Episode 209

The Trevanions are struggling to make ends meet, so Sarah takes on the job of providing a wedding reception. But hungry lions are making life difficult. Meanwhile Danny is slowly building on his veterinary work, often not charging the poor to do so. Danny considers approaching his neighbor Tate for some prey to keep the lions at bay, but is reluctant to do so as he suspects that Tate is allowing hunting illegally. Later Du Plessis hears that Tate has been seriously injured while doing so and insists that Danny, as the nearest medically trained person, go to treat him. In the meantime Sarah is having real problems with the reception planning, an elephant demolishes the marquee, and the reception flowers get eaten. Nomsa however calls in some of her friends who rally round to help out, and in the end the reception is a real success, only marred for the Trevanions by the news that Tate died in the air ambulance on his way to hospital.

It's the grand-reopening of Mara and a British charity is using the event to release a cape vulture back into the wild. But when Fatani forces Danny to compromise his principles the vulture sustains a serious injury. Rosie helps an elderly couple re-ignite their marriage and Nomsa's daughter Thandi, becomes Evan and Olivia's new teacher.

Du Plessis has to confront a few ghosts when a young man arrives at Leopard's Den claiming to be his son. But when a guest's expensive camera goes missing, Rosie and Danny question the young man's identity. Evan desperately tries to save an orphaned elephant and Sarah returns to England to attend her father's funeral.

Leopard's Den is under annual inspection from Nature Conservation. But Danny's efforts to pass are thwarted when he discovers Fatani is draining their water hole. Du Plessis refuses to settle an old score with the inspector and Max and Rosie join forces to find their stolen baby elephant.

Danny's old tutor and mentor - Bash - arrives to help grow the vet practice. Sarah soon realizes Bash isn't well. When he botches an operation on a cheetah and brings a poisonous snake into the house, Danny has to make some tough choices. Meanwhile, Rosie learns a few family secrets.

Sarah gets a shock when her mum Caroline turns up uninvited. The family harmony is disrupted when she interferes with two celebrity guests and opens old wounds for Sarah. Danny struggles to settle in an aggressive hippo while Rosie contends with her feelings for Max.

Sarah and Danny's marriage is tested when Sarah's ex husband Simon comes to Leopard's Den to get married. But when Danny has a near fatal accident, they realize the value of what they've got. Rosie takes a ranger's job at Mara and a giraffe has trouble settling in with its parents.

Caroline's had enough of life on Leopard's Den. But when a plane crash lands she finds the pilot and his pet chimp more than a welcome distraction. Meanwhile Danny is undertaking a drugs trial until the outbreak of a mystery virus threatens to destroy the farm.

It's Du Plessis' 60th birthday. But he's been diagnosed with Angina and doesn't feel like celebrating. A concerned Danny tries to keep Du Plessis active by involving him in his lion breeding program. But an attempt to inseminate a lioness ends in tragedy when Du Plessis and Danny are mauled by a lion.

Du Plessis regains consciousness and returns home. Meanwhile Danny is plagued by nightmares of the lion attack. Sarah fears he's suffering a breakdown and considers their future at Leopard's Den. Whilst on a game capture, Danny proves he's still a wildlife vet and finally conquers his demons. Du Plessis plucks up some courage of his own when he asks Caroline to marry him.