The idea of being in a familiar place but having it turn spooky is also quite terrifying. Take the haunted mine. Miners were used to working there every day, it was a normal workplace, but then suddenly it became haunted with strange noises and apparitions. It's the transformation of a familiar and supposedly safe place into a place full of fear.
Another scary element is the connection to the past and the sense of history in these stories. South African ghost stories are often tied to historical events like the history of the Castle or the mining accidents. It makes you feel like the past is not really past and can still reach out and touch you in a very eerie way, as if the ghosts are a part of a cycle that can't be broken.
The story of the ghost ship off the South African coast is quite terrifying. Sailors have reported seeing a ship that looks like it's from a bygone era, with no living crew on board. It just appears and disappears mysteriously. It gives the feeling of being in a horror movie on the open sea.
The scariest element is often the unpredictability of the ghosts. For example, the Tokoloshe can strike at any time without warning. You never know when it might enter your home and start causing chaos.
The sense of the unknown is really scary. In South Texas ghost stories, like the La Llorona one, you don't know when or where she might appear. It could be as you're walking near a riverbank, and suddenly you hear her cries. You can't predict it, and that's terrifying.
The Mami Wata is a well - known African ghost - like figure. Mami Wata is often depicted as a half - human, half - fish or snake - like being. In the stories, she lures people, especially fishermen, with her beauty and charm. But once they get too close, she can bring misfortune, drowning them or leading them astray in the waters.
A really frightening South Jersey ghost story is about a cursed well. Supposedly, anyone who gets too close to it at night feels a cold chill and hears a whispering voice. Some believe that if you look into the well, you'll see a face staring back at you. It's said to be the spirit of a girl who was drowned there long ago.
There's a story of an old tavern. The owner was murdered in a brutal way. Since then, guests staying in the rooms above the tavern where the murder took place often report feeling a heavy presence. They might wake up in the middle of the night to see a figure standing at the foot of their bed, and it gives them the chills.
The scariest element in many African stories is often the unknown and the power of the spirits. For instance, in the stories of the Mami Wata, we don't really know what she'll do to those she lures. The idea that there are powerful entities out there that can manipulate humans without our full understanding is terrifying.
Another theme is the idea of unfinished business. The ghosts in these stories, such as the Lady in White, seem to be lingering because they have something unresolved in their past lives. Maybe it's a lost love, or a great injustice that they suffered. This gives them a reason to stay in the earthly realm and appear to the living.
As I haven't read it, it could be the unknown. Maybe there are strange creatures specific to South Africa that are really terrifying. Like the Tokoloshe, a mischievous and often malevolent spirit in South African folklore.
A common characteristic is the presence of unexplained sounds. For example, in the stories about haunted buildings, you often hear footsteps, doors creaking, or voices when no one is around. It gives an eerie feeling as if there are unseen presences. Also, the apparitions described are usually related to people who had a connection to the place in the past, like former owners or performers.