Based directly on characters from Nickelodeon's animated developed-for-TV series. Eliza Thornberry is sent to a British boarding school by her grandmother after an attempt to rescue a cheetah cub from a group of poachers makes her grandma fear for her safety. Darwin comes along with Eliza by hiding inside her bag. Debbie is left alone by her parents to babysit Donnie despite her dislike of Africa. Eliza and her roommate along with Darwin sneak out of boarding school to go on a journey to rescue the kidnapped cheetah cub and return Darwin to Nairobi. Along the way, Eliza may be forced to tell her friend about her deep secret: she has the power to talk to animals.