Martine is an 11-year-old girl who becomes orphaned and is sent to live at the Sawubona game reserve in Cape Town, South Africa. Struggling with the trauma of losing her parents and adapting to a vastly different environment, she feels isolated both at her grandmother's house and her new school. She possesses a unique, mystical ability to heal injured animals with the heat of her hands.

Gwyn is Martine's grandmother and the owner of the Sawubona wildlife sanctuary. She is a strict, emotionally distant woman who enforces rigid house rules and expressly forbids Martine from entering the game reserve. Her frosty exterior masks a history of unresolved grief and guarded secrets regarding her family's past.

Tendai is a Zulu worker who has spent over 20 years at the Sawubona game reserve. Bearing physical scars from police brutality during apartheid, he serves as Martine's welcoming introduction to South Africa. He possesses extensive instinctual knowledge of the local flora and fauna and takes Martine under his wing to teach her bushcraft survival skills.

Alex is the game warden at Sawubona, taking over the position after the death of Martine's grandfather. He has an overfamiliar, insincere demeanor that makes Martine instantly suspicious of his true motives. He is tasked with protecting the preserve's animals but frequently demonstrates a callous disregard for their welfare, such as shooting a kudu without clear reason.

Jemmy is an elusive, rare white giraffe living secretly within the Sawubona reserve. Orphaned when his mother was killed by poachers, he survives hidden in the bush. When he rescues Martine from a cobra, the two form an instant, profound bond that provides Martine with a deep sense of peace and belonging in her new home.

Ben is a small, reclusive student at Caracal School who is constantly targeted by the popular "Five Star Gang." Because he deliberately refuses to speak, his peers give him cruel nicknames. Like Martine, he prefers solitude and the natural world over dealing with the school's social hierarchy.

Grace is Tendai's aunt and a traditional Zulu healer, or sangoma. She immediately recognizes Martine's unique abilities and offers her comforting food and profound spiritual guidance. Despite Gwyn's attempts to keep Martine away from her, Grace serves as a wise, grandmotherly figure who helps Martine understand her connection to the animals.

Henry was Martine's grandfather and the former game warden at Sawubona. He died tragically in a shootout with poachers two years before Martine's arrival. He was deeply respected by the preserve staff, particularly Tendai, for his belief in equality and his dedication to the animals.

Veronica was Martine's mother who kept her South African heritage and extended family a complete secret from her daughter. She tragically dies in the house fire on Martine's 11th birthday, leaving her child an orphan.

Lucy is a tanned, blonde student at Caracal School and a central figure in the popular "Five Star Gang." While she initially takes Martine under her wing and seems welcoming, she quickly reveals a mean streak through her cruel treatment of outcast students.

Jake is a large boy who belongs to the popular Five Star Gang at Caracal School. He participates in bullying the outcast students and acts aggressively toward an injured goose during a school field trip, prompting Martine to intervene.

Miss Volkner is a teacher at Caracal School who instructs the students on South African folklore and indigenous flora and fauna. She provides the students with practical knowledge about nature, such as the medicinal properties of termite saliva.

Mr. Morrison is a kind neighbor in Hampshire, England, who comforts Martine during the house fire. Before she departs for Africa, he quietly slips her a practical survival kit containing a flashlight, knife, and medical supplies.

Mrs. Morrison is a supportive neighbor in England. Following the tragic fire, she gifts Martine a pair of binoculars and offers her an open invitation to return for visits if she is ever unhappy in Africa.

Miss Rose is Martine's English teacher who temporarily takes the orphaned girl into her home. She helps prepare Martine for her journey by taking her shopping for warm-weather clothing and cooking a large, comforting final meal.

Mrs. Rathmore is the principal of Caracal School. She provides Martine with a tour of the environmentally conscious, campsite-like campus and attempts to integrate the new student by pairing her with the popular girls.

Samson works alongside Tendai at the Sawubona animal sanctuary, helping to feed and care for the sick and injured animals kept safely on the preserve.

Xhosa is a student at Caracal School who questions Martine about the rumors of a mythical white giraffe living at Sawubona, prompting Martine to deny the animal's existence to protect it.