Beyond Bigfoot: Africa's Apemen Cryptids and King Kong Origins

# Africa's Hidden Giants: A Deep Dive Into the Continent's Bigfoot-Like Cryptids A fascinating video recently surfaced on YouTube from the channel Truth is Scarier than Fiction that tackles a topic near and dear to anyone who believes our hairy friends exist beyond North America. The video explores the terrifying and often overlooked world of African apemen, creatures that share striking similarities with the Sasquatch we know and research here in the States. If you've ever wondered whether Bigfoot-like beings exist across the globe, this video is a must-watch. ## The Atlas Mountains Mystery The video kicks off in Morocco's Atlas Mountains, where a man named Ammo shared a chilling childhood memory with cryptozoology enthusiast Luke Chiselle. He described encountering "the other monkey," a creature roughly the size of a standing human, near the edge of the forest. He never saw another specimen after that initial encounter, but a village elder confirmed similar sightings. What makes this account particularly intriguing is the connection Bernard Heuvelmans, founder of cryptozoology, drew between these reports and the ancient writings of Hanno the Navigator. Back in the fifth century BC, Hanno described encountering "gorillai," savage, hairy people who would rather die than be captured. While scholars debate how far Hanno actually traveled, Heuvelmans theorized the explorer may have ventured as far south as Morocco and encountered living Neanderthals. Heuvelmans even referenced a Moroccan legend about a "city of apes," where intelligent primates governed themselves but were feared for their extreme aggression. French paleontologist Leonce Joleaud also heard tales of gorilla-sized primates in the mountains that would kill travelers by throwing stones. While later research revealed that remains once thought to be Neanderthal were actually modern human, Heuvelmans speculated that younger Neanderthal fossils might still be discovered one day. ## The Niti of Gabon Moving south to Gabon, the video explores the Niti, a creature explorer Richard Garner believed could be a second species of gorilla. Locals described it as more intelligent and humanlike than other apes, with superior wisdom making it harder to find. The Niti supposedly lived in the most remote parts of the forest, far from human habitation. Garner never captured a specimen himself, but he firmly believed one would eventually be found. ## The Mulahu: Congo's Most Terrifying Cryptid The most jaw-dropping segment focuses on the Mulahu, which explorer Attilio Gatti jokingly called the "abominable jungle man." This creature reportedly inhabits the remote jungles of the Congo and is considered extremely dangerous. Locals were so terrified of it that some reportedly went into shock upon seeing one, and hunters carried special tokens or performed rituals believing these would allow them to view the Mulahu without dying. The video recounts the tragic death of Australian photographer Bob Kendrick, who was killed by a Mulahu after ignoring his guide's warnings. The creature reportedly grabbed his head, and despite Kendrick fighting back by kicking and biting, the Mulahu crushed his head and snapped his hunting rifle in two like a toy. The guide barely escaped with his life, only managing to toggle his gun's safety before the attack. Gatti himself had a harrowing encounter during a storm. After lightning struck nearby, his companion Borro shouted "Mulahu!" and Gatti saw a dark silhouette. Debris struck him, and when he awoke, Borro was gone. Later, Gatti briefly but clearly saw the creature, which towered over him before dropping to all fours and disappearing. It had both red and black fur, including that famous hair curtain covering its face. The story takes an even darker turn when Gatti learned that a doctor named Seiku had given the rescue party a fake protection ritual, planning to kill them so he could rise in rank. When the Mulahu appeared, most hunters fell into shock, but one man named Command fought back, ultimately killing Seiku when a rifle discharged during their struggle. Gatti sent hair samples from the encounter and a footprint to naturalist Lionel Rothschild. Despite the seemingly far-fetched nature of the tale, Gatti insisted there wasn't "one word of exaggeration or speculation, let alone of invention" in his entire report. ## The King Kong Connection The video wraps up with a fascinating theory about the original King Kong. Author William J. Maken discussed the 1933 film possibly being based on real sightings of giant apes. Both Edgar Wallace, who wrote King Kong, and Maken spent time in the Congo, where they heard from local leaders about larger, undiscovered gorilla species. ## Why This Matters What makes this video so compelling is how it reinforces the global nature of these cryptid encounters. From the Atlas Mountains to the Congo Basin, indigenous peoples and explorers alike have reported encountering large, intelligent, hair-covered beings that don't fit neatly into known biological categories. These accounts span thousands of years and come from multiple cultures, which adds serious weight to the idea that something is out there, waiting to be discovered. The video is absolutely worth your time if you're interested in expanding your knowledge beyond North American Sasquatch reports. It serves as a powerful reminder that the phenomenon is worldwide, and Africa might just be hiding some of the most fascinating and terrifying examples yet documented.