Poachers have recently decimated a pride of lions, but one survivor transforms into a dangerous man-eater, targeting those responsible for the killings. Enter Dr. Nate Samuels, played by Idris Elba, who is grappling with the grief of losing his wife. He decides to take a trip with his daughters, Norah and Meredith — portrayed by Leah Jeffries and Iyana Halley, respectively — to the Mopani Reserve in South Africa in hopes of reconnecting with them after a tumultuous year.
Upon their arrival, they reconnect with Martin Battles, an old friend of Nate's represented by Sharlto Copley, who also serves as a biologist and the reserve's manager. Martin offers to guide them through the beautiful surroundings, even taking them to the village where Nate's wife grew up. During their heartwarming time together, Nate shares his struggles with Martin, expressing his guilt over his distance from his family following his wife's battle with cancer. Meanwhile, Meredith harbors her own resentment, feeling abandoned by her father during their mother's illness.
The next day, Martin takes Nate and the girls to explore restricted areas of the reserve. While observing the local lion pride, they discover that one lion appears to be injured, triggering a foreboding sense that something is amiss. Shortly afterward, while visiting a nearby Tsonga community, they learn of catastrophic losses, leading Martin to suspect a rogue lion may be responsible. He rushes back to the ranger station but encounters danger as he tracks the lion — a confrontation that sees him severely mauled. In the midst of chaos, Nate and his daughters must confront the horrific reality of their vacation turned perilous.
Meredith's quick thinking saves Martin, who retreats wounded, while Nate finds himself under siege by the lion. As he struggles to secure safety, Norah acts decisively by jabbing the lion with a tranquilizer dart, causing it to retreat momentarily. Together, they manage to navigate the threat and treat Martin’s wounds, but their ordeal is far from over.
Under the cloak of night, the lingering threat of the rogue lion amplifies as poachers unexpectedly arrive, escalating tensions. Despite a temporary agreement to assist, danger strikes again when the lion attacks, leading to a harrowing fight for survival. In a desperate bid, Nate seeks to rescue his family and offsets the growing danger posed by the poachers.
With bravery and sacrifice, Martin fights against the beast to allow the sisters a chance to escape, even suffering injuries in the process. In a climactic moment, Nate faces the lion, luring it away from his daughters before it attacks, but they inadvertently find themselves trapped in a dire situation.
As their desperate journey unfolds, they find refuge in an abandoned schoolhouse, a stronghold repurposed by the poachers. Amidst the terrifying events, Nate remains determined to protect Meredith and Norah, vowing to return after honed a strategy to confront the lion once more.
In a climactic showdown, Nate faces the rogue lion head-on, enduring a near-fatal encounter before the pride's protective males intervene, showcasing a raw depiction of nature’s balance. After being saved by a local worker, Nate awakens in a hospital, where his first words to his daughters echo the love that binds them. Ultimately, they return to the preserve, not just as survivors but as a renewed family, recreating cherished memories that honor the legacy of their late matriarch.
