Bassett has long had a passion for conservation, and she wrote and directed the film in part to bring attention to the issue of the illegal wildlife trade and other dangers to the environment.

Jack, who is at risk of losing his job, is concerned about the expense of the trip, and his constant complaining causes a rift in the family, especially between him and Zoe with whom he has a strained relationship.

When they unknowingly come between a rhinoceros and its young, the rhino rams into their van and overturns it, wounding Jack's leg and shattering their water bottles.

While making their way through the park, Jack, Lauren, Zoe and Noah are surrounded by a larger group of hyenas; two men arrive firing guns and scare them away.

Jack runs to create a distraction while Noah and Zoe help Lauren, who is now unconscious due to going hours without insulin, into one of the poacher's vehicles.

[3] Phil Hoad of The Guardian also noted this element, stating, "All the ingredients are here for a dusty, merciless thriller tussling with nature in tooth and claw.

For example, in San Jose Mercury News, Randy Myers described the main characters as "whiny" and "arrogant,"[5] while Richard Whittaker argued that the film's plot seemed to serve as "background noise while they sort out their issues.