Jackie Rhodes is a British girl, approximately twelve or thirteen years old, living in Kenya with her family. She moved there at age three and considers Kenya her true home. Her father, Arthur Rhodes, works as a wildlife conservation officer, immersing Jackie in the African savannah and its wildlife from an early age.

Jackie has blonde hair cut in a boyish short style, blue eyes, a slightly crooked nose, and thin legs considered long for her age. She possesses an athletic build and typically wears practical clothing suitable for outdoor activities.

Her personality combines adventurousness, determination, and deep compassion for animals. She exhibits tomboyish traits, enjoying horseback riding, swimming, fishing, and exploring the wilderness, contrasting with her more cautious brother, Andrew. Her attachment to wildlife leads her to rescue an injured bushbaby, whom she names Murphy and nurses back to health.

When her family is forced to return to England due to Kenya's independence and her father's job loss, Jackie attempts to bring Murphy but loses the required export documentation. At the Mombasa port, she discovers the ship's captain dislikes animals and realizes she cannot smuggle Murphy aboard. She makes a critical decision, disembarking the ship to ensure Murphy's welfare, resulting in her being stranded in Kenya as the ship departs without her.

Stranded, Jackie reunites with Tembo Murumbi, her father's African assistant. Tembo becomes her protector when authorities mistakenly issue an arrest warrant accusing him of kidnapping her. Simultaneously, poachers target Tembo for his investigations into their activities. Jackie, Murphy, and Tembo embark on a perilous journey across the savannah to evade both poachers and law enforcement.

During this journey, Jackie focuses on rehabilitating the domesticated Murphy for survival in the wild. She observes and nurtures his natural hunting instincts, teaching him essential skills while confronting threats like drought, wild animals, and poachers. Her physical endurance is tested when an elephant poacher's poisoned arrow strikes her arm.

Jackie shows increasing resilience and adaptability. Initially reliant on her family and Tembo, she becomes capable of navigating complex challenges across the Kenyan wilderness. Her bond with Tembo evolves into a partnership of mutual respect and intergenerational friendship. She resolves the misunderstanding about her supposed kidnapping, clearing Tembo's name.

The culmination of her journey involves releasing Murphy into his natural habitat. Following this, she decides to remain in Kenya rather than rejoining her family in England. She continues exploring and protecting the African wilderness alongside Tembo, symbolizing her commitment to conservation and her identity as a child belonging to both British and Kenyan worlds.