My family were camping with Diana at Third Bridge in Moremi Game Park, northern Botswana.
It was dusk and we were preparing dinner but had not yet started a fire.
My mother went outside the perimeter of the camp to pee, but came running back saying “LIONS!!!”.
We all froze in our places, listening, anticipating at any moment that the lions would pounce and eat us all. We could hear them grunting just outside the camp.
We sat for an eternity.
Suddenly Diana, eyes wide, whispered to my father, who was sitting nearby: “HAND ME A KNIFE!!!”. He rummaged blindly on the camp table and handed it to her cautiously. We sat in heightened expectation, aware that our very lives might be saved by Diana and her weapon.
Time passed and eventually we thought we might be able to dash for the cars. Eventually we did and made it to safety.
It was only then that Diana looked down at the object in her hand…. it was a spoon.
Some time later Diana realized she had left her cigarettes on the table outside. Clutching her trusty spoon she dashed out of the truck to retrieve them.
The lions did not attack.