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Chaimu, Kilaguni, Makireti, Kilabasi, Kasigau, Turkwel and Kainuk joined the juniors for lucerne in the morning. Kainuk and Turkwel who usually belong in Mutara’s group appear to have separated somewhere or they didn't want to wonder as far and so decided to stick close to the stockade area in Chaimu’s group. Orwa had a brief chat with Kilabasi as Boromoko shared food with Barsilinga. The orphans passed at the water trough to arm themselves with enough water that would take them through the entire morning. Makireti and her group parted ways with juniors leaving Turkwel and Kainuk with the orphans. Out in the bush Siangiki came across a suitable tree that she used to scratch her belly on while Boromoko and Olsekki spent some time in a strength testing exercise that saw Olsekki emerge as the winner. The temperature was moderate and the orphans took advantage of the cool weather to concentrate on browsing. At mud bath time, the orphans were joined by a lone bull that shared water with them. Only Shukuru, Bongo, Narok and Teleki participated fully in the mud bathing exercise. Shortly later, the orphans participated in a red soil dusting exercise before returning back to the browsing field. Kainuk and Turkwel, who have maintained their friendship even into the wild, participated in a game of rolling on the ground, with Turkwel opting to scratch on Kainuk. In the afternoon the orphans settled to browse at western side of the Ithumba Hill. The clouds cleared giving way to sun shine and this prompted the orphans to pass by the mud bath for an evening wallow. The Ex Orphans reported at the stockade in the evening. Noticeable were Yatta, Mulika, Wendi, Galana and babies Gawa and Wiva and five wild elephants. Olare and her group were last seen at the beginning of November last year; this group is known to disappear for long periods of time though. Since the dry season is now upon us, hopefully the group might show up for water.

Half an hour after the orphans left the stockade, Olare and her group checked in. The group had been away for long and where happy to be back. They shared lucerne with the juniors. Orwa was happy to have friends that he could play with and teamed up with Murka, Chemi Chemi, Naisula, Kitirua and Kibo as they walked to the water trough for water. Shortly later, the orphans left for browsing, leaving Olare and her group still at the stockade compound. At the browsing field, Sirimon came across a suitable tree stump that was of the right size to scratch his neck. He was later pushed away by Barsilinga who wanted to use the tree stump to scratch his chin. After mud bath, the orphans settled to browse at Kone area. Naseku settled to browse with Siangiki while Kithaka teamed up with Barsilinga.

It was a windy morning when the orphans left the stockade and settled for lucerne. Olsekki and Siangiki scratched on their favourable rock while Orwa tried to confiscate a piece of lucerne from Boromoko but Boromoko would not allow it. Boromoko took the piece and ran away from Orwa. Out in the bush Kauro and Olsekki joined Bomani in soil dusting exercise while Orwa tried to invite Kithaka into a similar soil dusting exercise. Kithaka turned down Orwa’s invitation by walking away. Garzi, who was just feeding a few metres away, decided to step forward and briefly engaged Orwa in a strength testing exercise. At mud bath time, the orphans were joined by Tomboi and wild bull. Tomboi walked to the water trough with some of the orphans while Siangiki joined the wild bull in splashing water down at the water pan. Shortly later, Tomboi and the wild bull left while the orphans settled to browse on the western side of the Ithumba Hill. In the afternoon, the clouds cleared giving way to sun shine and this prompted the orphans to pass by the mud bath in the evening on their way back to the stockade. The orphans fully participated in the wallowing exercise and later did some soil dusting. Later in the evening, Mutara and her team of six reported for water at the stockade water trough. Shortly later, the team was joined by Rapsu as well.

Mutara and her group spent the night just outside the stockade and joined the orphans in the morning. Later, Tomboi and Rapsu arrived. After feeding on lucerne, Mutara led the group to the water trough where they drank some water before heading to browse. Out in the bush, Barsilinga tried to engage Bongo into a pushing game but unfortunately slipped and fell giving Bongo an easy win. Shortly before mud bath time, Barsilinga engaged Garzi in a strength testing exercise that ended in a draw. At mud bath time, the weather was windy and none of the orphans dared to step into the mud bathing water. In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse on the west of the Ithumba Hill. Lemoyian played with Garzi while Kithaka played with Barsilinga. Orwa engaged Bongo in a strength testing exercise while Sirimon engaged Boromoko in a pushing game. Later in the day, the sky cleared giving way to sun shine. This prompted the orphans to seek refuge under the trees to hide from the scorching sun. Later, they passed by mud bath for a cool off and soil dusting.

It was a lovely and quiet morning with elephants making their way to the lucerne area and meeting Wendi’s group; they interacted as they shared lucerne. Galana and her baby Gawa were busy feasting on lucerne while Wiva was with Kinna. Gawa was very active and playing with the keepers when they were trying to take her photo. Yatta and the rest of the Ex Orphans were busy eating lucerne as well. They all interacted before the orphans left to the bush. Despite the windy weather in the morning all the orphans were very active. Shukuru was very active too and busy browsing. Kauro was browsing next to Olsekki and communicating with him too. The group later walked on heading to the mudbath for their lunch time milk bottles. The weather was still cold at mud bath time and no one played in the mud hole, only a few of them drank water and left back to the bush. Orwa was trying to climb on the young ones as they played but they resisted. The group walked back to the bush for browsing. Orwa tried to steal some of the young ones and walk with them back in the stockade. They thought that they might be given more milk in the stockade with Orwa escorting them. It was Naseku, Roi, Tusuja, Oltayoni, Boromoko and Bomani who followed Orwa. They were taken back to their junior friends by the keepers though and they continued with their browsing. It became very hot in the afternoon with every one flapping his or her ears repeatedly as they browsed. They later walked back to the mudbath in the evening to cool their body temperature. They all played vigorously and walked out later after a wild bull walked in to play in the mud hole too. They all came out leaving the wild bull behind. They walked straight home in the evening to get their evening share of milk bottles in the stockade.

It was a quiet and peaceful morning today as the orphans came out of their stockades to the lucerne field and started interacting with the Ex Orphans and wild elephants that were there. Wendi, Galana and Yatta and their babies were in the group, Gawa was playing peacefully with the keepers nearby. She was much very active and joyful, running around here and there. She started playing with Boromoko as well. Garzi was play fighting with Kilabasi while Orwa was with Ishanga. Gawa was the most playful baby elephant of the day as she was trying to climb on Chyulu while Chyulu was playing and rolling on the ground. The junior orphans later walked to the bush for browsing. Most of the orphans were busy browsing but Olsekki took a break to scratch his bottom. It was very hot and dry and the orphans were struggling to get enough food to eat before mudbath time. At mud bath they did not play as vigorously in the mud as expected. They drank water and started walking back to the bush to browse. They all concentrated on filling their tummies and there were not many games that afternoon. Shukuru however was much more active and concentrated on browsing as well. They later walked back home in the evening for their milk. In the stockade we had also the same group as in the morning Wendi, Galana and Yatta with their babies and more wild bulls as well; they came for water and left back to the bush.

It was a quiet morning today with no other elephants joining the juniors for lucerne. Soon after the orphans had eaten, Shukuru led the way to the browsing field. Orwa and Barsilinga had a strength testing exercise that went on for some time which saw Barsilinga bow out in the end as Orwa was too strong for him. Their game attracted Lemoyian who dueled with Sokotei but their game ended in a draw. After losing the game to Orwa, Barsilinga tried his hand on Bongo but again ended up losing to Bongo. Oltaiyoni settled to feed with Kauro and at mud bath time all the orphans participated fully in the wallowing exercise. Enkikwe made the mistake of going into the mud the wrong way and nearly got stuck. He tried as much as he could and at last managed to pull himself out. Boromoko attempted to climb on Roi while she was still in water but was brought down by Narok. After mud bath, Narok lay down to play but she couldn't enjoy her game in peace when Lemoyian came over and tried to climb on her. Narok decided to quit the game and walked to have a soil dusting exercise instead, where she was joined by Garzi and Lemoyian. In the afternoon, the sun was hot and the orphans spent much of their time relaxing under trees. Browsing resumed only when they felt comfortable out in the open again.

The orphans were joined by Olare’s group and the wild orphans soon after leaving the stockades. Kibo had a strength testing exercise with Orwa as Boromoko settled for scratching. Olare and her group parted ways with the juniors as soon as they finished feeding on lucerne. Later Olare’s group joined the orphans in Kanziku area where Orwa challenged Kalama, Kibo and Chemi Chemi. The sun was so hot and this prompted Oltaiyoni to take a break from feeding and relax under a tree. At mud bath time, the orphans and Olare’s group were joined by three wild elephants. Bongo bathed close to one of wild elephants and imitated what the wild elephant was doing. After mud bath, the orphans had a brief soil dusting exercise before heading back for browsing. Later in the day the senior Ex Orphans showed up at the stockade for water. The two babies Wiva and Gawa were in playful mood and enjoyed every moment as they criss-crossed the stockade compound. Shortly before dark a wild herd consisting of seven members reported for water at the stockade. Noticeable was a young calf aged one year that was in the company of the wild herd. Soon after having enough water, the wild herd left back into the bush.

Olare and her group appear to be compensating for the long time that they had been away, as they were yet again at the stockade compound early before the orphans were let out. Soon when the orphans were let out, Olare and her group joined them for lucerne, something they had missed all that time they had been away. Soon after the herd finished feeding, Olare and her group left while the orphans headed to Kanziku area where they settled to browse. Kithaka and Lemoyian had a strength testing exercise that went on for quite some time before they resumed browsing. At mud bath, the orphans were joined by a lone wild bull that shared water and mud bathed peacefully with them. Vuria engaged Barsilinga in a pushing game that didn't last for very long. Orwa, who rarely bathes, participated fully in the wallowing exercise. Naseku rolled on the ground soon after mud bath while Barsilinga turned on Garzi and engaged him in a play fight. In the afternoon, the sun was still hot making the orphans want to relax under the trees and resume browsing only when the temperature dropped.

Fifteen wild bulls were drinking water at the stockade water trough when the orphans were let out in the morning. Shortly later, the Ex Orphans arrived and immediately joined the juniors in feeding on Lucerne. Gawa briefly played with Sities as Wiva tried to push Bomani. Kibo engaged Ololoo in a strength testing exercise while Kandecha played with Meibai. At the browsing field, Vuria engaged Kibo in a pushing game that he lost to shortly after. Orwa played with Kalama, a game that ended in a draw. Later, Orwa engaged Barsilinga in a pushing game that ended in a draw too. At mud bath time, the temperature was moderate and only Shukuru, Bongo and Siangiki performed a spectacular wallowing session. On the way back to the browsing field, the orphans participated in a soil dusting exercise as Garzi and Kithaka engaged in a pushing game that ended when Kithaka opted to surrender. In the afternoon, Boromoko settled to feed with Lemoyian while Naseku settled to feed with Sokotei. Kamok found a suitable rock that she used to scratch her belly on. Olsekki spent some time reminding himself of the good old days of playing around in the Nairobi nursery when he pulled a shrub and started kicking it in all directions. Kauro took a break from feeding to engage in a soil dusting exercise.

The Ex Orphans arrived early in time just as the orphans were being let out from the stockade. The herd settled for lucerne. Gawa was in a jovial mood and kept on teasing the orphans as she ran about the stockade compound. Gawa teased Shukuru, Tusuja, Narok and Olsekki. Gawa's playful mood ended when she encountered Barsilinga. Barsilinga didn't treat her as a baby but pushed her hard until she ran to her mum for safety. Orwa had a great moment with Ololoo as they settled for a friendly pushing game. Later, Wiva passed behind Orwa which seemed to annoy him and he threw a back kick which lucky enough didn't land on Wiva. Later, Orwa engaged Barsilinga in strength testing exercise that ended in a draw. Naseku settled to browse with Sirimon while Laragai settled to feed with Olsekki. At mud bath time, the orphans were joined by a lone wild bull that shared water with them peacefully, and later a mud bath before leaving. After mud bath, Shukuru went to a nearby tree that she used to scratch her buttocks on as the rest of her friends participated in a soil dusting exercise. In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse in the upper Kalovoto area. Shukuru and Sirimon took a break from feeding and relaxed under a tree for sometime before resuming browsing, and the same went to Olsekki and Siangiki.