Love was in the air this month! As has become an annual tradition, many Voi ex-orphans circled back ‘home’ for the holidays — and two older females made quite an impression on visiting wild bulls.
At first light, the orphans emerged from their shared bedrooms and gathered in the feeding area outside the stockades to fill their bellies and play with friends. As the sun rose in the sky, they headed out to browse on the slopes of Msinga Hill, ambling in the direction of the baobab tree mud wallow. The orphans spent the morning enjoying the abundance of fresh green browse on the hill before being sent down in small groups for their afternoon milk feed.
After drinking two bottles of milk each, they padded on to the mud wallow. Some rolled around on the muddy edge of the pool, digging into the ground with their small tusks, as others splashed in the water. Ngilai paddled on his own after completing a series of elephant stretches on his favourite patch near the baobab tree. Nearby, easy-going Thamana was engaged in another pushing game with Emoli. When Lemeki strolled over to remind him that she was his oldest friend, Thamana took advantage of the opportunity to bring the game to an end. Enjoying a brief respite from the older bull’s inexhaustible desire to play, Thamana trunk touched his honorary big sister and followed her, leaving Emoli on his own.
The herd browsed some more on their way back to the stockades in the late afternoon. As dusk fell, Itinyi and Kenderi (two of the Voi kids rescued last year) had a gentle sparring match between scooping up mouthfuls of grewia branches in their shared stockade. After dark, ex-orphans Ndii, Panda and Arruba walked silently up the path and settled down to drink from the water trough.
A full house of former orphans arrived at the stockades this morning. The visiting ex-orphans included Mweya, her daughter Mwitu, Edie, her daughter Eden, Ndii, Tahri, Naipoki, Kenia, Panda and Mudanda. They ambled in at first light, settling in the feeding area with their dependent friends, and were accompanied by a wild bull who kept flirting with Panda. Older and younger orphans mingled reasonably well, although Mweya and a couple of others could not resist a few unwarranted shoves. The ex-orphans spent much of the day around the stockades, browsing on the slope behind the stockades and then ambling back to the feeding area.
The dependent herd set out as usual in the direction of Msinga Hill, spreading out to browse in open grasslands to the south of the hill. In the afternoon, they padded down to the mud wallow and then returned to the hill, climbing all the way to the top. As dusk approached, the Keepers shepherded the orphans back to the safety of the stockades for the night.
This morning, the ex-orphans arrived before the resident elephants had emerged from their stockades. Mweya, Naipoki, Panda, Ndii, Edie and her wild-born babies Eco and Enzo were accompanied by two wild bulls, one of whom was again flirting with Panda. The Keepers observed the interaction with interest as they held up bottles for their young charges and filled the trough with range cubes. As Edie lay down for a relaxing nap after a busy night, Naipoki slipped into the role of nanny, keeping a close eye on Eco and Enzo. She has a close bond with both babies.
The dependent herd joined the visitors and soon the feeding area was full of elephants. They ate together peacefully and spread out on the terraces to hang out and play. Today, old and young mingled in harmony. Losoito was one of the few who seemed ill at ease. Possibly a little overwhelmed by the crowd, she and Ashanti set out to the browsing fields on their own. In a short while, the rest of the herd followed along behind, leaving the ex-orphans on the terraces. After scooping up every range cube in the trough, the visitors ambled out to browse over the green grasslands surrounding the stockades. In the afternoon, the orphans enjoyed a splash in the mud wallow and a roll around on the pile of earth before returning to Msinga Hill.
It poured with rain for much of the night, leading to flooding in some areas of the park. The rain eased off to a drizzle in the early morning as the orphans padded down to the feeding area. The ex-orphans did not visit today and so the herd had the area to themselves and the little ones did not need to worry about being pushed around. The Voi kids — Itinyi, Ushindi, Ashanti, Kenderi, Epiya, Juni, Hildana, Kilulu, Seri, Dabida, Baraka and Busara — lined up at the trough belly to belly, deftly picking up cubes, and then clustered around the large pile of supplementary lucerne.
The orphans spent the morning on the slopes of Msinga Hill and the early afternoon on the open grasslands near the mud wallow. After gulping down their bottles of milk, they ambled down to the pool, pausing to drink from the trough before plunging into the cooling water on a sunny afternoon. Ex-orphans Suswa and Mudanda joined the herd as they gathered around the wallow. Ushindi squatted on the edge of the wallow, scratching her backside, as Kenderi clambered clumsily out of the water. Sagala posed on the edge with her front feet in the water and her back feet on dry land. Suswa rolled around on the pile of earth, massaging every part of her body against the soil. When the herd meandered back out to the bush, Pika Pika stayed behind – the water baby was having too much fun as she rolled and splashed and trumpeted alone in the mud bath.
Ex-orphans Mweya, Edie (and her babies, Eco and Enzo), Tahri, Naipoki, Kenia, Arruba, Panda and Mudanda spent the night outside the stockades. The babies lay down together as the older elephants stood around, keeping watch over the little ones. Gentle Ndotto also spent the night outside the stockades — he darted away in the early evening, making clear his decision to be with the ex-orphans. The Keepers respect the bull’s growing independence.
At first light, the resident orphans walked out of their bedrooms and down the path to the line of Keepers waiting with bottles held aloft. This morning, Arruba and Tahri joined the queue, hoping that if they mingled with the younger orphans, they would be given some delicious milk. When the Keepers whistled to them, they about turned reluctantly and walked slowly away to the feeding trough. The younger ones drank their milk and spread out along the trough and around the lucerne.
As the sun rose in a clear sky, the orphans wandered out to browse on Msinga Hill and the ex-orphans headed off towards the river. In the afternoon, the resident elephants gathered around the mud wallow to drink from the trough and play in the water. Lasayen posed next to the trough, standing tall and flapping his ears, while Godoma and Pika Pika splashed around on the edge of the pool. Tagwa and Lemeki were spending time together under the baobab tree, trunk touching each other affectionately, as the rest of the herd enjoyed a marvellous dust bath.
The orphans were full of energy this morning, especially the Voi kids who were nudging the doors at dawn. They bounded out of their shared bedrooms, down the path and round the corner to the feeding area. After downing their bottles, the orphans strolled over to join Mweya and Edie’s herd of ex-orphans who were again accompanied by Ndii and two wild bulls. Soon the terraces were covered with former and current orphans. Most of the visitors behaved well although Ndoria and Araba were being assertive to Ashanti and Losoito. Ndii and Panda massaged their backsides against the large rocks near the gate.
Leaving their older friends behind at the stockades, the dependent herd headed out for their daily bush walk, settling as usual on the slopes of Msinga Hill. In the afternoon, the orphans went down for another milk feed and then visited the new mud wallow on the hill (rather than the one under the baobab tree). Many rolled around on the muddy soil around the wallow, covering their bodies with cooling red earth. Mbegu plunged into the water, submerging her whole body, as Murit rested his rump on the edge. After a cool down, the orphans drank deeply from the new water trough on the hill and then wandered back to the safety of the stockades.
Once again, Mweya’s herd of ex-orphans and their wild elephant friends ambled in quietly at dawn and gathered around the water trough. The Keepers filled the trough with range cubes and brought out an enormous pile of lucerne for current and former orphans to enjoy. As the guests settled down to eat, they were joined by their younger dependent friends. Frequent rumbles and the occasional trumpet could be heard as the elephants interacted in the early morning. Greetings were exchanged and many of the older females, in particular Sagala, laid their trunks affectionately along the backs of the babies.
The remainder of the day passed uneventfully. The herd headed out to browse all over Msinga Hill, leaving the herd of ex-orphans outside the stockades. Later in the afternoon, the orphans drank their milk, wallowed in the mud bath on Msinga Hill and then browsed some more on the green grasslands. Emoli and Thamana played the pushing game as Godoma fussed over Baraka and Lemeki stayed close to the Keepers. In the early evening, the herd ambled back to the stockades and settled in their rooms for the night.
As the orphans emerged from their stockades, the ex-orphans, with several wild bulls in tow, ambled up the path to join them in the feeding area. The crowd of elephants squashed up close to scoop up cubes from the trough and then gathered around the pile of lucerne. As the others spread out on the terraces, Panda was once again with her wild beau — and today, the two elephants mated. The Keepers are hoping for another wild-born baby in 22 months. The ex-orphans and the wild bull spent the morning outside the stockades before meandering off in the direction of the river.
Meanwhile, led by Mbegu, the dependent herd headed out to browse for the morning before padding down to the mud wallow in the afternoon. As Ndotto lay relaxing in the middle of the pool, Tagwa rubbed herself against him. The gentle bull did not mind being used as a scratching tree! Sagala and Juni were swimming close together – the older female draped her trunk over her little friend and then leant her head against her body. The younger orphan was loving the attention. Several elephants had a roll around on the pile of earth and then the herd set out for another browse on the plentiful green vegetation.
Mweya’s herd arrived before dawn as the Keepers were filling the trough with range cubes and carrying out the lucerne. The visitors gathered around the water trough as the resident orphans rumbled in their stockades. Doors open, they jogged down the path for the morning milk feed. For a change, Mweya’s herd left the compound first this morning, leaving Ndii behind to continue feasting on range cubes.
As the sun rose into a clear sky, Tagwa and Tamiyoi led the orphans out to Msinga Hill. After spending the morning on the hill, they headed down to the baobab tree mud wallow in the afternoon. Almost all of the elephants paddled in the cooling water and then enjoyed a soothing dust bath on the pile of soil. Pika Pika scratched herself vigorously against the bark of the baobab. Returning to the bush, the herd browsed far afield until dusk.
Right on time, Mweya’s herd of ex-orphans padded up the path again this morning, standing around patiently as they waited for breakfast. The wild bulls were not with them today. As the sky lightened, the Keepers opened the doors of the stockades one by one. Ashanti sprinted out of her bedroom and down the path with tail aloft and ears flared. Seconds later, she was overtaken by the equally greedy Busara who grabbed the nearest bottle as Ashanti trumpeted in annoyance. Before the rest of the herd had emerged from their stockades, Busara had finished her bottles and was pestering the Keepers for an extra one.
Current and former orphans mingled calmly this morning. Younger elephants like Losoito and Baraka were more relaxed than in recent days because the wild bulls were not with the ex-orphans today. Rather than clustering nervously around Mbegu, they settled down to eat and then dared to approach some of the visitors.
As the sun rose, the herd headed out. They were full of energy, wandering far in the forest on the other side of Msinga Hill. They drank from the many rainwater puddles, browsed on fresh green shoots and played with their friends.
This morning, the resident orphans had the feeding area and terraces all to themselves as the ex-orphans did not arrive until just before the herd headed out to the bush. The younger ones made the most of having the area to themselves – many played versions of the pushing game as others ambled around greeting their friends. Godoma was being very protective of Baraka, preventing feisty orphans like Hildana, Itinyi and Kenderi from coming anywhere near him. The naughty little boy took advantage of his nanny’s protective presence by giving Losoito and Ashanti assertive little shoves!
Soon after the visitors arrived, the residents wandered out in a tail to trunk line to browse in the surrounding bush. Pika Pika, Ngilai and Sagala led most of the herd to the summit of Msinga Hill while Mbegu, Murit and the babies stayed at the bottom, browsing contentedly on the lush vegetation. In the afternoon, the orphans came down for their milk feed and then continued browsing rather than visiting the mud wallow.
The visitors were late again this morning, meaning that the orphans had more space to play on the terraces. As the sun rose in a clear sky, Ngilai and Lasayen enjoyed a wrestling match while Ndotto massaged his backside against the twin trees. Nanny Pika Pika was fussing over Busara at the feeding trough, not allowing Seri and Kenderi to come close as the little girl scooped up range cubes. The older female positioned herself between Busara and the other two orphans, creating a most effective barrier.
Just after the herd had headed out, the ex-orphans wandered in to drink from the water trough before carrying on to the browsing fields around Msinga Hill. Ndii was feeling hungry again – she stayed back for a tasty snack of range cubes as her friends ambled out. Current and former orphans spent the day together browsing on the slopes of the hill.
On a cool morning, the orphans pottered down the path to the feeding area and spread out at the trough and around the pile of lucerne. Ngilai and Lasayen stood belly to belly at the trough as they scooped up range cubes. Meanwhile, Kenderi scratched herself against the large boulder near the entrance. Soon, the herd set out from the stockades led by Tamiyoi and Lemeki and accompanied by their Keepers.
In the afternoon, the orphans strolled down the hill for their usual milk feed and on to the mud wallow. It was a cloudy day and not even Pika Pika went swimming although Ndotto and Lasayen splashed around on the edge. Pika Pika scratched herself against the baobab tree and Ndotto did the same against the creamy peacock tree. Busara had a lovely time rolling around on the pile of earth as nannies Sagala and Mbegu stood protectively around her. On their way back to the stockades, the herd browsed deep into the bush.
Just before dawn, ex-orphan Ndii wandered into the stockade area followed by Mweya, Edie, their wild-born babies, nannies Naipoki and Tahri, Panda and Arruba. The ex-orphans were hungry and thirsty after a night of browsing. As they enjoyed range cubes and lucerne, the resident orphans emerged from their bedrooms and padded down the path to join them. When most of the visitors moved over to the lucerne, Mweya and her baby Mwitu remained at the feeding trough while Panda and Naipoki sparred against each other on the terraces. Arruba walked over to join Ndii as she stood massaging her body against the boulders at the entrance – the two friends draped their trunks along each other’s backs and stood quietly together. When Arruba walked away, Ndii headed over to the feeding trough.
Out in the bush, the resident orphans browsed all over Msinga Hill for much of the day. Older females Mbegu and Sagala both chose to look after Busara, shepherding her patiently all the way up the hill. Several bulls were in playful moods today – Murit and Lasayen wrested noisily against each other and Emoli and Thamana soon followed their lead.
It was another busy day at the stockades. Ex-orphans Mweya and her herd arrived before dawn and Kenia’s herd soon after. When Mbegu’s herd of resident orphans pottered out of their stockades, the three groups clustered together in the feeding area. It was a squash but a peaceful one. Old and young took turns at the trough and around the lucerne. Wild-born babies Eco and Mwitu had a great time playing with some of the younger orphans under the watchful eyes of mothers Edie and Mweya. Pika Pika stood as close as possible to Arruba at the feeding trough, touching her older friend at every opportunity.
Matriarchs Mbegu, Sagala and Tagwa soon led the herd of dependent orphans out to the field, not allowing any of the little ones to stay behind with the visitors. They were not going to risk a kidnapping situation! Ex-orphan Mudanda, who is heavily pregnant, chose to follow Mbegu and spent the whole day with her herd. She was reluctant to walk a long distance with her own herd.
Out in the bush, Thamana rolled around with legs waving and then lay on his back in a shallow trench as Mbegu and Lemeki stood guard. Lemeki has a close bond with her old friend from Kaluku. Later in the afternoon, many of the orphans enjoyed a wallow in the mud bath. Emoli would not leave Thamana alone in the water and kept trying to play mount him. Eventually, the younger orphan climbed out and wandered over to stand next to Lemeki who was with the Keepers. Mudanda remained with the herd until they returned to the stockades in the evening.
The Voi kids were full of energy again this morning, almost racing each other down the path to their Keepers waiting with bottles aloft. Baraka overtook Busara on the corner, sprinted away with ears flared and reached the delicious bottles first. He gulped down his milk and padded quickly over to join his older friends at the feeding trough. Busara took her time, enjoying every last drop of milk and wandering over in a sedate fashion to the trough. Greedy Ngilai then pushed Itinyi away from the range cubes but Mbegu came to the younger orphan’s rescue. She told off Ngilai with a warning shove and a trumpet and the three orphans then fed together peacefully. Reacting to the commotion, shy Ashanti walked away and set out for the bush with the rest of the herd following along behind.
For the remainder of the morning, the orphans browsed happily on the tall grass and green creepers, visiting the middle water hole to quench their thirst. On a hot sunny afternoon, the herd had lots of fun wallowing in the mud bath. Ndotto, Lasayen, Ngilai and Pika Pika were the stars in the pool today. As the others splashed around him, Ngilai scooped up trunkfuls of mud and tossed them into the air before clambering out to enjoy a dust bath with his friends.
Soon after dawn, the orphans trundled out of their stockades in groups of five or six. Older elephants Ngilai, Lasayen, Godoma, Mbegu, Sagala and Murit, who are no longer milk dependent, walked straight past the Keepers and settled at the feeding trough. The rest of the herd drank down their milk and wandered over to join them. Sagala headed straight for the pile of soil to enjoy an early morning dust bath as water baby Pika Pika splashed herself with refreshing water from the stockade wallow.
After playing for a time on the terraces, the resident orphans ambled out to browse on the slopes of Msinga Hill as the herd of ex-orphans ambled up the path to take their place outside the stockades. Later in the morning, the heavily-pregnant Mudanda joined the dependent orphans on the western side of the hill, choosing again to spend the day with the younger orphans rather than her own independent herd. Epiya was so engrossed in plucking up pieces of fresh green browse that she was left behind when the herd wandered down towards the mud wallow. Lifting his head and realising that he was on his own, Epiya sprinted as fast as his legs could carry him to rejoin his friends.
Mudanda was with the orphans again today, walking silently up to the stockades at first light. Emerging from their bedrooms, the orphans found their pregnant friend standing next to the feeding trough. After filling their bellies, the herd, accompanied by Mudanda, set out to browse on and around Msinga Hill. Lasayen and Godoma browsed together on the thick green vegetation carpeting the hill.
In the afternoon, the elephants padded down for another milk feed and a visit to the baobab tree wallow. Godoma and Murit paused to drink from the trough before joining their friends in the mud bath. Full of energy, Ndotto paddled in the water, walked out, about turned and plunged back in, challenging Pika Pika to a sparring match. As most of the herd lay down with trunks waving in the water, Ngilai, Seri and Itinyi took turns to massage their bodies against the creamy peacock tree and Mudanda rubbed her backside against the baobab tree. As the sun sank in the sky, the orphans meandered off – except for Mbegu, Godoma and Pika Pika. The three orphans lay in the water until a Keeper whistled that it was time to get out. Slowly, they clambered out and jogged off to catch up with the herd who were browsing again all over the hill.
Many ex-orphans padded in at dawn this morning with a wild bull in musth in their midst. The bull was behaving aggressively, dragging his trunk and waving his ears as he roamed all over the area. Monitoring the situation, the Keepers decided to head out early with the resident herd to avoid any risk of conflict. The younger orphans clustered around Mbegu, Sagala and Godoma – keeping their distance from the wild bull. With one whistle, the herd set off in a cluster, leaving the ex-orphans and the wild bull in the feeding area.
Wild-born Mwitu was standing next to the wild bull as Edie, Eco and Enzo drank from the water trough. The ex-orphans scooped up all the leftover cubes and lucerne before ambling back out to the bush, leaving just Edie, Eco and the wild bull behind. The bull was in musth and Edie was allowing him close and rumbling frequently.
Some two hours later, Edie and her beau mated in the stockade walkway and then walked off with Eco to join the herd. The Keepers are already hoping for another baby in 22 months! The ex-orphans did not return later in the day but Panda’s beau visited the stockades briefly as the sun was setting. He drank from the trough and wandered away into the bush.
On another morning of sunshine, the orphans gathered in the area outside the stockades. Today, they were joined by ex-orphans Panda, Mudanda, Ndii, Mweya, her baby Mwitu, and Edie’s baby Eden. Panda and Murit played several rounds of the sparring game, rebuffing Godoma when she tried to join the game.
Tamiyoi and Tagwa led the motley herd of former and current orphans out to browse on the slopes of Msinga Hill. Ndii followed the herd for a short time but then veered off in a different direction to join Kenia’s herd. The orphans spread out over the hill as they meandered towards the mud wallow. Only Mudanda and Panda remained with them.
Later in the afternoon, most of the orphans plunged into the pool for a cool down. They paddled or lay in the water, flapping their ears and waving their trunks. Mudanda and Panda were still with them and also Ndii. A swim was followed by a dust bath and then an evening wander back to the stockades. The three ex-orphans stayed out in the bush for a longer browse but spent the night under the tree outside the stockades.
Current and former orphans gathered in the early morning in the area outside the stockades to share range cubes and lucerne. Several wild bulls were also there. Ex-orphan Mweya and her baby Mwitu pushed some of the younger resident orphans away from the feeding trough. Mbegu did her best to defend Ashanti and others but was no match for the older female. Sensibly, the matriarch of the dependent herd decided against a confrontation.
Instead, she led the herd out to browse on the slopes of Msinga Hill, leaving the assertive visitors behind at the stockades. Soon after they left, Mudanda, Panda and Ndii walked away from the ex-orphans to spend time with Mbegu’s herd as they ambled around the hill. The orphans wandered in the direction of the baobab tree mud wallow as the other ex-orphans left the stockades to browse along the pipeline circuit. In the afternoon, the orphans enjoyed a mud wallow and a dust bath before climbing to the peak of Msinga Hill and then returning to the safety of the stockades.
The orphans had the feeding area to themselves this morning as the ex-orphans did not visit. They emerged from their stockades and lined up at the feeding trough to scoop up range cubes. Ndotto massaged his backside against the large boulder and then sauntered over to the trough, pushing poor Tagwa and taking her place. Emoli and Thamana were standing side by side, pushing each other playfully as they ate before heading off to the terraces for a sparring match. Mbegu was shielding little Busara from feisty Hildana as she tried to take her place. As the herd browsed on lucerne, Murit and Lasayen played several rounds of the pushing game, trumpeting in excitement as they clashed heads.
Soon, Lemeki, Losoito and Tamiyoi led the herd out to browse on the slopes of Msinga Hill. Large and not so large meandered along behind the leaders except for Ndotto. The gentle bull walked off in the opposite direction. In recent weeks, the Keepers have noticed a shift in Ndotto’s behaviour – he is choosing either to browse on his own or to join the herd of ex-orphans. They suspect that the bull will soon be living an independent life.
The orphans ambled over the open plains for several hours, enjoying the abundant green browse. In the afternoon, they padded down for more milk and then clustered around the water trough on Msinga Hill. It was a cloudy day and so the herd opted to browse rather than swim in the mud wallow.
On a cool cloudy morning, Kenia’s and Mweya’s herds of ex-orphans arrived at dawn. As usual, the visitors joined the resident orphans in the feeding area, either at the range cubes trough or around the pile of lucerne. After filling their tummies, some browsed on the hill just behind the stockades as others hung out on the terraces. In a feisty mood, Ngilai roamed along the terraces looking for a playmate. He could not find Lasayen and Murit as they had already left the compound. Ex-orphans Ndoria and Araba scooped every last range cube from the trough as Naipoki fussed over Edie’s baby Enzo.
Soon, current and former orphans left the area outside the stockades to browse on fresh green shoots and grass.
Godoma and Epiya clambered all the way up to the top of Msinga Hill with Lasayen and Ngilai padding along behind them. As Pika Pika, Itinyi. Juni and Tagwa ambled around on the lower slopes, they were joined by Mudanda, who is too pregnant to keep up with Kenia’s herd, and also by Mbegu and her favourite baby Busara. During the hottest part of the day, the herd walked down the hill to spend time around the water trough and in the mud wallow.
At first light, Mweya, her baby Mwitu, Kenia, Ndii, Arruba, Mudanda, Eden and other ex-orphans arrived, as usual, at the stockades. Little Mwitu and nanny Eden stood at the feeding trough, waiting for range cubes. Mweya stretched up tall to browse on acacia trees on the other side of the fence before ambling back to join Mwitu. Kenia, Ndii and Arruba clustered around the water trough as Mudanda stood quietly on her own at a distance from the herd. The resident orphans soon emerged from their shared bedrooms to join the visitors, drinking bottles of milk and settling at the trough or around the lucerne. Minutes later, Edie, babies Eco and Enzo, and her wild beau padded in to join the crowd, lining up to eat range cubes with many others.
As the sun rose in the sky, the dependent orphans headed out to browse on the slopes of Msinga Hill while the ex-orphans wandered off towards the river. Godoma and Hildana climbed up to the summit of the hill as they browsed on tasty shrubs. Lasayen spent some of the morning massaging himself against a large boulder. The orphans stayed close to the stockades today because of sightings of a pride of lions near the baobab tree mud wallow.
During the night, there was a heavy downpour and it was still raining in the early morning. The orphans were full of energy, jogging down the path with tails aloft in eager anticipation of milk, cubes and lucerne. The ex-orphans were nowhere to be seen this morning. After filling their bellies, the herd wandered deep into the woods, browsing on the abundance of delicious green foliage.
Later in the afternoon, the orphans returned to the stockades for another milk feed (avoiding the mud wallow again today). Ngilai and Tamiyoi lay relaxing on the pile of earth, rubbing against each other, as Godoma trunk touched and fussed over baby Baraka and Kilulu climbed up and down the terraces. Lasayen massaged his rump against the wall as Kenderi and Ashanti did the same against the large rock. The Keepers then ushered the herd back out to the bush for a final browse until dusk.
Mweya, Mwitu, Edie, Eco, Enzo, Naipoki, Tahri, Ndii, Mudanda and other ex-orphans ambled up to the stockades just as the resident orphans emerged from their bedrooms. The two groups settled down to eat breakfast together. Naipoki and Ushindi stood close together at the feeding trough as Juni and Emoli enjoyed an early morning massage against the terrace wall.
The resident orphans headed out to Msinga Hill first, leaving their older friends behind. Lemeki and Kenderi led the herd and Emoli trailed along at the end, reluctant to stop eating range cubes. The herd spread out over the hill. Ashanti was digging with her tusks, trying to make her own little dust pile, as Tagwa browsed close by, keeping an eye on the younger elephant. Lemeki rubbed her torso vigorously against the bark of a tree. When she ambled away, Godoma and Baraka took her place. Sagala remained in the foothills as many older orphans climbed up to the summit. An hour or so later, the ex-orphans joined Mbegu’s herd on the slopes of the hill. Ushindi played the sparring game with Enzo as Tahri browsed nearby with Edie.
In the afternoon, the herd headed down to the mud wallow and the ex-orphans went off in the opposite direction. Ngilai and Ndotto drank deeply from the water trough as Mbegu, Pika Pika and Godoma rolled around in the muddy pool.
As the ex-orphans were late this morning, the residents had the feeding area to themselves. They sprinted down the path, gulped their milk and headed straight for the trough without any dawdling. Mbegu stood with Busara and Dabida on one side and Ashanti and Kenderi on the other. Godoma was close to adopted baby Baraka. Pika Pika ambled up to join Mbegu while Juni was hanging out with Sagala. Ndotto ate quickly and then stood calmly on his own between the twin trees while Lasayen played with Murit and Ngilai on the terraces. Mudanda walked in by herself to join the orphans with the other ex-orphans arriving some minutes later.
Soon after their arrival, the orphans headed out to browse in the surrounding bush. Pika Pika and Kilulu led most of the herd all the way up Msinga Hill. Later in the afternoon, the orphans padded down to the mud wallow for a dip and a dust bath before meandering back to the stockades in the early evening.
The sun was shining as the orphans set out to browse on the abundance of fresh green grass and shrubs. Godoma and Ngilai paused on their way to pluck some branches from an acacia tree on the fence line but soon caught up with the herd. Pika Pika also paused for a quick massage as the orphans meandered up the hill with Kenderi in the lead. Reaching the summit of the hill first, Godoma drank from a rainwater rock pool and then splashed herself while Ndotto pulled down branches from a tree. The Keepers did not allow the elephants to venture beyond the hill today, in response to more sightings of the pride of lions. In the afternoon, the orphans walked slowly down the hill for a milk feed and a refreshing wallow. Afterwards, they headed back to the stockades in a long line.
As the orphans lined up at the feeding trough in the early morning, the ex-orphans wandered in to join them. Usually, the two groups share the supplementary food but today they were squabbling and pushing each other away from the trough. The little ones put up no resistance and wandered over to the pile of lucerne. Edie’s beau was there again but, having spent two or three days with Edie, he has shifted his attention to Arruba. As he trailed along after her, she tolerated his presence but did not encourage him.
The herd headed out to browse, leaving the ex-orphans at the stockades. In the afternoon, Thamana led the first group of orphans down the hill to the mud bath. They gathered around the wallow, waiting for the rest of the herd to arrive. As several elephants submerged themselves in the deepest part of the pool, Juni, Tagwa and Mbegu splashed along the edge and Pika Pika rolled around next to them. Emoli and Thamana were wrestling each other on the edge of the wallow while Ndotto rubbed his sides against the creamy peacock tree and Sagala draped her trunk all over Busara. When the orphans left the wallow later in the afternoon, Ndotto, Pika Pika and Godoma stayed back to continue swimming.
On a cloudy morning, the orphans emerged from their stockades for the morning milk feed. As they spread out over the terraces, the ex-orphans arrived, as usual, for breakfast. They were accompanied by the wild bull who was again consorting with Arruba rather than Edie. As the visitors lined up at the trough, Suswa strolled over to the milk feeding area and lifted her trunk in hope of persuading the Keepers to give her a bottle.
This morning, the ex-orphans did not stay long. Edie, her baby Eco, Tahri and Mweya soon led the herd back out to the bush to browse. The resident orphans finished up the range cubes and lucerne at leisure and then set out in the opposite direction. They settled on the open grasslands browsing in the direction of the baobab tree wallow.
After the afternoon milk feed, the orphans padded down the hill to the mud bath. Lasayen paused at the trough for a drink before joining the herd in and around the water. Tamiyoi lay on her side stretching on a patch of dry earth as Mbegu posed with two feet in and two feet out of the wallow. When Busara struggled to clamber out, Sagala stepped in to help, giving the younger elephant a helpful push from behind. After all the elephants had pulled themselves out, they wandered off in a long line, walking far into the bush to the south of the wallow.
This morning, the visitors paid a fleeting visit to the stockades, enjoying a quick breakfast and returning to the bush. The dependent orphans had the area to themselves and browsed contentedly, greeting their friends and playing on the terraces. Dabida and Kilulu massaged themselves against one large boulder and Ndotto against another as Tamiyoi and Mbegu stood together on the terraces. Shy Baraka remained close to favourite nanny Godoma, becoming nervous if an older orphan approached him and trunk touching his nanny frequently.
When the herd finally headed out to the browsing fields, Ngilai remained behind to drink from the trough. As they ambled out, Ndotto did his best to sneak off on his own. While the Keepers respect his growing independence, they shepherded him back to the herd to avoid any risk of the young bull running into the pride of lions who are still being sighted in the area. The orphans spent the morning browsing on the slopes of Msinga Hill and the afternoon around the mud wallow.