Rhinos are notoriously reluctant to embrace change, so we had to tread gently with Chamboi’s move. He’s not yet big enough for a stockade, but his baby stable had become far too small — although we suspect he would have happily stayed there until he was a fully grown rhino, bursting through every beam and board!

We settled on a compromise: a duplex stable that offers double the space, while still giving Chamboi the cosy environment he is so attached to. Because rhinos are creatures of habit, we stocked it with familiar scents to make him feel at home, including dung piles and his Keeper’s jacket. Chamboi was very out of sorts the first few nights in his new stable, but by the end of the week, he had embraced it as his new territory. Dare we say he even seems to be relishing the extra space!

Rhinos may be creatures of habit, but Toto loves his comfort zone on another level. He was more than ready to graduate to a big boy stockade — yet, like Chamboi, we’re certain he would have continued squeezing into his little stable even as a full-grown bull, if given the opportunity!

Knowing what we were up against, we began the training process three months ago, tiptoeing into the idea of a new bedroom: First, we just opened the stockade gate and invited Toto to explore inside. Initially, he flatly refused to cross the threshold, while Korbessa marched right in and made herself at home. 

Then, we started giving Toto and Korbessa their evening milk feeds inside the stockade, before ushering them back to their familiar stables. It took some coaxing, but Toto soon embraced the stockade as his dining room. After several weeks of this, we decided that the pair were finally ready to accept it as a bedroom. (Well, Toto was ready — Korbessa had been ready from day one!)

We are happy to report that the move went well and Toto really likes his new and expanded room. Just like their stable days, he and Korbessa are still neighbours — Korbessa has the middle room, between Twiggy and Toto. She loves being in the thick of things, and spends the night rotating between stealing greens from Twiggy’s side and leaning against Toto’s side, watching her big brother sleep and snack.

Natibu and Mwinzi, who made the move to big boy stables several months ago, seem happy to have all the elephants together in one block. We suspect they also helped Toto come to terms with his new room, showing him that upgraded accommodations are something to be embraced.

Tsavo got a lot of rain, and Kaluku is a-bloom with fresh greens, lush grasses, and the elephants’ favourite ipomoea flowers. The orphans may be young, but they know never to take a bounty for granted. This month, they spent most of their days diligently feasting on a buffet of fresh vegetation. Even Natibu, who usually occupies himself by causing mischief, was uncharacteristically subdued as he focused on all the greenery to be enjoyed. 

Most days, Twiggy joined them in this mission. She has adopted all the Kaluku orphans as ‘her’ herd and diligently checks on each element — the elephants, Chamboi, and Keeper Peter’s eclectic group — throughout the day. The midday milk feed seems to be her designated elephant time. Shortly before 11, she lopes over to the quartet and ambles along with them to the feeding point. Her dedication to the activity is all the more adorable because she doesn’t even have a milk bottle with them; she is fed later, at the stockades.

For now, Twiggy is very happy to remain in the mix. However, we have spotted several lovely giraffes close to Kaluku. When she feels ready, Twiggy will start to fraternise with them. Only time will tell if she decides to fully join her wild friends or remain close to Kaluku, as Sprite’s warthog kids have chosen to do. 

All our eclectic orphans are doing well. Mr Bean’s stable fiefdom continues to expand: Now, his roommates include Izera the eland, Gruff the buffalo, and Choke the kudu, along with next door neighbours Bam and Boozle. The warthog may run the show, but all the orphans — Bean most of all — are absolutely hooked on their Keeper, Peter. Wherever Peter goes, his little acolytes eagerly trot in his wake.

Apollo the Orphaned Rhino

This month, we were busy installing a radio system on the Yatta to support the KWS with their field communications. As a result, there were lots of comings and goings from the airstrip near Rhino Base. Apollo is very nosy and delights in creating a stir, so naturally he loved all the activity. 

As soon as he heard the hum of an approaching aircraft, he would beeline for his fenceline, take up position, and wait expectantly. The team disembarked — and found themselves face-to-face with a huffing and puffing rhino, head high and tail aloft! Of course, a fence separated all parties, but that didn’t stop Apollo from putting on his most impressive show.

Apollo is a funny study in contrast. On one hand, you would be hard-pressed to find a more formidable rhino — he is a truly perfect specimen. He seems to be aware of the weight he carries and wields it mischievously, doing his very best to put visitors ill at ease. On the other hand, he is a complete baby. He needs to have his Keepers within earshot and, should something upset or scare him, runs directly to them with a chorus of squeaks.

Apollo is at Rhino Base, in Tsavo East National Park.