Season 5

Back among the lions, giraffes and elephants, love is continuing to blossom for Danny Trevanion and fellow vet Alice Collins but will Danny have the courage to commit to her? Throughout the series the pair will face many challenges, not least the pressure of working together, and Alice must make some difficult decisions about her future at Leopard’s Den.

Danny starts to feel his age after hurting his back whilst building a new local school. When a new young vet arrives called Lewis he feels even older. After Caroline requests that Du Plessis organises their honeymoon, she ends up with much more than she bargained for.

Alice becomes increasingly torn between helping Rowan to rehabilitate a tiger at Mara and her own responsibilities at Leopard's Den. Danny's project to help township animals takes a disastrous turn when a pregnant cow develops complications. Du Plessis and Fatani agree to help with Rowan's beauty pageant

Danny confides in Du Plessis about his intention to ask for Alice's hand in marriage, but the arrival of his step-daughter Olivia threatens to derail his plans. Meanwhile, Jana the cheetah falls sick, and Danny realises that he must save the animal if he is to salvage his relationship with Olivia.

Danny and Alice's plans for a romantic trip away are ruined when they come across a crash out in the bush. With an injured tourist on their hands and a lion on the loose, they are faced with a long, dark night ahead. Meanwhile, Du Plessis decides that it is time that Olivia learned some manners, but will his short, sharp technique do the job?

Danny's attempts to help Alice settle into her new job at Mara backfire when a hyena goes on the rampage. With the life of an animal in the balance, Danny realises he must pull out all the stops if he is to salvage his relationship with Alice. Meanwhile, Alice discovers that Rowan and Vanessa have been seeing each other in secret. And a honeymooning couple face a charging wildebeest.

With matters between him and Alice still tense, a distracted Danny makes a fatal mistake while treating a rare black leopard. When the big cat dies, its owner insists that Danny is investigated for malpractice. Hearing the bad news, Du Plessis decides to look into the matter in order to exonerate his friend. But things look bleak when Danny goes against his suspension to treat Jana and an official catches him out.

Leopard’s Den’s residents go to an auction to purchase a giraffe after lions kill their own. However when Danny and Alice argue over a suitable replacement Danny falls into the arms of Vanessa. Meanwhile, a storm is approaching Leopard’s Den, so for safety reasons the family have to release some of the animals. When the storm hits, Charlotte and Danny come off the worst.

There are dangerous consequences when Du Plessis ignores his heart condition and collapses while alone in the bush. Danny gets more than he bargained for when he has to deal with two rogue lions that are attacking the local cattle. Olivia and Caroline are finding it particularly hard as the anniversary of Sarah's death draws nearer.

When Du Plessis hears about Caroline's intention of buying them a retirement home he confesses to Olivia that he has given away all of their savings to his son. Will they be able to resolve the situation before the family find out? Danny and Alice's plan to give a home to a rare aardwolf backfires when they meet Vanessa's father - who refuses to take in charity cases. He goes on to make himself even more unpopular by buying Ekotto's land with the intention of turning it into a golf course.