A large cat hunter was mauled and eaten by the pride of lions that he was hunting at a private game reserve in South Africa.

The Lion Killer was heard screaming from a distance at the Ingwelala Private Nature Reserve in Hoedspruit outside Phalaborwa.

But the lions quickly killed their victim and devoured most of his body before being chased off, leaving his head untouched.

Police at first thought the dead man was a tractor driver who worked at the game reserve.