While on honeymoon in London Danny and Alice meet Danny's estranged father Robert, who returns with them to Leopards Den to help save the pride of lions from a deadly outbreak of canine distemper. Robert reveals he has brain cancer. How will Danny cope with the loss of both his father and his beloved pride of lions?

On his first day as State Vet Danny faces a tough decision when his investigation into an animal-smuggling ring takes him surprisingly close to home. Meanwhile, Thabo is settling in, but the arrival of his delinquent older brother brings trouble and casts doubt on Thabo's sincerity.