The beginning of the month was marked by quality time with the ex-orphans. Laikipia, Mweya, Edie, Kenia, and co. ate breakfast with the dependent herd most mornings. Current and former orphans mingled contentedly, occasionally rumbling at and trunk touching each other.
On a bright sunny morning, the orphans emerged from their stockades for breakfast – the milk-dependent elephants gulped down their bottles of milk before joining their older friends for lucerne pellets and grass. Former orphans Laikipia, Mweya, Edie and Kenia arrived to eat breakfast outside the stockades with them. Current and former orphans mingled contentedly, occasionally rumbling at and trunk touching each other. Before long, the orphan herd set off to the bush for their daily wander, leaving Laikipia and the others outside the stockades. The orphans settled at the foot of Msinga Hill to browse in the open plains near the baobab mud wallow. After the afternoon milk feed, the orphans wandered down to the water trough for a refreshing drink and a splash and then headed back out into the bush for a final browse before bed.
On a cooler morning, the orphans lingered in their stockades as the Keepers prepared their bottles of milk. Outside, several former orphans were hanging around, drinking from the water trough and hoping for some lucerne pellets. Naipoki, Panda, Edie and her wild-born baby, Enzo, arrived first. Soon they were joined by Kihari and Edie’s older calf, Eden, and finally by Laikipia, Arruba and Mweya. The elephants greeted the orphans as they plodded out of their stockades. Naipoki and Panda stood close to each other as they ate range cubes. Nearby, newly-independent Arruba stood quietly next to Mweya – the two friends occasionally trunk touched and leant into each other.
Before long, it was time to get going. The orphans set off to browse in the bush under the supervision of their Keepers. They settled on the north side of Msinga Hill overlooking the baobab water hole. The former orphans headed off in the opposite direction, wandering towards some thicker vegetation to the south.
In the afternoon, the orphans downed their bottles, washing the milk down with a deep drink from the water trough. Afterwards they hung around the baobab tree near the mud bath. Accepting, caring Tamiyoi was trunk hugging Pika Pika and calm Mbegu chose to stay close to friends Sagala and Tagwa. Before long they meandered out for a final browse before bed.
As dawn broke, the orphans wandered out to eat breakfast with the many former orphans visiting the stockades. Young and old stood around peacefully as the orphans cemented friendships with visitors who included Laikipia, Mweya and Edie. Self-contained Kilulu was playing with Mwitu, Mweya’s baby, running around and mock charging her. Laikipia was spending time with Arruba, Pika Pika and Panda on the terraces next to everyone’s favorite rock before deciding to go for a wander around the stockades on her own. Suswa, the oldest female in the current herd, was showing off, displaying her moves and scratching her large bottom on the rock.
Later on at the baobab mud bath, Lasayen had lots of fun rolling around and waddling in and out of the mud wallow. The others were most impressed with his antics! Suswa joined in the game and they both rubbed and squirmed around together on the edge of the wallow. Finishing her dip, Suswa wandered away to enjoy a good dig and a dust with close friend Embu.
After the mud bath session, it was time for little Busara to join the herd for the first time since her rescue. The orphans wandered back to the stockades to meet her. Calm Sagala welcomed her warmly, trunk touching her in a reassuring manner and shepherding her off into the bush. The newcomer was shown the different browsing areas. The rest of the herd were also happy to meet Busara, gathering around to welcome her with rumbles. At the lucerne pellet feeding area later, everyone wanted to spend time with her.
Later in the day, young bulls Lasayen and Murit engaged in an energetic sparring and pushing game before returning to the stockade for the evening milk feed.
On a bright sunny morning, the orphans went about their usual breakfast routine in the company of several former orphans. Mini matriarch Suswa was hanging out with shy Akina on the terraces and little Busara was spending time with friendly Dabida. Ex-orphans Kihari, Mbirikani, Eco, Edie and Mweya stood next to each other at the feeding trough. All were enjoying the dairy cubes.
Feeding finished, Edie led the way out to browse with her babies, Eco and Enzo, leaving Eden, Mweya and Kenia behind. She was followed by the current orphans walking in small friendship groups. On reaching Msinga Hill, the ex-orphans went off in a different direction, leaving the herd to browse in the open grasslands at the foot of the hill. Arruba, Mudanda and Tahri all chose to stay with the former orphans.
After the breakfast routine, the orphans headed out towards Msinga Hill, leaving several ex-orphans behind at the stockades. The herd settled down to browse in the open grasslands for the morning. Newly-independent Mudanda initially stayed with the former orphans but then decided to join her old friends out in the bush.
Sweet, reserved Godoma has taken little loner Baraka under her wing. They are always together, and the older female is being very protective of the young bull. Pika Pika and Thamana have been ousted from their positions as the favored babies by Baraka and Busara. Godoma is on the look out for any unkind behavior towards the two newcomers. When the older two attempted to give Baraka a small shove today, she immediately stepped in and saw them off.
On the way to the baobab water hole in the afternoon, Lasayen and Murit challenged each other to an exciting wrestling game. They trumpeted and tussled and chased each other around in an evenly-matched contest. After the mud bath session, the orphans returned to the stockades where they met up with recent rescues Itinyi and Epiya, and also with Laikipia who was eating lucerne pellets. The orphans then headed off for a final browse of the day on the slopes of Msinga Hill.
This morning, the milk-dependent orphans downed their bottles before joining their older friends in the feeding area for a breakfast of dairy cubes and lucerne. Although they were alone this morning, it was not long before a herd of ex-orphans arrived led by Laikipia. After lots of greetings and rumbles, the elephants settled down together to feed. Laikipia, Mweya, Edie and their wild-born babies lined up at the feeding trough, pushing away the younger dependent elephants.
Breakfast over, mini matriarchs Tamiyoi and Lemeki led the way out to the browsing fields, with Hildana trotting along close behind. Suswa and Ndotto remained behind for a short time with the former orphans and caught up with the herd. Meanwhile, Pika Pika quietly left her friends and snuck back to see Arruba who had stayed outside the stockades with Laikipia. The two elephants have a strong bond. Realizing that she was missing, a Keeper returned to shepherd her back to the herd. She is too young to abscond for the day with her ex-orphan friends.
The orphans were full of energy this morning. Peacemaker Suswa was playing by herself on the dust hill, rubbing her tummy on the ground as she squirted earth all over the place. Soon she was joined by Ndotto, the oldest bull in the herd, who challenged her to an early morning wrestle. Strong young boys Emoli and Hildana were eating their dairy cubes together on the terraces. Ex-orphan Lentili was standing nearby, stretching her trunk up as far as she could to blow out gusts of air. Next, she showed off her skills by squatting on her bottom on the edge of the terraces. Godoma responded to her display, engaging the older female in a pushing game. Determined Ndotto loves to spar and hates to give up. Today, he was embroiled in a lengthy sparring match with ex-orphan Naipoki. Despite his smaller size, he would not give up – even when Naipoki pushed him to his limits.
Games over, the stockade-dependent orphans set out for their daily bush walk around Msinga Hill. Ex-orphan Edie, baby Enzo and Laikipia remained behind, standing by the feeding trough as they stared fixedly at the dairy cube store. The message was clear – more food please! Nearby Kihari and Panda were facing off head-to-head in a playful manner.
The orphans enjoyed their breakfast of milk, dairy cubes and lucerne on a sunny day with clear skies. Arruba and Mudanda are spending most of their time with Mweya and Edie’s herd. As the two orphans become truly independent, Suswa, Embu and Mbegu are slipping into their matriarchal roles as the oldest females in the Voi herd. This morning, Tagwa was competing with Sagala for Juni’s attention. As they squabbled, calm Mbegu quietly wandered off with the sought-after Juni to the lucerne area.
Later than usual, several ex-orphans arrived at the stockades as the herd headed out to the bush. In the open plains, the orphans settled down to browse for the morning before returning in the afternoon for their milk feed at the baobab tree near the water hole. Embu, Godoma and Pika Pika were the first to plunge into the mud bath but they were soon joined by Suswa. Meanwhile, Ndotto stood splashing on the edge as Juni tried to push Tagwa away from the wallow. Refreshed, the elephants clambered and crawled out of the water and set off for a final browse before bed.
The ex-orphans arrived at the stockades soon after dawn this morning. They greeted the live-in orphans as they wandered out of their stockades and down to the breakfast area. Little Ashanti with feeding next to Suswa and Arruba this morning although she was struggling to pick up the dairy cubes with her damaged trunk. Ex-orphan Edie was hanging out with friendly Kenderi and Embu on the terraces. As all were eating their range cubes, Laikipia strolled up to join the gathering.
Today, Tamiyoi led the orphans out into the bush on their walk to Msinga Hill. They spread out around the lower levels to browse. The ex-orphans remained behind outside the stockade finishing the range cubes. Out in the bush, Godoma led little Baraka right up to the top of the hill. Ashanti did her best to follow but could not keep up and climbed back down to join Akina and Hildana. Several hours later, the orphans returned to the baobab tree for their milk feed followed by an evening walk and bed.
The ex-orphans were up early again on a cool dry morning, gathering in the feeding area. Mweya and her baby Mwitu stood close together to eat the lucerne pellets - Kihari was on his own nearby. After a quick breakfast, Mbirikani and Panda started sparring, pushing their heads against each other to test their strength. Meanwhile the younger dependent orphans were in a cluster at the far end of the stockade compound, eating lucerne grass before setting off to browse on rocky Msinga Hill.
Later in the afternoon, the orphans returned to the baobab water trough. Lasayen carefully peeled the bark off part of a baobab tree as the others stood around trunk touching and browsing. There was no swimming today.
In the early evening, Laikipia stayed behind outside the stockades when the ex-orphans set off back out to the bush. He stood for some time by the feeding trough looking directly at the store, hoping for more pellets. Realizing that none would be forthcoming, he sauntered away to join his wild-living herd.
The orphans are spending almost every morning with the visiting ex-orphans and their babies. Today, on another bright sunny morning, they were bonding over breakfast. Former orphan Edie was scratching her head against Sagala’s body - minutes later she was nursing her baby Enzo. Once she had finished, Sagala happily trunk touched and rumbled with baby Enzo as Edie affectionately placed her trunk in Tahri’s mouth. Nearby, Kihari, Naipoki and Juni were hanging out together, chewing on dairy cubes contentedly.
Today, former and current orphans headed out together to spend the morning in the bush. Only Laikipia stayed back with Arruba to scoop up every last dairy cube.
Later in the afternoon after the milk feed, the bigger orphans sauntered down to the baobab mud wallow with the smaller ones trotting along in their wake. Ngilai and Emoli enjoyed a brief sparring match as Suswa knelt down to dig up some dust with her long tusks.
Returning in the early evening for more milk and to settle in the stockades for the night, the orphans met up with some ex-orphans who had arrived before them. As darkness fell, Kenia was spending time with Enzo, Mweya was chilling with baby Mwitu, and Lentili was sparring with Eden.
On a clear, sunny morning, the orphans and ex-orphans mingled peacefully outside the stockades, enjoying their breakfast of dairy cubes and lucerne grass. The younger orphans had already had their morning bottles.
This morning, confident Ashanti was happily eating her cubes next to newly-independent Arruba and ex-orphans Laikipia and Panda. Edie and her babies Eden, Eco and Enzo were lined up at the feeding trough next to Mbirikani, Naipoki and Kihari. Nearby, outgoing Murit and reserved Lasayen were having an exciting sparring game until their fun was disrupted by Suswa who was feeling left out. She commandeered Murit to play the game with her and Lasayen walked away with a disgruntled waddle. Enjoying her victory, Suswa walked majestically into the stockade compound, flapping her ears and trumpeting her triumph. It was time for a dust bath at the sand pile.
Soon, the dependent orphans headed out for a browse, leaving their older wilder friends behind to play on the dust piles. Kenia, Mbirikani, Panda and Tahri were having a great time, rolling around and hosing each other with soil. Suswa, Murit and Lasayen stayed back with them for a while, enjoying the company of their friends.
After downing their bottles on a cool chilly morning, the orphans enjoyed some playtime in the compound before setting out to the bush. Pika Pika stood as close as she could possibly get to Arruba on the dust piles, leaning against her big friend and trunk touching her frequently. Their affectionate moment was interrupted by Murit strolling up and trying to mount Arruba. Then, as Ndotto was enjoying his morning dust bath, Arruba challenged him to a wrestling and pushing game right on top of the earth piles. The game ended when Ndotto also tried to mount her.
It was time to go. The orphan herd headed out with their Keepers, spending the morning browsing at the foot of Msinga Hill before returning for their milk feed in the afternoon. On arriving at the baobab water trough, the orphans encountered a group of wild elephants who left before anyone could greet them. The orphans had a great time wallowing, dust bathing and browsing.
Back at the stockades, ex-orphans Laikipia and Arruba enjoyed a communal dust bath, rolling around and rubbing their tummies on the dust pile. Afterwards, they hung around the stockade compound until their younger friends returned for the night, whereupon they wandered off into the bush.
Some of the ex-orphans were up early again, arriving for a breakfast of pellets with the current orphans outside the stockades. Hunger pangs satisfied, Tamiyoi posed and scratched her backside on the special large rock as Suswa rolled around on the dust piles. Lasayen and Murit enjoyed some early morning sparring until they were interrupted (again) by Suswa. Lasayen was left out and wandered off for a dust bath as Murit and Suswa got down to some more wrestling.
This morning, Tamiyoi, Lemeki and Godoma led the way out to the fields at the foot of Msinga Hill where the herd settled down to browse. Ashanti, Baraka and Kenderi decided to climb the hill, browsing as they pottered along.
As always, in the afternoon the orphans returned for some milk and a visit to the baobab mud wallow. The orphans had a happy time on a sweltering afternoon. Big boys Ndotto and Lasayen rolled around together and over and under each other in the mud bath. Later on, Lasayen had a final wrestling match with Murit in the wallow.
The orphans emerged from their stockades soon after dawn to enjoy their breakfast on a cloudless morning. Thereafter, they set out to browse in the open areas at the foot of Msinga Hill.
In the afternoon after the milk feed, the orphans relaxed in and around the mud wallow. Ndotto and his best friend Lasayen had fun rolling and wallowing in the bath and were soon joined by Suswa. Meanwhile, Pika Pika was drilling her little tusks into the dust on the edge of the wallow.
Wallowing and dusting done, the orphans set out for a final browse, going deep into the woods in search of fresh foliage.
On a bright sunny morning, the orphans were enjoying their breakfast and playing with each other. Lemeki and Thamana were having an early morning dust bath as Lasayen and Murit sparred close by. Mbegu was spending time with younger orphans Hildana, Dabida, Akina, Kenderi and Busara as Baraka was eating lucerne with Godoma. Little Ashanti was doing her best to pick up pellets with her small trunk before she was pushed away from the feeding trough by a feisty Pika Pika.
In the afternoon, the orphans returned from the bush for some to drink their milk and all to quench their thirst at the water trough next to the baobab tree. Ndotto and Ngilai were hanging around under the baobab as the orphans crowded around the trough on a hot day. Several enjoying a cooling wallow and dust bath afterwards.
While the orphans settled down for a browse, dominant bull Ndotto did his best to mount Thamana but was pushed away by an irritated Murit.
The orphans assembled outside their stockades for their milk, range cubes and lucerne pellets. Breakfast over, Ngilai displayed his expertise by slowly clambering and crawling up one of the stockade terraces. Standing close by, Hildana, Kenderi, Dabida and Baraka were most impressed by the showoff. Meanwhile, Emoli and Murit had a wonderful sparring match, clashing heads as they trumpeted with excitement. They were so engrossed in their game that they were left behind and had to catch up with the herd on their way to Msinga Hill.
Spread out around the hill, the elephants browsed at a slow pace, munching huge amounts of greens and grass. In the afternoon after the milk feed, they arrived at the baobab water hole in a playful mood. Many had a lovely time in the mud bath although their relaxing wallow was disturbed when boisterous Lemeki and Murit started sparring in the water! After rolling around and around, Thamana lay still and submerged in the deep water. Thinking that her little friend might be in trouble, caring Suswa climbed in to help him up with her long tusks. Lasayen and Emoli cavorted around the dust hill for ages before joining up with their friends as they meandered off for an early evening browse.
Out of bed and breakfast over, the orphan elephants got down to some serious playing. Lasayen and Murit were play fighting, chasing each other around and clashing heads. Emoli lay spreadeagled on the piles of red earth as Thamana clambered onto his stomach and swayed on top of him. Ngilai was feeling left out – normally he would be playing the pushing game with Emoli – so he then tried to climb on top of Thamana to spoil their fun. Thamana trotted off but Emoli stayed in his supine position, refusing to engage with Ngilai. The young bull was determined to play. He rode on Emoli’s back until his friend gave in to his demands and started sparring.
After the milk feed at noon, it was time to plunge into the water hole next to the baobab tree. Pika Pika, Godoma, Mbegu and Embu almost jumped into the muddy water, floating and wallowing and rubbing their bulk against the sides. The herd stayed close to the water hold, browsing contentedly for the rest of the day.
The orphans were full of energy this morning. Kilulu, Hildana, Dabida, Kenderi, Ashanti, Busara and Akina sprinted out of their stockades to the feeding area where they gulped down their bottles of milk. All the orphan elephants then enjoyed lots of fresh green lucerne grass before setting off into the surrounding bush. This morning, they browsed in single file, with caring Mbegu staying close to Busara and Baraka, the youngest babies in the herd.
After the afternoon milk feeding, the orphans went mud bathing. Ndotto had a great time playing with Thamana, holding his head tenderly with his trunk as Emoli stood behind watching. Soon, older females Godoma and Embu became uneasy with Ndotto’s close engagement with Thamana – they charged over, kicking huge clouds of muddy water to separate them. Thamana wandered away to join her friends.
The rest of the day passed peacefully as the herd browsed individually or in small groups.
After morning milk and range cubes, it was playtime. Emoli strolled up behind Kilulu and attempted to climb onto his back. The close presence of Mbegu prevented the young bull from achieving his goal. Mini matriarch Suswa was trunk touching and hugging shy Akina. The younger elephant was loving the attention of her older friend. Ndotto, Pika Pika and Embu were lying on the dust hill, rolling and playing and waving their trunks in excitement. Godoma soon joined their game. Then Murit arrived, challenging his friend Ndotto to a sparring game. Ndotto ran away, plunging into the stockade water hole despite the cold morning with Murit hot on his heels. Nearby, Ngilai did his best to ride on top of smaller Thamana, giving the young bull a big surprise. Thamana sprinted off, finding safety and protection with Godoma who was close by.
After the afternoon milk feed and mud bath at the baobab water hole, the elephants returned to the stockade to collect the newcomers before heading to the lucerne feeding area and then back into the bush for an evening browse.
After finishing their early morning milk and range cubes, the orphan elephants headed out into the bush. The herd meandered and browsed for several hours before arriving at the water hole on a cold and cloudy afternoon. Suswa chose to lie down and wriggle around on a large pile of red earth pile that was half in the water and half on the banks. She got quite a fright when she found herself sliding down into the water. Once submerged she stayed in the muddy water for a relaxing wallow. Mbegu and Ndotto stood at the edge of the water with their heads touching and their trunks draped over each other, almost as if they were deep in conversation. Tamiyoi and Lasayen kept themselves busy playing with the loose soil on the edge of the water hole.
Playtime over, the orphans clustered together and headed out for another browse. They walked with ears flapping to keep themselves cool and trunks swaying almost rhythmically. The Keepers are expecting the dependent orphans to jostle over leadership roles, now that Arruba and Mudanda are living independent lives.
On another clear dry morning, the orphans emerged from their stockades to spend the day together. As usual, little Ashanti was one of the first to line up at the feeding trough waiting for the dairy cubes.
Two of the oldest females are acting like older sisters to two of the youngest babies. Mbegu is nurturing Busara, the youngest orphan in the herd, taking care of her and protecting her from feisty young orphans like Pika Pika and Thamana. Godoma has adopted Baraka and is taking care of him as if he were her own baby.
Today, Lemeki, Tamiyoi and Emoli led the orphans out to the browsing fields. The orphans maneuvered across the rocky Msinga Hill and settled in the open grasslands to browse. Suswa, Ndotto and Embu like to wander along at the back of the herd – they never seem to be in a hurry. As the others were looking for greens to eat, Lasayen and Murit played a wrestling game. Little Kenderi teamed up with Ashanti, Kilulu and Ngilai to clamber all the way up to the top of the Msinga Hill.
After lots of wallowing in the mud bath in the afternoon, the orphans headed out to browse deep in the woods.
This morning, as the younger ones finished their bottles of milk, most of the older orphans were munching on dairy cubes, although Ngilai had already sauntered over to the lucerne feeding area. Ngilai kept moving between the dairy cubes and the lucerne grass – he was keen not to miss out but could not make up his mind which to eat first. In contrast, Ndotto and Murit like to finish their dairy cubes before moving to the lucerne at the far corner of the stockade compound.
Afterwards, the dependent elephants left the stockade for the browsing fields, picking their way with their flat plates of feet over Msinga Hill in search of foliage. Ashanti and Kenderi love climbing up the hill - they always give one of the recent rescues the special treat of going with them. Today it was Hildana’s turn. With Arruba spending her time with the ex-orphans, Tagwa and Sagala were squabbling over who should look after Juni. Pika Pika is becoming more attached to Embu – today, they chose to browse together.
After spending much of the morning meandering over Msinga Hill, the orphans came down for the milk feed before browsing until it was time for bed.
After the morning milk and dairy cube feed, the orphan elephants set out for their daily bushwalk to the northern side of Msinga Hill. Today, Tagwa, Sagala, Juni, Mbegu and Busara went off browsing in a different direction from the others. Godoma was with Baraka while Ashanti and Kenderi teamed up with Akina to browse along the hill towards the baobab tree water hole. Later, the elephants meandered back from their various locations to join up with their friends.
In the afternoon, as usual, the orphans returned to the stockades for the afternoon milk feed. They had a lovely time dusting themselves with red ochre before leaving the stockade to resume browsing on the peak of Msinga Hill. Later in the evening, lovely Mbegu led the herd down the hill and back to the stockades where they settled in for the night.
It was breakfast as usual at the stockades. The orphans ate their range cubes and lucerne grass after the milk feed. Young bulls Lasayen and Murit sparred with each other as Suswa enjoyed an early morning dust bath.
The orphans then headed out into the surrounding bush and spent the entire morning browsing in the open plains on their way to the baobab mud wallow. After many wallowed in the mud bath on another hot afternoon, the orphans ate lucerne in their usual feeding area before heading out again. Ndotto was left behind because he was engrossed in scratching his backside on a tree. Lasayen was spending time with Godoma and Dabida as Suswa stood quietly nearby. Tamiyoi was plodding around and around a tree while Mbegu hung out with Juni and Busara.
It was a wonderful morning. Milk and supplement feeding over, Embu attempted to lead the herd out for the day but found Murit blocking the way. Embu went ahead, charging and kneeling on her front legs, sending threatening signals to Murit but to no avail. Murit would not let her pass. Observing the situation, Lasayen intervened, giving Embu a clear route to lead the herd out into the field.
After a peaceful session of browsing, the orphan elephants visited the baobab water hole. Ndotto lay down on one of the red earth piles close to the water hole, sucking up water with his trunk and spraying himself all over. Meanwhile, Ngilai seized the opportunity to lie down and play on another pile on the opposite side until Murit arrived and tried to join him on the pile of soil. To divert his attention from the coveted red earth, Ngilai challenged his friend Murit to a sparring match.
Later in the day, the orphans cavorted around on the largest mound of red earth before wandering out into the bush in small groups to browse.
After the early morning meal of milk, range cubes and lucerne grass, dignified Mbegu enacted a clever plan. She stepped onto the stockade water trough, trying to make herself tall enough to reach the green leaves on some branches of a tall tree above the trough. She was successful. Standing underneath, Busara wasted no time in eating stray branches that fell down as Mbegu feasted on the spoils. The orphans then had a lovely time playing on the red earth piles outside the stockade compound. They ran and rolled around like puppies on a bright sunny morning.
Heading out to browse, the orphans spread out over the open grasslands before returning to the stockade for the afternoon milk feed and mud bath. Suswa squatted on top of the dust hill, trumpeting her enjoyment as she rubbed her big body and rolled around. She attracted a cohort of younger friends — Pika Pika, Embu, Lemeki and Thamana — who spread out all around the red earth piles, lying happily on the warm soil.
The orphan elephants later went uphill, browsing for the remainder of the day before returning in the evening for some fresh greens and the safety of their stockade bedrooms.
It was a wonderful beginning to the day as the orphan elephants played in the stockade compound. Embu was having fun, rubbing and rolling his body on the dust piles before enjoying a sparring match with his friend Murit. The two young bulls had to catch up with the herd after they set out to browse as they were so engrossed in their game.
Arriving in the flat areas on the northern side of Msinga Hill, the orphan elephants browsed in single file for some time before heading off in small groups. Many had a brief wallow at the water hole next to the baobab tree in the afternoon and then continued to browse in their friendship groups for the rest of the day. It was an especially peaceful day as the orphans wandered around and stood quietly together.
As dusk fell, they meandered back to the safety and warmth of the stockades.
On a bright clear morning, the orphans ate their normal breakfast of dairy cubes and lucerne grass after the younger ones had finished their bottles of milk. Mbegu was one of the first to line up at the feeding trough along with Juni and Busara. Ndotto roamed around the stockade looking for a playmate. He was missing his friends Arruba and Mudanda who are sleeping out and spending their days with ex-orphans and wild elephants. As Lasayen is not as keen on aggressive games, Ndotto could not find a sparring partner.
Tamiyoi, Lemeki and Emoli, with Dabida and Kenderi close behind, led the orphans out to browse. As is their habit, Ndotto and Suswa brought up the rear. The orphans settled down to browse at the foot of Msinga Hill.
In the afternoon, the orphans walked back for the milk feed and then Juni led them down to the baobab water hole. After drinking deeply from the trough, almost every single orphan clambered into the mud bath for a wallow to cool off their bodies on a blisteringly hot day. They had fun paddling and swimming and splashing. Ndotto then led them for a dust bath on the red earth piles before they wandered off for yet more browsing.
As dawn approached, the dependent orphans stood waiting for the doors of their stockades to be opened. Lots of hungry babies! As Ashanti and Kenderi have become quite pushy when bottles of milk are around, the Keepers are letting them out last. This allows innocents like Busara and Baraka to drink their milk in peace. Bottles emptied, the orphans wandered over to fill their tummies with range cubes and lucerne grass.
Heading out, the orphans settled at the foot of Msinga Hill. Emoli challenged Lasayen to a wrestling competition, a move he might have regretted – Lasayen may not be aggressive, but he does have long strong tusks.
In the afternoon after the milk feed the orphans headed down to the mud wallow. There was no swimming as it was a gloomy day. In the early evening, the orphans went deep into the woods to the south of the wallow.
Breakfast time was playtime on the last day of January! Ngilai and Emoli were sparring energetically as Lemeki enjoyed an early morning dust bath. Ashanti, Hildana, Kenderi, Seri and Dabida lined up at the feeding tough to eat dairy cubes while Godoma was having quality time with Baraka on the terraces. Little Busara has learned that the best places to hang out are either close to an older sister or at a distance from the crowd to avoid being pushed around by the likes of Pika Pika and Thamana.
In the afternoon, the younger elephants wandered to the milk feeding area and then joined their older friends at the mud bath. Mbegu, Suswa, Ngilai, Emoli and Pika Pika were rolling around and swimming in the mud wallow. Godoma was striking a most impressive pose, standing with her foot leaning on an unfussed Pika Pika. Ere long, the orphans clambered out and set off for an evening browse in the woods.
This month, bonds between older females and younger orphans have been cemented. Mbegu has taken on the role of nanny to Busara, Godoma of nanny to Baraka, Embu to Pika Pika (in the absence of Arruba), and Tagwa to Juni. The other females have been left to choose from several newcomers to the stockades, a few of whom have not yet joined the herd properly. The Keepers are pleased that the Voi herd has many capable females with the potential to mature into wise matriarchs.