The Kongamato is a big flying cryptid that is said to resemble a large bird or pterosaur with bat-like wings. The name “Kongamato” comes from the local language and it means “breaker of boats” as it reportedly attacks fishermen in the area.
| Cryptid Name: | Kongamato |
| Location: | Mwinilunga District, Zambia, Africa. |
| Category: | Flying Cryptid |
| Description: | Large cryptid resembling a pterosaur or bird with a long slender body and leathery wings. |
| Size: | Wingspan of 4 to 7 feet (1.2 to 2.1 m) |
| Behavior/Characteristics: | Aggressive towards humans, bat-like wings, possible tail. |
| Diet: | Not confirmed; rumored to prey on fish or small animals. |
| Habitat/Environment: | Rivers, lakes, and dense forest regions of Africa. |
| Evidence: | Largely anecdotal, lacking scientific proof. |
| Sightings and Encounters: | Reported sightings in the early 20th century and beyond. |
| Skepticism/Explanations: | Some believe it is a surviving pterosaur but there are other explanations such as misidentifications of known animals, hoaxes, folklore, and exaggerations. |
What Does The Kongamato Look Like?
The Kongamato is commonly described as a massive flying cryptid that looks very similar to the pterosaur or a large bird with bat-like features. It is believed to have a wingspan ranging from 4 to 7 feet (1.2 to 2.1 meters) and its wings are leathery similar to those of bats.
Some descriptions of the Kongamato describe it as having a long tale which aligns with the description of it looking like a pterosaur. Other accounts describe it as having a reptilian or bird-like head with a toothed beak or snout. Its eyes are believed to be big and prominent to help when it hunts prey.
In 1932 an explorer by the name of Frank Welland described the Kongomoto in his book, In Witchbound Africa, and his description of the creature was consistent with other descriptions reported by locals.
While investigating the Kongomato, I came across a really interesting video that shows what the Kongmato may look like. Please note that this is a video created with CGI and is not actual footage of the Kongamato.
Kongamoto Characteristics
One of the most common characteristics described by witnesses is that the Kongamoto is very aggressive towards humans and it is said to attack fishermen, travelers, or anyone else who crosses its path. That said, the Kongamoto is said to be elusive and lives in remote and less accessible regions with dense forests and rivers.
The Kongamoto is said to eat small animals and fish but there have also been stories that it will dig up human graves and feed on the corpses.
Is The Kongomoto Real?
Besides eyewitness accounts that go back for generations, there is very little physical evidence to suggest that the Kongomoto is real. However, it is said that when locals were shown pictures of pterosaurs they were terrified and all agreed that this was the creature they saw.
Petosaurs, or pterodactyls, are a now-extinct group of flying reptiles that lived and thrived from the late Triassic period to the Mesozoic Era (around 66 million years ago). Although they lived in an era when dinosaurs ruled the earth, they weren’t considered to be dinosaurs but rather a distinct group of reptiles with their own unique features. They ranged in size from small insect-eating creatures all the way to massive apex predators.
If pterosaurs are still alive today and hidden in the forests and jungles of Africa then this would explain all the sightings over the years.
Source: Tim Evanson from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
