In Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, the main characters continue their adventures after escaping from Madagascar. While the penguins manage to rebuild an old airplane, the animals encounter trouble during their flight and nearly crash, but they eventually make it to the African continent. There they encounter different animals of their type - Alex meets his parents and other lions, Marty meets a group of zebras who look exactly like him, Gloria the hippopotamus finds love, and Melman the giraffe finally gets to be a doctor.
However, Alex struggles with his sense of identity and has to prove himself as a leader to his lion pack. Meanwhile, the villainous Makunga, an ambitious lion who wants to be a leader himself, causes trouble for the group and tries to take over the lion pride. The animals also get caught up in a tribal conflict between two groups of animals, and they must help reconcile their differences.
The film also includes new characters such as Moto Moto, a charming hippopotamus who Gloria falls in love with, and Nana, an old lady who keeps popping up unexpectedly and continues to attack Alex. The film features exciting action sequences, humorous moments, and emotional scenes as the animals learn about their history and the importance of family and friendship. In the end, the animals must decide whether to stay in the wild or return home to their comfortable life in Central Park.