There are places, or were, where the lions and the Kung or San people of southern Africa, also known as the "Bushmen", had an understanding with each other. Lions did not attack humans. Whereas, in other parts, I think where the farmers had come in and were killing the lions, the lions were dangerous and would kill humans. I'm pretty sure I read about this in The Tribe of Tiger: Cats and their Culture, by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas.