Lion Attack
- Kev Thomas Writes
- Jun 2
- 3 min read
First published in the Sun news online, on 31 May 2025, an article by Jamie Pyatt and Harvey Geh reported the death of a Namibian businessman in a lioness attack. Tragic as it is, it reinforces once again the truism that lions have Jekyll and Hyde personas. A highly experienced Zimbabwean PH friend of longstanding, now retired, once remarked many years ago; “When the sun goes down and after darkness has set in, there is very little on planet earth lions are scared of.” Statistics bear this out if we pause for a moment and reflect on the number of people killed by lion at night. Often whilst going about normal human activity such as happened in this incident.
Years ago in Zimbabwe's Mana Pools National Park a tourist was killed while using a camp shower after sunset. Colleagues had warned him not to shower due to the risk but tragically, he ignored their warnings. If we go back even further, one dark night in another Zimbabwe National Park, a young learner guide unzipped his tent and tried to reach the senior guide's tent. He never made it as a lion pride prowling around in the camp area killed, and ate him. Unconfirmed reports later had it he had panicked after hearing the lion pride wandering around outside the tents.
Below is the article as it first appeared.
A BUSINESSMAN who spent large sums of money supporting Namibian desert lions has been killed by one of them - after leaving his camping tent to use the loo.
Dad-of-two Bernd Kebbel, 59, was with his wife Conny on a wildlife expedition at a camp with friends in the north of the country before the horror attack.
The tragedy unfolded when Kebbel got up in the early hours of Friday morning.
The philanthropist climbed down a ladder from the safety of his rooftop tent mounted on the top of a 4x4, before the beast lunged at him.
His desperate screams woke up the rest of the shocked camp in Namibia who rushed to his rescue in the darkness.
They bravely chased off the lioness before it could devour its victim.
Namibian police said nothing could be done to save the keen outdoorsman who was killed almost instantly in the savage ordeal.
His body was covered up until authorities could arrive.
It is believed that the lioness with cubs - named by locals as Charlie - may be hunted and shot dead.
A Namibian lion expert said: “Thankfully it would have been quick as a human is no match for a lioness that is in its prime.
“There are only about 60 desert lions in this region of Kunane where the attack happened and in this particular area around the Hoanib Camp maybe a dozen at the very most."
The expert added: “The desert lions have adapted to the harsh and burning desert environment and have become extremely adept night-time hunters as there is no cover for them during the day."
The businessman has two grown-up children, Dieter and Heidi, both in their late twenties.
They are said to have moved to South Africa where they went to university before pursuing their careers. It is understood they are flying home to comfort their devastated mum Conny, 57, at their home in the capital Windhoek. Kebbel owned the Off-Road-Centre in Namibia’s main city Windhoek which bought and sold 4x4 safari vehicles and accessories needed in the wild.
Lion expert Izak Smit said that Namibia’s most famous lion expert Dr Philip “Flip” Stander had named an adult male Kebbel in his honour. He said it was to recognise the large sums of money he paid into looking after lions.
The tragic death of Kebbel was confirmed by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and the Namibian Police who said it happened near the Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp. A Namibian police spokesman said: “There were brave efforts by fellow campers who drove the animal away but it was too late to save him from the fatal injuries inflicted to his neck.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the tourism ministry confirmed that officials had been dispatched to the site. They said: “We can confirm that Mr Kebbel was killed.
“Our team is on the ground investigating."
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