This is no ordinary creature, it’s a mythic being with mesmerising eyes, shiny scales and a large sparkling diamond on its head for a crown. Where does the mermaid come in? Known by locals as “the Mermaid in the Cape Karoo” this myth started at the roaring Augrabies Falls in the Northern Cape and symbolises different things to different groups.-
The Khoi and San believe that the enormous jewel can bring you great happiness if you can outwit the mermaid. But if you fall under its spell, you’ll be captured in its sparkling scales and be pulled underwater into the depths forever.
It might sound like a quaint little fairytale, but to this day the Watersnake is feared and respected in these parts. There is a firm belief that if the Watersnake is threatened, hurt or disrespected, destructive floods will follow. Many locals believe that it was no coincidence that Beaufort West suffered one of the worst droughts in living history when the dam dried. Half the town’s people were visiting the churches to pray for rain and the other half were in the ravine, pleading with the Watersnake for water.
