The White Giraffe

Gwyn Thomas is Martine’s grandmother. Although Martine has lived her entire life without knowing that her grandmother exists, Gwyn takes her in after her parents’ tragic deaths. Living on an animal sanctuary called Sawubona in Cape Town, South Africa, Gwyn first enters the story as something of an enigmatic figure. Martine’s first introduction to Gwyn is through a letter, and it is clear that the news of becoming Martine’s guardian comes as a shock to Gwyn, and Martine is initially unsure whether her grandmother truly welcomes her or not.

Once Martine arrives at Sawubona, Gwyn shows little interest in Martine’s emotional state and coldly lays out the house rules. Gwyn’s inhospitable demeanor only deepens Martine’s sadness, and she spends most of her first days at Sawubona lonely and lost. To make matters worse, Gwyn is at odds with Grace, with whom Martine forms an instant connection, and she forbids Tendai from taking Martine back to Grace’s home. Throughout the majority of the novel, Gwyn hides many secrets about Martine’s birth and past, and the author enhances the sense of mystery that surrounds this character, intensifying both the interpersonal tension between her and Martine and accelerating the dramatic tension that adds to the novel’s rising action.

Though Gwyn later warms to Martine when she finds that her granddaughter is useful in helping around the preserve, she maintains an emotional distance from her and never speaks of Martine’s mother. It is not until she discovers that Martine has found the white giraffe that she reveals the truth, helping Martine to understand the hidden reasons for her detachment. Gwyn explains that she lost Martine once when her parents took her away from South Africa, and upon her granddaughter’s abrupt return, she avoided getting too close for fear that she would only lose her again. Throughout the novel, Gwyn is a static character and undergoes little change. She provides Martine with food, shelter, and education but does little to help Martine through her grief. Instead, Grace fills the role of a matriarch and confidant for Martine, offering her wisdom, guidance, and emotional support.

Tendai works at Sawubona and is Martine’s first introduction to her new life. She instantly trusts him despite the curious scar on his face, and he does his best to make her feel welcome despite her challenging circumstances. Before driving her to the preserve, Tendai takes Martine to speak with his aunt, Miss Grace, at a meeting that will change her life. In the lonely days to follow, as Martine feels unwanted and alone in her new home, Tendai becomes her friend and helps her to discover the wonder and beauty of the South African bush. Under his tutelage, Martine falls in love with South African flora and fauna and marvels at Tendai’s instinctual knowledge of his environment. She claims, “He carried nature with him, almost like an aura” (21). Tendai, in his deep connection to the land, serves as a foil to the malicious game warden Alex du Preez, who works in the preserve only for his own personal gain and cares nothing about true conservation and animal welfare.

Tendai not only teaches Martine about the environment of South Africa, but he also teaches her about the painful history of the country. Tendai knows firsthand the disastrous effects of apartheid on his people and the scars which he wears on his body. By learning his story, Martine gains empathy for her friend and for other Black South Africans who endured the scourge of apartheid and its damaging effects. Although Martine and Tendai’s experiences are not the same, they both share the trauma of losing their parents, a universal grief that transcends cultural boundaries. Tendai’s kind-heartedness and willingness to share his wisdom with Martine play a vital role in her assimilation into her new life. He helps her feel less alone and arms her with valuable knowledge that she can take with her on her next adventure. Through Tendai’s friendship, Martine develops a respect for the land and people of Africa and is better equipped to embrace her gift of helping animals.

Ben is Martine’s reclusive classmate, who later becomes her friend and ally. Bullied by his peers for his deliberate refusal to speak, his small stature, and his ethnicity, Ben exists on the fringes of the school social hierarchy, preferring to be alone rather than face ridicule and harassment from the popular Five Star Gang. Martine learns from her classmates that Ben has “a Zulu father and an Indian mother” (44). Ben’s personality and appearance intrigue Martine, who considers herself an outcast at her old school and an oddity at her new one, and she vows to befriend him. However, still experiencing grief from her parents’ deaths and disoriented from her abrupt move, Martine doesn’t have the emotional capacity to follow through on her promise.

Like Martine, Ben loves nature and appears to be most at peace when he is outside. Martine notices him on the bus to the botanical gardens: “He was staring out at the paradise of trees and flowers and Table Mountain rising into the blue sky behind it, and his face was alive with anticipation” (69). During that fateful school field trip, Ben emerges as an unlikely ally when the Five Star Gang accuses Martine of witchcraft, and he helps her hide from her pursuers and ensures they get their comeuppance at the bottom of a reeking compost heap. However, when Martine returns the favor and comes to Ben’s rescue when the gang later has him teetering on the edge of a ravine, her interference only angers him. Despite these social difficulties, Ben proves himself to be a true ally at the narrative’s climax, providing a key for Martine as she stares down the prospect of finding Jemmy on the boat. Though he is small and quiet, he always offers his help whenever Martine is in trouble and becomes a loyal friend when she needs it most.