The practice of telling stories is as old as time itself. And it’s in the tales of myth and legend where we find some of our most loved, and most feared, creatures, beasts and oddities. Passed down from generation to generation, stories of shape-shifters, demons, witches, evil snakes and lots more have been used to entertain us, warn us, teach us moral lessons and, yes, frighten us.
Today, popular culture ensures that creatures from folklore are often uppermost in our minds – whether it’s Netflix’s Stranger Things, Game of Thrones or J.K. Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. As a result, adventure holidays are becoming more popular as intrepid travelers head off to unknown lands in the hope of spotting a wonderful beast.
Here are three top travel destinations if you want to discover worlds of myth and legend. While most of these creatures are (probably) fake, that doesn’t make them any less interesting. Let’s take a look.
Mythical Creatures to Wanderlust After
Australia Bunyip
The bunyip – or kianpraty – is a water-dwelling monster that lusts for human flesh, particularly that of little children. The terrifying creature, which is rooted in aboriginal storytelling, is said to haunt the lakes, rivers and swamps of Australia, so you never know when you might come across one.
Like many mythical creatures, accounts of the bunyip suggest it has no settled form. It has been described as crocodile-like but with a canine face and the tail of a horse. Some say it has horns and flippers. Some suggest that unusually for an aquatic creature, it’s covered in a thick coat of dark fur. None of which will be of particular