"I had to go halfway around the world, to find out the perfect guy for me lived right next door."
- In spite of their earlier argument, Zuba rushes off to help Alex once he realizes his son went to find the water source on his own. Then when both lions are cornered by the humans, Zuba is truly amazed by how well Alex dances and decides to join in.Alex: Dad, what are you doing?
Zuba: I'm dancing with my son! - Melman deciding to profess his love for Gloria - through Moto Moto. It really shines through that Melman is the one who loves her, not the shallow womanizer Moto Moto.Melman: No, no, that's not it. Listen, Mototo, you'd better treat this lady like a queen. Because you my friend, you have found yourself the perfect woman. If I was ever so lucky to find the perfect woman, I would give her flowers every day. And not just any flowers, okay? Her favorites are orchids. White. And breakfast in bed. Six loaves of wheat bread with butter on both sides. No crusts. The way she likes it. I'd be her shoulder to cry on and her best friend. And I'd spend every day trying to think of how to make her laugh. She has the most... most amazing laugh. (finally looks over to Gloria, who is in pure awe) Well, I mean that's-that's what I would do, if I were you. But I'm not, so you do it.
- The other hippos in the pond gush over Melman's confession as Gloria stares off to him.
- Melman offers himself as the sacrifice to the supposed volcano God, partly because it'll be a quick way to go, and mostly because maybe there's a chance of getting Gloria water. Gloria quickly tries to talk him out of it.Melman: Gloria, I just want you to know back at the zoo, it was never the doctors or the prescriptions that kept me going. It was always you. Seeing you every day: that's what kept me going.
- These lines from Gloria, which double as a Tear Jerker:Gloria: This is crazy. I had to go halfway around the world, to find out the perfect guy for me lived right next door.
- During the plane crash:Alex: This could be it, Marty! I just want you to know you were truly a one-in-a-million friend!
Marty: Thanks, buddy! You're the best ever!- Followed by Melman's Anguished Declaration of Love.
Melman: I love you, Gloria! I always have! - Alex reuniting with his parents when they get to Africa.Alex: Mom and dad...? Mom and dad... mom and dad! I got a mom and dad!
- Even cuter, Marty, Gloria, and Melman join in on the hug, happy for their friend.
- Alex revealing that he can pick Marty out among all the other zebras and speaking encouragingly to his friend.
- And during his trip upriver to return the water to the reserve.
Alex: ...before I go, I got something I wanna say. You've been a great friend. You've helped me so often to see the bright side of my problems that I never think of you as having any. I wasn't there for you when you needed me. Just like back at the zoo. What kind of friend does that make me? A pretty lousy friend, I guess. Well, I just want you to know that... you're one in a million.
Random zebra: This is just touchin'. It is touchin'.- Fridge-Heartwarming: Even though it turns out Alex recognized Marty from the bite scar on his backside, it still counts as a testament of how well he knows him. It's kind of a badge that Marty's the only zebra crazy enough to have ever befriended a lion and still live to tell about it.
- For that matter, when Alex is leaving the reserve to find the water, the other zebras freak out and tell him to come back because it's not safe. Herd of zebras, telling a lion, their natural predator, to come back to where it's safe. That's telling how the community looks after itself.
- Moto Moto turns out to not be that bad of a guy even though it's made clear he's a shallow womanizer for the most part. He's still friends with Gloria after their date fell apart, and he goes deep under the waterhole to try to dig for water to help the entire reserve.
- While they're doing it for the wrong, desperate reasons, the reserve animals all praise Melman as a hero for volunteering to be the volcano sacrifice, carrying him away and cheering him on. Even the sacrifice ritual at the volcano, while threatening, is not out of malice and they're all encouraging him to go forward, and also thanking him, telling him they love him for taking one for the team.
- It's a small moment, but after the penguins hijack the tourist jeep, even as they're stunned and panicking, one of the other tourists finds Nana's handbag and brings it over to her, with Nana gratefully saying that he's a "nice boy".
- The tour guide protesting to Nana's plan to eat Alex, as well as being horrified when he thinks that he ran over one of the penguins.
- The stranded New Yorkers recognizing Alex from his dance moves and knowing that’s the lion they love from back home.
- As the Zoosters and penguins are about to ram the dam, Mason gives his mis-information from Alex claiming to sacrifice him and not to pull up. Marty questions if he's sure, as an indication he's concern of sacrificing his best friend.
- In the ending credits: For our friend Bernie Mac, thanks for all the laughter.
