The month began with Wendi drama. She may be living wild, but the 23-year-old rascal still knows how to bring a wave of chaos crashing down!
The morning in question started peacefully, as our dependent orphans had their milk bottles and then walked out to feed on lucerne. All of the sudden, Wendi the naughty girl appeared with her two babies, Wiva and Wimbi. Wema was not with her. She started her drama immediately, chasing the Keepers and causing a ruckus. Everything came to a standstill as the orphans watched her misbehave.
By contrast, the next day's morning visitor was much more welcome. Coming out of their respective stables, they found a friend, 11-year-old ex-orphan Tusuja, waiting for them. They were very happy to meet him and Roho started playing with him straight away. Vaarti began playing and mounting on Kitich, and Choka came in to join them. Roho was still peacefully playing with Tusuja while Bondeni was scratching on the rock.
Later that morning, on 2nd December, we had the most wonderful surprise. Matriarch Nasalot arrived with Ithumbah and her newborn baby girl in tow. This is Ithumbah's second-born, after Iman. The baby, who we named Iris, looked strong and active but shy. They were together with Nusu, Noah, Nala, Mundusi, Naleku, and Namalok.
Nasalot's family were regular visitors this month. Her baby girl, Nala, who was born in November, is doing very well. Naleku is now fully ensconced in her ex-orphan herd, helping out as a junior nanny. (Needless to say, Nasalot's rascal sons, Nusu and Noah, cannot be relied upon!) It's great to see our baby-obsessed Naleku so settled and happy in her new role.
7th December was a very special day in which we met a grandkid and a great-grandkid born to our Orphans’ Project. Early that morning, we awoke to find Kinna, Wendi, and Yatta’s groups outside the stockades. We soon realised that this was no ordinary visit: Yatta’s eldest, 13-year-old Yetu, was introducing us to her brand new baby girl! Yasmin, as we named her, is Yetu’s second-born and Yatta’s second grandchild.
Although Yetu has only ever known a wild life, she has always had a deep connection to the human family who raised her mother. She was as excited as any ex-orphan to introduce Yasmin to Benjamin and the other Keepers, proudly parading her around Ithumba.
The day’s celebrations weren’t over yet: Shortly before nine o'clock at night, when the orphans were all in their rooms, Suguta arrived at the stockade compound with her first-born, a baby boy. She was escorted by Larro, Sana Sana, and Naboishu. The small group decided to spend the night at the stockade compound for the safety of the new baby. We named Suguta’s son Sullivan.
The following morning, Suguta, Sullivan, Sana Sana, Larro, and Naboishu were at the stockade compound, where they had spent the night. The small group was joined by Ithumbah, Iman, Iris, Sunyei, Siku, Saba, Subiri, Wendi, Wiva, Wema, Wimbi, Karisa, and two wild boys. After the orphans had their six o'clock milk, Muwingu led the way out. Muwingu went straight to the water trough while Suguroi joined Ithumbah and Iman in looking after Iris. Shortly afterwards, Suguroi moved off to familiarise herself with Sullivan.
There is an interesting matriarch dynamic in Ithumba. After several older orphans left the dependent herd and went wild, Suguroi saw an opportunity and crowned herself mini matriarch. This was hardly surprising — the Keepers call Suguroi their resident Olympian, as she has never seen a competition that she didn't want to win.
However, it is slow-but-steady Kinyei who is Ithumba's actual mini matriarch. She is patient, measured, and wise. The herd looks to her for crucial leadership, while Suguroi gets to shepherd everyone from A to B.
The orphans try their best to put up an intimidating front — with mixed success! One morning, two buffaloes passed close to where the orphans were browsing. Lodo, Roho, Choka, Suguroi, and Mayan charged and trumpeted as they tried to scare the buffaloes away. The buffaloes were unbothered by the noise and continued with their business as if the elephants did not exist. The charging orphans soon tired and calmed down, resuming their browsing.
On the 14th of December, we met yet another grandbaby. This arrival was especially poignant, as her mother — Makena — had endured much hardship in her path to motherhood.
So, imagine our surprise and delight when Makena arrived at the stockades with a beautiful, brand new baby girl in tow. She was accompanied by Olare, Ola, Maramoja, Naseku, Sagateisa, Roi, Ndiwa, Gawa, Sunyei, Siku, Saba, and Subiri. It was a brief visit, clearly with the express purpose of introducing her new baby to her human family. Even in the short time they remained with us, however, we could tell that Makena was over the moon. She was extremely diligent, fussing over her daughter and proudly showing her off. We named her baby girl Merri.
Muwingu must always be watched! One afternoon, Muwingu, Choka, Shujaa, and Mukutan split from the main herd and browsed some distance away. The Keepers became suspicious, unsure of Muwingu's intentions in leading a small group away. They know her well — anything is possible when Muwingu is in charge, as she can easily lure a group and disappear within a very short time. The Keepers did not allow the split and brought the small group back to rejoin the rest of the herd.
It's funny to see how some orphans have a perennial bee in their bonnet, while others take a very leisurely approach to life. After having their milk one morning, Shujaa, Kinyei, Olorien, and Bondeni walked to a nearby water pan and splashed water behind their ears before returning to the browsing field. Midway back, the orphans picked up Lodo and Roho, who had lagged behind, seemingly knowing that by going to the mud bath they would only get water, which they could drink anywhere.
The last day of the year was quietly wonderful. Soon after leaving the stockade, Mukutan, Kitich, Choka, and Esoit walked down to the water trough as they waited for the distribution of lucerne. Kindani and Muwingu settled to scratch their bellies on a nearby rock, while Loldaiga engaged Mayan in a pushing game. After the orphans had enough of lucerne, Suguroi led the way to the browsing field. At eleven o'clock in the morning, Mageno led the way to the noon bottle feeds. The orphans had their milk and shortly afterwards participated in wallowing. After having enough of wallowing, Muwingu led the way back to the stockade.
We couldn't help but reflect upon all that happened in Ithumba over the course of the year: We met 13 newborn calves (or as we call them, grandkids) born to orphans rescued, raised, and rewilded through our Orphans' Project, along with a 'great-grandkid' born to Yetu. We also welcomed five new Nursery graduates into the Ithumba fold: Weka, Shujaa, Mageno, Kitich, and Muwingu.
We are ready for 2026!