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This morning the dependent orphans were greeted by ex-orphans Lualeni, Loijuk and Sidai with their babies Lulu and Lexi, Lili and Sita. They had just come to the compound to pay a visit and didn’t stay long before heading on their way. We were happy to see them as it has been some time! The orphans had their lucerne pellet supplemental food and then walked out to the bush to begin their day.

Pare started playing with Sana Sana. Sattao was doing some early morning exercise as he rolled about on the ground. Lualeni’s herd showed up out of the bush again and the orphans were delighted to be able to socialize with the wild born babies for a while. Lexi was happily running about here and there. We spotted Dololo browsing on his own, quite content, and nearby Mundusi started a pushing game with Ambo, and Jotto with Mapia.

At the mud bath today, the orphans were very active after having their milk feed. The whole herd got into the mud bath to wallow. Rambunctious Roho started testing his strength against Naboishu while in the water, which escalated into him trying to climb on his back. Pare and Musiara were also wrestling in the water. Eventually Esampu led the herd out of the water and over to the pile of loose soil to dry off. After rolling in the soil, Roho decided to continue his play fight with Naboishu. We saw the hippo once again at the mud bath today as well! We couldn’t believe how far he must have walked to get to the mud bath, maybe even all the way from Athi River!

Back out in the bush Larro continued to show some affection for little Roho and they two could be spotted patting and lovingly embracing one another.

It was a quiet morning as the orphans came out to begin their day. They had their milk bottles as usual, and just as she was finishing, Neshashi decided to turn and run out to the bush to start browsing on the green vegetation, before any of the others were ready. She doesn’t like the lucerne pellets very much and much prefers the shrubs and greenery.

As the dependent orphans browsed this morning, Wendi’s ex-orphan herd appeared and decided to join them for a bit. Loijuk, Galana, Naserian, Sidai and their babies were all with her. Mteto, Malkia and Esampu were so excited to have the wild babies around for a bit and after playing with them, all the girls started to follow the herd as they walked away. Mteto and Malkia came back to their friends, but Esampu continued with the ex-orphans. With Wendi present, the Keepers were apprehensive and didn’t want to get too close to her herd, as Wendi can be unpredictable at times! We know Esampu will be safe in amongst all the ex-orphan mothers and various nannies though, and Wendi wouldn’t mistreat her.

Later on at the mud bath the orphans had their milk and decided to jump into the waterhole to swim and play. Mapia started playing by climbing on Naboishu while Musiara did the same to Larro, before moving on to Malkia. Ndiwa and Jotto decided to take their wrestling game outside the mud bath, before all the orphans started filing back out to the bush to continue browsing.

Out in the bush we saw Sattao befriend Roho. Neshashi was quietly browsing by herself and the rest of the herd concentrated on feeding and filling their bellies too.

On the way back to stockades this evening the orphans decided to pass by the mud bath again to cool off. They played and splashed about having a lot of fun! They were clearly going to tire themselves out before heading home for the day. Neshashi seemed to love the water the most and looked very active, and was one of the last out of the water. While playing the orphans also realized that the same hippo was back at the mud bath! The hippo was friendly though and ignored the orphans, content on having its own fun in the water. Malkia, Musiara and Maramoja took the lead when all the orphans were done, and led everyone back out into the bush to continue their afternoon of browsing.

It seems Karisa, Mundusi, Enkikwe and Sapalan are still all doing very well out in the wild, as this is their second week staying out with Wendi’s herd, and they continue just to visit from time to time.

The day began on a cold note after we had some rain in the area. It was already starting to dry out so we were delighted to receive a little extra surprise rain this morning.

The orphans began their day as usual and decided to focus on browsing throughout the morning hours. Kauro, Esampu and Musiara browsed with one another. Just before they were meant to go for their 11am milk feed, Roho and Naboishu started playfighting while Kauro and Ambo patted each other affectionately. Mapia rolled on the ground playing with Sattao. Sattao then got up to lead everyone to the milk feeding area, and Naboishu opted to continue playing with Musiara as they made their way there.

The orphans finished their milk bottles quickly and went straight to the mud bath to swim and play. Musiara was one of the most lively today, and when he was done swimming he got out to go and roll around on the soil to dry off. Malkia was there playing in the soil as well, before she got out to lead the others for the afternoon browsing session.

The orphans looked as though they were enjoying the best green vegetation they could find. Roho was patting Naboishu and strengthening their relationship.

As the orphans made their way home to the stockade compound today, Esampu returned to join her friends after spending the night out with Wendi’s ex-orphan herd. Enkikwe, Sapalan, Karisa and Mundusi are still with Wendi's herd.

Just as the Ithumba dependent orphans were settling for some lucerne this morning, Yatta’s ex-orphan herd arrived including Naisula, Nasalot, Ithumbah, Lualeni, Loijuk, Chyulu, Galana and Lenana with all their babies. It seems that they wanted to come for some lucerne as well, even though it’s not that dry out in the bush yet. The wild born babies Lexi and Yogi were very playful and were chasing each other about and climbing on one another. Their funny antics caught the attention of Nasalot’s baby Noah who came to join in. It was also lovely to see how Karisa and Mundusi are really enjoying life with Yatta’s herd and they are looking so well. It’s about three weeks that they have been with Yatta’s herd now and they look like they are doing really well in the wild.

Kamok and Ambo went on to feed on some lucerne that the Keepers had put out next to a rock in the bush, before walking on to the Kone dam again to wash it all down.

After the 11 o’clock milk feed all the orphans decided to wallow today. They played and splashed about energetically! Roho was the first one to come out after he was done with his games and he looked eager to continue browsing as he walked straight back out to the bush.

Dololo and Mukkoka started a wrestling match in the afternoon while Roho, Ambo and Esampu browsed together nearby. Kuishi, Kauro, Kamok and Mapia bunched together and looked like they were having a private meeting, and it wasn’t long before they started walking back to the compound for the night which suggested what their conversation might have been about! Nabulu then took the lead and walked the first group in for the night.

Kuishi left her stockade with a branch in her mouth this morning which she continued to enjoy until some lucerne was provided. Mukkoka and Ambo decided to scratch their buttocks against the terrace wall in the stockade compound. Sana Sana and Ndiwa rolled on the ground to wake themselves up a bit. The orphans only settled for lucerne briefly, before Sana Sana rumbled, informing her friends that it was time for them to leave in search of fresh grass and leaves. Naboishu was the first one to respond by moving up close to Sana Sana, and then she set off in the lead out to the bush.

Mukkoka decided to challenge Ambo this morning, and the gentle Ambo accepted, turning to lightly tackle Mukkoka. The wrestling match came to an end only when Pare passed by and pushed the two boys apart. Ambo then decided to team up with his good friend Kamok walk towards the Kone dam for a drink. Sana Sana and Naboishu thought that was a good idea and decided to follow too. Kauro came across a dried-up thorny branch on his way and carefully picked it up with his trunk before throwing it aside. This was very thoughtful of him, ensuring that anyone walking behind him didn’t step on a nasty thorn. A short while later Yatta’s ex-orphan herd passed by. Mteto and Esampu, who have decided to explore the wild by becoming part of this ex-orphan herd, briefly said hello to their old friends before continuing on with Yatta’s group. Mundusi, Enkikwe, Karisa and Sapalan also accompanied them.

It was a very short session at the mud bath today as the orphans had their milk bottles and then swiftly decided to head back out to browse without wallowing. After an hour or so of browsing, Kuishi took a break and rolled on the ground, while Ambo engaged Mapia in a friendly game. In the evening, Larro led the way back to the stockades. 

It was a quiet morning. Ambo was the first one to leave the stockades. Maramoja and Rapa were very happy to see one another this morning and entwined their trunks while Mapia engaged Jotto in a strength testing exercise. After having only a bit of the lucerne the Keepers put out, Sana Sana led the Ithumba dependent herd out to the bush. The orphans chose to browse in the Kone area as usual this morning where they were joined by the ex-orphans. Mteto and Esampu stopped to interact with their old friends for just a little while, and then left with the ex-orphans again as they are really enjoying being nannies to the wild born babies.

Roho teamed up with Larro to browse while Neshashi settled to browse with Sana Sana. Rapa, Pare, Jotto and Mapia held a brief meeting and we thought they might be discussing amongst themselves about their future, and how long they they might stay with their human family. Kauro separated himself from the rest of his friends and moved further away.

It was quite chilly as the orphans made their way to the mud bath so none of them dared to step into the water to wallow after having their milk bottles.

Mapia and Kuishi relaxed under a baobab tree and at one point Kuishi decided to practice how to peel bark off, just in case it becomes very dry again which will force the elephants to feed on the baobab trees again. Mukkoka settled to feed with Roho while Maramoja chose to browse with her favourite Musiara. Later, Roho moved on to team up with Ambo and Kamok. Rapa and Mapia finished up the days activities by engaging in a strength testing exercise as they frolicked along behind their friends on the way home.

Naleku, Sagateisa and Suguroi were guided from their new stockade by the Keepers in the morning, assisted by Musiara, Ambo, Mukkoka and Sattao. They were shown were the lucerne is always distributed every morning and they settled to have some with their friends. Shortly later, ex-orphans Loijuk, Lili, Mulika, Mwende, Mkuu, Naserian, Njema, Naisula, Nyx, Nasalot, Nusu, Noah, Sunyei, Siku, Saba, Makireti, Kilabasi, Kofi, Yatta, Yogi, Yoyo, Mteto and Esampu arrived. Naleku and Suguroi were very excited to see such a herd of big elephants, and with babies too! They were immediately attracted to Lili, since they were of a similar age, who they engaged in a light pushing game. Suguroi tackled Noah after the young boy had antagonized and taunted Suguroi into a wrestling match. Noah couldn't withstand Suguroi’s strength however, and so he surrendered. It seems that ever since they left the dependent herd, Esampu and Mteto have become the main nannies to little Nyx which is very sweet to watch. They are in their element with all the young babies around!

The orphans settled to browse in the area known as Kone this morning. Roho spent most of his morning around Naleku and Suguroi, showing them everything he knew about the area. Sagateisa appears to be more independent and is happy going about her own browsing activities without bothering anyone.

Naleku, Sagateisa and Suguroi really enjoyed the mud bath later on and stayed in the water for ages, more than any of the others, as the heat here is so intense compared to Nairobi and they wanted to cool off as much as possible. In the afternoon, Maramoja led the way back out to the bush. It was a quiet afternoon, and when Sagateisa, Naleku and Suguroi felt the temperature raising, they went back down to Kone dam to cool themselves again. In the evening, confident Suguroi led the way back to the stockades.

Ex--orphans Mulika, Mkuu, Naisula, Nyx, Esampu, Mteto and Mwende visited earlier — and it is lovely to note that Mwende is pregnant. Nabulu tried to engage baby Mkuu in conversation but Mkuu sadly wasn’t interested. Malkia and Maramoja joined their old friends Esampu and Mteto to take care of baby Nyx – they were very envious that the two girls who recently joined the ex-orphans got to take care of little Nyx all day as some of her nannies! It seems there is no turning back for Esampu and Mteto as they are very happy helping Naisula to take care of Nyx. Perhaps they might try and convince their friends Malkia and Maramoja soon too. After a while, Sagateisa led the way out to browse while the ex-orphans headed east.

Musiara found a nice big rock that he used to scratch his belly on before joining Maramoja and Malkia to browse. At eleven o'clock in the morning, Neshashi led the way to the mud bath for the milk feed and when they were all through, Sagateisa led the way over to the mud bath. It was a very hot day so all of the orphans wanted to swim today. Just as the orphans were leaving, five wild bulls arrived and headed straight for a drink. The orphans chose the Imenti area to browse in for the rest of the afternoon and slowly made their way there. Roho led the way back to the stockades in the evening.

The orphans left the stockade compound early as usual to enjoy some lucerne before starting their day out in the bush. Sana Sana kindly shared her lucerne pile with Naboishu. Sagateisa settled for a scratching exercise on a nearby rock and later entwined trunks with her friend Roho in morning greetings. When the orphans had enough lucerne we were surprised to find it was Malima who took the lead of the herd, as she rarely does.

On their way out the orphans met with the ex-orphans. Malkia, Kamok, Rapa and Pare decided to join them. Mteto and Esampu, who have been in the ex-orphan group for a while now, welcomed them. We wondered if Kamok informed the two girls that they were there only for an adventure for the day, but not to stay.

Meanwhile the rest of the dependent herd settled to browse in Kone near the dam. Despite being early in the morning it was already heating up, and the orphans decided to take a break and relax under a nearby baobab tree with nice shade.

Naleku led the first group to the mud bath. Soon after the orphans had their milk, Naleku, Sagateisa and Suguroi got into the waterhole to cool off. They were joined by Roho and later by the rest of the herd too. Roho, Sagateisa’s new friend, moved closer to her so that they could enjoy swimming and playing together. Shortly later, ex-orphans Melia, Challa and baby Milo showed up in the company of a wild herd. The wild herd felt uncomfortable with the Keepers around and so decided to leave. Melia, Milo and Challa didn’t stay long and decided to follow them, having been unsuccessful in convincing them to stay. Sagateisa, Larro and Musiara went to dry off on the loose soil after swimming.

Later in the afternoon we watched playful Dololo engage Mukkoka in a pushing game which ended in a draw. In the evening Yatta brought her herd to the compound and left after enjoying all the lucerne that was given to them.