Violet D'Mello was visiting a big cat enclosure on a game reserve when a 'tame' cheetah lunged at her.
She was knocked to the floor by the hand-reared beast which then bit her head.
Violet, from Aberdeen, played dead as a guide frantically tried to pull the animal off - but she was then attacked by a second cheetah.
After several minutes, Violet was able to get to her feet and make a run for it.
"This was meant to be a holiday, but it's really turned into a nightmare," Violet told www.Timeslive.Co.Za .
Violet had been holidaying with her husband Archibald at the Kragga Kamma game reserve near Port Elizabeth.
The couple were allowed into a cheetah enclosure to meet two brothers, Mark and Monty, who had been hand-reared since birth.
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"We were told they were completely tame," Violet said.
Violet was treated in hospital for minor injuries.
Park manager Mike Cantor said: "It's not something we've experienced before. We are investigating the matter to figure out what could have triggered the behaviour."