After a failed attempt to fly back to New York City, the group of animal friends from Central Park Zoo find themselves crash-landing on the vast plains of Africa. The main characters, Alex the lion, Marty the zebra, Melman the giraffe, and Gloria the hippopotamus, initially revel in the expanse of the new world before them, which seems like an idyllic setting in contrast to their life in captivity. Their arrival in Africa sparks a joyful discovery of their roots. Alex is reunited with his long-lost parents and begins to understand the importance of family ties, while the others also start to connect with their kind, experiencing the natural life they never had the chance to live.

As they adapt to the wild and their new roles within the animal kingdom, the friends face challenges and threats to the harmony of their new environment. Alex's efforts to fit in with his pride lead to unexpected tensions, and the group's presence starts to unsettle the balance of the local ecosystem. Meanwhile, they must deal with the machinations of a cunning group of animals that see their arrival as an opportunity to advance their own interests. The unfolding events test the bonds of friendship among the Central Park Zoo expatriates, as they navigate the complexities of life in the wild and the realization that their understanding of "home" may have forever changed.