal by Carl Potts and Jim Lee where Wolverine and The Punisher battle poachers to protect Mokele-Mbembe; and even YouTube podcast discussions on the Joe Rogan Experience. Today in the Summer of 2025, Jurassic World: Rebirth comes to the big screen set in a hidden tropical island full of dangerous creatures—quite similar to how explorers must’ve felt when they ventured into the heart of Africa’s Congo Basin.
Yet, these tales are not just fuel for dreams—they’re also a rallying cry for the conservation of our natural world. The Congo Basin is a vibrant cradle of life, home to countless species and acting as a global climate regulator. To allow its destruction is to extinguish countless stories too. Independent YouTube creators like Mudnag breathe new life into these cryptids—weaving modern media together with historical lore—and reminding us of what we might lose if we fail to protect this treasure trove. Let us honor the legacy of creatures like Mokele Mbembe, whether real or legendary, by safeguarding the rainforest that fosters both biodiversity and imagination.
Note: Our crew of writers here at AllThatHistory are also fans of Mudnag’s videos too. Their original animations and presentations of the Congo Basin’s mystery creatures are truly impressive. A visual treat to enjoy – especially their clever interpretations of the Kasai Rex and Nguma-Monene being modern huge Majungasaurs and Spinosaurids respectively. Be sure to check their videos out, give their videos a Like and their channel a Subscribe, and tell them AllThatHistory.com sent you in their video comments! Thank you for reading!
Header Image: Sculpture of a Spinosaurid-like dinosaur, of which the cryptid Nguma-Monene is believed to be. By Erwin Soo. Source: CC BY 2.0.
References:
- Shuker, Karl. “SHUKERNATURE’S TOP TEN LIVING DINOSAURS OF CRYPTOZOOLOGY.” ShukerNature, 22 Jan. 2013, karlshuker.blogspot.com/2013/01/shukernatures-top-ten-living-dinosaurs.html.
- A Book of Creatures. “Mokele-Mbembe.” A Book of Creatures, 10 Apr. 2020, abookofcreatures.com/2020/04/10/mokele-mbembe/.
