Veterinarian Danny Trevanion, his wife Sarah, and their children (Rosie, Evan, and Olivia) set out from Bristol, England for a holiday in Africa to rehabilitate a vervet monkey. Evan hasn't adjusted well to Sarah's divorce and is a victim of school bullying.

Danny considers investing all their money by signing a binding business contract with Anders Du Plessis, whose family has owned Leopards Den for more than 100 years.

Sarah is furious when her ex-husband Simon arrives unexpectedly with his girlfriend Ruby and threatens legal action if Sarah won't allow him to take Evan and Olivia back to England. On Rosie's first night working at a local bar, a drunken brawl breaks out but Alex Tate, owner of Mara Lodge, is watching out for her.

A row between Danny and Evan results in a dangerously half-sedated lioness being on the loose. Evan runs off in anger, luring Olivia away with him. Not knowing that Danny and Du Plessis have had a vehicle accident, Sarah asks Tate to help her search for the children. Evan learns a hard lesson when the lioness ultimately dies because of his irresponsible behaviour.

Sarah is forced to ask Tate for help when the first paying guests arrive early at a chaotic Leopards Den. Meanwhile, a string of misunderstandings convinces Rosie that Sarah and Tate are having an affair, and she attempts to broach the subject to Danny. Amidst the family's emotional upheaval, rampaging rogue male elephants are damaging the reserve.

Danny is furious when a zebra is killed (possibly by poachers), and he and Du Plessis decide to stake out the grazing area. When one of the poachers dies after eating meat from the dead animal, a test reveals anthrax and Danny is forced to quarantine Leopards Den.