The Ninki Nanka
In the swamps along the Gambia River, people tell of the Ninki Nanka, a huge dragon-like creature that few dare to look at.
What was reported
In The Gambia and parts of Senegal and Guinea, the Ninki Nanka is a legendary creature said to live in swamps and rivers. Descriptions vary: a giant reptile with a long body, a horse-like head, a crest and shining scales. Seeing it is said to bring bad luck.
In 2006, a group of British monster hunters visited The Gambia and interviewed people who said they had seen it. They returned without evidence.
Explanations offered
Most researchers see the Ninki Nanka as a figure of folklore, perhaps built on encounters with large crocodiles, monitor lizards or pythons in the dense mangroves. No physical evidence has been found.
- When
- Told for generations
- Where
- Gambia River, The Gambia
- Witnesses
- People living along the Gambia River
- Status
- Legend
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.