The exciting night at iMfolosi Park when a lion pride dropped in for dinner

these men sat. They were in a predicament, the lions knew the meat was in the hut the guards occupied and the rifle was in one of the top rondavels.

There was one torch in the kitchen and a game guard used it to see where and how many lions were in the camp.

One of the lions was lying directly between the kitchen and the hut in which the rifle was kept.

Two others were lying just right of the door that exited to the river and he saw another two pacing around the camp.

He was not sure if there were others out there as well. They discussed the matter and all agreed that they had to get the rifle.

The presence of the lions in their camp indicated two things; they wanted the meat ration and were not the least concerned about the presence of human beings. The fact that it was night added another dimension; darkness gives lions the sight advantage.

The game guards had a real situation on their hands. It is in circumstances such as these that you get to really appreciate the physical presence and power of a lion.

A prime full grown male will top the scales at sometimes over 273kgs and a mature female will weigh in at 182kgs. If lions behave in a manner that indicates that human presence is not an issue, then the fear factor which dominates to the benefit of human beings on most occasions is no longer there. It was dark and the situation was obvious; the lions wanted the meat, the men wanted to stay alive.

The men in the kitchen had to firstly move the lion from its position between them and the rifle.

One guard opened the door and, with much shouting, threw a large enamel basin at the lion near the door.

The basin landed on its rim and rolled in an arc towards the lion who simply lifted his head out the way and watched the basin as it rolled past.

The second item did not bother the lion either but when they threw a burning ember from the fire at the lion it had the desired effect.

Using more embers in this manner the guards were able to hold the lions at bay and get the rifle and extra ammunition into the kitchen with them.

Despite firing several rounds into the air they could not disperse the lions and had to shoot three of the pride to finally get them to move off.