A Kruger National Park ranger was attacked and mauled by a lion on Friday, the park said.

Spokesperson Raymond Travers said the incident happened around 8am while the ranger Rudi Lorist (32), was on a bush walk with eight tourists and an assistant trails ranger Phillip Gumede.

The attack happened near the Metsi-Metsi Wilderness Trails Camp, situated near Tshokwane picnic site, north of Skukuza rest camp.

The group was returning to their vehicle when they encountered a lioness with cubs. Lorist gave the lioness a wide berth but she continued advancing. He fired two warning shots before the lioness attacked him.

She bit both Lorist's forearms and scratched his body and face before letting go and running away.

A helicopter from Skukuza, with the park's medical doctor on board Dr Pieter Oodendal, was dispatched to the scene to provide medical attention.

One of the tourists happened to be a doctor and administered first aid to Lorist until Oodendal arrived on the scene.

Lorist was flown to the Nelspruit Medi-Clinic where he has been admitted.

All eight tourists were safe and would continue with their activities.

Local section and field rangers, who were fighting a bush fire, caused by lightning at the time of the attack, had been tasked to try to find the lioness, but so far they had not succeeded, Travers said.

Lorist is an experienced trails ranger with more than seven years experience walking trails in the Kruger.

Kruger National Park Wilderness Trails have been operating for 30 years without any animal causing fatalities and very few serious injuries.

Guest comments about Lorist state, among other things: "All of us (guests) have spoken about the quality of leadership and maturity that Rudi showed throughout our trail, and not just his technical 'bush' knowledge, but importantly, in his role, his all round personality outside of the pure KNP domain".

"Rudi is a wonderful advert for the KNP brand and clearly has a mutually excellent relationship with Phillip. You can be truly proud of these men," the comment read.

Sapa