In Voi, the new year started as one big group. After camping outside the stockades on the previous night, ex-orphans Mweya, Mudanda, Sagala, Pika Pika, Rorogoi, Naipoki, Kihari, Mbirikani, and Panda, with Mweya’s babies Mwitu and Mwangaza, enjoyed breakfast with their dependent friends. Former and current orphans shared treats of range cubes and fresh lucerne grass before Mbegu led her dependent herd out to browse over the summit of Msinga Hill.
It was a wonderful new year’s morning at the Voi stockades. After camping outside on the previous night, ex-orphans Mweya, Mudanda, Sagala, Pika Pika, Rorogoi, Naipoki, Sagala, Pika Pika, Kihari, Mbirikani and Panda, with Mweya’s babies Mwitu and Mwangaza, enjoyed breakfast with their dependent friends after the morning milk feed. Former and current orphans shared treats of range cubes and fresh lucerne grass and then Mbegu led her herd out to browse over the summit of Msinga Hill. Lasayen and Murit were not with the ex-orphans.
After a while, big boys Ndotto and Ngilai walked away and spent the morning browsing independently but remaining within sight. The rest of the herd ambled all over the hill, twisting up clumps of grass and pulling down acacia branches.
In the afternoon, just before the milk truck was due to arrive, Ndotto and Ngilai rejoined the herd and headed down to the baobab tree mud bath with the others. After a brief wallow, the elephants wandered out to continue browsing. Once again Ndotto and Ngilai headed off in a different direction. The herd headed back to the stockades later in the afternoon, padding up the path and into their shared rooms for the night. Returning at dusk, the two bulls opted to hang around outside, waiting for the ex-orphans who often arrive late at night.
On another beautiful morning, the orphans stood by their gates. As soon as we opened them, groups of elephants sprinted down the path for their milk feed. The ex-orphans, who arrived before dawn, were staring at the door of the pellet store, waiting for us to fill up the feeding trough.
As both groups enjoyed their breakfast, Mbegu, adopted baby Busara, Dabida and Ashanti left the stockades. They settled on the slopes of the hill, making the most of the abundance of green browse. In the afternoon, the orphans returned to the stockades for another milk feed and a wallow in the stockade water hole before walking out to browse some more.
Mid-afternoon, we received a call - a baby elephant’s mother had died of spear wounds and the orphan was in need of rescue at Lumo Conservancy in Tsavo West. We drove to the scene immediately, only to be told that the baby had disappeared with a wild herd.
After breakfast, our dependent orphans left the stockades as usual and settled along the hill, browsing in the direction of the baobab water hole. Ndotto and Ngilai wandered away on their own, rejoining the herd later in the day at the mud bath.
In the afternoon, we gathered the elephants into groups and sent them down the hill for a milk feed. Losoito, Rokka, Busara, Epiya and Ashanti were in the first group – they sprinted down the hill with trunks aloft, emptied their bottles and walked on at a slower pace to the wallow.
After cooling off in the muddy water, Tagwa scratched herself against the tree while most of the others covered their bodies with red soil. Losoito hosed her back with soil while kicking up clouds with her feet. Akina, Baraka, Lemeki and Juni rolled around together on the mound of soil with Godoma standing next to them. Ndotto loves his space - he waited until everyone else had walked away to lie down for a nap on the dry soil. The herd browsed over the green grasslands on their way back to the safety of the stockades for the night.
The orphans padded out of their stockades for breakfast of milk, range cubes and lucerne. They spent some time bonding on the terraces before heading out on their daily adventure, spreading over the rocky Msinga Hill to browse on acacia branches. Tamiyoi was trunk hugging Lemeki as they ambled over the hill together.
In the afternoon, the elephants walked down the hill to visit the baobab tree mud wallow. As it was a cloudy afternoon, they drank from the trough but did not wallow in the pool. Rokka posed next to the wallow while Ngilai stood tall on the mound of red soil and Godoma and Busara massaged their bottoms against the rocks.
It was not long before they headed back to browse on the hill. In the early evening, we whistled to the herd and they came down to the stockades. Rokka led the orphans and Mbegu, the matriarch, wandered along behind the others, making sure that no one was left behind.
This morning, Rokka, Epiya, Losoito, Busara and Akina gathered to enjoy a pile of range cubes on the terraces while Mbegu and the rest of the herd stood side by side at the feeding trough. Ashanti stood next to Mbegu as she has to kneel to scoop up pellets into her mouth (because of her damaged trunk) and feels safe by Mbegu’s side from the likes of feisty Hildana.
The herd spent the morning browsing over Msinga Hill before ambling down in the afternoon for another milk feed and a visit to the water hole. Kenderi and Itinyi sparred in the mud wallow while Hildana mounted Emoli on the pile of red earth. Tagwa draped her trunk over Lemeki as they rolled on the soil with Thamana lying on her side nearby. Hildana tried to mount matriarch Mbegu when she lay down to relax on the mound of soil. While Godoma did elephant yoga stretches, Emoli and Kilulu enjoyed a wrestling match. When the others walked away from the soil dusting area, Tagwa took her turn as she had enough space to splash the soil and roll around without interference.
Later in the evening, the orphans settled in their shared stockades for the night – except for Ndotto and Ngilai who remained outside waiting for their friends. The ex-orphans soon arrived and the two bulls played sparring and wrestling games with them.
On another wonderful morning, Mweya’s and Mudanda’s herds visited their old home. Current and former orphans hung out on the terraces for a short time before heading out to browse all over Msinga Hill. As on earlier days, Ngilai and Ndotto walked away from the herd to spend the morning in the pipeline area before returning much later in the afternoon.
Mbegu, Busara, Baraka, Ashanti, Juni and Seri browsed on the slopes of the hill while Tamiyoi led Lemeki and the rest of the herd to the summit.
In the afternoon, the orphans ran down for the milk feed with Losoito rumbling and throwing tantrums. Afterwards, they drank from the trough, wallowed in the pool and, led by Kilulu and Akina, dusted themselves around the mound of red soil before meandering back to the stockades for the night.
After the breakfast routine, the orphans played and bonded in the stockade compound with the visiting ex-orphans. Thamana and Ashanti finished up every leftover range cube on the terraces while Hildana challenged Emoli to a sparring match. Mbegu stood tall on the mound of red soil with Epiya, Busara, Seri and Lemeki rubbing their faces or rolling on their backs around her.
A few minutes after the visitors headed out, Ndotto set off after them. But, as he had waited too long, he could not catch up with them and so waited on the path for his herd. Led by Rokka and Manda, the herd arrived soon and he ambled along in their wake.
The dependent orphans spent the day browsing over Msinga Hill and in the open grass fields before visiting the mud wallow in the afternoon. As the herd browsed around the wallow, Ndotto and Ngilai left them again, walking a distance away from the others.
In the evening, Ndotto and Ngilai remained outside when the others went into their stockades for the night. They ran around and sparred with each other until after dark.
On a calm sunny morning, the orphans settled on the slopes of Msinga Hill after breakfasting on pellets and lucerne. Ngilai was browsing alongside Kilulu and Kenderi while Baraka spent time with Ashanti. Epiya posed on some boulders near the bottom of the hill. Thamana lay down on a large patch of dry soil with Tamiyoi, Baraka and Juni playing around him. When Tamiyoi lay down on her belly, Baraka draped her trunk over her big sister’s back while rubbing against her. Lemeki and Losoito were scratching their bottoms against a large rock.
In the afternoon after the milk feed, the orphans went straight into the mud wallow to cool off as the sun was hot and the temperature high. As the others wallowed together in the pool, slapping the water with their trunks, Emoli attempted to mount Thamana but was pushed off. Itinyi and Ashanti were first to clamber out of the wallow and wander back out to the bush but the herd soon caught up with them.
The elephants emerged from their rooms in groups of four or five and gathered in front of the stockades. They squashed up around the feeding trough to scoop up pellets. When Juni pushed Losoito away to claim a feeding spot, Rokka, feeling under threat, walked away to feed with close friend Manda on the other end of the terraces. Ashanti remained at the trough, feeding happily on her knees.
Afterwards, some of the orphans browsed on the supplementary pile of lucerne while others chose the lush vegetation around the area. Juni browsed alongside Baraka with Emoli not far away. Akina joined Baraka and began trunk hugging her friend while Ngilai strode around showboating.
Rokka led the way to the bush followed by Losoito and Lemeki. The orphans settled on the slopes of the rocky Msinga Hill browsing in the direction of the baobab tree.
In the afternoon, the orphans had their milk feed and walked down to the mud wallow. After cooling off in the mud, Ngilai climbed out to scratch his backside against a tree and Busara rolled around on the mound of soil. The dependent orphans later resumed browsing over the grasslands, returning to the stockades at dusk.
On an overcast morning, the orphans ambled out for their daily browsing adventures around Msinga Hill. Mbegu was spending quality time with favourite baby Busara as they walked along behind the herd. Ndotto and Ngilai walked with the herd but at a distance, staying within reach while asserting their independence.
Lemeki was scratching against a peacock tree until she stretched out her trunk to Rokka as she passed by. Not allowing Thamana to browse in peace on the green vegetation, Emoli kept approaching and lying on his back, inviting his friend to a sparring match. Tamiyoi loves acacia trees - today she was stretching up high to pull down branches. Mbegu was spending time with Akina, trunk hugging the growing boy as they browsed.
After the milk feed, the orphans avoided the mud wallow and resumed browsing over the grasslands on their way back to the stockades.
On a sunny morning, current and former orphans enjoyed their breakfast routine as usual. After finishing the pellets, they moved out from the stockades and wandered over Msinga Hill. Manda and Rokka stopped scratching their backsides against large boulders to lead the herd out to the bush. Seri had a quick massage on the same boulder and then caught up with the others. Ngilai and Ndotto left the herd on their way out.
Lemeki spent the morning with adopted baby Losoito, trunk hugging and kissing her as they browsed together. Mbegu was looking after Ushindi and Busara, while Emoli and Godoma browsed side by side on the rocky slopes of the hill.
In the afternoon, the orphans ran down the hill for another milk feed and visit to the mud wallow. Water baby Itinyi was the first to plunge into the water. Some submerged their bodies in the thick mud as others paddled or rubbed their faces on the walls. After clambering out, Baraka massaged her rump against a pile of rocks and Godoma rubbed hers against the peacock tree. Ngilai took his time in the wallow, climbing out last when the herd were walking off to resume browsing.
Ngilai and Ndotto did not return in the evening, choosing instead to spend the night with the ex-orphans.
On a calm sunny morning, the orphans headed out to the browsing fields as usual, linking up with Ndotto and Ngilai who were browsing on Msinga Hill. With Rokka leading the way, the elephants walked in a long line to the open plains on the northern side of the hill overlooking the baobab water hole where they spent the morning.
In the afternoon, the orphans rushed into the mud wallow. Many went swimming on a hot day. Ngilai kept trying to clamber on top of Godoma, who was completely submerged in the muddy water, as others wallowed around them, trunks waving in the air. Ndotto and Mbegu played a light water sparring game while Losoito excitedly splashed mud with her trunk. After cooling off, Tamiyoi did yoga stretches on the mound of soil, Ndotto scratched himself against the rock on the edge of the wallow, and Mbegu massaged herself against the baobab tree. Manda, Akina and Kenderi enjoyed an afternoon dust bath, posing, rolling and playing on the earth. Laidback Thamana lay relaxing next to them, hosing himself with dust. Ushindi showboated on the edge of the wallow and Kilulu sparred with Lemeki.
When, eventually, the orphans walked off to resume browsing, Godoma remained behind with big boys Ndotto and Ngilai, sparring with her friends in the mud wallow. When Godoma ran off to join the herd, she left Ndotto on his own in the water and Ngilai standing under the shade of the tree.
The stockade dependent orphans lined up for breakfast at the feeding trough, enjoying range cubes after the milk feed. Ashanti opted for an early morning dust bath while Tagwa and Tamiyoi massaged their backsides on the rock next to the water trough.
The orphans then left the stockades and spent the morning browsing along the hill towards the baobab watering point. In the afternoon, they gathered around the trough to quench their thirst. Ushindi posed with her foot on the wall before joining the others around the wallow. The weather was cool and so the orphans avoided the mud wallow. Busara and Itinyi splashed on the edge as the others browsed on lush greens surrounding the wallow.
After wandering in the bush until close to dusk, the herd returned to the stockades, meeting up with Ndotto and Ngilai along the way.
On another wonderful morning, current and former orphans mingled in front of the stockades to enjoy breakfast treats of range cubes and lucerne grass after the milk feed. Ndotto and Ngilai left with Mweya and her herd of ex-orphans, leaving the dependent orphans behind to play and bond in the compound. Itinyi and Kenderi sparred with each other while Losoito stood on her own waiting for Lemeki. A minute later, Lemeki greeted her little friend with a rumble and a trunk hug.
The orphans settled down to browse on Msinga Hill just above the stockades. Tamiyoi, with Thamana, Rokka, Manda and Dabida in tow, walked to the top of the hill while browsing on acacia branches. Matriarch Mbegu and deputy matriarch Godoma stayed at the bottom with Baraka, Busara, Ashanti and Epiya.
In the afternoon, the orphans returned to the stockades for the next milk feed. Many plunged into the mud wallow where they were soon joined by Ngilai and Ndotto, our vagabond bulls. Climbing out of the mud, cheeky Hildana mounted matriarch Mbegu as she lay on the mound of dry soil. One by one, the others joined Mbegu for a dust bath while Ngilai did his best to mount Tagwa, Thamana rubbed his rump against the terrace wall and Losoito hers on the water trough. Mbegu led the herd out to browse some more – the elephants did not return until close to dusk today.
On a chilly morning, Hildana gulped down his milk and tried to grab a bottle from the others in his group – Seri, Akina, Kilulu and Lemeki. Hearing indignant trumpeting, Mbegu, Godoma and Tamiyoi ran to the rescue out of their stockade. Hildana was pushed sternly away from the trough and retreated to the terraces for his range cubes.
After filling their bellies, many orphans covered themselves with dry red soil. Losoito and Ushindi stood tall, striking poses while hosing dust along their backs. As Hildana rolled on the ground, he accidentally kicked Ashanti with his back legs. Tamiyoi and Thamana joined Ashanti for a dust bath and Kilulu took on Emoli in a sparring match. The older bull played gently with the younger girl, being careful not to hurt her. When Tamiyoi and Ashanti began digging into the mound with their small tusks, Hildana play mounted Ashanti and Tamiyoi pushed him away. Kenderi clambered onto little Losoito and then Itinyi mounted Kenderi, creating a pile up of elephants.
Rokka led the herd out to the browsing fields. As they walked along, Emoli was trunk hugging Thamana. The orphans spent most of the day enjoying the plentiful browse covering the grasslands.
The orphans emerged from their stockades in the early morning, greeting Ngilai and Ndotto who had spent the night under the tree in the compound. They spread out to enjoy range cubes and lucerne - except for the two bulls who ambled away to browse on the slopes of Msinga Hill.
As the orphans made their way through the bush, they encountered a wild bull in musth. The elephant tagged along with the herd and spent several hours with them. Wary of the stronger aggressive bull, Ngilai and Ndotto walked off in a different direction.
When we called the orphans together in the afternoon, the skittish wild bull disappeared into the bush and our orphans padded down to the mud wallow in groups of four or five. A milk feed was followed by a mud bath and a dust bath. Manda and Rokka splashed in the mud with Itinyi and Kilulu. Thamana rolled onto his back on the mound of soil while Losoito stood next to him, spraying herself with dust. Soon, the herd headed back out to browse, meeting up with Ndotto and Ngilai later in the afternoon.
On a wonderful morning, the orphans emerged from their stockades and spread out over the terraces. Mbegu, Busara, Itinyi and Ashanti gathered around the pile of lucerne while the others finished up the range cubes. Ndotto joined the four elephants at the lucerne as Godoma posed on the famous rock and Kilulu hung out with Juni near the wallow.
Many orphans were having an early morning dust bath. Hildana stood on top of the mound of red soil showboating while Thamana lay on his side lazily splashing. Ashanti did her best to splash red soil over her body with her short trunk as Epiya rubbed his rump against Lemeki while she played a roll-around game with Itinyi.
Rokka was kissing Baraka while they waited in the walkway for the herd. Mbegu and Busara joined Rokka and Baraka and led the herd out on their daily adventure. The orphans spent the morning browsing all over Msinga Hill. Juni and Tagwa stayed together for the whole morning.
In the afternoon, as usual, the elephants visited the mud wallow. Tagwa posed under the baobab tree and Ngilai, Manda, Losoito, Kilulu and Mbegu rolled around on the pile of soil, hosing themselves with soothing dust while playing. Kilulu carried on playing with Itinyi as the rest of the herd walked off to resume browsing.
It was breakfast time as usual at the Voi stockades and the orphans were enjoying their pellets and lucerne treats after the milk feed. Ngilai and Ndotto arrived to join the herd after spending the night out with their ex-orphan friends.
After breakfast, Rokka led the way as the orphans left the stockades in a straggly line, heading towards Msinga Hill. They settled on the slopes of the hill, browsing towards the baobab water trough. Tamiyoi climbed to the summit, plucking down acacia branches as she ambled along. She was joined by Tagwa, Juni and Dabida.
In the afternoon, the orphans came down the hill for another milk feed, emptying their bottles in groups and padding on to the mud wallow. Mbegu, Godoma, Tamiyoi, Akina and Kilulu stopped off to drink from the trough before joining their friends in the muddy water. After cooling off in the wallow, Lemeki, Busara, Juni, Losoito and Baraka clambered out for a dust bath. Ndotto posed on the edge while Emoli challenged Kilulu to a wrestling game. Mbegu, Busara and Baraka were left behind on the mound of soil as everyone else walked out to browse. Ndotto and Ngilai spent the night out again.
Big bulls Ndotto and Ngilai returned in the morning. Ndotto trunk hugged Mbegu while Ngilai ran to the range cubes trough and then to the lucerne pile. Ushindi was trunk kissing Mbegu as she stood with Losoito in the lucerne feeding area. Losoito does not mind sharing her big sister - unlike Busara who would have pushed Ushindi away. Thamana scratched himself on the famous rock and Kenderi dug with his tusks into the earth – until Itinyi ambled over to play mount his friend. Ushindi took his place and continued digging into the red soil with her sharp tusks.
As usual, Rokka led the herd out to the browsing fields with Mbegu bringing up the rear. The orphans spent the morning wandering over the savannah before visiting the mud wallow in the afternoon.
After splashing in the water, Rokka posed elegantly on the mound of red soil, Busara rolled around on her back, Ndotto hosed clouds of dust in every direction, and Godoma hugged Baraka. As Itinyi and Manda continued wallowing, Tagwa and Busara massaged their backsides on the acacia tree, Seri posed next to them, and Hildana and Lemeki scratched themselves against another tree.
On another wonderful morning, the orphans lined up at the feeding trough full of range cubes. Hildana nudged Ashanti as she bent down to feed but Tamiyoi came to her rescue and pushed Hildana away from the trough. Rokka wandered away to join Lemeki, Thamana and Losoito around the pile of lucerne.
The orphans soon left the stockades for their daily adventure, spreading out to browse over the rocky Msinga Hill. When a wild elephant family appeared from the other side of the hill, Godoma ran down the hill to join them, shaking her head and rumbling to attract the attention of all the orphans.
In the afternoon, Losoito trumpeted as she sprinted down the hill, protesting because she had been left behind by her friends. After emptying her bottle, cheeky Ashanti tried (unsuccessfully) to grab Epiya’s bottle as she was standing next to her.
Down at the wallow, Emoli and Lemeki stopped off to drink from the trough before joining the herd in the muddy pool. The young bulls were throwing their weight around today - Thamana clambered on top of Ashanti on one side of the wallow while Hildana did the same to stocky Losoito on the other side. Kenderi was busy massaging his backside against the water trough and had to catch up with the herd when they walked back out to the bush.
Mweya’s and Mudanda’s herds of ex-orphans visited the stockades this morning after staying away for over a week. They ambled up the path at dawn, mingling with the resident orphans at the trough and in the lucerne area. After filling their bellies, many enjoyed an early morning dust bath. Ushindi, Losoito, Tamiyoi and Godoma rolled around on the dry soil, creating clouds of dust, while Hildana did his best to climb on top of Thamana and then trunk hugged and kissed Kilulu. The herd soon headed out, leaving Hildana showboating on the mound.
Out in the field, a wild bull in musth approached Tagwa, evidently in season, as the herd browsed around her. Slowly the orphans parted as they saw the wild bull approaching, evidently trying to single out Tagwa, and we all watched in anticipation as to how Tagwa might react to his advances! To our surprise she welcomed him and allowed him to approach, bumping heads together in quite a moving way. The rest of the herd remained close by as Tagwa courted and eventually mated with the wild bull.
At noon we shepherded the herd back to the stockades for their milk feed. The wild bull was now behaving aggressively, and we did not want to put the younger orphans at any risk. The bull followed the herd however, arriving minutes after they arrived at the compound. When they walked back out to browse, he tagged along and spent the afternoon with Tagwa. In the evening, when the others returned to their stockades, Tagwa stayed out with her boyfriend – along with Ndotto and Ngilai.
Neither the wild bull nor the ex-orphans visited the stockades this morning. After witnessing the mating of Tagwa with the bull yesterday, today Ndotto and Ngilai were pestering her. They kept chasing her and trying to mount her – she was not at all receptive to their advances, pushing them away and walking up to the top of the hill. In solidarity, most of the herd followed her up the hill, ensuring that the two bulls could not come near her again. Godoma and adopted baby Baraka enjoyed browsing over the big rocks. The hill still has plenty of green browse.
In the afternoon, the orphans came down the hill for a milk feed and to visit the mud wallow. Many swam in the muddy pool as it was another hot day. After wallowing with his friends, Kenderi climbed out and challenged Itinyi to a sparring match. Hildana, Kilulu, Juni, Akina, Ushindi, Seri and Dabida played on the mound of red soil, rubbing against each other amid clouds of dust, while Losoito massaged herself against the famous rock. When we whistled, the herd meandered out for the afternoon browsing session.
This morning, the orphaned elephants headed straight for the pile of lucerne after the milk and range cubes feed. Seri and Tamiyoi both grabbed a stash of grass and walked over to the rocks outside their stockade with the lucerne balanced on their heads. They squatted on the large rocks, massaging their rumps and eating lucerne at the same time. After filling their bellies and playing on the terraces, the herd headed out to the field led by Rokka and Manda at the beginning of a busy browsing day.
In the afternoon, the orphans played lots of mud bathing games. Some splashed water in every direction as others tumbled over each other or submerged their bodies in the muddy pool. Godoma scratched herself against the baobab tree while Mbegu checked on Busara who was lying down and playing on the dust hill. When Busara stood up to greet the matriarch, Mbegu gave her huge trunk hugs. After cooling off in and around the wallow, the herd ambled back to the stockades, browsing as always along the way.
Mweya’s and Mudanda’s herds of ex-orphans visited the stockades this morning. They arrived at dawn and stood under the tree, clustered around little Mwangaza. Our resident orphans soon emerged and joined them at the feeding trough and around the pile of lucerne.
After breakfast, the orphans headed out and settled down to browse on Msinga Hill. Ndotto and Ngilai left the stockades last, walking out in a different direction. Busara twisted down acacia branches while Kilulu showboated as he browsed next to Manda and Tamiyoi.
In the afternoon, the herd returned to the stockades for their milk feed. A group of school children visited to learn about conservation. While they watched the orphans enjoying their milk, we spoke to them about the elephants, the impacts of poaching, causes of climate change and threats to wildlife.
Ndotto and Ngilai arrived at the stockades later in the day – they had a mud wallow and a dust bath and spent the night with the dependent herd.
On a wonderful sunny morning, former and current orphans mingled in front of the stockades. Ngilai and Godoma scratched their backsides on the rock by the entrance and then Ngilai trunk hugged little Seri in the walkway. Lemeki, Hildana, Ashanti and Kenderi enjoyed an early morning dust bath. After kicking up clouds of dust, Lemeki rolled onto her back on the mound while Ushindi dug down with her sharp little tusks. Ashanti and Ushindi entwined trunks as they sparred with each other. Hildana rolled around on the other side of the mound and then tried to mount Ashanti until he was distracted by a wrestling challenge from Lemeki. Kilulu and Kenderi were also playing the pushing game. With Tamiyoi lying lazily next to them, Godoma and Hildana had a tug of war over a tasty branch.
Eventually, the orphans made their way out to the browsing fields. Rokka led the herd while Losoito and Godoma trunk kissed and hugged matriarch Mbegu and Hildana pestered Ashanti, grabbing her little trunk.
In the afternoon, the stockade dependants had their milk feed and wallowed in the baobab mud hole. Godoma and Epiya drank from the trough with Tagwa standing close. Her boyfriend seems to have disappeared for the time being and Tagwa is happy in the company of her friends. This evening she, Ndotto and Ngilai spent the night out however, and she could be spending this time in the company of her boyfriend. Tagwa is clearly making great strides to becoming more independent and only time will tell when she might break away from the dependent herd, either with other Voi orphans or perhaps joining up with some of the older ex-orphans.
On a cooler morning, the dependent orphans had the stockades to themselves as the ex-orphans were nowhere to be seen. They had plenty of space at the feeding trough and around the lucerne – not only Ndotto and Ngilai but also Tagwa spent the night out and could be seen browsing on the hill behind the stockades.
Moments later Rokka and Losoito led the herd out to the foot of Msinga Hill. Ushindi, Akina and Hildana browsed side by side, Lemeki was with Losoito and Itinyi, and Godoma teamed up with Ndotto to amble away from the herd. Feisty Kenderi invited Kilulu to a sparring match – Kilulu pulled down bushes trying to scare Kenderi away, but Kenderi never backs out of a wrestling fight. An unbothered Thamana browsed besides them, ignoring all the posturing.
In the afternoon, the orphans visited the mud wallow but no one got in the water. Ushindi paused to drink from the trough, while Manda scratched himself on the peacock tree. The orphans then resumed browsing deep in the woods for the rest of the day.
Mweya’s and Mudanda’s herds of ex-orphans returned before dawn today, standing close together for warmth while they waited for daylight and range cubes. The orphans padded down the path to join them at the trough full of cubes. Kenderi massaged every part of his body against the wall of the lower terrace before strolling over to his friends to show them his trick of scratching while lifting one leg. Several elephants played some wonderful soil dusting games before following Rokka, Manda and Tamiyoi to the field at the beginning of a long day of browsing.
In the afternoon, the herd returned to the stockades - as the schoolchildren visited again today. Epiya rolled around on the ground, showing off to the children, while Baraka happily rubbed her head against big sister Godoma. Ngilai stretched out his trunk in greeting to the children.
The orphaned elephants later resumed browsing on top of Msinga Hill. In the evening, as has become their habit, Ngilai and Ndotto hung out in front of the stockades for a time before moving out to spend the night on the hill, returning in the morning for breakfast.
Ngilai and Ndotto arrived first this morning, followed by ex-orphans Mweya, Mudanda, Sagala, Pika Pika, Rorogoi, Naipoki, Sagala, Pika Pika, Kihari, Mbirikani and Panda, and Mweya’s babies Mwitu and Mwangaza. After the morning milk feed, the dependent orphans and the visitors gathered for their routine range cubes feed before playing and bonding on the terraces.
In the afternoon, after drinking from the water trough, Ndotto wallowed for a few minutes in the baobab tree water hole before squatting on the rocky edge to massage his bottoms. Clambering out of the water, he enjoyed another scratching against a delonix tree and then a dust bath with friends on the mound of red soil. Kilulu and Manda had a wonderful head-on wrestling match with Lemeki looking on. Kilulu and Lemeki then played a pushing game. Leaving Lemeki with chubby Losoito, Kilulu drank from the water trough and jogged out to catch up with the herd as they left for the afternoon browsing session.
The sun was still bright on Msinga Hill. As the others ambled up the hill, Lemeki and Losoito sheltered from the sun in the shade of a big rock while Ngilai and Thamana stood under a different rock.
Mweya’s and Mudanda’s herds of ex-orphans visited again this morning. After preparing the bottles at first light, we opened the doors and the orphans sprinted down the path in groups, gulped their milk in seconds and walked on to the feeding trough. Afterwards, the large herd greeted each other and played for a short time in the compound. Thamana scratched against the big rock close to the trough, Losoito chose the low-lying famous rock where she was joined by Kilulu, while Godoma massaged her neck against another large boulder. When Kilulu saw Hildana and Epiya kissing with trunks entwined, the jealous bull walked over. He twisted his trunk around Hildana’s head as he tried to pull him away from Epiya.
The orphaned elephants later left for browsing and had a peaceful morning on the hill. In the afternoon, they returned to the stockades as more school children were visiting.
Ngilai and Ndotto spent the night outside the stockades near the lucerne feeding area. Ex-orphan Mweya’s herd ambled up the path just after midnight. They joined our two bulls and stayed with them until just before dawn when they moved out to the bush.
On a cool morning, the dependent orphans gulped down their delicious milk and joined Mbegu, Ndotto, Ngilai, Tamiyoi, Tagwa, Emoli and Godoma at the feeding trough. The Keepers had a special treat for the orphans today. Range cubes are a delicacy and the elephants coiled their trunks to scoop up as many as possible. Seri was a little greedy and pushed Dabida away from the trough. Dabida lost her balance for a moment and trumpeted in alarm so the Keepers intervened, ordering Seri away.
The herd headed out to browse for the morning before visiting the mud wallow in the afternoon. Today, rather than getting into the wallow, they chose to cool off in small pans of warmer rainwater still dotted about. Mbegu, Juni and Losoito splashed in one together, while Godoma, Baraka, Akina, Busara, Rokka and Epiya played in another bigger one. The rest of the browsing day was peaceful.
The herd didn’t have to share the stockade compound with any other elephants this morning. After filling their bellies, they headed out to the browsing grounds, walking along behind Rokka and Tamiyoi.
The afternoon was wonderful. After milk feeding, the orphans drank from the trough at the baobab water hole. They were reluctant to bathe in the wallow following the short rain shower in the morning. Only Losoito climbed in but soon got out when Kilulu play mounted her as soon as she lay down in the mud. Mbegu and Juni lay in one small pool of rainwater. Emoli tried to join them but there was no space as the two girls filled the entire puddle. Juni was having a lovely time lying on Mbegu and pretending that she was a small baby. Godoma, Baraka, Hildana, Dabida and Seri found a larger puddle that was perfect for mud bathing. After cooling off and dusting, the herd ambled back to the safety of the stockades for the night. Ndotto and Ngilai walked back with the herd but spent the night outside the stockades.
We have not seen Lasayen and Murit this month but are not worried. The bulls are old enough to be independent and we believe that they are with a wild herd quite far away from the stockades.