About

Southern Africa Unexplained collects stories of the unexplained from South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini, and puts each one on a map. UAP sightings, strange lights, river creatures, hitchhikers who vanish from the back seat, and the older stories people have told for generations.

Every story is retold in our own words from public accounts, and every one lists its sources. We are not claiming any of it happened the way it was told. We are interested in where and when people say it did.

How credibility works

Each story carries a stamp so you can tell a case that was investigated at the time from a tale told around a fire.

• Documented Multiple independent accounts, official or academic attention, or investigated when it happened.
• Press report Reported in a named newspaper, broadcaster or established outlet.
• Single witness A single account, including stories sent in to this site.
• Folklore Traditional or widely told, with no single dated event.

The heat map weights stories by that stamp, so a documented case glows harder than a single account.

Corrections and removals

If a story names you, gets a place wrong, or you have a better source, use the form and start your message with the word CORRECTION. Stories about private living people are removed on request, no questions asked.