Ithumbah leading
Daily updates
February 1st
Led by Ithumbah, the orphans filed out in the morning, settling down to browse at the Kanziku area. Only Kilaguni and Chaimu took a mudbath at noon, while the others sheltered under shade, and scratched themselves against trees. The orphans browsed along the slopes of Ithumba hill until it was time to return in the evening.
Kilaguni having a mudbath
February 3rd
Before heading out today, Kilaguni and Sabachi (the only two boys in the group) enjoyed a Pushing Match. Later the Juniors settled down to browse at the Kone area. At the mudwallow, Napasha, Chyulu and Makena showed up, and all enjoyed a wonderful mudbath together, after which the Senior group headed West, leaving the Juniors to return to the Kanziku area for the remainder of the afternoon.
Sabachi and Kilaguni
Makena browsing
February 5th
The Keepers steered the Juniors eastwards today to browse along a riverbed where there is plenty of pasture. Kilaguni enjoyed rolling on the ground which attracted Sabachi who joined him. Melia led the Juniors to the mudbath venue today, but only Kilaguni and Ithumbah went into the mud, while the others took a rest under shade.
Kilaguni and Ithumbah in the mudbath
Melia relaxing under thickets
February 7th
Suguta, who has established herself as the Junior Matriarch, led the orphans out to browse. Sabachi, Kilaguni and Chaimu initiated a fun charging game, trumpeting and gamboling in the thickets. The day turned hot, so the orphans headed for the mudbath earlier than usual, encountering a flock of guinea fowl on the way, scattering them. All enjoyed the mudbath and later returned to browse for the rest of the day.
Suguta scratching
Field mudbath
February 10th
The Juniors headed out in the morning in a joyful mood, swinging their trunks and deliberately bumping into one another. Once in the field Sabachi and Kilaguni engaged one another in the usual Pushing Match, but Suguta intervened, hoping to take on one of them, but neither of the boys would oblige. All attended the mudbath as usual, and having browsed during the afternoon, headed back to the Stockades.
Sabachi browsing
Orphans in the field
February 11th
On a cloudy morning, the orphans hurried out, led by Tumaren and settled in to browse the Kone area. At l0 a.m. the Juniors were joined by Yatta, Mulika, Kinna, Nasalot, Selengai, Orok, Taita and Buchuma, Nasalot as usual focusing on her favourite, Kilaguni, while Selengai chose Ithumbah. An hour later the Senior Ex Orphans separated, leaving the Juniors with the Keepers, who took them to the milk and mudbath venue.
Tumaren having a drink of water
Orok browsing
February 14th
Another extremely hot day which saw the Juniors feeding under shade and continually flapping their ears. At 11 a.m. Suguta led her group to the mudbath, but only Kilaguni, Ithumbah and Chaimu went into the mud, the rest spectators standing under shade.
Suguta and Ithumbah playing
Kilaguni and Ithumbah in the water
February 15th
Ithumbah led the Juniors out today, all swinging their trunks happily and thereafter browsed quietly. Being the only two boys, Kilaguni and Sabachi are limited in their challenges, because the girls don’t like such rough games that are vexatious to the spirit!
Ithumbah leads the way
Kilaguni
February 16th
Melia led the group out today to browse up until 11 a.m. when it was time for the mudbath journey. Suguta rumbled, rounding up her colleagues, and followed by Melia, Tumaren, Chaimu, Kilaguni, Sabachi and Ithumbah, shepherded them to the mudbath. After the mudbath the orphans browsed close by for a time, Kilaguni and Sabachi enjoying a pushing game as Ithumbah watched like a referee!
Melia
Sabachi, Chaimu, Tumaren, Suguta & Melia
February 18th
There was soft rain during the night, so the orphans woke up to a chilly morning, which they thoroughly enjoyed, dusting themselves with the damp soil. None of them took a mudbath at the usual venue, but did so when they came across a large puddle on their way back in the evening. Kilaguni and Sabachi were able to enjoy a lengthy Pushing Match in the evening without the intervention of any of the girls!
Roadside mudbath
February 20th
It was another hot day as the orphans headed out to birdsong in the morning. Chaimu was first in the mudbath at noon, soon joined by all the others. At one point she got bogged, so Kilaguni helped to push her up until she could get onto her back legs, illustrating how elephants help one another.
Ithumbah scratching against a tree
February 22nd
The Juniors left the Stockades in single file on another hot day. At 8 a.m. Mgeni, his wild male friend, Yatta, Mulika, Nasalot, Kinna, Taita, Orok, Selengai, Buchuma, Naserian, Kora, Lualeni, Zurura, Kenze and Kamboyo came to the Stockades for a drink and then left again. Meanwhile at the Juniors’ mudbath only Chaimu, Kilaguni and Ithumbah went into the mud while the rest stood under shade flapping their ears.
Kora having a drink
Kamboyo and Kenze
February 23rd
Soon after the Juniors left the Stockades, Ithumbah and Chaimu scratched their bodies against nearby rocks while Kilaguni did the same at the Unloading Bay, the rest browsing nearby. Later Chaimu led the group to the Kone area to browse. The day was not quite so hot, but cloudy which suited the Juniors. In the evening Meibai, Loijuk, Wendi, Chyulu, Galana, Madiba, Naserian, Tomboi, Challa and Rapsu showed up at the Stockade for a drink from the water trough and then headed in a westerly direction.
Loijuk
Challa at the stockades
February 24th
The orphans headed out to feed on vegetation that is turning dry now. Having taken milk at noon, Ithumbah was first in the mud, while Melia, Sabachi, Suguta, Tumaren and Kilaguni took water from the trough. Only Chaimu joined Ithumbah in the mudwallow.
Ithumbah, Tumaren & Melia
February 25th
Led by Ithumbah, the Juniors headed west to the Kalovota river bed where the vegetation is still soft. At the mudbath Kilaguni and Sabachi engaged one another in a Pushing Game, but Suguta intervened to push Kilaguni away. In the afternoon the orphans came upon some stagnant ground water, so they all cooled off before returning back home.
Enjoying a mudbath