Hank (Noel Marshall) is an American man that lives with multiple lions, tigers, cougars, jaguars, and other wild animals in Africa. His wife Madeleine (Tippi Hedren), her two sons (John and Jerry Marshall), and her daughter Melanie (Melanie Griffith) have come from Chicago to the airport, as he will bring them back to his ranch. He ends up being late, however; his friend Mativo (Kyalo Mativo) offers to take him by boat to pick them up. Mativo warns him that a committee is arriving to review the grant (money) for his land. As they wait for the committee, Hank takes Mativo on a tour around his ranch. The pair discuss lions that live in the area, with Hank explaining the nature and behavior of the cats. Hank mentions his anxiety with a rogue named Togar around Robbie, a pack leader. The committee arrives and immediately shows disapproval of the state of the ranch, including a man named Prentiss (Steve Miller), who threatens to shoot the animals. A fight between lions Robbie and Togar distracts Hank, who leaves to break up the fight. The tigers attack the committee members and sink their boats, making them flee in panic. Hank and Mativo leave to reach the airport, but have to instead use bikes from the villagers after a tiger sinks the boat.