An aging lion has his hands full with newborn cubs, and rivals that could come for his territory and pride. Four lionesses struggle to turn their dozen busy cubs into useful pride-members. Meanwhile, a cheetah mother is racing to prepare her cubs for life without her; and a leopard is trying to start a family of his own. In this crowded world, trouble comes when the cats least expect it.

Winter brings floods and outsiders into the world, upending the lives of the lions and young cheetahs; meanwhile, a mother leopard is forced to choose between her older daughter, and her newborn cubs. When the river that sustains the small world turns on the Big Cats, it brings disruption and turmoil into their lives. Narrated by David Oyelowo.