Grootslang

The Grootslang is a formidable cryptid from South African legend, said to dwell in a deep cave known as the Wonder Hole or Bottomless Pit in the Richtersveld. Described as an enormous serpent with elephantine features—massive tusks and a broad, muscular body—it’s believed to guard vast treasures. Local lore warns that the Grootslang is ancient, older than the gods themselves, created when primordial powers mistakenly combined elephant and serpent before splitting the species apart. A few escaped this divine correction, becoming Grootslangs who now lure humans with gems only to drag them into dark, water-filled caverns. The creature stands as a powerful synthesis of greed and natural terror, embodying Africa’s timeless cautionary themes about the deadly costs of venturing where human curiosity is not meant to tread.