American doctor Marsh Tracy (Marshall Thompson), known as "Daktari" to the natives, runs a wildlife rehabilitation clinic on the African savanna with the help of his tomboyish teenager, Paula (Cheryl Miller), and faithful researcher and gorilla expert, Julie Harper (Betsy Drake). Their wholesome adventures include helping one of the preserve's lions, Clarence, when he begins exhibiting aggressive behavior; the intrepid trio soon discover that the wild animal has a vision defect.