Encounter Atlas
The ninki nanka is a feared creature in the folklore of the Gambia and southern Senegal, especially among the Mandinka. It is usually described as a huge reptile or serpent of the swamps and river creeks, with a long neck, a crocodile- or horse-like head with crests or horns, and shining, mirror-like scales.
Seeing it is said to bring illness or death. A 1906 British colonial report described it as a giant crowned serpent of the deep bush and noted that people would not go near places where it was believed to live. The fear kept some fertile swamps unused.
In 2006 a small British cryptozoology expedition travelled to the Gambia to collect accounts, and the trip was covered by the BBC. Witness descriptions varied widely, from a dragon to a large crocodile, and no physical evidence was found.
What witnesses report
- A long-necked reptile in swamps or creeks
- Shining, colour-changing scales
- A crest or horns on the head
- Sickness said to follow a sighting
Famous cases
Seen the Ninki Nanka?
Tell us what happened. Every report is read by a person before it goes on the map, and you can stay anonymous.
