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The sky was clear today and it appeared we would have a break from the rain. Esampu led the way out and settled for pellets. Rapa and Mteto settled to share one pile without any trouble. Shortly later, Turkwel led the way out. The orphans came across some water collected on a rock and had a drink before carrying on with their browsing. Sapalan got into trouble with his playmate Namalok when he tried blocking him from getting the water. Namalok fought back until they reached some sort of understanding and Sapalan stepped back to allow his playmate to have some water. 

At mud bath time, the sun was shining and the orphans really enjoyed swimming in the main water hole. Mundusi and Garzi were the last one to finish wallowing. Roi held a brief chat with Wanjala before walking off to browse. In the afternoon, the orphans settled west of Ithumba Hill. Roi teamed up with her friend Galla to wallow in a muddy puddle, while Garzi had his own wallow close by. The rest of the day was quiet as the orphans concentrated on browsing. 

Rain arrived early before dawn and continued to pour even after day break. The orphans had their morning milk and left the stockades while it was still raining, but they settled to browse just a few metres from the stockade compound. Esampu settled to browse close to Karisa and attempted to get some grass from Karisa's mouth. Karisa wasn’t happy and informed Esampu although he had been sick for a while, it didn’t mean that anyone could take advantage of his situation. He pushed Esampu away just to let her know that he was not too weak not to defend his food! Esampu moved off quickly. Shortly later, Ambo, Wanjala, Siangiki, Naseku, Mundusi, Roi, Sana Sana, Kamok, Namalok, Enkikwe, Rapa, Lemoyian and Jotto took a break from feeding to play in the mud. After they had enough of playing, they resumed browsing. Mundusi engaged Roi in a pushing game while Sapalan played with Namalok. At mud bath time it was drizzling still and the orphans had their milk then went straight back to browsing without needing to swim. Ambo and Malima came across some water that had collected on a rock and shared it before continuing to browse together. 

As they waited for their morning milk, Ambo and Sana Sana decided to keep themselves busy by having a light pushing game. Soon after they had their milk, Kuishi led the way out. Kuishi settled to browse with Kamok while Sapalan teamed up with Mundusi. Ambo remained behind to keep Olsekki company as he has a stiff leg which is making him walk slowly. Esampu came across a nice rock that she used to scratch herself on. Later Ambo and Turkwel enjoyed rolling on the ground, a game that also attracted Sana Sana, Naseku, Ukame, Wanjala, Ndiwa and Esampu. 

At mud bath time, the sun was hot and the orphans participated fully in the wallowing exercise. Tusuja and Mundusi were the last ones to leave the mud bath and they all headed north where they settled for the afternoon. In the evening Mundusi challenged Sapalan but there was no way he would let this little boy put him to shame in front of his friends and he fought very hard, eventually driving Mundusi away.

Wanjala and Kauro started their day activities inside the stockade by having a pushing game as they waited for their morning milk. It was still wet in the morning as the orphans left the stockade. Water flowing down the hillside has become a common sight at Ithumba following all the rains we have received at Ithumba recently. 

Out in the bush Esampu and Mteto came across some nice rocks that they scratched on. Kauro settled for soil dusting while Rapa had a brief strength testing exercise with Wanjala. Later Wanjala tackled Mundusi, which he loved as he loves wrestling games so much! The ex-orphans in Yatta’s herd passed by without stopping, as they headed west. At mud bath time, the sun was hot and only Karisa wallowed in the Kone dam. The rest of the afternoon was quiet as the orphans concentrated on browsing. 

Nasalot, Nusu, Loijuk, Lili, Ishanga, Makireti and Kilabasi were our guests of honour in the morning. We noticed and were sad to find that the tip of Ishanga's trunk was missing, which was likely due to it being caught in a snare. Luckily it had healed okay just leaving her with a scar which she will have for rest of her life; another scar at the hand of humans. It was drizzling and the ex-orphans waited for the orphans to be let out so they could go out together. Enkikwe, Roi, Ukame, Naseku and Wanjala had a game of rolling on the ground before going out into the Park.

Malkia held a brief talk with Makireti as the rascal Nusu kept tussling with the orphans. Esampu and Mteto had a brief interaction with Lili as Nusu ran to his mum to learn how to strip bark from trees. Garzi enjoyed a pushing game with Makireti as Loijuk had fun with her baby Lili, rolling on the ground. At mud bath time, the orphans had a spectacular wallowing session before heading back out to browse. The afternoon was quiet as the orphans and ex-orphans concentrated on browsing. 

Soon after the orphans had their morning milk, Wanjala and Namalok led the way out. While they were browsing the dependent orphans were joined by Nasalot’s group. The rascal baby Nusu went for Mundusi and had a pushing game for quite some time, which was not surprising. Esampu took some time to be with Lili who was with one of the nannies Makireti. Later Roi took over from Esampu and was with Lili for quite some time. Meanwhile, Esampu decided to take a break and have her own game of rolling on the ground. After their midday milk bottles, the ex-orphans parted ways with the dependent orphans and Turkwel went with them. The orphans had a cooling off exercise at Kone dam before resuming browsing. Oltaiyoni and Mteto took a break from feeding to have fun rolling on the ground. By evening, Nasalot and her group had not brought back Turkwel who had decided to join them in the afternoon.