Choose your region

Mwashoti tried hard to play around with little Mwana, but he was too big and ungainly for her. However, there was nothing the little baby could do to escape. Mwashoti hounded Mwana while Kiasa walked straight to the bottle point. Kiasa is notoriously obsessed with her milk, which is why she let her guard down with Mwana during that time. 

Mwashoti jumped his tall legs onto Mwana, as if he was planning to play-mount the little baby. Mwana fell down and trumpeted to alert her mother and the nannies. Upon hearing Mwana's yells, Murera, Sonje, and Zongoloni rushed to see why she was screaming for help. Mwashoti realised that the head girls were coming for him and disappeared into the bushes to escape their discipline.

Amali and Enkesha followed Mwana to provide more security for the little baby. They took her to the shrubs for browsing and relaxation away from the older boys, knowing that Maktao and Kiombo, who had been closely observing Mwashoti’s antics with Mwana, might do the same thing to the little girl.

Some wild herds moved to the Chyulu side and later joined the orphans who were now returning from their long day trip outside back to Kibwezi Forest. Murera was not happy to have them so close, so she moved away to keep off the wild friends who could potentially steal her baby away with them.

It has been weeks since Zongoloni snuck away for her nightclubbing adventures in the wild, as she sometimes does. Since joining the orphans about three weeks ago, she has been very close and busy with little Mwana and Amali, but she loves Mwana over everybody else. The Keepers are trying to figure out what Zongoloni will be like when she gives birth to her own baby early or mid next year. We also wonder what Mwana's reaction will be when new babies arrive from Lima Lima, Sonje, and Zongoloni.

Murera has given Zongoloni a lot of freedom to move around with Mwana. For a long time, she was worried that Zongoloni would kidnap her baby, but now she knows that she will just fulfil her nanny duties and then leave the baby to her. Enkesha and Quanza saw little Amali and Mwana happily inside the shrubs with Zongoloni next to them. They both walked to the shrubs and stayed close, clearly hoping to take Mwana back with them. However, they did not try it because they worried that Zongoloni would block them from leaving with the baby.

Amali and Kapei crossed to the other side of the Kibwezi Forest to pull down some little branches to eat. Maktao and his brother Kiombo disrupted their activity and started pushing the youngsters around. Kiombo continued charging and trumpeting inside the bushes, trying to give other babies the morale to join him. No one listened to his antics; they all preferred to focus on browsing today.

It is now raining heavily in the Kibwezi Forest, causing the orphans, especially little Amali, Kapei, and Mwana, to slip and fall on the muddy pathways. One afternoon, as they were running after the older elephants to find shelter from the rain, Kapei's foot got caught behind a branch, causing him to fall down and scream for help. Kiasa and Enkesha went to investigate, but then decided not to help Kapei, seeing that he was fine. The older nannies can be quite strict when it comes to Kapei!

Then, the Keepers went to help Kapei, only to find that he had left with Quanza for the Chyulu area. Sonje, Mwashoti, and Lima Lima went to brief Murera about where they thought the orphans should go for browsing, suggesting the Umani hills. However, Murera preferred to take the babies to the waterhole because it was getting hot and she wanted to cool off in the mud bath with Mwana. Amali joined them, shepherding Mwana to the waterhole as Mwana and the other nannies followed behind.

The rainy season has begun in Kibwezi Forest, making it very green and lush for the elephants and other wildlife around the Chyulu Hills. They are now living a joyful life full of food. Today, it was pleasantly cool, and the orphans didn't rush for their bottle feeding time. In fact, they seemed to forget about it entirely! Sonje and Lima Lima kept both babies at the top of the hills, where Mwana, Amali, and Kapei really enjoyed browsing on the soft branches, keeping everyone busy all day long. When Sonje thought it was time to descend the hills, she felt it was necessary to bring the babies to the waterhole for a drink and a cooling swim. She worried that Mwana, Amali, and Kapei were getting too hot in the afternoon sun.

Zongoloni and Quanza moved to the other side of the hills. Mwana wanted to join them, but Enkesha and Amali made her follow Sonje instead. When Zongoloni realised that everyone was following Sonje and not her, she and Quanza doubled back and joined the group.

Amali, supported by Enkesha and Quanza, chose to take a different direction from the one Lima Lima and the other head girls had chosen for the day. Some baboons were heard screaming from the tops of the trees while the elephants were still crossing over the Umani Springs. When Amali heard their harsh yells, she became very scared and ran back and forth, looking for little Mwana. As a dedicated nanny, she cared for the baby and wanted to ensure her safety, despite her own fear. Amali is a very brave and caring young elephant. Fortunately she found Mwana with Murera, who was already protecting her and nursing the little baby.

As the orphans continued their day-long patrol, they emerged into a field and found many buffalos sleeping on the open grass. Both the elephants and buffalos were surprised and scared by the unexpected sight of each other. Some buffalos began running away to escape, which further startled the elephants, who took off in the opposite direction. The field, which had been so full of animals, was left deserted.

The waterhole today was so busy with all the orphans wallowing and enjoying the mud bath. Mwana turned to her mother for a bottom scratch. Murera was having her own fun moment, splashing water over her body, all the way to her head. Quanza, Zongoloni, and the young nannies took Mwana away, so Murera could have respectful time to play and enjoy the mud bath at her own pace.

Enkesha took Kiasa and little Kapei along the Chyulu area. Amali came across some butterflies that she tried to chase and catch. She found it hard to get even a single butterfly down — in fact, she was the one falling down, knocking her knees on rocks after missing the elusive butterflies.

Mwana and Amali are very bonded, more like real sisters than friends. Sometimes they fight over food, but Amali is always very considerate to little Mwana. If Mwana saw Amali carrying a branch that she admired, Amali would give Mwana the first chance to have the branch. Mwana appreciates the kindness and consideration her big sister always shows her. We believe that Enkesha and Kiasa are a bit jealous of the close bond the girls share.

Mwana also loves Lima Lima, her main auntie. Lima Lima always allows the young girl to faux nurse from her — it is great practice for the soon-to-be-mother. Mwana sometimes faux nurses from Zongoloni, too. Interestingly, Quanza doesn’t allow Mwana to suckle from her. We wonder if this is because she is not pregnant yet. 

Kiombo and Kapei got into a fight after Kapei tried to mount him. Kiombo spun around and dropped Kapei to the ground, sending the little bull running. Kapei had a small limp from the fall, but it was not serious. This is an important lesson for Kapei, if he decides to play with older bulls who are not his age-mates. 

At the bottle feeding point, Kiasa tried to steal a second bottle. The snatched one that was waiting for Murera, who was arriving slowly. When Kiasa grabbed her bottle and drank it in one go — in fact, she was so quick that the Keepers were not aware of her intentions. Only later did they realise Kiasa’s deception when they saw her running away with an extra bottle in her trunk!

The orphans woke up and ran out of the gates. Amali waited for her little friend to come out with her mother, Murera. Lima Lima, Quanza, and the other nightclubbers were standing outside. They led the babies to Umani Springs to enjoy fresh water before proceeding to Kenzili for more browsing.

At the springs, an owl made a loud noise. It startled Kapei and Kiombo, who saw it as a challenge. Everyone else ran for the hills. Sonje stood still, trying to see what had scared everyone. The owl was out of sight, but Sonje came up with a plan: She charged blindly into the bushes, threatening the invisible noisemaker to flee. Maktao and other babies teamed up to help Sonje chase out whoever was hiding. Meanwhile, Enkesha and Kiasa brought Mwana close and ensured that she remained out of harm’s way.

There were lots of wild elephant families around the Umani Hills today. Kapei walked over and made a friend, who he started pushing in a playful manner. This made the baby’s mother angry — we can’t tell if she thought Kapei was bullying her baby or trying to steal him. Kiombo and Maktao joined Kapei and brought him back to the dependent herd.

At the mud bath, Amali and Enkesha stepped forward to show their other friends how well they can swim. They were followed by Murera and Mwana. Zongoloni, Sonje, and Lima Lima arrived later, only to find that everyone else had already finished their swim. The head girls led the babies into the bushes.

Kiombo and Maktao placed Kapei in the middle while they were playing and pushing each other, as they often do. Kapei was between them, but they didn't do anything to him. He just stood there, observing the increasingly serious match between the older bulls. For a while, it looked like Kiombo would win, but then Maktao regained his footing and looked very charged. This scared Kiombo into a retreat. Enkesha and Sonje just watched as the two boys tested their strength. 

Baboons started chattering from the treetops, which stopped everyone in their tracks. Then, warthogs emerged from their hiding places in the rocks. When they were spotted by Mwashoti, the Keepers could only see the warthogs' tails in the air as they ran away. Mwashoti kept pressuring them to leave by blowing loud trumpets, which sent them running deep into the forest.

Murera called her team to join her in the Kibwezi Forest. Mwana rushed to see what her mother was rumbling about. Amali and Kiasa escorted the young baby over to Murera. Meanwhile, Kapei and the other boys kept their distance from Mwana — they know that the nannies are protective and won’t tolerate any roughhousing near her.

The morning began with loud trumpeting echoing from the hills of Umani, catching the attention of the Keepers. Sonje and her team, along with little Kiombo and Maktao, joined in the chorus, charging through the shrubs and trees. Kapei and Amali remained still, their eyes wide open as they watched over Mwana.

Meanwhile, Murera and Mwashoti decided to steer clear of the direction of the trumpeting, fearing any rowdiness or potential mistreatment. Mwashoti knows that Murera struggles to run quickly, due to her bad legs, and is always looking out for her.

After the morning’s excitement, the orphans made their way down to the waterholes to cool off. The big waterhole was adorned with beautiful water lilies, which caught the attention of Amali and Enkesha. They dove into the water, disappearing beneath the lilies with only their heads visible to the Keepers.

Kiasa, Sonje, Lima Lima, and Zongoloni all gathered around Mwana. However, the little baby had other plans and ran back to nurse from her mother. Murera rumbled for Mwana to follow her, and obediently, she followed her mother's lead.

Murera got angered by her baby today when Mwana kept pulling her breast and hurting her. She tried to move away, but Mwana insisted on trying her luck. Needing space, Murera walked away. Amali arrived when she heard Mwana raising a big complaint after she was denied breastfeeding. But Amali was not aware of why Mwana complained. When she escorted Mwana to her mother, Murera just looked at the pair, not inviting them to come any closer. Mwana understood why her mother was angry with her and turned around, knowing Murera would kick her. Instead, she hung out with her nannies, Amali, Kiasa, and Enkesha.

Inside the Kibwezi Forest, the orphans had a big celebration in a waterhole that was full of very nice mud. Lima Lima and Quanza began wallowing and playing around the mud bath, with little Kapei and Amali doing everything they could to please themselves. Maktao faced off with Kiombo, jumping over his back. Kiombo then turned against a big tree, pinning Maktao. The bullying ended when Maktao fell from behind, knocking his back on the tree, which was good for Kiombo as he was disciplining Maktao.

The orphans’ sleep was disrupted by heavy rain. The rain made the rooftop noisy, disturbing little Mwana, Amali, and Kapei. Murera had a difficult time calming Mwana down, as she kept trying to run away from the noisy rooftop. Being a baby, Mwana was worried, though Murera kept her safe beneath her belly. Others like Amali and Kapei were also pushing the gates, adding to Mwana's belief that something was wrong. However, Murera remained calm.

When morning came, none of the little babies wanted to stay inside. Lima Lima and Zongoloni were waiting by the gate, and as soon as it was opened, they rushed out. Lima Lima brought Mwana into the bushes, leaving Murera to walk slowly with Enkesha and Kiasa following behind.

The waterhole was deserted during the orphans’ afternoon bottle feeding time. None of the elephants stopped at the waterhole because they were still wet from the heavy rain that fell during the night. Even Faraja tried hard not to step into the waterhole.

The rain began at midnight, causing old trees to fall in the forest. Again, the young orphans and Mwana were upset by the rain. Amali made big screams, trying to get her neighbour and friend, Kapei, to offer sympathy. Unfortunately, Kapei was just as scared, so neither could help the other. The big girls, who knew it was only rain and wind, were not worried. Instead, they stayed calmly under the rooftops to avoid getting rained on.

There was a spot of drama when Mwana went over to the gate she and Murera share with Kiombo’s next door stockade. She wanted to share something with her neighbour. However, Kiombo was in a mischievous mood and pulled Mwana’s little trunk through the gate. Mwana alerted her mother and Murera rushed to the gate, pushing her baby back and punishing Kiombo as best she could. Kiombo prudently moved out of reach, but he knew he was being warned.

When morning came, all the babies fell on the slippery earth, which was too wet for their feet to stand firmly. Kapei slipped on his face and Enkesha fell down after she tried to run. Kiasa went back to check on her. Both girls stood up, unhurt, and joined Amali, Faraja, and Jasiri.

The orphans went into the bush today with one goal: playing around in the mud whenever they saw some anthills. Kapei rushed to Amali, and both orphans began rolling around and playing in the mud, Lima Lima walked to a special rock that she uses for cleaning and trimming her nails. The Keepers say that place is like a spa for Lima Lima! Kapei moved closer, trying to watch what she was doing. Before long, Quanza and Sonje arrived, waiting for their spa moment.

The boys were just watching from far, uninterested in what Lima Lima was doing. Four buffalos walked into the open fields where Murera and the other babies were having their good times. When Kiasa saw them, she and the nannies went to chase them away. Little Mwana proved that she was not just a baby to be underestimated; she felt like a big girl and tried to charge, making little sounds from her small trunk. Kiasa, Quanza, Enkesha, and Amali followed the buffalos to the forest line, chasing them until they were out of sight.

The babies were very scared of the big rains that began around midnight and continued into the day. Only the big elephants were unbothered. Even the milk feeding was disrupted by the rain; both Kapei and Enkesha, who always lead the way, waited beneath the trees. When the Keepers realised the babies were not coming, they drove the milk truck over to where the babies were sheltering. 

When Amali and Kapei saw the milk truck, they ran after it to claim their bottles, making a great racket in the process. Murera and Mwashoti came over to see what caused the drama with Amali. Realising she was only excited about her milk, Murera stood between the eager elephants and the Keepers, giving the team space to organise the bottles. 

While Murera was drinking a bottle, Mwana turned to her mother and wanted to breastfeed. It was now a game of "in" and "out" — Murera saying "in," and Mwana saying "out."

Our young Mwana, the first granddaughter of our Umani orphans, is lucky to have many little companions. Amali is always by Mwana's side, keeping an eye on her and ensuring she's happy. Today, Mwana tried to breastfeed from Lima Lima, but after a short while, she moved to Zongoloni, hoping for more milk. When she found that neither of them had milk to offer, she screamed loudly, as if someone had done something to her. 

Murera, knowing Mwana's tricks, understood that she needed discipline. Mwana rushed to where her mother was, attempting to breastfeed, but Murera only allowed her a little time before kicking her away to go forage. Murera didn't give Mwana the attention she wanted, but Amali, ever sympathetic, brought her some leaves. Mwana put them on her head as she walked away.

Lima Lima and Quanza moved to the deepest part of the Kibwezi Forest, leaving Mwana with Enkesha, who was given the role of head nanny for the day. 

Kiombo had a big pushing match with his best friend and favourite rival, Maktao. It started with a disagreement over a stick. Mwashoti intervened, trying to help them resolve their grievances. Maktao was bitter and wouldn’t back down, ready to fight Kiombo to the end. Kiombo also refused to relent, knowing that if he backed down, Maktao would disrespect him in the future. In the end, Mwashoti confiscated the branch, which distracted the boys and ended the fight. 

As Maktao celebrated his triumph, Kiombo took his disappointment out on Enkesha and chased her into the forest. Poor Enkesha was just innocently walking by, but Kiombo was humiliated by his defeat and wanted to show his dominance. 

Later, Sonje and a friend arrived from the Chyulus. The bull looked like Sonje's former boyfriend, Osama. Upon closer inspection, however, the Keepers found he was not Osama, but another handsome boyfriend. Sonje is always so popular amongst the big bulls. 

Today, the weather was cold, and the babies were in no rush to leave their bedrooms. Amali exited first and was met by Mwana, who rushed over to her friend. The girls interlocked their trunks together as a way of saying good morning. They joined Kiasa and Enkesha, and everyone walked out together. When they reached Sonje, Quanza, and Mwashoti, Quanza trumpeted loudly, making everyone rush to see what was happening. It turned out she was just saying good morning to Amali and Kapei, who had joined her in the bushes. 

There was a spot of drama in the afternoon, when bull elephants and buffalos blocked the orphans’ path and split the group in two. Lima Lima greeted the visitors while Sonje collected Kiasa and Kapei, who had gotten separated from the group. 

In the evening, Kiasa showed off her new trick: She picked up her milk bottle with her trunk, removed the lid, and poured all the contents into her mouth, so she could finish it faster. The Keepers were impressed by her ingenuity.