Wild at Heart

Danny and Alice have been rehabilitating a group of circus elephants. Rowan is surprisingly cooperative, until he reveals an ulterior motive. After a turbulent courtship, Dup is set to marry his beloved Caroline. As the wedding plans are finalised, their happy day is threatened by someone from Caroline's past.

Danny has a crisis of confidence when he hurts his back helping to build a new school in the township. A hotshot young vet at Mara makes a play for Alice, but his modern ideas are put to the test. Meanwhile, Caroline asks Dup to organise their honeymoon, and all that glitters turns out not to be golden.

Against the backdrop of a beauty pageant at Mara, Alice is torn between helping Rowan rehabilitate a tiger and her own seemingly more mundane responsibilities at Leopards Den. Danny's altruistic project to help the township's animals takes an unfortunate turn when a neighbour's pregnant cow develops complications.

Danny confides in Dup about his intention to ask for Alice's hand in marriage, but the unexpected and turbulent arrival of his deeply troubled teenage stepdaughter Olivia threatens to derail his plans.

Danny and Alice's plans for a romantic weekend away are ruined when they come across a crash out in the bush. With a seriously injured tourist on their hands and a lion on the loose, they are faced with a long, dark night in the bush. Meanwhile, Dup decides it's time Olivia learned some manners.

Danny's attempts to help Alice settle into her new job at Mara backfire when a hyena goes on the rampage. With an injured guest threatening a lawsuit and the life of an animal in the balance, he realises he must pull out all the stops if he is to salvage his relationship with Alice.

With matters between Danny and Alice still tense, a distracted Danny appears to make a fatal mistake while treating a rare black leopard. When the big cat dies, its arrogant owner demands that Danny be investigated for malpractice. Danny follows his instincts and goes against his suspension to treat Jana who is suffering from renal failure.

After being struck off, Danny's career is in tatters and he's struggling to cope. The family's plan to keep him busy with a group of young offenders backfires when one of the young men (Thabo) takes a shine to Olivia. A shock wave hits the family as Rowan reveals an explosive secret.

There are dangerous consequences when Dup ignores his heart condition and collapses while alone in the bush. Danny and Alice get more than they bargained for when they try to deal with two rogue lions that have been attacking local cattle. Olivia and Caroline struggle with their emotions as the anniversary of Sarah's death draws near.

When Dup learns of Caroline's intention to buy them a retirement home he confesses to Olivia that he's given their savings away to help his son. Danny and Alice try to find a home for a rare aardwolf, but Vanessa's father, who has arrived to help save Mara from financial ruin, refuses to cooperate.