Richtersveld, South Africa (folk tale)

Grootslang: The Great Snake

Folklore — not a documented case

In the Richtersveld of north-western South Africa, a gigantic serpent-like creature is said to guard diamonds in a cave known as the 'Bottomless Pit'.

The Richtersveld is an arid, mountainous and thinly populated region at the north-western tip of South Africa, along the Orange River. It is also known for its rich diamond deposits. The most famous legend told in this barren land is that of the Grootslang, Afrikaans for 'great snake'.

The stories in this section are folk tales and legends; they are not verified, real events and should not be confused with the rest of the archive.

From the same region