July began on a sour note for Godoma. In the early hours, the big girl decided to clamber up the terraces to explore a bit further afield. As a result, she missed her milk feed and had to make do with pellets and lucerne. This was no big deal, as Godoma is no longer strictly milk-dependent, but she was upset all the same. Feeling grumpy, she shoved Lemeki away from the feeding trough and spent the rest of the morning in a huff.
On a clear bright morning, the orphans pottered out of their stockades and down the path to the feeding area. They drank their bottles of milk and settled down to eat range cubes and lucerne. Godoma decided to clamber up the terraces to explore the area at the top. As a result, she missed her milk feed and had to make do with just pellets and lucerne. Feeling grumpy, she shoved Lemeki away from the feeding trough and Lemeki wandered away to join Ngilai in the lucerne area. As the dependent orphans ate their breakfast, former orphans Kenia, Kihari, Rorogoi, Mudanda and Arruba ambled up the path leading to Msinga Hill to join them.
The two groups then headed out together to browse at the foot of Msinga Hill. A few hours later, the ex-orphans wandered deeper into the woods as their younger friends trundled down the slope for their afternoon milk feed and wallow in the mud bath. After more supplementary lucerne later in the afternoon, the herd set out for a final wander, led by Lemeki, before returning to the stockades for the night.
The dependent orphans were hanging out on the terraces on another sunny morning when regular visitors Kenia, Kihari, Arruba, Araba, Suswa, Mudanda, Ndoria and Panda strolled up the path to join them accompanied by a less familiar friend – Nguvu! The Keepers were thrilled to see the nine-year-old who has been living wild for almost a year. He browsed with the other ex-orphans and greeted the Keepers and one or two current orphans as Panda and Ndotto enjoyed an early morning wrestling game. When the herd headed out for their daily bush walk, the former orphans remained behind outside the stockades, browsing on every last piece of lucerne.
Most of the orphans had a dip in the mud bath in the afternoon after the milk feed. Itinyi led the herd into the mud hole, wallowing alongside Murit and Kenderi. After lots of splashing and swimming, they wandered back to the safety of the stockades for the night.
On a clear cold morning, the orphans ambled out of their stockades and down to the feeding area. After emptying their bottles and eating heaps of range cubes, they spread out on the terraces, standing close together in groups or playing with their friends. As Murit scratched his backside on the famous rock, Ndotto and Lasayen were alternately sparring with and trunk touching each other. Godoma was rubbing her rump against the terrace wall as best friends Emoli and Thamana played several rounds of the pushing game.
As the sun rose in the sky, Sagala, Lemeki and Tagwa led the herd out to browse on the side of Msinga Hill that faces the baobab tree water hole. Although it is becoming drier, there is still a fair amount of browse for the ever-hungry orphans. After the afternoon milk feed, the orphans pottered down to the water hole for a swim and a splash on a hot day. The smaller ones paddled around the edges as their older friends submerged their round bodies in the cooling mud. Clambering out of the water, Ngilai challenged Murit to a sparring match before the two friends sauntered out to catch up with the herd.
It was a peaceful morning until the Keepers opened the doors of the stockades! Trumpeting in excitement, the ‘Voi kids’ - Busara, Baraka, Epiya, Dabida, Kilulu and Ashanti – sprinted out of their rooms and round the corner in a trunk-to-tail line to the feeding area where Keepers were waiting with bottles held aloft. Lifting their trunks and opening their mouths wide, they stood packed together to drink their milk. Until Itinyi arrived. Racing out of his room after the little gang, he charged down and pushed his way in to grab a bottle. The Keepers whistled at him to behave, and he calmed down. Once everyone was out of their stockade, the herd settled down to enjoy their supplementary range cubes and lucerne.
Tagwa, Juni and Tamiyoi led the motley crew out to browse in the surrounding bush. Today, rather than staying close to best friend Emoli, Thamana chose to be with little Lemeki, sticking to her like glue for most of the morning.
On a cloudy cool afternoon, no one was keen on swimming. After trundling down the slope for more milk, they gathered around the water hole, touching each other occasionally or lying down to cover their big bodies with soothing soil. As they wandered away from the water hole for another session of browsing, a wild bull strolled in with several wild elephant families in his wake.
Full of energy, the orphans padded out of their rooms and down to the feeding area as the cloudy sky lightened. Bottles emptied, they lined up on the terraces to enjoy their range cubes. Emoli and Thamana were wrestling on the pile of earth, creating big puffs of dust with their fat feet, as Ngilai massaged his body against the twin trees after an early morning mud wallow.
Ere long, Lemeki, Tamiyoi and Emoli led the dependent orphans out to the browsing fields where the Keepers had deposited some supplementary lucerne, leaving behind Ndotto who was finishing up every last range cube. The herd wandered along in a meandering line, with Godoma walking side-by-side with adopted baby Baraka and Pika Pika keeping a close eye on Busara. Arriving at the pile of luscious lucerne, they settled in a tight circle to browse, trunks adeptly picking up small branches. Little Busara was close to matriarch Mbegu – they were soon joined by Hildana and Baraka.
In the afternoon, the orphans jogged down the slope in groups for more milk before continuing on to the baobab tree mud wallow. As they drank from the water trough and paddled in the large puddle, wild elephants approached the wallow from different directions. They took over the area, forcing the orphans to leave. Epiya and Hildana stayed behind with the wild elephants as one teenage bull trundled off after the dependent herd, trying to make friends with Ndotto. The Keepers chased after the wild herd as they left with two of the Voi kids, whistling fiercely at their young charges. Reluctantly, Epiya and Hildana did as they were told, dragging their heels and swinging their trunks. Meanwhile, the wild bull also returned to his herd.
After the Keepers had restored the peace, the herd clambered up Msinga Hill in search of fresh browse before heading back to the stockades for the night.
On a cold morning, the dependent orphans were playing outside the stockades and eating range cubes from the trough when several independent orphans led by Kenia strolled into the feeding area. Several hungry orphans! The Keepers added two extra bags of range cubes to ensure that there was enough for everyone.
The Keepers had started the day by cleaning and treating the wounds of the orphan rescued a week ago after being attacked by a lion. The young female elephant had injuries to her throat and also a leg. Later in the morning, the orphan collapsed and was revived with a drip. They were also looking after an orphaned baby gerenuk brought in by a SWT/KWS Anti-Poaching Team in the early morning. Only a few hours old, the tiny gerenuk was taken to the Kaluku Neonate Unit later in the day.
As the day became warmer, the orphans wandered off to Msinga Hill – some climbed all the way up as Mbegu browsed on the lower slopes with the smaller elephants. In the afternoon, the herd returned to the stockades for their afternoon milk feed and for more pellets on the terraces. Emoli and Epiya were hanging out together, eating side-by-side. Finally, the orphans headed out for another walk before dusk.
Small groups of excited orphans trundled out of their rooms at the dawn of another day. They drank their milk and gathered at the feeding trough to scoop up range cubes. This morning, Ngilai and Murit bypassed the trough and headed straight to the pile of lucerne.
Breakfast over, it was playtime! Emoli was pestering Thamana, following after him and trying to mount him. Eventually, he relented and accepted the wrestling challenge. After a noisy session of sparring with Ngilai, Murit enjoyed an early morning dust bath, rolling around on the pile of earth with legs waving. Next to him, Tamiyoi was hosing red soil all over her body and Ndotto and Hildana were standing so close that they were almost leaning against each other. Mbegu was scratching her belly against the terrace wall as Lasayen and Godoma played a heated pushing game next to the mud wallow. Over by the water trough, Ngilai was sparring with Pika Pika. No one was standing around quietly this morning.
Lemeki, Emoli and Ashanti then led the herd out into the bush where they browsed for a few hours before wandering down the hill for the afternoon milk feed. Murit could not resist another quick wrestle with Lasayen as they padded on to the mud wallow. On a cool gloomy day, the elephants stood around the wallow for a short time before heading out for a final browse.
Sadly, the little orphan attacked by a lion collapsed again this morning. The Keepers did everything they could to save her but to no avail – she did not stand up again and stopped breathing in the afternoon.
Today was Losoito’s day! On her first full day with the herd, everyone wanted to be her friend. Early in the morning, as usual, the orphans gathered outside the stockades for breakfast as Losoito browsed on grewia branches in the taming stockade. Then the Keepers took Mbegu and Thamana up to her room, opened the door and stood by. The two orphans padded quietly in, rumbling and touching Losoito gently before ushering her out to meet the rest of the herd. Large and small, the orphans clustered around the newbie – even big boys like Lasayen and Emoli were competing for her attention. She stood stolidly among the herd, keeping her cool.
The orphans then headed out to Msinga Hill to browse in the bush and on the supplementary lucerne. Losoito toddled along in the middle of them, staying close to Mbegu. Doing her very best to impress the newbie, Lemeki lay outstretched on the pile of lucerne as she invited Losoito to play with her. Emoli and Thamana were showing off their sparring skills, waving trunks as they clashed heads. Ngilai and Lasayen were sparring too, careering into Lemeki as she lay on the lucerne. The little elephant clambered upright and walked over to spend time with her new friend - Losoito.
This morning, the area outside the stockades was packed with current and former orphans. They fed and played and ambled around as one large herd, rather than two distinct groups. Caring Mbegu stood close to little Ashanti as she knelt down to pick up dairy cubes from the feeding trough, making sure that Thamana and Hildana – who can be quite feisty – kept their distance. Ngilai was wandering contentedly between the feeding trough and the pile of lucerne, eating in both areas but carrying his own little store of lucerne with him wherever he went. Nanny Pika Pika was spending the morning with Busara, and Godoma was with Baraka.
Lemeki was doing her own thing. First, she stood by herself on the pile of earth as everyone else ate pellets and lucerne, then she ambled out towards Msinga Hill alone. Tamiyoi, Emoli and Thamana were the first to follow her and, eventually, the rest of the two herds plodded along in their wake. Dependent orphans wandered along behind Lemeki to the browsing fields as their independent friends climbed all the way up the hill.
On a wonderful sunny morning, the orphans stood outside the stockades, scooping pellets and lucerne into their mouths and flapping their ears occasionally as they ate. The ex-orphans had arrived at dawn and were again mingling with the herd. As her friends picked up pieces of lucerne, Ndoria rubbed her backside and sides against a large rock. Emoli was dancing around Thamana, doing his best to persuade her to play. Ngilai was standing tall and stretching up his trunk to pull acacia branches off the tree on the other side of the fence. Big boys Murit and Lasayen were playing the pushing game.
On the way to the browsing fields, the herd settled down to browse on the rocky slopes of Msinga Hill. Ngilai continued his quest for acacia branches, but this time out in the bush. Murit was also reaching up his trunk into acacia trees but Itinyi could only plod along behind them as he was not quite tall enough. Mbegu and Juni were the stragglers today, walking slowly at a distance from the herd as they browsed together. Ndotto was manoeuvring his way up and over the boulders on the hill.
On a hot afternoon, the orphans paddled down for more milk and a cooling dip in the mud wallow. Almost all of the herd enjoyed a splash and a swim today. As they prepared to head out for another browse, a herd of wild elephants strolled in to take their place.
Full of excitement, the orphans were tossing their trunks and waving their heads and trumpeting in the early morning. Some settled down to scoop pellets from the feeding trough as others played games or hung out with their friends. Ngilai and Murit were playing the sparring game until Murit decided that it was time for a dust bath and left his friend posing on the terraces. Mbegu was behaving like a protective big sister to Dabida, Akina and Juni in the lucerne feeding area and Pika Pika was looking after Busara.
In the afternoon, the orphans padded down for another milk feed and a dip in the baobab tree mud wallow. Ex-orphan Kihari wandered along to join the orphans at the wallow. As many of the smaller ones watched from the sidelines, Pika Pika, Godoma, Itinyi, Murit, Ngilai and Kihari took centre stage. They splashed the water with their legs and trunks and submerged their bodies while continuing to play with each other. Lasayen was the first to clamber out and plod over for a scratch on the baobab tree. Minutes later, he was joined by Sagala and also Murit while Ndotto chose the smaller tree next to the wallow for his body rub. Princess Pika Pika was left alone in the wallow – a situation the water baby loves! Soon the herd meandered out for another wander in the bush, leaving behind Ndotto and Pika Pika who were enjoying an energetic dust bath that involved not only rolling around on the earth but also digging it up with their little tusks.
When the Keepers opened the doors after preparing the wheelbarrows of milk, the orphans ambled out happily and down the path to the feeding area. As the sun rose in a cloudless sky, they drank their milk and ate range cubes and lucerne. Ngilai and Murit played several rounds of the wrestling game before Lasayen plodded between them and refused to move out of the way. The game ended abruptly and Murit marched off to look for Emoli who was playing with Thamana in the lucerne area. Meanwhile, Ashanti, Mbegu, Dabida, Busara, Kilulu, Akina and Pika Pika stood side-by-side as their trunks scooped cubes from the trough.
On a cool and cloudy afternoon, the orphans dispersed around the mud wallow after downing their bottles. Flapping their ears rhythmically, they stood in small groups, occasionally laying a trunk along a friend’s back. Ere long, they headed out as a herd to clamber almost all the way up Msinga Hill before returning home for the night.
Ex-orphan Kenia’s herd arrived early this morning. As the sky was lightening and the first group of Voi kids were drinking their milk, the former orphans padded silently into the area outside the stockades. The Keepers welcomed them with additional dairy cubes and the two groups merged into one big herd. Ndotto was wrestling with ex-orphan Suswa as Sagala and Ngilai rubbed their backsides on the large rocks at the entrance. Soon, Murit strolled over to challenge his best friend to a sparring match – Ngilai and Murit entwined their trunks as they pushed against each other.
As the sun rose in a clear sky, Emoli, Thamana, Lemeki and Tamiyoi led the herd out to the browsing fields. The orphans spread out to browse on the rocky slopes of Msinga Hill – many of the older ones were pulling down acacia branches while the little ones concentrated on shrubs. Mbegu was showing off – she stood very tall on a boulder and reached to the uppermost branches of an acacia tree with her trunk.
In the afternoon, the Keepers gathered up the herd and sent them down in groups of three or four for more milk. Each group emptied their bottles and obediently continued on to the mud wallow. No one was on the hunt for an extra bottle today. Many had a cooling dip followed by a soothing dust bath. Thamana and Itinyi massaged their stout bodies against the baobab tree as Epiya rubbed herself against a prone Tamiyoi. Some rolled around on the pile of earth as others hosed themselves with soil.
As the orphans headed out to browse, a herd of wild elephants meandered in to take their places at the mud wallow.
The orphans were in playful moods again this morning – as soon as they had finished eating, several pairs of friends started sparring on the terraces, trunks flailing with excitement. Meanwhile, Lemeki, Tamiyoi and Tagwa rolled around together on the pile of earth, enjoying an early morning dust bath.
Soon it was time to head out to the bush. Pika Pika led the herd deep into the woods as they searched for green browse all morning. A herd of wild elephants joined the orphans and the two groups mingled and browsed contentedly together.
All was fine until it was time for the afternoon milk feed. As the Keepers shepherded their charges into groups, the wild herd kidnapped Hildana and Epiya! The wild elephants surrounded the two orphans and walked away with them. As they were moving quickly into thick bush, the Keepers jumped into the water bowser and gave chase. After the men separated the two orphans from the herd, Hildana and Epiya plodded back happily to their proper family.
Crisis over, the orphans enjoyed their bottles and spread out around the mud wallow. Murit was rolling around in Ndotto’s favourite splashing spot on the edge of the water. Until Ndotto, asserting his dominance, pushed Murit out of the wallow and lay down in his special place. A disgruntled Murit walked over to the water trough as Ngilai scratched himself on the tree beside the wallow. Ndotto splashed around in the water and then rolled around on the pile of earth as the rest of the orphans ambled out to browse.
After dark when the orphans were asleep in the stockades, ex-orphans Kenia, Arruba, Rorogoi, Mudanda, Kihari, Panda and Araba arrived in the outside feeding area. They gathered at the water trough and drank deeply for some time before disappearing into the bush.
The orphans trundled out of their rooms and down the path on a peaceful morning. They lined up at the feeding trough to scoop up pellets as Ngilai wandered from the trough to the lucerne area and back again, carrying a bunch of lucerne on his head.
Kenderi led the herd out to the surrounding bush today. Tamiyoi was looking after Losoito, keeping her close and touching her regularly, as the recent rescue is still shy around the herd and apprehensive of confident orphans like Dabida and Seri. Losoito wanted to lag behind the others, but Tamiyoi encouraged her to keep up. With ex-orphan Kihari joining them along the way, the herd meandered on. They spread out on the slopes of Msinga Hill as Pika Pika and a couple of others clambered up to the top.
In the afternoon, the dependent orphans walked down to the milk feeding area and on to the mud wallow. Thamana, Lemeki, Seri and Kihari paused to drink from the trough as Itinyi led the others into the water. He splashed on the edges and then submerged himself in the middle of the pool. Ngilai was happy just to kick the water with his big pads before returning to the water trough. When Itinyi joined Ngilai for a drink, he could not resist wagging his trunk around in the water, splashing everything around him. Soon, Godoma wandered over, placing her feet on the edge and drinking at the same time. Meanwhile, Mbegu and Lasayen were massaging their bodies against the baobab tree. As the day grew cooler, the herd headed out for a final browse before returning to the safety of the stockades.
On a bright sunny morning, Murit and Ngilai were wrestling as usual outside the stockades as several ex-orphans ambled up the path after spending the night on Msinga Hill. They settled down with the current orphans at the feeding trough and in the lucerne area. Lasayen was standing quite still, striking an impressive pose on the rock next to the water trough. Ndotto challenged ex-orphan Rorogoi to a wrestling match as Murit looked on while scratching his backside at the same time. Lasayen joined Sagala, Juni and Tamiyoi on the earth pile for a morning dust bath while Ngilai was nudging Godoma to head out to the browsing fields.
As the orphans manoeuvred their way up the rocky slopes of Msinga Hill, ex-orphan Panda popped out from behind a bush to join them. In the afternoon, the orphans paddled down the slope to find some wild elephants hanging out around the baobab tree mud wallow. They had no choice but to share their space with the visitors. Mbegu, Godoma, Losoito and Ndotto lined up to drink from the water trough and then plunged into the wallow for a cool down. Murit rubbed himself against the creamy peacock tree while Godoma, Tagwa and Sagala stretched and played on the earth pile. After a time, the orphans wandered slowly back to the stockades.
As the sun rose over the horizon, the Keepers opened the doors of the stockades and the orphans pottered down to the feeding area. They gulped down their first bottles of the day and gathered around the trough to scoop up dairy pellets. As usual, Ngilai and Murit were playing the wrestling game. Soon, the herd headed out to browse on the open savannah before wandering deep into the woods. The vegetation is drying out and the orphans are walking further afield in search of green browse.
After the afternoon milk feed, the orphans plodded on in small groups to the mud wallow. Mbegu, Ndotto and Tagwa stood drinking from the trough as the rest of the herd plunged into the muddy water to cool off on a hot day. Not a fan of swimming, Lasayen stood quietly on his own between the trough and the wallow. Itinyi scrambled out of the mud wallow and knelt down to dig on the edge with his small tusks. As the orphans ambled off, Mbegu stayed behind to enjoy a solitary swim. The herd headed back in a straggly line to the safety of the stockades for the night.
On a cool clear morning, the orphans were padding around their rooms as the Keepers prepared their bottles and filled the trough with range cubes. Keen to be first out, Hildana was pushing Kenderi and Ashanti away from the door of their shared stockade. As soon as the gates were open, the orphans sprinted out with Hildana in the lead, down the path to the feeding area.
They arrived at almost the same time as a herd of ex-orphans led by Kenia, Kihari and Panda who settled around the trough as the current orphans drank their milk. The two groups greeted each other, trunk touching while they ate together. Lemeki stood at a distance on the pile of earth – she was keen to head out to the browsing fields. As the sun rose in the sky, the herd wandered out to browse, leaving the independent elephants behind to eat up every last range cube.
The remainder of the day was uneventful. The herd browsed far afield before wandering back to the mud wallow and then on to the stockades.
On another sunny morning, the orphans were eating lucerne and playing happily outside the stockades before heading out to browse. Lasayen was doing his own thing – first he massaged his body against the trunks of the twin trees, then he struck a pose on the terraces, and finally he pottered over to the feeding trough. Meanwhile, Tamiyoi was splashing herself with dry red soil as she stood on the terraces before ambling over to join the herd next to the pile of lucerne. Soon, Lasayen and Murit started wrestling with each other in the midst of the herd, to the annoyance of some of the orphans who walked off with ears and trunks flapping. Pika Pika was a latecomer this morning – she climbed up the terraces to join the herd as they gathered together before wandering out to Msinga Hill. Lasayen stayed behind as everyone else left – he was engrossed in a rump rub and was in no hurry to join his friends.
In the afternoon, the orphans meandered down to the mud wallow. Even though it was a cloudy afternoon, Pika Pika strode into the water. The water baby kicked water all over the place and lay down on the edge of the wallow. Then, she rolled around in the mud before squatting on her haunches as she rubbed the underside of the trunk against the ground.
The herd set out early this morning. Pika Pika led many of the orphans up Msinga Hill, clambering over or round the numerous rocks along the way. Little sister Busara was content to remain on the lower slopes with Mbegu and Juni. Thamana and Emoli were playing the wrestling game on and off all morning.
Later in the morning, the herd padded down for a milk feed and then on to the mud wallow. Many plunged in for a cooling swim and others lay down on the edges, except for Sagala who stood at a distance under the shade of the baobab tree. Pika Pika waved her trunk as she splashed and rolled around in the water. Epiya swam briefly before toddling out to join Murit who was scratching his body against a tree trunk. Mbegu joined her two friends for a massage and then ambled over to drink from the water trough with Ngilai, Sagala and Itinyi.
Soon, the rest of the herd clambered out of the wallow to cover their bodies with thick dust from the pile of earth. Ndotto remained in his favourite spot on the edge, kicking water in every direction. As Lasayen rolled around on the earth, Baraka was rubbing herself against Godoma and Busara was walking side-by-side with Mbegu. Bathing over, the herd headed out to the bush for an early evening browse.
On a clear bright morning, the orphans padded out of their stockades and down to the feeding area, settling down to enjoy the supplementary lucerne on the terraces. Lemeki and Thamana were drinking from the water trough – they were soon joined by Emoli and Tamiyoi. Emoli was pestering Thamana to play but his young friend was not in the mood – he wanted to be allowed to drink in peace. Reluctantly, Thamana lifted his trunk out of the trough, flapped his ears and accepted the challenge of his persistent friend. Several rounds of wrestling ensued.
Lemeki and Tamiyoi led the herd out to the browsing fields, leaving behind Pika Pika who was busy massaging her body against the large rocks at the entrance of the stockades. She caught up with the other orphans in her own time. The herd spread out over the slopes of Msinga Hill, wandering in the direction of the open grasslands, before returning later in the day to the stockades for another milk feed.
As the sun rose over the horizon, the current orphans ambled out of their stockades and a herd of former orphans wandered down Msinga Hill (where they had spent the night). The two groups met outside the stockades, blending together almost as if they were one large herd. They ate and they played and then they ate some more. Ndotto and ex-orphan Panda were wrestling as Arruba stood watching from the sidelines. Ex-orphans Kihari and Panda then wandered over to the lucerne area together, leaving Ndotto and Arruba trunk hugging each other next to the feeding trough. Arriving after the other visitors, Suswa stood by herself on the terraces, searching for discarded range cubes. Meanwhile, Murit started wrestling with Arruba.
Led by Tamiyoi, the dependent herd headed out to browse on the rocky slopes of Msinga Hill, leaving the independent herd behind outside the stockades. After hanging out for a while, Kenia’s herd strolled off in a different direction.
As usual, the milk-dependent orphans emerged from their two stockades first, followed by the older orphans – Mbegu, Ngilai, Murit, Godoma, Sagala and Lasayen – from the largest stockade. Younger and older orphans greeted each other in the lucerne area, rumbling happily to their friends after a separation of just 12 hours. Mbegu was hugging little Baraka in a tight embrace, placing her trunk along the smaller elephant’s back and then around his belly. He stood still, enjoying the affection. Feeling left out, Sagala strode past the two orphans and up to newbie Losoito. The older female touched the new girl in a reassuring way — perhaps Losoito has found a new nanny! Nearby, Tagwa, Lemeki and Tamiyoi were hanging out together on the dust hill and Murit was leaning, even perching, on the famous rock, calmly watching the antics of his friends. Seri was rubbing her neck against another rock next to the water trough.
Soon, the herd set out in single file. After browsing for several hours, they gathered around the baobab tree water hole. No one went swimming on an overcast afternoon. Not even Pika Pika!
The Keepers prepared the early morning milk feed and opened the doors of the stockades just before dawn. Full of energy, the orphans sprinted out, downed their bottles and played for a short time before heading out to the browsing fields. They ambled along in single file, picking up small plants or pulling down branches to eat. As the day became warmer, they flapped their ears to keep themselves cool.
Upon discovering a trench caused by soil erosion, Emoli plodded into it and started rolling around. Godoma, Tamiyoi, Tagwa, Sagala and Pika Pika joined in the game as Itinyi and the Voi kids continued to browse. Murit challenged Emoli to wrestle – the big boy accepted the challenge while squatting on his large haunches in the gulley. Unfortunately, Ngilai spoilt the game by clambering on top of Emoli, forcing the wrestler to return to level ground. Now it was Ngilai’s turn to relax in the dusty trench.
In the afternoon, the orphans trundled down for more milk and a mud bath before meandering off for a final browse of the day.
The Keepers stood in a line with bottles aloft as the first group of six younger orphans paddled out of their stockades. They ran quickly towards their carers with trunks aloft and mouths open in anticipation. Rumbling with pleasure, they gulped down the milk and walked on to the feeding trough as the second group took their places. Mini matriarch Mbegu stood next to the large rock at the entrance of the stockades, watching the herd and sharpening her little tusks at the same time. Godoma clambered onto a terrace on his knees and crawled for a moment before standing up, watched by Dabida, Ushindi, Kenderi and Epiya. After a quick roll around on the pile of earth, it was time to head out.
The herd browsed for several hours before heading down to the baobab tree water hole. As it was a hot day, many of them swam before ambling back to the safety of the stockades for the night.
On an unusually quiet morning, the orphans settled down peacefully outside the stockades. Some ate range cubes as others picked up pieces of lucerne. After eating his fill, Lasayen massaged his body against a large rock – when he wandered away, Ndotto took his place. As the sun rose in the sky, the Keepers shepherded the herd out to the browsing fields and then down to the baobab tree water hole in the afternoon.
It was a hot day. Many of the orphans plunged into the water as others paddled on the edge. Tagwa rolled around happily in the wallow with her young friend Juni swimming close by. Ushindi did her best to reach Tagwa, as she was keen to play with her, but her way was blocked by the rump of a possessive Juni. As usual, Pika Pika was the last to clamber out. Swimming was followed by soil bathing on the pile of earth. As the day became cooler, the herd headed out to browse once again.
The day started peacefully with the two milk-dependent groups of six orphans trundling out of their stockades before their older friends. Thirsty Kilulu was in the second group – he gulped his two bottles and began chewing on his trunk, as if he could not believe that he had finished both bottles! Accepting that a third was an impossibility, he walked over to the feeding trough in a sulk, with milk still dripping from the sides of his mouth. The orphans enjoyed the lucerne for a time before heading out to browse in the surrounding area.
After the afternoon milk feed and mud wallow, the orphan elephants gathered around the large pile of earth. Tamiyoi sucked up huge chunks of red earth and tossed them skywards, creating clouds of dust that covered everyone around her. Emoli was playing the pushing game with little Epiya – when the big bull lay down on his side, he wrapped his forelegs around Epiya so they could keep playing. Ngilai was unhappy with this situation. Striding over, he pushed Epiya away from Emoli. Cooled by refreshing water and covered in protective earth, the herd calmly wandered out for a final browse.
The orphans did not spend much time outside the stockades this morning as they were keen to head out to the bush, eating quickly and playing briefly before setting out. Sagala and Tamiyoi led the herd to the eastern side of Msinga Hill. The older ones clambered up to the top, but the younger ones stayed at the bottom under the watchful eye of Mbegu.
In the afternoon, they gathered around the baobab tree mud wallow. On a cold and cloudy day, only Itinyi was tempted to swim. She splashed around in the middle of the pool as her friends remained on dry ground. Once again Emoli was playing with Thamana – when he decided to climb on top of his smaller friend, however, Thamana wasted no time in walking purposefully away. At the time, Dabida and Seri were drinking from the water trough. Observing Emoli’s behaviour, they scooted over to stand very close to Mbegu, trunk touching the mini matriarch for reassurance. As the sun dipped in the sky, the herd set out in a straggly line for another browse.
The elephants were in playful moods this morning. An excited Tamiyoi rolled around on the ground, until Emoli disturbed her fun by plonking his enormous front pads on her stomach and she trumpeted in alarm. Mbegu and Tagwa plodded over to the rescue, helping Tamiyoi to her feet and sandwiching her between them. Meanwhile, Emoli strolled away, feigning innocence. The commotion distracted the rest of their herd and they obediently followed the Keepers out to the browsing fields.
In the afternoon, the orphans pottered down the slope in groups for more milk and a cooling wallow. Afterwards, Emoli and Kenderi rolled around on top of each other and the pile of red earth, coating every part of their bodies with soil. Feeling left over, Sagala climbed onto Kenderi, bringing the game to an end. Kenderi stalked off to hang out with the other Voi kids under the baobab tree.
Ere long, the herd headed back out to enjoy a pile of supplementary lucerne on their way back to the stockades. As the environment dries out, the Keepers are giving their charges additional food.
On a crisp clear morning, the orphans played outside the stockades after filling their bellies with food. Most of the Voi kids stood around watching as their bigger friends played pushing and wrestling games. Emoli and Thamana trumpeted as they tussled and twisted against each other. Thamana may be smaller than Emoli but he was determined and would not back down. Kenderi felt threatened when the two friends drifted towards him and gave Thamana a defensive shove, bringing the game to a halt. At the other end of the terraces, Lasayen and Murit were playing several rounds of the pushing game.
As the sun rose in the sky, the herd left the stockades for their usual browsing walk. Out in the bush, Emoli and Thamana resumed their battle despite the mismatch in sizes. The Keepers were impressed by the younger elephant’s confidence and bravery.
Following the afternoon milk feed, the orphans swam and splashed in the mud wallow before covering their bodies with red soil – some squirted themselves with dust as others lay down and rolled around on the pile. The smaller orphans rubbed the undersides of their trunks against the soil. Lemeki and Ashanti were rolling around together having a wonderful time until Tamiyoi got in the way by deliberately lying down between them.
After the morning feed, as usual, the dependent orphans played on the terraces outside the stockades. Thamana rubbed his backside against the terrace wall until Ngilai sauntered up behind him. Suspecting a mischievous motive such as play-mounting, Thamana quickly walked away. Soon, he was wrestling against Emoli with mini matriarch Mbegu standing nearby to prevent any interruptions.
The orphans soon set out from the stockades for their daily bush walk. In response to the lack of green browse, the Keepers are depositing some lucerne out in the bush every day for the elephants. In the afternoon, they ambled back to the mud wallow but no one was tempted to swim on a cloudy day. Most stood around in small groups as Lasayen and Ngilai showed off their sparring skills - until the Keepers whistled the orphans together and shepherded them back to the stockades for the night.