Gloomy Gulch

Gloomy Gulch, rarely named Haunted Forest, is the fifth world in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest and Donkey Kong Land 2. It is a haunted area set in a dilapidated  set between dark, spooky woods, with ghostly inhabitants such as Kloaks. The world takes place between Krazy Kremland and K. Rool's Keep, but in Donkey Kong Land 2, the standalone Klubba's Kiosk appears to the left of it on the Crocodile Isle map. In the official German guide for the game, it is implied that the forest is feared even by the Kremling pirates.

Compared to its two preceding worlds, Krem Quay and Krazy Kremland, Gloomy Gulch's world map is smaller, with a size around that of the first world, Gangplank Galleon. In the Game Boy Advance remake, every world map was redesigned and extended, including Gloomy Gulch's, whose size rounds out that of previously-larger worlds.

A majority of Gloomy Gulch takes place in spooky woods, but it also features a haunted house with Kackles, nestled in a clearing near the start, and a nearby Zinger hive. One of the wood levels has strong wind gusts, while another is covered in heavy fog. The world boss is Krow's undead spirit, Kreepy Krow, who is located and battled from the top-left corner of the area. In the ending of both games, the entirety of Crocodile Isle, including Gloomy Gulch, sinks in the sea. In Donkey Kong 64, the rebuilt Crocodile Isle has a similar location, Creepy Castle.

Levels
Like the other worlds, the level names for Donkey Kong Land 2 are the same as in Donkey Kong Country 2. The only level to not retain its name is Haunted Hall, which was replaced with a generic rollercoaster stage, Krazy Koaster. Despite its outdoors setting, the world map shows Krazy Koaster on the same location as Haunted Hall (a haunted house).

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
Instruction booklet : Player's Guide : Nintendo Power :
 * "You're not out of the woods yet! In fact, you're just entering it when you get to Gloomy Gulch. This spooky area is also haunted by the evil Kremling spirits known as Kloak and Kackle. Even the ropes that once provided a safe way to climb over obstacles are now ghostly and insubstantial."
 * "Don't count on meeting another living soul in this dilapidated ghost town, where even the ropes fade in and out of existence like phantoms. Not even the town of Tombstone was terrifying!"
 * "Avast! We're in for it now, me hearties! The last stretch of road leading to K. Rool's Keep passes though the ghost town of Gloomy Gulch, and you'll be up to your hips in ghosties, beasties and bogles. Even the ropes seen to be fickle phantoms, fading in and out of existence as you swing across vast chasms. Don't expect any help from the sheriff as you wander through town, since he's been put six feet under like everyone else! Aye! Ahr! Argh-gug-gh!"