The story of the adventures of two children in Africa begins in 1884 in Egypt, during the Mahdi uprising against the British. Stas Tarkovsky and Nel Rawlinson were kidnapped to be exchanged for hostages. The fathers try to find the children, but to no avail. Stas and Nel, together with their loyal mastiff Saba, will undertake a long journey across the desert, mountains, and forests, encounter many dangers, and find new friends.