Running wild with lions

One was forced to fire a warning shot to scare off an elephant.

- Jacques van der Westhuyzen

One of the world's most unique marathons attracted thousands of runners for the 16th Marakele Marathon just outside Thabazimbi in Limpopo on Saturday.

The run through the Marakele National Park is unique because lurking not too far away from the athletes are lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards and rhinos - the big five.

But there are armed park rangers stationed along the route to ensure the safety of the runners, with a good number of them - the 42.2km athletes - going deep into the Waterberg Mountains.

While no major incidents have happened in the previous 15 editions of the race, on Saturday one of the rangers was forced to fire a warning shot to scare off an elephant that may have been curious about all the colourful people running in his or her territory and come just a little too close.