Once the princess of the Voi herd, Pika Pika seems to be growing up. She has been spending a lot of time with big girls Sagala and Tagwa — but more as a peer than a little sister. We wonder if she is picking up nannying tips from them, as she has shown lots of interest in looking after the junior orphans. She has no shortage of youngsters to choose from; the ‘Voi kids,’ as we call the orphans rescued during the 2021-22 drought, are many in number.
On a cool clear morning, the orphans plodded out of their bedrooms and around the corner to the line of Keepers waiting with bottles held aloft. Groups of three or four elephants gulped down their milk and wandered over to the range cube feeding area. Big sister Godoma stood close to little Busara as they scooped up range cubes. Nearby, Lemeki was enjoying a soothing dust bath on the pile of red soil next to the water trough.
Ere long, the herd meandered out to browse in the area surrounding Msinga Hill, leaving Ndotto and Ngilai behind – the two growing bulls were engrossed in eating every last pellet they could find. On the open savannah, Pika Pika was hanging out with big girls Sagala and Tagwa.
On an overcast afternoon, the orphans stood around, rather than in, the mud wallow for a short time before returning to the bush for a final browse. Some clambered all the way up the hill as others remained at the foot. Mbegu, Kilulu and Busara stayed close together, browsing but also trunk and body touching. Pika Pika and Baraka wandered around contentedly – Pika Pika was in a protective mood and would not allow older orphans like Thamana and Hildana anywhere near her little friend. Nearby, Godoma was waggling her trunk around extravagantly as Busara played with Juni under her watchful eye.
The orphans were especially thirsty this morning, sprinting out of their stockades and down to the feeding area. Bottles emptied, they settled down to browse on lucerne and range cubes, eating happily in friendship groups. Ngilai challenged young Lemeki to a session of sparring but she was not interested, instead turning her back and trundling over to the earth pile for a morning massage. As the sun rose in a cloudless sky, the herd headed out to browse at the foot of Msinga Hill in the area overlooking the baobab tree mud wallow.
In the afternoon, the orphans meandered back to the stockades for more milk and then out to the east of Msinga Hill to browse and play. Ndotto was determined to peel the bark off a peacock flower tree with his small tusks. Nearby, Murit and Emoli were sparring half-heartedly, waving and twisting their trunks, as Lasayen rubbed his sides and rump against a large boulder with complete concentration. Sagala was holding Thamana affectionately with her trunk and occasionally clambering on top of him under the shade of a tree. Laidback Tamiyoi and Godoma rolled around on the ground, legs aloft and trunks waving, and were soon joined by their friend Sagala. Pika Pika was looking after Baraka and Kilulu again, trumpeting and running with ears flared at anyone who came close. As the sun sank in the sky, Sagala scooped up Busara and took her back to the stockades with a straggly line of elephants in slow pursuit.
On a clear sunny morning, the orphans were rumbling in their stockades as they waved their trunks and patted the ground with their big feet. Doors opened, they trundled out immediately and gathered in the feeding area — everyone, that is, except for Losoito, who ate her breakfast of fresh grewia branches in her room. She was rescued a few weeks ago and still spends most of the time in the taming stockade as she learns the ropes and adapts to her new life. Soon, the herd set out for their daily browse in the bush.
In the afternoon, they cantered down the slope, slaloming between the bushes for their bottles of milk before continuing on to the mud wallow. Although it was a warmer day, no one was keen on swimming. Emoli and Hildana rubbed their big bodies against each other, almost as if they were dancing, next to the water trough. Emoli followed this with a roll around on the pile of red soil. Ndotto, Mbegu and Ngilai also could not resist a lovely dust bath.
In the early evening as the herd were browsing at the foot of Msinga Hill, they were joined by a wild elephant and her calf. The elephants greeted each other as the orphans gathered around the wild visitors. Ngilai stayed close to Thamana as they hung out together for some time before returning to the safety of the stockades for the night.
This morning, the orphans were full of energy – there was more playing than eating on the terraces before the Keepers shepherded them out to the foot of Msinga Hill. Mbegu and Godoma then led the herd up the hill. The orphans followed in small groups with the older females keeping a close eye on the little ones as they plodded around and over the boulders. They settled towards the summit to browse on the still abundant greens.
On a hot afternoon, the herd clambered down the hill, cantering the final stretch towards their Keepers in groups of four. They guzzled their bottles (with several attempting to pluck an extra bottle from the back of the pickup) and paddled on to the baobab tree mud wallow. Water babies Godoma, Pika Pika, Itinyi and Busara were the first to plunge into the cooling water as their friends drank deeply from the trough. Ndotto paddled and splashed on the edge before squirting trunkfuls of dust from the pile of soil all over his body. As the day became cooler, the Keepers led the orphans out to the bush and then back to the stockades.
As dawn approached, the elephants gathered at their gates, rumbling and pushing each other playfully. When the Keepers opened the doors, naughty Hildana shoved Ashanti to one side as she made a beeline for the bottles. Unfussed, little Ashanti cheerfully plodded after her friend. The orphans drank their milk and settled down to enjoy the supplementary lucerne and dairy cubes. Soon, ex-orphans Kenia and Araba strolled in to enjoy breakfast with their dependent friends. The herd were happy to follow Kenia out past Msinga Hill to the open savannah beyond where they browsed peacefully for several hours. Godoma and her favorite baby Baraka wandered some distance from the herd, leaving Pika Pika looking after Busara.
In the afternoon, almost all the orphans wallowed in the mud bath next to the baobab tree. Some floated as others splashed and rolled over and around each other. Only the little ones stood happily on the edges watching their bigger and stronger friends. Godoma and Thamana were the first to climb out and head over to the pile of earth. They lay down on their sides facing each other before rolling around with their legs in the air. Ngilai arrived next, closely followed by Emoli – it was the bulls’ turn to play in the soothing dust. Before long, the whole herd had gathered around the four orphans – it was a dust bath party!
The orphans wandered quietly out of their rooms this morning, following each other around the corner and down to the feeding area. After spending some time eating lucerne and pellets, the herd headed out to browse around Msinga Hill. The Keepers whistled at them to get going as the day heated up and the elephants remained in a huddle around the stockades.
A few hours later, they paddled down the hill in small groups for more bottles of milk. A brief wallow on a cool afternoon was followed by a relaxing dust bath. Tagwa and Thamana were full of energy, rolling around exuberantly on the dust pile. They played as they rubbed their round bodies against each other. Sagala, Godoma, Busara, Tamiyoi and Dabida stood around their friends, standing close but not tempted to join the action.
Later in the afternoon, they meandered back out into the bush. Most of the herd clambered up Msinga Hill but Mbegu stayed at the bottom to babysit the little ones. As the light faded, they returned slowly to the stockades for more milk before bed.
This morning, the chunky orphans nibbled greens cheerfully in the stockades until the Keepers were ready to open the doors. They pottered out for their dawn bottles of milk and supplementary pellets before heading out to browse around Msinga Hill.
On a cloudy breezy afternoon, they returned to the stockades, rather than the baobab tree mud wallow, to drink milk and dust themselves and play. Ngilai lay spreadeagled on his belly on the pile of earth, legs akimbo as he waved his trunk in swirly circles. Little Lemeki plodded over to join him, rolling around playfully next to her big friend. Godoma was the first to scratch her backside on everyone’s favorite rock – as she waddled away, Sagala nipped over to take her place. Today, it was Tagwa’s (rather than Sagala’s or Mbegu’s) turn to look after Juni. She stood close by her little charge at the water trough, laying her trunk along the younger orphan’s back occasionally. Meanwhile, Emoli submerged himself in the stockade mud wallow, lying quite still as the others played around him.
Most of the elephants wandered up the hill later in the day, spreading out over the rocky outcrops. Mbegu, Ashanti and Akina remained at the bottom, browsing together peacefully.
On a bright sunny morning, the dependent orphans gulped down their milk and pottered back and forth between the lucerne and the dairy cube feeding areas. Feisty Hildana gave Itinyi a shove as she wandered up to the feeding trough, preventing her from eating a single pellet. Mbegu trotted over to defend Itinyi but she was too late - the younger orphan had already sprinted away. Bellies full, Lasayen and Murit challenged each other to a wrestling match – they tussled and trumpeted, heads twisting and tusks clashing. Afterwards, Murit padded over to the large rock by the entrance for a relaxing rump rub.
Tamiyoi led the orphans out in a straggly line to browse in the open areas to the east of Msinga Hill. In the afternoon, the orphans returned to the stockades for more milk and a wallow or paddle in the mud bath. Emoli struck a pose as he drank from the water trough, balancing his stout foreleg on the edge, as Lasayen stood tall and still next to the rock after enjoying a good scratch. Tagwa and Tamiyoi were playing together nearby on the dust pile – Tamiyoi rolled around in the red earth as Tagwa rubbed her backside against her friend. Meanwhile, Murit was practicing elephant yoga down dogs on the earth pile. Deciding that his small friend was finally old enough, Emoli was teaching Itinyi simple sparring and wrestling skills. The big bull played gently as the plucky boy trumpeted with excitement. Games over, the herd headed out to browse in the bush until early evening.
The orphans were in excitable moods this morning as they ran out of their stockades and down to the feeding area. With her damaged trunk, Ashanti still struggles to scoop dairy cubes out of the feeding trough. Kilulu stood next to her away as Mbegu shielded Ashanti from the likes of Hildana and Kenderi. Soon, the herd set out to browse in the surrounding bush. Today, Mbegu and Ndotto wandered away from the others, browsing instead in an open field close to Msinga Hill. After spending the night on the hill, ex-orphans Kenia and Araba strolled down to join the herd. Independent and dependent elephants greeted each other and browsed together. As always, the little ones were wary of and in awe of the visitors, approaching them tentatively.
In the afternoon when the orphans cantered down the hill, they came across a wild bull with large tusks by the baobab tree water hole. They remained at a respectful distance from the male elephant as they settled down to paddle and swim on a hot afternoon. Tamiyoi and Ndotto lay down and rolled around on the edge of the mud wallow as the others splashed around in the water. The water babies submerged their bodies but kept their trunks aloft like enormous snorkels.
On a calm clear morning, former orphans Kenia and Araba sauntered in soon after dawn as the current orphans were eating pellets and lucerne outside the stockades. While the herd munched stolidly on dairy cubes, Kenia and Araba rolled around on the pile of earth, covering every part of their bodies with soothing soil. Emoli and Pika Pika greeted the visitors and lay down on the red soil next to them. The Keepers enjoy watching their young charges bonding with ex-orphans as these friendships are important steps along the path to living wild lives. Tagwa was the next to wander over, lying down on her belly on top of the pile of earth. Disturbing her peace and her pose, Murit challenged Tagwa to play, and the pair sparred noisily, trumpeting as their heads clashed.
As the day became hotter, the Keepers gathered the herd together and shepherded them out into the bush. They browsed for some time in the open savannah before returning for a milk feed and then heading out again, this time wandering further to a forested area. No one was keen to swim on a cloudy afternoon.
In the early morning, Dabida, Kilulu and Hildana were standing at the gate of their stockade, stamping their feet and flaring their ears. They were so keen to come out that they would not allow anyone else near the gate. As soon as a Keeper opened the gate, they sprinted round the corner to the milk feeding area. Breakfast over, the herd set out to browse at the foot of Msinga Hill – as they wandered out, former orphans Kenia and Araba plodded down the hill to join them.
In the afternoon, Ndotto and little Lemeki were hanging out together. They trundled down the slope for more milk and then on to the mud wallow where there was lots of swimming on a hot afternoon. Itinyi splashed energetically in the middle of the wallow as Ndotto rolled into the water, clambered out, lay down and rolled in again. After his swim, Ndotto covered himself in red earth before challenging Murit to play. The young bulls sparred skillfully, butting heads and entwining trunks before breaking apart, regrouping and clashing again. The little ones watched from a distance as the older females ignored the feisty pair.
Juni led the herd out for a final browse of the day. They followed in small groups or on their own, leaving Mbegu, Godoma and Pika Pika behind. The three friends were too busy squirting each other with red soil as they played on the dust pile. Back out in the bush, Ngilai and Murit enjoyed a prolonged wrestling match.
This morning, the orphans pottered out of their stockades and along the path to the milk feeding area with no sense of urgency. Quietly, they drank their milk and wandered over to the trough full of pellets. Ashanti was in a lively mood, giving her friends little shoves as she did her best to pick up dairy cubes with her small trunk. Nanny Pika Pika was looking after Busara, keeping her close at the trough and protecting her from bigger orphans like Thamana.
As the herd headed out to the bush, they were joined again by Kenia and Araba who had spent the night on Msinga Hill. The two ex-orphans meandered down to tag along with their young friends. This morning, Ndotto and Mbegu chose to browse on their own at a distance from the herd. Nearby, Lasayen was hanging out with Araba at the foot of the hill until the former orphan strolled away to be with Kenia, leaving Lasayen on his own.
In the afternoon, the orphans padded down the slope in small groups to a line of Keepers holding milk bottles aloft. A couple of the Voi kids - the orphans rescued during the recent drought – did their best to pinch an extra bottle but were told off and sent on their way. Obediently, they trundled on to the mud wallow where they stood around as their older friends paddled and played in the water. Water babies Pika Pika and Godoma were left behind when Sagala led the orphans out for another browse. Many wandered up Msinga Hill for a few hours before returning to the safety of the stockades for the night, leaving Kenia and Araba on the hill.
Busara was in a sleepy mood this morning, plodding along at the end of the line and drinking her milk slowly. She continued to drink as the herd settled down to eat dairy cubes and lucerne. Soon, Emoli and Ngilai sauntered over to the pile of earth for a relaxing dust bath. As they lay on their bellies and massaged their big bodies on the soil, they sparred contentedly, entwining trunks and pushing against each other. Tamiyoi, Thamana, Murit, Godoma, Lasayen and Pika Pika wandered over to join them, followed by ex-orphans Kenia and Araba. Clouds of dust rose in the air as the elephants hosed themselves with red soil.
Tamiyoi led the herd out for their daily bush walk. They browsed on the rocky side of Msinga Hill before returning to the stockades in the afternoon for more milk and pellets. Murit and Lasayen decided it was time for another dust bath, rolling around and stretching their stout legs watched by several smaller friends.
Whistling to their charges, the Keepers soon gathered them together for a final wander. The orphans stayed out later than usual today, returning to the stockades as darkness fell.
On a clear cool morning, the orphans were full of energy, sprinting out of their stockades as soon as the Keepers opened the doors. They drank their milk and spread out on the terraces to enjoy their dairy cubes. Ngilai and Itinyi stood together on the lower terrace with Emoli, Thamana and Lemeki leaning against each other on the upper terrace. Tagwa was drinking deeply from the water trough. The elephants trunk-touched each other occasionally as they ate.
Tamiyoi, followed by Lemeki, Godoma, Emoli, Juni and Sagala, led the herd out to the bush. The others meandered along behind the first group. As they browsed, Hildana was pushing Kilulu, but her gentle friend did not retaliate — in contrast to Dabida, who turned around to confront naughty Hildana when she was given a shove.
In the afternoon, the herd wandered down the slope for another milk feed and playtime at the baobab tree mud wallow. Ndotto, Sagala, Ngilai, Godoma, Baraka and Kenderi lined up to drink from the water trough as the others splashed around in the wallow. Busy browsing, Mbegu was the last to canter down the hill to the wallow and a dust bath. As the day became cooler, Juni led the herd out for a final wander.
The orphans were in a playful mood again this morning. They gulped down their milk and trundled over to the feeding area. Several started sparring as others ate dairy cubes and lucerne. Mbegu was eating lucerne next to Busara, Akina and Kenderi as Lemeki and Thamana enjoyed an early morning dust bath. Once everyone had had enough to eat, Juni and Tamiyoi led the herd out to browse in the surrounding bush. Ngilai and Ndotto – with an entourage of Voi kids – set off up Msinga Hill. Pika Pika remained at the bottom with the youngest members of the herd.
In the afternoon, the orphans meandered back to the stockades for another milk feed. As soon as they had emptied their bottles, Juni, Lemeki, Ushindi and Pika Pika made a beeline for the mud wallow. They splashed and rolled around together before moving on to the dust pile. Mbegu, Seri and Murit took their places in the cooling water, submerging their bodies as they waved their trunks in the air. Tamiyoi lay on her side on the muddy edge of the wallow. Not far away, Hildana, Emoli and Epiya were rolling around exuberantly on the pile of earth – they were soon joined by Murit. Amid all the action, Mbegu and little Busara stood next to the two trees at the far end of the stockades, happily scratching their backsides against the bark. Having finished every last piece of lucerne, the herd set out for a final browse of the day.
The orphans pottered out of their rooms and around the corner for the dawn milk feed. Recent rescue Losoito is settling in well but remains confined to her room. As she ate her greens in the stockade, her new friends enjoyed their lucerne close by. Godoma, Ashanti, Mbegu, Kilulu and Ushindi lined up next to each other at the trough filled with dairy cubes. This morning, Lasayen and Murit had no time for eating – they were too busy sparring, trumpeting in excitement as they clashed heads.
The Keepers soon led the herd out to browse around Msinga Hill. Ngilai clambered all the way up while the rest spread out on the northern side in search of fresh green browse. In the afternoon, the orphans wandered down to the mud wallow. All ages swam together on a hot afternoon with some paddling quietly as others belly-flopped into the water while Lasayen and Godoma played the pushing game. As the day became cooler, the orphans meandered back out to the bush, leaving Godoma behind. She was striking an impressive pose next to the water trough but caught up with the herd as they were returning to the safety of the stockades for the night.
It was a peaceful morning. The orphans settled quietly at the range cube feeding trough, standing in a tight line. Big sister Mbegu stood between Busara and Baraka, ensuring that no one disturbed the two small elephants as they carefully scooped cubes into their mouths. The herd trundled over to the lucerne area for a short time before heading out in a messy convoy to the foothills of Msinga Hill. They wandered at a slow pace, looking all over for green browse in a landscape that is already becoming dry.
In the afternoon, the orphans came down the slope for their bottles and paddled on to the mud wallow in small groups. They gathered around the baobab tree as big boys Murit, Emoli and Ndotto played sparring games. The three orphans tossed their heads and trumpeted in excitement as they darted towards and away from each other. Nearby, Godoma balanced her backside in a large hole, waving her forelegs happily as she tossed her trunk skywards. Ere long, the herd meandered out for a final browse before bed.
In the mornings, the Keepers open the gates of the several stockades one by one. Today, the older orphans emerged first from their rooms, leaving Hildana and Kilulu stamping impatiently at their gate. As soon as it was open, the two friends sprinted out and around the corner for the morning milk feed. The herd converged in the lucerne feeding area, with the older females keeping a close eye on the babies.
As the sun rose in a clear sky, the orphans set off for Msinga Hill, clambering all the way to the top in search of green foliage. They spread out among the euphorbia trees, spending the morning looking all over for fresh browse. The Keepers spotted a wild elephant family at the foot of the hill – the older members of the herd were standing around keeping watch over the little ones as they lay down for a nap.
In the afternoon, the dependent orphans plodded down the hill for a milk feed before meandering on to a wooded area and then back to the stockades at dusk.
On a cool clear morning, some of the Voi kids - Kilulu, Epiya, Itinyi, Seri and Ashanti – sprinted out of their stockade and down to the Keepers waiting with bottles aloft. They gulped their milk in seconds and plodded over to join their older friends at the range cube feeding area. After spending some time eating lucerne, they headed out to the area around Msinga Hill. A few climbed all the way up the hill in search of green browse. Sagala stayed at the bottom, keeping Baraka and Busara close to her as she foraged. Ndotto was also reluctant to climb today, choosing instead to stay close to a large rock at the bottom.
On a hot afternoon, the herd cantered down the slope for more milk and a dip in the mud wallow. Many were wallowing happily when their peace was interrupted by an energetic sparring match involving Ndotto and Murit. The disgruntled bathers clambered out as the big boys played. Not wanting to miss out on the fun, Ngilai and Pika Pika plunged into the water to join the pushing game. Ngilai then popped out of the water, charged over to the water trough and climbed in, splashing water all over the place with his front feet. Swimming over, the herd rolled around on the pile of earth. Mbegu wisely decided to usher Baraka and Busara away to a small hole where they could have a dust bath in peace at a distance from their rowdy friends.
As soon as they had finished their supplementary cubes and lucerne, the herd headed out led by Tamiyoi and Lemeki. Slowly, they plodded up and over Msinga Hill before settling on the open savannah on the other side. They browsed for a few hours before meandering down for more milk and a swim in the baobab tree mud wallow. Many of the herd plunged into the water for a roll around and a splash on a sunny afternoon. Lasayen climbed out first and waddled over to the baobab to scratch his large rump. Ndotto, Itinyi, Mbegu and Murit were next out of the water – they pottered over to the pile of earth for a roll around in the soothing soil. Before long, the herd set out again for a wander and a browse in a nearby forested area.
Later in the evening when the Keepers had settled the orphans in their stockades for the night, a wild elephant family wandered into the compound. Looking weary and thirsty, they drank deeply from the water trough, hosed up any leftover lucerne and then disappeared back into the bush.
On a chilly morning, the orphans were enjoying their breakfast when some surprise visitors arrived. Ex-orphans Suswa, Ndoria, Rorogoi, Kenia, Arruba, Araba and Panda wandered into the compound, having spent the night on Msinga Hill. The Keepers welcomed their old friends, greeting them and adding more range cubes to the trough.
Former orphans mingled with current orphans, touching each other frequently as they ate. Tamiyoi rubbed her rump against a terrace wall as Epiya continued to suck up dairy cubes and Kenderi chased off some hungry baboons who were pinching cubes from the trough, flaring his ears and trumpeting noisily. Visitors Arruba and Panda decided it was time for an early morning dust bath. Ndotto joined them and started wrestling with Panda. Soon, close friends Ndotto and Arruba were rolling around together on the earth pile, playing as they trumpeted and waved their trunks. Ndotto misses his old sparring partner and was clearly delighted to see her again. After watching for some time, Ndoria plodded over to join the dust bath party. To her dismay, the other elephants wandered away, leaving her to have a solitary dust bath. Nearby, nannies Sagala and Tamiyoi were tending the little ones on the terraces as they finished up every range cube they could find.
On a clear morning, the orphans trundled out of their bedrooms to down their bottles of milk and scoop up range cubes. They wandered over in a leisurely way to the lucerne feeding area in the far corner of the compound. As the herd ate cubes, Ngilai rolled around energetically on the earth pile by himself. The older females stood close to the little ones, ensuring that they had enough to eat and that no one gave them an unwarranted shove.
As the sun rose in the sky, the herd headed out, spending the morning browsing on dense shrubs on the other side of Msinga Hill. In the afternoon, they returned for another milk feed and then set out again to look for green browse. They left a wild female elephant with her small baby standing near the empty water trough. She was waiting for it to be replenished. As soon the Keepers filled it up, she and her baby walked over and drank deeply. The surface water resulting from the recent rains is disappearing fast.
The orphans were full of energy this morning. They stood by the gates of their stockades, watching impatiently as the Keepers prepared their bottles and filled the trough with range cubes. Some of the Voi kids - Ashanti, Kilulu, Kenderi, Dabida and Akina – stamped their pads as they pushed at the doors with their trunks. Hildana was doing his best to push the others away from his gate as he was determined to be the first out. Doors opened, they cantered down the path to the feeding area, rumbling in excitement.
Soon, the herd set out for their morning browse in the bush. Nannies Sagala, Mbegu and Tagwa tended some of the little ones at the bottom of Msinga Hill as Pika Pika and Tamiyoi wandered a short distance away with Busara. Many of the older orphans clambered up to browse on the green shrubs at the top. In the afternoon, the Keepers gathered them in groups of three or four and sent them down to the mud wallow.
As the sky filled with light, the orphans plodded out of their stockades and downed their bottles of milk. Lemeki was the first to trundle over to the lucerne feeding area this morning followed by the band of Voi kids with the older elephants bringing up the rear. Ndotto and Godoma arrived a few minutes later. Mbegu was looking after little Busara while Godoma was tending Baraka who has formed a close attachment to his nanny.
Soon, the herd headed out together to Msinga Hill. When they reached the foot, Pika Pika, Ngilai, Murit, and Kilulu set off up the hill in search of green browse. Tamiyoi, Emoli, Lemeki and Thamana wandered away from the herd to browse on their own.
In the afternoon, the orphans returned to the stockades for their milk feed in a playful mood. Busara popped into the water trough for a cooling dip before pottering over to the terraces for a relaxing rump rub. She was soon joined by Pika Pika. Lasayen struck an almost elegant pose on the pile of earth as Lemeki and Thamana played the pushing game around him. Match over, the two friends joined Lasayen for an energetic dust bath. Godoma and Emoli sauntered over to join the fun – they rolled around and rumbled happily. Thamana rebuffed Emoli’s attempts to mount him and eventually he wandered away to join Murit who was splashing around in the mud wallow. The orphans headed back out for an evening wander, except for Ndotto and Itinyi who chose to stay at the water trough.
After downing their bottles of milk on a bright sunny morning, Lemeki again led the herd over to the lucerne feeding area. Arriving to find a large pile of greens, she rumbled in excitement, alerting the stragglers about the delicious food. In response, her friends accelerated their pace with Mbegu, Emoli and Tagwa cantering over to join her. The herd settled around the heap of supplementary lucerne.
As the orphans headed further into the bush, they spread out to browse all over Msinga Hill. Lasayen and Ndotto, followed by a determined Busara, strolled off on their own in a different direction. The big bulls tolerated their little friend, keeping half an eye on her as they wandered through the shrubs.
In the afternoon, the orphans plodded down the hill for their milk feed but chose not to hang around the wallow, instead wandering off to the open savannah on the other side of the hill. They remained there until dusk.
On a cold chilly morning, the dependent orphans were enjoying their range cubes and lucerne when some visitors arrived. Former orphans Ndoria, Kenia, Panda, Rorogoi, Arruba, Araba and Suswa strolled up the path to the stockades, rumbling to their friends as they settled down either at the pellet trough or the lucerne feeding area. The Voi kids watched cautiously from a distance as the older members of the herd greeted the visitors. Ndoria scratched her backside on the large rock next to the trough as Itinyi wandered all over the compound and Lasayen rolled around on the pile of earth. Ndotto tentatively challenged Ndoria to a wrestling contest – he was keen to play with her but also nervous of her strength and long tusks. She tolerated his attentions for a short time before sauntering away from her young admirer.
In the early afternoon, a herd of wildebeest visited the baobab tree water hole. They stood around drinking until the first group of orphans paddled down the hill for a milk feed. As they sprinted towards the Keepers, the wildebeest trotted away from the wallow. Many orphans paddled and swam today before heading back out to browse until dusk.
On a cloudy and cold morning, the orphans were in no hurry to leave their stockades, meandering slowly down the path for their first bottles of milk and lining up in straight lines in front of the Keepers. As they drank, they became livelier and trotted over to the range cube trough. Big sisters Pika Pika and Mbegu stood on either side of little Baraka towering protectively over him – nearby, Godoma was trunk touching Busara as she sucked up a few cubes.
Soon, the herd set out to browse in the bush. As Tagwa, Mbegu, Tamiyoi and Godoma looked on, young bull Emoli dared to challenge the older, stronger Ndotto. Their contest began in a light-hearted manner with the bulls clashing heads as they twisted around. Ndotto was putting pressure on his opponent and Emoli was determined not to back down. Tempers frayed, the sparring became serious, and the smaller orphans moved away. Deciding that he had had enough, Ndotto rammed Emoli hard with the flat of his forehead. The younger bull staggered, spun around and sprinted away. Game over, peace was restored.
The remainder of the day was uneventful – the orphans browsed and drank their milk and browsed some more. No one was keen on swimming in the wallow today.
The orphans were in an impatient mood this morning. As soon as the Keepers opened the doors, Kilulu, Ashanti, Dabida, Akina, Ushindi, and Seri sprinted out in a pack with heads high, trunks waving and ears flared. They raced for their bottles. In the meantime, Busara and Baraka – who were still in their stockade – trumpeted in annoyance. They wanted out and no one was having their bottles! Soon, the Keepers allowed the second group out of their rooms - they too ran as fast as they could to the milk feeding area.
After breakfast, it was playtime. Emoli was in a boisterous mood, darting around and rubbing his rump on the favorite rock and the two trees. Thamana dared to challenge Kilulu to a sparring match despite his larger body and tusks. The two friends played happily until Emoli intervened, folding his ears flat as he chased away Kilulu and whisked off Thamana. Escape was impossible for Thamana! Emoli held his best friend tight with his trunk and climbed on top of his back. The action-packed morning was followed with a peaceful day of browsing all over Msinga Hill.
Once again, the orphans were wide awake and full of energy early in the morning, rushing in a tight line down to the milk feeding area. When Hildana gave Ashanti a small shove as they were drinking their milk, Ashanti stood her ground and refused to budge until she had finished every last drop of milk. Mbegu was standing over Busara as they ate range cubes while Ngilai scratched his body again the terrace wall and Ndotto rubbed his against the bark of the trees. Ngilai soon wandered over to join Ndotto for a few minutes before the two friends opted for an early morning dust bath, rolling around together on the earth pile. The boys then strolled over to join the rest of the herd who were eating lucerne. Bellies full, Emoli and Murit took their places on the pile of earth, squirting each other with soil and playing the pushing game.
Eventually, the orphans set out to browse in the surrounding bush, returning for their afternoon milk feed but avoiding the mud wallow on a cool and cloudy day.
Shortly after dawn, the orphans enjoyed their breakfast in front of the stockades and pottered around on the terraces – some were playing as others stood peacefully next to their friends. Emoli and Itinyi sparred happily until a left-out Thamana pushed Itinyi away and insisted on taking her place. Ndotto stood very still on the pile of earth as Busara and Kenderi ate up every range cube left in the trough.
As the sun rose in the sky, Tamiyoi, Lemeki, Ashanti and Kilulu led the herd out from the lucerne feeding area to browse around Msinga Hill. Godoma and her little charge Baraka followed immediately behind the four leaders. Soon, the orphans were dotted all over the hill as they foraged for green browse.
In the afternoon, the herd plodded down in small groups to the baobab tree mud wallow. They drank from the water trough, but no one was tempted to swim on a blustery day. Instead, they meandered out for a final wander before bed.
On a chilly morning, the orphans pottered out of their rooms, gulped down their milk and gathered at the pellet trough. They lined up peacefully to eat – Ashanti continues to find it tricky to pick up cubes with her damaged trunk but manages with the help of a foreleg. Godoma was keeping a close eye on Busara and Baraka. When Hildana attempted to push them out of the way, she ran over, rumbling her disapproval.
Heading out to the bush, the orphans settled on the open plains on the other side of Msinga Hill, browsing and playing in small friendship groups. In the afternoon, they returned for more milk, but no one was keen to swim on a rainy day. They stood together quietly, with the older ones on the outside and the little ones in the middle. Later in the afternoon, they wandered out for a final browse before returning to the safety of the stockades for the night.