Kai is a naive, but high-spirited young Peregrine falcon who lives with his father Tendai. After a visit from Gogo and Tini, Kai travels to "Zambezia", a bustling bird city on the edge of the majestic Victoria Falls, Zambia where he discovers the truth about his origins and learns how to be part of the community. While learning of his father's past, Kai ends up having to work with Zambezia's defenders called the "Hurricanes" to protect Zambezia from Budzo, a monstrous Rock monitor who has persuaded the Marabou storks (who have been left out of the development of Zambezia) to help him with his invasion.