In the heart of South Africa’s dry Karoo, where water is precious, there’s a surprising cryptid legend that most people don’t expect: mermaids. 
The 'Mermaid of Meiringspoort'
• Locals speak of a dark-haired mermaid figure said to inhabit deep pools in Meiringspoort and other rock waterholes. 
• The legend says she controls rain, drought, and flooding, rewarding or punishing depending on her mood. 
• In drought-stricken Karoo, where water is life, this ambivalence gives this mermaid legend a powerful symbolic weight. 
Ancient Roots — San Rock Art
• Mysterious rock paintings in the Klein Karoo show fish-tailed human figures, which some interpret as ancient depictions of water spirits or mermaids.
• Anthropologists debate whether these figures are literal sightings, ritual symbols (e.g., rain dances), or mythological spirits linked to water. 
Local Tales & Modern Sightings
• Stories are shared in hushed tones: travelers hear of eerie figures brushing long hair by water’s edge, luring the curious closer. 
• The legend was revived after floods in Meiringspoort in the 1990s, when rumors swirled that a mermaid was swept out to sea and later shown at a museum.
• Some locals even claim sightings to this day. 
Why Here, of All Places?
• The Karoo was once underwater millions of years ago, which adds a geological credibility to the legend and makes one wonder understand why mermaids would still be embedded in an arid landscape. 
Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-V_a4LoNV-Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKeyAdSEZhg
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-03-05-water-stories-of-the-karoo/
by CommonUnlucky390