October began much as the past few months have begun, with a visit from our ex-orphans friends. Kenia, Kihari, Arruba, Araba, Suswa, Mudanda, Ndoria, and Panda are fairly new to the wild, and have prudently decided to ride out the difficult dry season close to ‘home.’
At first light, the dependent orphans padded out of their stockades as their independent friends — Kenia, Kihari, Arruba, Araba, Suswa, Mudanda, Ndoria and Panda — ambled up the path to join them. The two groups gathered in the feeding area outside the stockades where they filled their tummies with pellets and lucerne. Pika Pika and her little friend Busara stood side by side at the feeding trough until ex-orphan Kihari nudged them out of her way. The two girls then wandered over to the lucerne area together – Pika Pika was taking her role of nanny most seriously, shielding Busara from the other orphans and trunk touching her regularly. Ndotto and Panda stayed back at the trough, bellies touching as they scooped up pellets, while Mbegu kept an eye on Dabida, Hildana, Kenderi and Ashanti while they ate lucerne. Breakfast over, some orphans stood quietly together as others played on the terraces. This morning, Itinyi chose to stand on his own at a distance from the herd.
As the sun rose in the sky, Lemeki set off to the browsing fields with Emoli, Thamana, Godoma and Tamiyoi following in her footsteps and the rest of the herd meandering along in their wake. The orphans spread out to browse all over Msinga Hill. Tagwa and Sagala stood with Juni sandwiched between them at the bottom of the hill.
In the afternoon, the orphans walked down for their afternoon milk feed in groups of three or four before trundling on to the mud wallow. Ndotto and Lasayen slid into the water and rolled around on their bellies as Murit and friends stood on the edge, kicking up enormous splashes. Most of the herd had a dip and a dust bath today before heading out to browse on their way back to the stockades.
As the ex-orphans did not visit this morning, the current orphans had the stockade area all to themselves. They gulped down their early morning bottles of milk but spent time eating dairy cubes and lucerne. Ndotto hung out with Mbegu before walking over to join Murit on the pile of earth. He was missing his playmate Panda!
With a few whistles and gestures from the Keepers, the orphans gathered at the bottom of the terraces and set out for their daily bush walk. They spread out all over Msinga Hill. Up near the top, Mbegu and Juni dug into the ground with their small tusks, unearthing delicious roots and deftly popping them into their mouths. Nearby, Thamana and Pika Pika browsed on dry branches of shrubs. As sweet Godoma meandered down the hill, she kept pausing to bend down and twist stems off plants with her trunk. Ngilai peeled the bark off a tree while Lasayen and Murit sparred with each other at the bottom of the hill.
In the afternoon, the herd headed down to the baobab tree mud wallow. Ngilai slid his enormous body into the water as Lemeki, Tamiyoi and Emoli rolled around on the dry soil near the wallow and Lasayen struck a pose on the edge. Ngilai soon clambered out to spar with Murit, leaving Emoli submerged in the muddy water. Several of the ‘Voi kids ’ took his place for a short time before the herd set off back to the stockades.
In the early morning, the orphans scooped up pellets and pieces of lucerne outside the stockades and then spread out to play on the terraces. Ngilai was sparring with Murit on the bottom terrace while Godoma was scratching her rump against the rocks along the stockade fence. Losoito was enjoying a dawn dust bath, splashing herself all over with dry soil from the pile. Ngilai ambled over to greet Godoma and the two friends stood close at the gate, trunks draped over each other.
When it was time to head out to the bush, maternal Mbegu rounded up all the Voi kids, touching the younger orphans and checking that everyone joined the line of elephants padding out from the stockades. She paused to drink from the water trough before following along behind the herd. The orphans settled around Msinga Hill, browsing throughout the morning. Ngilai and Hildana climbed the hill in search of fresh green foliage.
In the afternoon, the Keepers shepherded the elephants down to the baobab tree mud wallow. Big boys Murit, Lasayen and Ndotto stood side by side at the water trough before joining their friends in the wallow. Ngilai was rolling around on the edge, digging into the ground with his large tusks, as Kenderi, Ushindi and Akina lay submerged in the centre of the pool. Ndotto stood splashing nearby for a time before lying down on the wet ground. Godoma was massaging herself against the edge, rubbing her trunk and then her belly on the wall. Soon the Voi kids clambered out, leaving water baby Pika Pika in the wallow. She splashed around in the deepest part, waving her trunk happily, before joining the herd as they wandered back out to the bush. The orphans enjoyed their afternoon lucerne treat before returning to the stockades for the night.
Just before dawn, a wonderful drizzle of rain wet the dry dusty ground. Excited by the rain, the orphans paced up and down in their stockades, rumbling with delight, and then sprinted down the path to the feeding area. It was raining at last! They lined up at the trough to eat dairy cubes and browsed on the enormous pile of lucerne. Murit and Ndotto enjoyed an early morning dust bath, hosing their bodies with trunkfuls of red soil. Ngilai soon joined the two bulls, challenging them to a wrestling match. As Ndotto and Ngilai clashed heads and tusks, Murit lay on the ground nearby, rolling around with legs and trunk flailing.
As usual, Lemeki and the Keepers led the way out to the bush, closely followed by Losoito, Thamana and Ashanti. The orphans spent the morning browsing all over Msinga Hill, coming down briefly for the afternoon milk feed and then heading back up the hill. They gathered at the top with only Mbegu, Busara, Losoito and Baraka staying behind at the bottom. As the sun dipped in the sky, the orphans meandered back to the stockades.
This morning, the grey clouds of yesterday had disappeared and the sky was clear again. The orphans headed out early to explore the surrounding bush. They wandered to the north of Msinga Hill, spreading out to browse and play on the lower slopes and open grasslands. After yesterday’s rain, the ground was damp and tiny green shoots were already emerging. Many orphans dug down for roots as others nibbled the fresh grass. Godoma, Mbegu, Thamana and Ngilai pushed their tusks into the soil, searching for tasty tubers and roots as Kilulu stretched long and rolled over on the ground. Nearby, Tamiyoi was digging with her ears flared and splashing herself with sand. Sagala was fussing over Juni as Tagwa and Epiya browsed close by on dry shrubs. When Ashanti lay down for a roll around, Kilulu began charging around in circles. Godoma relaxed on her side with Busara standing next to her, browsing happily under her nanny’s care. As the herd ambled down for the afternoon milk feed, Lasayen and Murit could not resist yet another wrestling match along the way.
On a hot afternoon, many orphans plunged into the mud bath for a paddle or splash or wallow. Refreshed by the cool muddy water, they clambered out, rolling around on the dry edges or the pile of earth. Only water baby Pika Pika was left in the wallow. As the herd headed out, she reluctantly climbed out and padded after her friends.
As the sky lightened, the orphans jogged down the path in groups for their early morning bottles of milk, trunks lifted in anticipation. Bottles emptied, they lined up at the feeding trough to eat range cubes and browsed on the pile of lucerne. This morning, Murit was doing his very best to play with a reluctant Tagwa, pestering her several times. Eventually, she gave in and sparred with the persistent bull who then cheekily tried to mount her. That was enough! She wandered off to find another friend.
As the sun rose in a clear sky, the orphans set out to browse in the surrounding bush, settling on the slopes of Msinga Hill overlooking the baobab tree watering point. Tamiyoi and Lemeki were hanging out together as Sagala browsed peacefully with Hildana and Thamana, until Emoli came looking for his best friend and pushed Thamana away from Sagala. Ngilai was squatting on his haunches in an impressive manner as Murit stood tall next to him and Akina stood behind Epiya, trunk hugging her friend. Later in the morning, Ngilai, Sagala, Juni and Godoma clustered together in the shade of a tree.
After the afternoon milk feed, the orphans ambled down to the mud wallow with their big pads making almost no sound on the dry ground. Lemeki posed on the edge while Lasayen slid on his belly into the wallow and Thamana massaged himself against the baobab tree. As Lasayen rolled around in the middle of the pool, Godoma clambered out in an ungainly manner to join Pika Pika and Emoli who were rubbing their trunks against the edge of the wallow.
In the later afternoon, grey clouds gathered and there was a wonderful downpour of rain. Refreshed by the rain, the orphans wandered up Msinga Hill before returning to the stockades for the night.
On a clear fresh morning following yesterday’s rain, Kenia’s herd returned to the stockades after an absence of two days. They wandered up the path, filling their bellies with range cubes and lucerne before greeting the resident herd who had spread out on the terraces. Ndotto challenged ex-orphan Panda to a wrestling match as others stood quietly, rumbling occasionally. The visitors stayed around the pile of lucerne when the dependent orphans headed out to the bush.
Along the way, the orphans stopped at the foot of Msinga Hill to browse on soft green acacia leaves. Godoma and Sagala browsed side by side as Murit and Lasayen wrestled against each other, clashing heads in a contest of strength. Not far away, Emoli and Thamana were also enjoying several rounds of sparring.
In the afternoon, the orphans walked down for another milk feed and on to the mud wallow. As most of the orphans stood around the wallow on a cloudy day, Ndotto knelt down to rub his torso on the edge and then rolled around on his back. Meanwhile, Pika Pika was enjoying a solo swim in the middle of the pool.
This morning, the orphans were in playful moods. Godoma posed on the terrace wall with her back legs crossed and her ears flapping slowly as Ngilai stretched up tall to browse on branches across the electric fence. Soon he turned his attention from the tasty acacia trees to Itinyi. The elder bull gave his younger friend some sparring lessons, being careful not to use his full strength. Nearby, Juni, Tagwa and Murit were enjoying an early morning dust bath – Juni and Tagwa hosed themselves with soil while Murit lay down on the pile of earth. Lasayen rubbed his rump against the terrace wall before challenging Murit to a wrestling match. As Emoli and Thamana enjoyed their daily sparring contest, Ngilai ambled over to the pile of earth and started digging with his impressive tusks.
Soon it was time to head out. The Keepers whistled and the orphans set off in a straggly line, settling to browse in an area of shrubs to the south of the baobab tree mud wallow. In the afternoon, they padded down in groups of three or four for their milk feed and a dip in the wallow. Ndotto, Lasayen, Ngilai, Tamiyoi and Sagala paddled and splashed and rolled around on the edge while Mbegu, Pika Pika and Tagwa floated in the middle of the wallow, waving their trunks and ears almost in unison. Seri, meanwhile, concentrated on digging holes with her tiny tusks in the wall.
When the orphans headed out to browse, they left Ndotto behind in the wallow. Lasayen came back to pick up his best friend, coaxing him out of the water with a sparring challenge. The two bulls had a brief game before catching up the herd as they meandered back to the stockades.
As the sun rose in the sky, the orphans spread out on the terraces to play after filling their bellies with supplementary cubes and lucerne. Murit and Ndotto were having an early morning dust bath, standing on the pile of earth as they sucked up trunkfuls of earth and hosed their bodies. Ngilai ambled over to challenge Murit to a sparring match. When Murit turned his back, Ngilai went to browse on the acacia trees on the other side of the fence. He stood tall and carefully stretched over his trunk. Meanwhile, Murit lay down on the mound for a relaxing nap with Ndotto standing behind him. Ngilai soon returned to challenge Murit again – this time, his friend accepted and the bulls clinked tusks and clashed heads with Ndotto and Lasayen watching. When Ngilai knelt down to dig into the mound with his tusks, Murit began sparring with Lasayen. As the three elephants sparred, Ndotto wandered away to greet Mbegu.
In the afternoon, the orphans padded down from Msinga Hill for their usual milk feed and visit to the mud wallow. Lasayen stood very still near Tamiyoi who was paddling on the edge of the pool. Ndotto and Mbegu rolled around in the middle of the wallow, watched from the sidelines by the Voi kids. As the day became cooler, the Keepers shepherded the herd back to the stockades for the night.
At first light, the Keepers prepared the orphans’ breakfast and opened the doors of the shared stockades. Itinyi, Ashanti, Dabida, Kenderi and Ushindi were the first group to emerge – they padded down the path for their early morning bottles of milk, rumbling in anticipation. The other groups followed close behind. Bottles emptied, the elephants moved on the feeding trough and the pile of lucerne. This morning, Godoma could not decide which to eat first and so hovered between the two options. Soon, she was posing on the famous rock as Murit and Lasayen enjoyed a wrestling match around her. Emoli and Thamana sparred happily on the terraces as Mbegu fussed over Losoito, Busara and Baraka.
On a lower terrace, Ndotto and Ngilai played a sparring game for a short time, much to the Keepers’ surprise. As the oldest bulls in the herd, Ndotto and Ngilai rarely engage in wrestling matches with each other. Ndotto prefers to spar with ex-orphans like Panda, Arruba, and Kihari (who are living wild but still visit frequently). Ngilai prefers to spar with Lasayen, Murit and Emoli. Of late, he has been giving sparring classes to Itinyi, one of the youngest bulls.
As the sun rose in the sky, Lemeki and Tamiyoi led the herd out to browse on shrubs and fresh green shoots (following the recent rain). In the afternoon after the milk feed, many of the orphans plunged into the mud wallow. Pika Pika wallowed in the water for ages and then rolled around on the edge.
Once again, the ex-orphans were nowhere to be seen this morning. They are probably enjoying the fresh green shoots that spring up so quickly after the rain. As the dependent orphans lined up at the feeding trough and gathered around the pile of lucerne, Ndotto stood patiently under the twin trees at the entrance to the stockades. He was looking, in vain, for his sparring partner Panda!
Mbegu was standing belly to belly with Ashanti and Itinyi at the feeding trough, keeping an eye on her little charges as she scooped up pellets. Dabida, Hildana, and Juni were jealous of the attention Mbegu was giving Ashanti and Itinyi, and did their best to shove the two young elephants away from the trough. However, they were quickly seen off by the matriarch.
Lemeki, Thamana and Tamiyoi were standing in the walkway leading to the bush, making it clear that they were keen to get going. Soon, the three orphans led the herd out to browse on the slopes of Msinga Hill, with Mbegu, Pika Pika and Ndotto bringing up the rear.
In the afternoon, Mbegu, Pika Pika and Godoma frolicked in the middle of the mud wallow as Emoli, Lasayen, Tamiyoi, Ngilai, Ndotto and Murit rubbed their trunks and chests on the edge.
The orphans were in a hurry to head out this morning, sprinting down the path, eating quickly and gathering in the walkway to the bush. Godoma led the way with adopted baby Baraka walking along in her shadow and Pika Pika, Juni and Tagwa not far behind. The herd settled down to browse and play on the northern side of Msinga Hill close to the baobab tree mud wallow. Godoma was spending time with little Baraka, Tagwa and Sagala had Juni sandwiched between them, and Mbegu was looking after Busara and Ashanti.
In the afternoon, the orphans padded down the slope in groups of three or four for another milk feed. Each orphan ran towards one of the Keepers standing in line with bottles held aloft. They gulped down their milk and continued on to the mud wallow at a gentler pace. There they came across two giraffes drinking from the water trough with front legs splayed. As the orphans arrived, the visitors moved away and watched from a distance. Many plunged into the water for a paddle or a wallow before wandering off in the direction of the stockades, whereupon the giraffes returned to the trough to quench their thirst.
The orphans emerged from their shared stockades at first light, drank their milk in groups and settled at the feeding trough or around the pile of lucerne. As their independent friends did not visit, the dependent elephants had the area all to themselves again today. They wandered wherever they pleased and did not have to share their breakfast. Kenderi, Kilulu and Hildana were hanging out together on the terraces, standing close and touching each other regularly. Shy Kenderi has become close friends with outgoing Hildana.
The orphans spent the morning browsing deep in the woods to the south of the baobab tree water hole before walking around the hill for their afternoon milk feed and visit to the mud wallow. Several splashed around in the water on a hot sunny day as Ndotto and Ngilai knelt down to slide along the edge and Lemeki and Itinyi played the sparring game. As the sun sank in the sky, the herd strolled back to the stockades, stopping along the way to enjoy a supplementary pile of lucerne.
Ngilai was feeling especially hungry this morning. After eating lots of lucerne, he picked up an extra-large bunch and carried it off to the water trough where he ate every piece. Still not full, he ambled over to the feeding trough to eat pellets with Lasayen, Tamiyoi and Pika Pika and then stretched up tall to browse on acacia trees over the fence. Meanwhile, Mbegu was looking after several Voi kids on the terraces.
Once everyone had filled their bellies, Tamiyoi led the herd out for their daily bush walk. The orphans browsed on the slopes of Msinga Hill as they ambled towards the baobab tree water hole. In the afternoon, they enjoyed a paddle or a dip in the mud wallow after the milk feed followed by a soothing dust bath. As usual, Pika Pika was one of the first in and the last out. Ndotto rolled around in the water and then strolled over to the pile of earth to hose every part of his body with red soil. He was soon surrounded by several eager young boys – Itinyi, Kilulu, Hildana and Baraka - doing exactly the same thing. Mbegu rolled around on the soil, watched by Busara and Losoito, as many of the others headed out to return to the stockades.
On a clear calm morning, the orphans were in playful moods again. Godoma stretched her trunk over the fence, browsing to pluck branches off the acacia trees, as Ngilai rolled around on the pile of earth and enjoyed an early morning wrestling match with Lasayen. After several rounds, he walked away, leaving Lasayen squatting contentedly on the mound. Pika Pika soon joined him, play mounting her friend and massaging her belly against him. When Lasayen moved off to browse on the acacias, Pika Pika rolled around on the pile of earth, creating small clouds of dust as she waved her legs in the air. Losoito and Epiya were playing on the terraces. When Losoito accidentally knocked over Epiya with a shove, she immediately helped her friend back up. Nearby, Kenderi and Ashanti were standing close and trunk touching as they watched their playful friends.
As usual, Lemeki and Tamiyoi led the herd out to browse on the slopes of Msinga Hill for the morning before they headed down to the mud wallow in the afternoon. The pool was soon full of elephants – some submerged their bodies as others paddled and splashed while flapping their ears rhythmically. Lemeki lay on her side on the edge of the wallow, squirming around on the wet soil, and then moved round to find another chilling spot. Not far away, Dabida and Kenderi massaged their backsides against the ground.
On a wonderful chilly cloudy morning, the dependent orphans emerged from their shared stockades at the start of another day. Pika Pika was at the feeding trough, standing in a tight line with Busara, Ashanti, Dabida and Kilulu. They took their time with the pellets, scooping them up carefully and popping them into their mouths. Moments later as they walked over to the water trough, Emoli and Busara played a gentle version of the pushing game. Having saved a bunch of lucerne for later, Ngilai wrestled with Murit while balancing the tasty branches on his head. After several rounds, the two bulls sauntered over to the pile of earth. There they found Lasayen enjoying an early morning roll around on the dry soil. Soon the mound was covered with dust bathing orphans who included Tagwa, Juni, Lemeki and Thamana.
Little Losoito was the first to head out to the bush this morning. Rather than soldiering on by herself with a Keeper, she paused to wait for the herd to catch up. The orphans settled on the slopes of Msinga Hill, browsing for several hours.
In the afternoon, the orphans jogged down the slope for more milk and a cool down in the mud wallow. Losoito and Lasayen squirmed around on the edge, massaging their bodies against the ground, before clambering in for a paddle. Tamiyoi lay down on her own next to the wallow for a quick nap. Godoma, Pika Pika and Mbegu splashed in the deepest part of the pool. As the light faded, the Keepers whistled and the elephants set out to wander deep in the woods.
On another cool morning, the orphans padded around their stockades, waiting for the gates to be opened. The Keepers moved quietly in the dim light as they prepared bottles and distributed cubes and lucerne. As soon as they opened the first gate, Losoito sprinted down the path to the feeding area followed by Busara, Baraka, Ashanti and Dabida. Ashanti gulped down her milk and tried to grab Dabida’s bottle, but her friend was not having this behaviour and instantly gave her a shove. The orphans settled down to twist up pieces of lucerne and Ngilai did his daily trick of moving back and forth with a bunch on his head.
The orphans ambled out in a cluster to enjoy their fresh green world. They spread out around Msinga Hill, browsing on sprouting grass and plants in an area of open savannah. Mbegu was surrounded by her crew of Voi kids today. After the milk feed, the orphans padded on to the baobab tree mud wallow.
Ushindi was one of the first to pop into the pool today, enjoying a quick swim followed by a roll around in the mud. Ndotto, Lemeki and Pika Pika stayed in the wallow for much longer before also rolling around on the wet ground. Tamiyoi and Pika Pika played the sparring game near the wallow as several orphans continued to splash around in the muddy water. Refreshed and reinvigorated, the orphans meandered back to the safety of the stockades for the night.
On a cool overcast morning, the orphans stood quietly in clusters outside the stockades. They ate with their friends, but no one was tempted to play games. Soon it began to drizzle. Murit ambled over to the pile of wet soil for a roll around and Lasayen, Pika Pika, Losoito and Tagwa joined him.
When Tamiyoi led the herd out to the browsing fields, several were reluctant to follow her. The dust bathers were keen to continue and Ndotto and Lemeki tried to nip back to the shelter of their stockade amid the falling rain. The Keepers whistled and everyone set out in a very straggly line. They spread out on the open savannah at the foot of Msinga Hill.
The Keepers delayed the afternoon milk feed for a short time until a wild herd had left the mud wallow. They did not want to risk any wild females trying to kidnap babies like Losoito, Busara and Baraka. When the family wandered away, the orphans were sent down to the wallow. Many plunged in as others paddled and splashed. Murit and Tagwa made enormous splashes as they sparred against each other in the water. After several rounds, Murit made the mistake of trying to mount Tagwa, whereupon she turned her back and clambered out. Meanwhile, big boys Emoli and Ndotto were striking impressive poses on the edge and Pika Pika was rubbing her rump on the bottom of the wallow. The orphans were happy to meander back to the stockades, feasting on fresh green browse along the way. As dusk fell, they settled in their shared bedrooms for the night.
Although the day began with some wonderful showers of rain, the orphans were less subdued than yesterday. After gulping their milk and feasting on pellets, they played on the mound of soil or bonded on the terraces. Sagala and Thamana massaged their backsides against the rocks along the fence line as Ngilai squatted on the mound and sparred with Murit. Ndotto took his place and struck a similar seated pose, allowing Pika Pika and Tagwa to clamber on top of him and rest their forelegs on his bulk. After the game, the three friends lay down on the muddy ground. Minutes later, Kenderi ambled up and lay down close to them.
As the clouds cleared away, the herd headed out to browse all over Msinga Hill. Mbegu, Busara and Ashanti remained at the bottom as the other orphans, including many of the Voi kids, padded all the way to the top. Later in the afternoon at the mud bath, they enjoyed a cooling swim. Losoito and Itinyi played together on the edge, rubbing up against each other and rolling on the ground. Seri had a paddle and dug into the earth with her tiny tusks. Godoma and Pika Pika were having such fun in the wallow that they were left behind when the rest of the herd walked off back to the stockades.
Even though it has been raining, Kenia’s ex-orphan herd visited the stockades this morning to the delight of the Keepers. Former and current orphans shared dairy cubes and lucerne and hung out together. Kenia played the pushing game with Godoma as Thamana gave Itinyi some sparring lessons and Tagwa massaged her body against the twin trees. Ex-orphan Panda challenged Ndotto to a wrestling match and Emoli gave Kilulu sparring lessons as Tamiyoi fussed over and hugged Baraka. After the games, Kenia and Godoma stayed close together, trunk touching each other, while Ndoria posed on the terraces and Lasayen and Thamana finished up every pellet in the trough.
As the sun emerged from the clouds, Lemeki led the herd out to the bush, stopping along the way for a quick rub on the wall of the terrace. The orphans wandered along behind her with Mbegu and Ashanti bringing up the rear. They spread out to browse in the open grasslands. In the afternoon, as usual, they spent some time at the mud wallow and then walked back to the stockades for the night.
The sky was clear at dawn this morning when the Keepers opened the gates of the orphans’ stockades. Matriarch Mbegu stood close to Ashanti, Dabida, Losoito and Ushindi at the feeding trough while Itinyi picked up pieces of lucerne with Lasayen, Ndotto and Murit. Best friends Emoli and Thamana were sparring as Pika Pika hosed her head and back with soil from the large mound. Kenderi, Kilulu and Hildana stood on the upper terrace, trunk touching and rumbling to each other. Losoito was the first to set out to the bush this morning but paused to massage her backside against one of the rocks along the fence line. Lemeki caught up with her and wandered ahead as the others followed along in small groups.
Most of the orphans spent the morning browsing on the lower slopes of Msinga Hill, although Pika Pika, Ngilai and Hildana climbed up to the top in search of fresh foliage. In the afternoon, the dependent orphans padded down the hill for another milk feed, a wallow in the muddy pool and a dust bath. Little Juni rolled around in the wallow as nannies Tagwa and Sagala paddled next to her. Baraka also had a brief paddle under the watchful eye of Mbegu.
The sun rose in a clear sky this morning as the younger orphans drank their bottles of milk and joined their older friends at the feeding trough. They stood squashed up together in a tight row, scooping up pellets peacefully. Murit and Ndotto soon challenged each other to a sparring match, clashing heads and clinking tusks in another contest of strength. Murit kept backing up, giving his opponent Ndotto the advantage.
The herd headed out for their daily bush walk with the two bulls bringing up the rear. They ambled to the top of Msinga Hill, enjoying the abundance of green shoots before heading back to the stockades in the afternoon.
After a refreshing mud bath, Mbegu walked over to the mound of earth to dust herself with soil. When she lay down on the mound, little Epiya spied an opportunity and toddled over. She rested her haunches on Mbegu’s torso, having found the perfect seat, and rubbed herself against her nanny. Imitating his friend, Baraka padded over to Godoma as she lay on the soil and did exactly the same thing. He sat on her stomach and massaged his backside! Godoma and little Baraka then wandered over to the twin trees and stood there together as the day grew cooler. In the late afternoon, the herd made a final visit to Msinga Hill.
On a crisp clear morning, the orphans gathered either at the feeding trough or in the lucerne area. Baraka and Busara stood belly to belly at the trough to eat range cubes. When Itinyi did his best to squeeze in between them, giving each a shove, Mbegu and Godoma came immediately to the babies’ rescue and pushed him away. Emoli and Thamana sparred happily on the terraces watched by the younger Voi kids.
When the Keepers led the orphans out to the surrounding bush, Emoli and Thamana were left behind but caught up with the herd before they reached Msinga Hill. They browsed peacefully for a few hours before visiting the mud bath in the afternoon.
Little Busara was in an excited mood today. Rather than watching timidly from the sidelines, she played confidently with Sagala in the wallow. Pika Pika joined them and the three elephants splashed together in the water, waving their trunks and flapping their ears. Busara clambered onto the wall of the wallow but abandoned the game when Emoli walked over to join her as she was nervous of the older bull. Itinyi straddled the wall, hind legs in the wallow and front legs leaning on the edge, as he played with his friends. After cooling off in the water, the orphans rolled around on the dry earth and then meandered back to the stockades.
Ex-orphan Kenia and her herd arrived at the stockades at first light this morning before the resident orphans had emerged from their stockades. The visitors settled down to fill their bellies as the younger elephants padded down the path to join them. Remaining at a respectful distance from the ex-orphans, the current orphans ate quickly and gathered on the walkway to the bush.
Mbegu, Tagwa and Tamiyoi wasted no time in leading the herd out to browse around Msinga Hill, leaving the ex-orphans in the feeding area. Big boys Ndotto and Lasayen set off on their own today, wandering further afield before rejoining the herd later in the morning. On an unusually hot day, the orphans clustered in groups under the shade of large trees, seeking shelter from the scorching sun. Thamana and Juni stood under one small tree, happily massaging themselves against the trunk.
Everyone plunged into the mud wallow in the afternoon with the older elephants in the middle and the younger ones nearer the edge. Nannies Mbegu, Godoma, Tagwa, Sagala, Tamiyoi, and Pika Pika stayed close to the youngest members of the herd, protecting them from the rowdy antics of the older bulls.
As the Keepers mixed bottles of milk and carried out range cubes and lucerne, Itinyi, Ashanti, Dabida, Kenderi and Ushindi stood close to the gate of their stockade, determined to be the first out. They padded down the path, followed by the rest of the herd. Bottles emptied, the orphans spread out at the feeding trough and in the lucerne area. Ashanti spent a long time at the trough, kneeling on her forelegs as she slowly scooped up pellets with her damaged trunk. It takes her longer to fill her tummy but she manages. Ex-orphans Kenia, Araba, Ndoria and Kihari soon wandered in to join the orphans but Suswa and Mudanda were not with the herd today.
After breakfast, Losoito led the orphans out to the surrounding bush where they settled on the slopes of Msinga Hill, plucking green leafy branches from acacia trees. Ndotto, Lasayen, Pika Pika and Godoma ambled up the hill in search of fresh browse. Godoma and Lasayen rubbed their rumps against a tree as the rest of the herd continued to browse.
In the afternoon, the orphans sprinted down for another milk feed and a paddle in the mud wallow. Today, the four ex-orphans who had visited the stockades in the morning joined them. Kenia, Kihari, Ndoria and Araba plunged into the water to swim with their friends. Ndoria rolled around near the edge with Pika Pika squatting next to her. The wallow was full of playful elephants. As the sun sank towards the horizon, the orphans meandered back to the stockades for the night.
There were no clouds in the sky this morning. The orphans ate quickly and gathered in the walkway to the bush, keen to set out to browse on fresh green shoots on a sunny morning. Lemeki, Losoito and Tamiyoi led a tight line of elephants to Msinga Hill where many clambered all the way to the top while Mbegu and the youngest orphans remained at the foot. Ex-orphan Suswa wandered over to greet her old friends and hang out with them for a time before returning to her herd.
In the afternoon, the dependent orphans padded down to the mud wallow. Soon, almost the whole herd was splashing around in the cooling water or along the edges. Ushindi, Hildana, Kenderi and Kilulu were in playful moods, rolling around together like puppies in the mud next to the pool. To the Keepers’ delight, Suswa emerged from the bush to swim with her friends – she plunged into the water and splashed around with Mbegu and Godoma. As Suswa walked off in one direction, the herd headed out in the opposite one back to the stockades.
The sky was clear this morning and the orphans were in playful moods. Emoli was clambering all over a patient Thamana, who is younger but implacable. Ngilai rolled around on a nearby pile of earth, hosing his body with soil as he relaxed. Lasayen strolled over to challenge him to a wrestling match. When his friend did not react, Lasayen knelt on Ngilai’s torso, waving his trunk in delight as he wriggled around. Ngilai shrugged off Lasayen, stood up and ambled away to browse on the acacia trees over the fence and to play the sparring game with Thamana. By now, Lasayen was lying splayed on the dust pile. He had to catch up with the herd when they headed out to the bush.
The orphans browsed all over Msinga Hill before padding down to the mud wallow on a scorchingly hot afternoon. Today, no one paused to drink from the water trough – instead, everyone plunged into the wallow to cool off. The still pond was transformed by a crowd of splashing elephants. After their swim, Sagala and Juni squatted on the edge of the wallow, rubbing their backsides against the mud with heads held high and ears flapping in unison. As the sun dipped in the blue sky, the orphans meandered back to the stockades.
The orphans emerged from their stockades and padded down the path to greet their Keepers and drink their milk. They scooped up pellets and lucerne and spread out on the terraces. Tamiyoi and Tagwa led the herd out for their daily bush walk. Most climbed all the way up Msinga Hill before jogging down for another milk feed and a visit to the baobab tree mud wallow.
Today, Sagala, Mbegu, Ndotto and Godoma paused to drink deeply from the water trough as many of the younger elephants paddled into the pool. Some lay still and some rolled around as others clambered on top of each other. After his dip, Itinyi stood tall on the edge and began digging a hole in the wet earth. Lasayen was showing off, rolling around energetically on the edge with limbs and trunk flailing. Ndotto ambled around the wallow several times before deciding that it was time for a swim. Lemeki frolicked from one side of the wallow to the other and then back again as Ngilai rolled and twisted his body in the water. Antics over, the herd ambled out to the bush for another browse in the late afternoon.
The ex-orphans were back at the stockades this morning. They wandered up the path at dawn and greeted the resident orphans when they arrived in the feeding area. Old and young mingled as they shared breakfast and played with their friends.
Ex-orphan Mudanda was moving very slowly today. We believe she is pregnant, which perhaps causes her to tire more easily. Nevertheless, Ndotto would not leave her alone and kept pestering her to play with him. Eventually, she relented and had a brief sparring match before walking away to stand quietly on her own.
Not far away, Murit and Araba enjoyed a prolonged wrestling match, trumpeting in excitement as they clashed heads. When the current orphans set out for the bush, the ex-orphans followed along behind them for a short time before veering off in a different direction.
On another hot day, many orphans went swimming in the afternoon. As others enjoyed a leisurely dip, Lemeki and Tamiyoi began sparring on the dry earth and continued their tussle in the water. After cooling off, the orphans covered their bodies with soothing soil before heading out for another browse around Msinga Hill.
Kenia’s herd arrived at first light again this morning and stood waiting quietly outside the stockades. The resident orphans soon padded out of their rooms to join the visitors. Mbegu and Godoma stood quietly with their heads touching and trunks draped loosely as the Voi kids cavorted around them. Ndotto ambled over to stand close to the two maternal females. Thereafter, they checked on all the babies in their herd, ensuring that none of them could be lured away by the wild-living visitors.
Leaving the ex-orphans at the stockades, Mbegu and Godoma led the herd to Msinga Hill where they spread out to browse on tasty green shoots following the recent showers of rain. In the afternoon, the herd walked down to the mud bath in groups of three or four, stopping off for another milk feed along the way. Today, the Voi kids, with shining stars Baraka, Busara and Losito, took centre stage in the wallow. They swam in a cluster, making enormous splashes as they climbed on and off each other’s backs. Mbegu, Tagwa, and Emoli stood on the sidelines, massaging themselves against trees as they watched their young friends.
This morning, the orphans focused on eating rather than playing. After downing their bottles of milk, they squashed up close at the feeding trough to scoop up range cubes. Ashanti was one of the first to arrive at and the last to leave the trough. She stood calmly between Mbegu and Tamiyoi, carefully popping pellets into her mouth. Not far away, best friends Kenderi, Hildana and Kilulu stood belly to belly for a short time before ambling on to the lucerne area. Pika Pika was fussing over Busara and Godoma was looking after Baraka as the older bulls sparred half-heartedly on the terraces.
The herd headed out to Msinga Hill where they browsed peacefully for some time before walking down to the mud wallow. Lemeki was full of exuberance today, plunging in first and rolling around in the water. She was followed by most of the herd. Tamiyoi remained on the edge, squatting on her backside as she waved her trunk around in circles. Climbing out of the wallow, Itinyi stood quietly behind Tamiyoi, watching her impressive antics. Godoma and Pika Pika remained in the water for a long time, chasing away some Egyptian geese who dared to drink from their wallow with indignant trumpets. Water and dust baths over, the orphans padded out to enjoy a final browse on their way back to the stockades.