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It is the beginning of another year. As dawn broke the sky was clear as the orphans came out of their stockades to begin their new day. The orphans walked to the tune of birdsong who were also expressing their joy at the morning light of a new year. Malkia and Sana Sana entwined their trunks in a happy new year greeting. 

Out in the bush, Sattao settled to browse with Esampu while Karisa teamed up with Malkia. The orphans settled to browse west of the stockade compound, and slowly marched in the direction of the mud bath. Malima enjoyed the company of naughty Wanjala, but later Wanjala, in true form, turned against her and pushed Malima away. Malima didn't try to plead or force herself to stay, as she knows Wanjala’s character and was just happy to have spent some time with him, but left immediately to team up with the soft and shy Sapalan instead. 

Shortly before mud bath time the orphans were joined by Ishanga. Ishanga showing up to meet up with the juniors was clear a indication that the ex-orphans are clearly in the area! Ishanga escorted the orphans to the mud bath and later left, most likely to link up with her ex-orphan friends again. 

In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse on the slopes of Ithumba Hill and later, on the way back to the stockades, they decided to have fun for a while, by playing along the edge of the road and the loose soil that settles there and is excellent for playing and dusting with. 

As the gates were opened for the orphans to come out, Malima decided to have a morning stretch exercise still inside her stockade. Ambo, who was passing by on his way out, decided to join Malima, not for a stretching exercise, but for a pushing game instead. Kauro and Mundusi entwined their trunks in morning greetings that later turned into a pushing game. The sky was clear thi morning and this was a clear indication of a hot day a head. The orphans settled to browse in Kone area. The orphans came across a water hole where they drank some water before having a bush mud, smearing themselves with red mud. 

Shortly before mud bath time, the orphans were joined by the senior ex-orphans and they all walked together to the mud bath. Mteto, Roi and Naseku decided to interact and socialize with little Yogi on the way, who cooperated with the girls and played with them for a while, before running back to his mother. Shortly later, the orphans parted ways with the ex-orphans. 

In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse west of Ithumba Hill. The sun was bearing down and this prompted Enkikwe, Mundusi, Mapia, Kauro, Rapa and Kuishi to go for a mud bath along the roadside to cool off. In the evening, the orphans returned safely to the stockade compound. 

Mist covered the peak of Ithumba Hill this morning when the orphans were let out. Jotto settled to scratch along the terrace wall in the compound as Karisa led the way out to browse. Malima teamed up with Nabulu and had girl to girl talk as they browsed. Musiara, who has found a new friend in Malkia, decided to spend time with her before moving to browse with Maramoja. 

The morning was a quiet one as the orphans browsed calmly in Kone area. On the way to the mud bath, the orphans came across a water hole and had fun in it. Shortly later, ex-orphans Mulika, Mwende, Mkuu, Kinna, Kama, Kaia, Olare, Challa, Zurura, Nasalot, Nusu and Noah joined the dependent orphans at the small water hole. Nabulu decided to spend some time with Noah in the water. Mteto and Sana Sana played with little Kaia who wasn’t comfortable with the two slightly exuberant girls. Shortly later, the ex-orphans left. Zurura and Challa lagged behind and had fun in the water for a little longer.

In the afternoon the orphans settled to browse west of Ithumba Hill and had a quiet afternoon. In the evening, Nabulu led the first group back to the stockades for the night.

The dependent orphans left the stockades early as usual but it was a big day for the them today, as this was the day the three new babies were expected to arrive from the Nairobi Nursery in the early hours of the morning. For this reason the orphans stayed close by to welcome them. Maramoja, Nabulu, Sattao and Musiara were the first ones to meet Larro Mukkoka and Naboishu, for of course they would remember Nabulu well from the Nursery! There was much excitement as all the orphans arrived and surrounded the new babies. Malkia, Nabulu, Ndiwa, Roi, Maramoja, Malima and Sana Sana competed who among them would win the hearts of Mukkoka, Larro and Naboishu. The seven girls kept wooing the babies for the entire day! At mud bath time, Larro, Mukkoka and Naboishu had their first mud bath at Ithumba which they thoroughly enjoyed, particularly Larro! The three new babies enjoyed wallowing to the fullest! 

In the afternoon, Rapa started bullying Naboishu and Mukkoka a bit, but was stopped by the Keepers. Jotto and Pare tried to familiarise with the new babies but were blocked by Oltaiyoni and Roi. The wooing competition was also too much for Maramoja. She decided to quit the race and went back to her beloved Musiara. Mukkoka, Larro and Naboishu have arrived at Ithumba at the right time, when there is more than enough vegetation around due to the good rains we eventually received towards the end of last year. Mukkoka and Larro appear completely at ease and comfortable with their new environment; Naboishu seems a little confused at the moment but we know it will only be a matter of time and he will soon get used to his new environment. Malkia and Nabulu made sure that the three new babies felt at home.

In the evening, the new arrivals were handed over to Nabulu and Musiara to escort them back to the stockades. Naboishu, Larro and Mukkoka appears to be fast learners, and understood exactly what the Keepers meant by allowing them to follow Nabulu. They seemed to know this meant home-time! After arriving at the stockades, the three new babies copied exactly what Nabulu was doing. Nabulu lined up along the stockade fence for her milk and so the new babies did exactly the same, and after they were through, they followed Nabulu to feed on the lucerne pellets and green branches placed inside the stockade for them. Yatta and her team passed by the stockade compound late in the evening as they headed east.

The orphans awoke from their slumber this morning to the sound of their milk being prepared for them. They had their bottles and then walked out to have some lucerne pellets. The three new babies, Mukkoka, Larro and Naboishu are really enjoying life here at Ithumba. They have friends to guide and protect them, especially Malkia, Maramoja and Nabulu who have taken on this role with gusto. The orphans weren’t really interested in their pellets this morning but were eager to walk straight out to feed on the fresh green grass and leaves. Mukkoka and Larro were browsing together with Ndiwa. Siangiki was busy rolling and playing on the ground and it wasn’t long before Naseku went to join her. Mapia decided to keep Larro and Naboishu company and browsed together with them. Jotto and Malima seemed to be having their own private conversation. Mundusi and Siangiki had a playfight for a short while. A small group of orphans including Kuishi, Ambo and Mteto found a puddle which they started playing in. Later this group linked up with their other friends and they all walked to the mud bath area for their noon milk feed. Some of the orphans decided to go for a swim but others didn’t, namely the ones that had just enjoyed a bush mud bath!

It’s still very green and lush everywhere at the moment and the orphans are really enjoying their days of browsing with ease. Larro was seen busy browsing alone and later Naboishu and Mukkoka came to join her. They started patting each other with their trunks. Sapalan and Mundusi were busy playfighting in the bush and later the whole herd walked back home in the evening for their milk. As usual, Siangiki, Olsekki, Naseku, Roi and Oltaiyoni were left behind, to come back of their own accord. Tusuja and Barsilinga haven’t been seen since they joined a herd of ex -orphans two weeks ago and we assume they are doing well in their company. 

Naboishu, Larro and Mukkoka settled for scratching along the stockade wall when they were let out this morning. After they were through with the scratching exercise, the three new orphans joined their friends to feed on lucerne. Karisa, who enjoys the role of leading his friends out in the morning, led the way today towards the west. Sana Sana, Nabulu, Malima, Mteto and Malkia seemed to disagree with the direction Karisa took however, and the five girls changed direction towards the southeast, rumbling to signal to whoever was interested to follow them instead. Mukkoka, Larro and Naboishu turned and followed the girls. Later, the rest of the group followed too. Mundusi and Galla took sometime time off from browsing to engage in a strength testing exercise. Mundusi couldn't withstand the strength of Galla however and when the going got too tough for him, Mundusi surrendered and walked away. 

The orphans had a quiet morning and at eleven o'clock in the morning, went to the mud bath for their milk. They had a soil dust bath and a drink of water before resuming browsing without mud bathing today. They settled to browse in the Kanziku area. Karisa teamed up with the late-night gang and left. The temperature was moderate and the orphans enjoyed every moment browsing until the evening, when Larro led the first group back to the stockades for the night. Karisa and his team returned back later at nine o'clock. 

Soon after arriving out in the bush, the orphans were joined by Mutara, Sugata, Sities, Turkwel, Kainuk, Lemoyian and Kibo. Mist was everywhere and it almost looked as if it was snowing. Suguta and Turkwel tried to sweet talk Dololo again after abandoning him for so long, but Dololo would hear none of it. Mutara and her group left about an hour or so later. 

Ambo, the only baby that Kamok really loves, rumbled and Kamok, who was quite far away, ran to respond to Ambo's call. Kamok found that Ambo had started a game of rolling on the ground and she stayed to watch over him in case any of the other boys decided to come and bully him while he was playing. After Ambo had enough of rolling and playing, Kamok took him and they walked together while browsing. Jotto engaged Sana Sana in a pushing game while Pare found a suitable tree that he scratched his belly on. Later, Kuishi, Malkia and Malima had a game of rolling on the ground too. 

It was quite chilly when the orphans went to the mud bath for their bottle, and they decided to only dip their feet in the waterhole after their feed. Enkikwe totally to get into the water at first, but later decided to do what the others were doing and washed his feet too. 

In the afternoon, Mutara and her herd joined the orphans again west of Ithumba Hill. When it was time to return to the stockades, Enkikwe, Karisa, Mteto, Sapalan and Rapa disappeared and were no where to be seen. The five orphans reported back later in the evening shortly before 7pm in the company of the late-night gang. 

Ex-orphan Kibo joined the orphans for lucerne in the morning. Its not clear where he had left Mutara and the others who he had been with yesterday. An hour later, Mutara, Turkwel, Suguta, Sities, Kainuk and Lemoyian joined the orphans in the Kone area. Turkwel and Suguta went up to Dololo as they apparently continue to beg for his forgiveness, promising not to leave him again soon. Dololo appeared to soften a bit and stopped playing so hard to get, as he was then seen following the two girls. 

Malima, Kuishi and Esampu took a break from browsing and decided to have a game of rolling on the ground. A wild bull in the company of Nasalot, Nusu, Noah, Ithumba and Naisula passed by close to where the orphans were feeding. Ndiwa and Mteto ran to catch up with Noah, and the Keepers had a hard time trying to get the two girls to go to the mud bath just before noon, as they wanted to stay with Noah. Suguta and Turkwel escorted Dololo for his milk bottle and later they all had a soil dusting exercise together. 

In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse west of Ithumba Hill. Jotto engaged Sana Sana in a pushing game while Lemoyian played with Rapa. Dololo settled to browse with Turkwel while Wanjala settled to browse with Mteto. In the evening, the late-night gang lagged behind with Enkikwe, Galla, Wanjala, Mteto and Rapa, and showed up at the stockades an hour after the others had already gone inside for the night. A wild herd with two small babies checked in briefly at the stockade compound and left immediately after taking water.