Tales from the African Bush

Ranger Wolhuter Battles Lion

In 1904, most people around the world had never heard of the Sabie Game Reserve, which would later be part of the Kruger National Park. Something extraordinary happened on 26 August 1904 that would make this part of the African continent and Ranger Harry Wolhuter very famous. Ranger Wolhuter was returning to his camp, Metzi Metz, when his dog began barking at something in the tall grass. Ranger Wolhuter was weary at this stage because it was dusk and the camp was still a few miles away. The animals, as he would soon learn, were not reedbuck. As he whistled for the dog, he noticed a lion on the flank of his horse. He quickly turned the horse and kicked it in the belly with his spurs. By the time the lion sprang to the occasion, the horse had moved forward. The lion missed Ranger Wolhuter but ripped the horse's back end with its heinous claws. During this clash, Ranger Wolhuter fell from his horse and before making contact with the ground found himself in the jaws of the second, ravenous beast. Before he knew it, his right shoulder was being held by the razor-sharp teeth while the rest of his body was dragging underneath the body of the beast. His chances of survival were slim because he had lost his rifle during the skirmish. Many thoughts rushed through his head, but his experience in the bush proved to be invaluable. He suddenly remembered that his knife, which only had a six-inch blade was his only hope of survival. As the right side of his body was disabled, he had to use his left hand to locate the knife on the backside of his belt. Luckily, the "old faithful" was still lodged in his belt. At this stage, the lion had located the spot where Ranger Wolhuter would soon become the lion's next meal. Ranger Wolhuter wasted no time and stuck the knife into what he believed was the lion's heart twice. This attempt caused the lion to drop him and allowed the ranger to issue the third and final stab to the lion's main artery. As the lion leaped, the blood covered the body of the ranger. The lion stood a few feet from him and was certainly prepared to finish the ranger's life. At this moment, Ranger Wolhuter challenged the lion by screaming at the top of his lungs. This primal scream obviously worked because the injured lion ran into the darkness of the bush. This lion would not travel far into the bush because Ranger Wolhuter fatally injured him on the third stab with his knife. At this stage, the ranger realized that his survival would not last unless he climbed the nearby tree. By the time he climbed into the tree, the other lion returned to the site where his mate once held Ranger Wolhuter in his mouth. Bull, the fearless dog, continued its harassment of the lion which wanted so eagerly to devour the ranger. After a while, the lion decided to depart the scene and disappeared into the bush. Soon after this confrontation, Ranger Wolhuter's men rescued him from the tree, gathered his goods and completed the remaining distance to the Metzi Metz camp. After extensive medical treatment, Ranger Wolhuter faithfully returned to his job.

If you are interested in Ranger's Wolhuter's story, then you should visit the Stevenson-Hamilton Memorial Library at Skukuza camp. Here you can see the knife which he used to fatally wound the first lion, including the skin of the beast. In addition, visitors driving on the S35 near the Tshokwane picnic site will be able to see the plaque by the famous tree where Ranger Wolhuter escaped certain death. The plaque reads "Into this tree Ranger Wolhuter, badly wounded, climbed after having killed the first lion in order to avoid an attack by a second which remained near by until assistance arrived."

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