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It was wet in the morning following light rain received overnight. The orphans left the stockade early as usual and headed to the browsing field to begin another new day in a new year. Mundusi welcomed the year in style by engaging Jotto in a strength testing exercise that was disrupted by Tusuja. Tusuja wanted to be the one playing with Mundusi but Mundusi refused, informing him that he was not the one chosen for this game. Tusuja quit and let the two boys have their pushing game in peace. 

Tusuja then walked to join Ukame, Esampu, Kuishi and Mteto in a game of rolling on the wet soil. Barsilinga and Siangiki had a light pushing game as they discussed their own topics. 

At mud bath time the temperature was only mild and not too hot, so the orphans decided to only have their milk bottles and some water without wallowing, before going back to browsing. 

In the afternoon, Mundusi and Pare had a game of rolling on the ground. Galla, who was feeding close by, took advantage of Mundusi lying down to climb on him, as Kamok and Olsekki engaged in their usual pushing game that lasted for quite some time. 

It was a misty morning when the orphans left the stockades today. Ambo headed straight to the water trough where he settled for water. Siangiki joined him to find out how his night had been. After making sure that all was good for Ambo, Siangiki left to attend to other issues. 

Out in the bush, Ukame enjoyed peeling bark from a tree while Kamok enjoyed plucking leaves from the highest tree branches she came across. Esampu decided to scratch her buttocks on some rocks she found. Mapia and Rapa engaged each other in a pushing game in order to find out who was stronger than the other. At the end none emerged as the winner and they grew tired and quit the pushing game. Roi decided to take a break from feeding and relaxed on the ground but couldn't relax in peace as Oltaiyoni came and enjoyed scratching on Roi. Roi decided to give up trying to relax and perhaps try again later in the evening back at the stockade. 

At mud bath time the orphans had their milk bottles and decided to wallow in the mud bath. After the orphans had enough of wallowing, they settled to browse a few meters from the water. A wild bull in musth emerged from the bushes and approached the orphans. There was excitement, trumpeting and bellowing from the orphans as they moved and surrounded the wild bull. The wild bull checked around but couldn't find any female in season and so he disappeared the same way he had come. The rest of the afternoon was quiet as the orphans concentrated more on browsing without any major distractions. 

Tusuja, who left with the ex-orphans yesterday, was at the stockade compound early in the morning in the company of Bomani. Bomani, who seems to have severed links with Orwa and at one time was seen with Kasugai, may be talking to Tusuja so that together they can form their own boys club. It’s only a matter of time to know what the two boys are planning. 

Soon, when the orphans left the stockades, Barsilinga had a strength testing exercise with Bomani and later this turned into a lengthy conversation. Perhaps Bomani wanted to find out why it is taking so long for Barsilinga to rejoin them in the wild again and he wants to encourage him to join him and Tusuja. We will have to wait and see what Barsilinga decides.

Out in the bush, Mundusi decided to challenge Namalok but ended up losing the challenge to Namalok. At mud bath time it was overcast and chilly and the orphans only had their milk and some water before going back to browsing. Olsekki, Tusuja and Mundusi joined a wild bull that had shown up at mud bath to drink water. The wild bull left immediately after taking enough water, while the three boys left to join their friends. 

Sana Sana decided to teach Sattao some pushing skills by engaging him in a pushing game, while Esampu decided to keep herself busy by climbing on top of a soil heap to relax on it. 

In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse west of Ithumba Hill. In the evening, Tusuja refused to get into the stockade with his friends but followed Bomani out for another night out. Shortly before dark, Wendi and Wema accompanied by several wild elephant bulls checked in at the stockade compound and left immediately after taking water. 

The orphans left the stockade compound early as usual and headed towards Kone dam where they settled to browse. The orphans were joined here by Orwa and Bomani again. Shortly later, Bomani engaged Olsekki in a strength testing exercise that attracted the other boys. Mapia settled to play with Rapa while Karisa played with Pare. Gentle Jotto played with Musiara as Esampu decided to play with Sattao. 

Shortly before mud bath time the ex-orphans passed close by and Tusuja, still undecided, jumped onto the ex-orphan wagon and left with them. 

On the way to the mud bath, Sattao managed to persuade Bomani to take him through some pushing lessons that he could happily apply when playing with his fellow boys. After mud bath time, the orphans headed south of the waterhole and had a quiet afternoon. 

In the evening when the orphans returned back to the stockade compound, Namalok surprised everyone when he decided to walk straight past his stockade, following Bomani and Orwa. When the Keepers tried to call him to come back, Namalok increased his pace and even overtook Orwa and Bomani as if he knew where he was going. One would have thought that he was being called up ahead since he didn't even want to look back. He seems to want to try to be independent like his friend Tusuja, and it will be his first night outside the stockade compound in the company of Orwa and Bomani. 

The sky was partly covered by clouds when the orphans left in the morning. The orphans were joined by Orwa and Bomani and settled to browse in the Kone area. A group of ex-orphans passed by and Tusuja, who is still confused which side he should be on, joined them and left, only to appear later in the evening at the stockades to join his friends. 

At mud bath time the orphans were joined by ex-orphans Sidai, baby Sita, Nasalot, baby Nusu, Ishanga, Teleki and a wild elephant. Mteto, Maramoja and Mundusi tried to persuade Sita to play with them but she totally refused and stayed close to her mother. Mundusi left to play with Nusu who was ready for a pushing game. Esampu had fun rolling on the heap of red soil at the mud bath. Later, the ex-orphans parted ways with orphans and the dependent orphans chose to browse along the slopes of Ithumba Hill. 

In the evening on the way back to the stockades, Rapa and Kauro dodged the Keepers as they didn't want to return home early. The two boys returned back to the stockades about an hour after their friends.

The bulls were in a playful mood this morning. Jotto engaged Karisa in a pushing game in what appeared to be settling old differences. Mapia settled to play with Mundusi, a game that later ended in a draw. Later Kamok led the girls Malima and Esampu in some scratching exercises that were done on nearby rocks as Jotto moved to play with Pare. Their game ended when Pare attempted to ride on Jotto in an attempt to show off his dominance over Jotto. 

A troop of chattering baboons passed close by which at first scared the orphans. Kuishi, Sattao and Mteto ran towards the Keepers for safety, before gaining courage to turn and charge at the baboons. The orphans settled to browse in the Kone area close to the Kone dam where they were joined by Bomani who started his day by engaging Olsekki in a pushing game. 

The temperature was moderate but none of the orphans participated in wallowing.  

In the afternoon the orphans settled to browse along the lower Kalovoto River where some orphans took advantage of messing around with their Keepers. Siangiki, Olsekki, Oltaiyoni, Tusuja, Rapa, Mteto, Esampu, Enkikwe, Naseku, Wanjala, Galla and Kauro sneaked away quietly, leaving the rest of group browsing close to the Keepers. The small group knew very well that with most of their friends browsing close to their Keepers, this gave them the cover and advantage they needed to escape without raising any suspicion. The surprise came to the Keepers when it was time to round everyone up to return back to the stockades for the night. They found several orphans were missing, including Esampu who had never dodged the Keepers before! For the rest it is quite normal now and at one time or other they have managed to sneak away from the Keepers. One of the notorious ones who never misses out on sneaking away, given the opportunity, is Rapa, and it remains to be established whether he is the mastermind of these games or it so happens that he is just always a member to the discussions of when to give the Keepers a hard time. It wasn't until a few minutes to nine at night when Enkikwe arrived with the first group of Esampu and Mteto. Later at nine, the remainder led by Naseku arrived safely and were ushered in their stockade for the night.