Chappell was in Africa at the time to raise money for organizations that protect animals from poachers.
She was being driven around a safari park by a tour guide, and when they stopped for Chappell to take pictures of a pride of lions, one of them approached the vehicle she was in and fatally attacked her, according to CNN.
A lioness entered through her open window, and left Chappell bleeding profusely from the neck.
The tour guide, Pierre Potgieter, 66, tried to fend off the lion before park staff and emergency responders arrived quickly on the scene. Potgieter suffered injuries to his arm, and may have had a heart attack during the incident.
"Unfortunately, she did pass away," Scott Simpson, assistant operations manager at Lion Park, told the AP.
"[She] was very much loved and shared her love for life with those she met," Chappell's mom Mary, dad Jon and siblings wrote via Facebook. "[She was a] brilliant, kind, adventurous and high-spirited woman."
Lion Park said it was "incredibly sad that a life had to be lost in this manner."
Simpson said the lion would be taken to a second property while the park investigates the attack. It will not be euthanized, CNN reported.
"Visitors to South Africa need to remember that predators are dangerous and rules are there for their own safety," the park said. "If all the rules are adhered to (during) your visit to the Lion Park, national parks and other similar facilities will be a safe and treasured experience."
Chappell resided in Vancouver, Canada, since 2013, and was employed at the production company Scanline.
She also worked on "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty," "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," "Divergent" and "Godzilla," according to Us Weekly.
A memorial service will be held Saturday in her hometown of Rye, New York.
