Sent on a forced holiday to a five-star hotel, Dr. Aibolit learns from his pet monkey Chi-Chi that an epidemic has broken out among the animals in Africa. Together with Chi-Chi, he embarks on a journey to Africa on a tourist hot air balloon. They soon discover that the epidemic is the work of the vicious robber Barmaley, who can’t forbid anything to his young daughter Lea. Barmaley kidnaps baby animals to stock his daughter’s private zoo. However, after meeting Dr. Aibolit, Lea begins to reconsider her attitude toward animals — and ultimately reforms her father, Barmaley.