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It was a Christmas come early for the Umani elephants when Umani received three new babies from the Nursery: Latika, Kamili, and Kerrio. The reception was very good for the Umani orphans, who received more nannies to help care for the little babies. Then came the New Year in January as we celebrated a happy New Year 2026. The Umani herd now has more babies and mostly girls.

Kerrio and Enkesha had a very good time this morning while eating their pellets. Then Kiasa joined them with Zigi. Kerrio went and grabbed Zigi from Kiasa and played around with him joyfully. Latika got jealous and also wanted to take Zigi away from Kerrio, but Kiasa denied them both. Latika then stopped and returned to Kamili. Kerrio joined the girls, and all three babies, led by Kerrio, went into the bushes where they found green, fresh grass to eat together.

Later, Kapei and Amali tried to join them, but Kerrio was not happy with Kapei, knowing he would bully them. This made Latika and Kamili persuade Kerrio to move, and she took them to another place, away from Kapei and Amali.

When it was time to move on, the babies were led by Kerrio, who kept showing her leadership skills, even to the older Umani sisters who followed her from behind. Kerrio keeps proving to the older girls that any leadership vacuum should come her way. She is showing that she was ready to take up the role, having been trained at the Nairobi Nursery, where she was the head girl, and now at Umani she continues to show that she remained a leader to watch.

This morning, Murera did not allow any baby to get close to her side except Mwana. Lenny walked straight towards Murera, and before he could reach her, Murera warned him with a rumble. Lenny continued asking Murera to allow him to nurse, but Murera was not in a good mood.

Lenny screamed as if Murera were his mother. Lima Lima did not respond, knowing that her baby boy is very stubborn, and that Murera was right to discipline him. Mwana walked over to calm him down and took him to where Sulwe was with Enkesha, playing around in the tall grass. Kerrio walked over with Kamili and joined them.

The Keepers called Sonje to walk all the babies, but Sonje just took off with her baby Sulwe and left the other babies with Quanza. Mwashoti and Maktao started their pushing game, with Maktao trying to push Mwashoti away. When Kapei saw them, he ran fast and joined them, but Mwashoti did not want Maktao to push Kapei. Instead, he stood in between the two boys, trying to make peace between Kapei and his friend Maktao.

Enkesha is now beginning to develop unique behaviour, shifting from her usual character. Normally very calm and gentle, young Enkesha today appeared very quiet, trying to avoid all the orphans and wanting to stay away from everyone. When Amali and Lenny moved off to spend some time together, Enkesha skipped away from them.

When all the babies were deep in the forest, browsing together as one team, some bulls appeared from nowhere and joined the orphans. When Murera saw them, all the babies stopped and raised their big ears in disbelief. When the bulls approached, something happened that the Keepers never imagined would involve little Enkesha. She became the chosen girl to entertain the new bulls, while Sonje, Murera, and Zongoloni watched from a distance. The Keepers stayed back as well, keeping a safe distance but remaining close to Latika, Kamili, and Kerrio.

Enkesha, however, seemed very comfortable with the bulls. When it became clear that their interest was focused on her, Murera, Sonje, and the other girls moved away with the little babies, leaving Enkesha in courtship with her newfound admirers. The courtship lasted a long time, and Enkesha eventually tired of it. She left the bulls and returned to the herd.

This decision frustrated the bulls. Seeing how the situation could escalate, the Keepers led Kerrio, Latika, and Kamili away from the scene, as the three girls are still very new, and the Keepers did not want to risk losing them to the wild elephants.

It has been a celebration for all the babies at Umani Springs, including wild friends who came along with the night clubbers, all finding treats to celebrate together. Maktao found a new wild young friend who paid a visit and joined at the lucerne area. Maktao and the other orphans welcomed the young wild bull, who stayed close to Maktao and not near the girls. He seemed aware that the girls would chase him away, with little babies clustered around their mothers, so he chose to keep company with Maktao. Kapei feared him, while Kamili, Latika, and Kerrio separated themselves from Maktao and his wild junior friend.

Within the Kibwezi Forest, some wild elephants were heard trumpeting and charging through the bushes, making Murera fearful. She called her baby, Mwana, to move quickly to her side, and together they moved away from the wild families, who were making a lot of noise. Murera was very cautious and did not trust them. She knew that even if she did not run away, she could be injured in the process. The Keepers called all the orphans to walk out of the bushes, and Latika and Kamili were the first to appear behind them.

Lima Lima and Zongoloni were held back when Lenny and Zigi got involved with wild youngsters playing around them, causing their mothers to wait before leaving the bushes, where the wild herd and their babies were still playing with Lenny and Zigi. Sonje and Sulwe, however, did not wait and came out to where the Keepers were calling them.

Kerrio led Latika and Kamili to the bottles, with Amali following behind. Kapei then rushed out of the bushes towards his bottle when he saw Latika standing next to one. Kapei pushed Latika, thinking his bottle was being taken, which was not the case. Latika had already finished his bottle and was simply standing there, waiting for Kerrio to lead them on to the next step.

Many wild bulls were turning up and attempting courtship with Enkesha, which the Keepers still viewed as playful behaviour towards such a young girl. However, Enkesha showed some interest, which attracted the bulls. One non-resident bull approached Enkesha and she paused for a brief smelling exchange before the bull left her alone with the orphans. This serious-looking bull had a twisted left tusk that bent noticeably, while the right tusk was straight. His left eye also appeared torn in the middle, giving him a very distinctive appearance. He was a total stranger to us, and the Keepers had never seen him before today.

It seems Enkesha is slowly beginning to attract more attention, much like Lima Lima did in her younger days, although Enkesha plays her cards very quietly. She will no doubt win many admirers when the right time comes. The other girls did not want to be associated with the bull or Enkesha, and instead gave them plenty of space to move around while they went about their own activities. If the interaction was successful, Enkesha could wander with him, and if not, she was welcomed back to the stockade to be with her team at home.

Lenny was seen running alongside a wild bull and looked very tiny standing next to him. Despite his size, Lenny showed the wild bull that, even as a young boy, he did not care how big the bull was.

As it became time for all the babies to head home, some wild-born females with calves emerged and escorted the orphans part of the way. During the journey, Amali and Kiasa attempted to separate a wild-born calf from its mother. The mothers reacted immediately, chasing them off and stopping the attempt. Kiasa then returned to her own baby, Zigi, as the orphans lined up to head home for the evening.

The morning was chilly and misty, making it difficult for everyone to see well. The elephants, however, appeared unbothered. Sonje and Quanza raised their trunks above their heads after picking up the scent of wild elephants nearby. The Keepers could not see clearly in the mist, but they noticed Murera running back towards them with her ears raised, clearly alarmed. This helped the Keepers realise that two wild bulls were within the herd.

For safety, the Keepers moved back with Murera to the stockades, leaving the others outside with the wild bulls. One of the bulls remained with Enkesha, still attempting courtship, but Enkesha showed no interest. Eventually, the bull gave up and walked away into the bushes, giving both Murera and the Keepers some relief.

Once the situation settled, everyone regrouped and joined Kerrio, Latika, Kamili, and the others to begin the day’s journey towards the hills. Sonje and Lima Lima later changed their minds and chose a different direction, prompting Murera to follow them. It was a mutual decision, and the three moved off together.

Meanwhile, Kapei took off with Mwashoti and Maktao, engaging in rough pushing games deeper into the Kibwezi forest. Quanza went after them in an attempt to stop the escalating behaviour, but Mwashoti turned on Quanza, forcing her to withdraw. The boys were left to sort out their own disagreements.

Latika came out running immediately after finishing her bottle and didn’t wait for her friends Kerrio and Kamili to walk out together. She rushed for the pellets but found none were available when she arrived, so she had to wait for Kamili and Kerrio as the Keeper pulled out the wheelbarrow to distribute the pellets to everyone.

Amali and Mwana tried to go toward the Nairobi girls, but they were not allowed to mix with Kerrio, Latika, and Kamili, who were all in a state. The Keepers stood in between Amali and Mwana to stop them from frustrating the girls.

Lenny walked to his favourite nanny, Murera, to request some milk. He remained very bright and knew how to ask before being allowed. After a short while, Murera kicked him out and walked away. Zigi approached Lenny from behind and pushed his bottom, which started a tug-of-war between Zigi and Lenny. The Keepers intervened, with Kiasa and Quanza standing strong between them because Kiasa saw Zigi was being overpowered and needed help.

Sonje was not around at the time, having taken Sulwe into the forest, away from the other orphans, followed by Mwashoti. Later, Kapei and Maktao joined Sonje. The fighting stopped when Sonje divided the team, leaving Murera with another group. Mwana and her mother, along with Amali, did not go with Sonje but stayed nearby with the Keepers.

Kiasa arrived with her little friend, Zigi, who walked holding a stick in his trunk as if it were a toothpick. Kiasa kept a close eye on Zigi at all times, not letting him out of her sight. Amali tried to approach Zigi midway, but Kiasa would not give any chance, forcing Amali to look for another baby. Zigi had no opportunity to be with Amali.

Kamili and Kerrio arrived with Lenny, who accepted to follow them slowly from behind. Amali acted kindly and lay down so Lenny could climb on her, which made him attempt to jump over her. However, Amali was too tall for him, so his plan failed. Lenny then returned to Sulwe, a serious little girl who had been observing his steps. Sulwe confronted Lenny, and the two little babies, a girl and a boy of similar age, had a brief fight to establish respect. The scuffle was resolved by their mothers, with Sonje intervening, after which Lenny ran back to his savior, Murera. Murera wrapped him under her belly, blocking everyone from approaching him, except Mwana, who walked over to touch him and then left after calming him down.

At the waterhole, the babies arrived running for their midday feeding. When Lima Lima grabbed her bottle, little Lenny also seized a bottle and demanded to feed, causing lots of screaming over the bottles. The Keepers devised a plan and gave him a small amount of milk that was still inside a bottle. After finishing, Lenny kicked the bottle away with his feet.

This morning, several huge wild bulls visited the stockades among the orphans who slept outside. Jasiri and Faraja were among those that arrived early, and they also invited some of their wild friends. At first, the Keepers were unaware of their intentions. However, Faraja moved away briefly, appearing to consult with Enkesha in typical elephant fashion. When Faraja returned and rejoined his friend Jasiri, the Keepers realised the true intentions of the visiting bulls.

The wild bulls suddenly charged and took Enkesha away from the herd, disappearing with her into the bush. The Keepers could hear them moving, and the situation became very tense. Murera and her group ran off to create distance, giving Enkesha space to be with the wild bulls. For the Keepers, it was an unexpected sight to see young Enkesha being singled out for courtship. They felt it was early for her, but the elephants clearly knew otherwise. It was a wait-and-see situation to observe how far the courtship would go.

Later, one tusker bull returned with his chosen companion, Enkesha, to the mud bath. He waited patiently while Enkesha drank her bottle and did not leave her side. When Enkesha stepped back to go swimming, the bull stayed hidden in the bushes, carefully watching and keeping his distance from the Keepers, calculating how to reach her while she was still under their protection.

When Faraja attempted to approach Enkesha, the wild bull charged at him and chased him into the bush. He did not want any other bulls near Enkesha. Soon after, more large bulls arrived and chased away the bull who believed himself to be the chosen one. A dominant bull asserted himself and forced the other away. Feeling threatened, Enkesha retreated within the orphan herd, staying close to her Keepers for safety.

This morning, Latika, Kamili, and Kerrio walked out from the night stockades to the gate as the elephants got ready for a new day. Latika moved over to Mwana and had some close ear talks. Later, we saw Mwana leave and return to Amali, but Amali was not happy after receiving the report that Mwana gave her.

Kapei tried to approach where Kerrio, Latika, and Kamili were enjoying their pellets, but the Keepers blocked him, as he was likely to disrupt the peaceful time the three girls were enjoying together. Kapei is known for bullying them, which is why the Keepers watched his movements very keenly and stopped him from joining them.

Later, several buffalo attempted to approach the pathways leading to the Umani Springs — the same direction Murera and Sonje had decided to go. Lima Lima acted as the security of the herd, defending the Keepers and the younger babies. She moved upfront and yelled loudly, stopping the buffalo. Lima Lima successfully drove all the buffalo out of sight. The area then became safe and cleared of danger.

Murera kept Lenny and Mwana safe, walking with them by her side. Lenny stayed tucked under the big elephant for the protection he needed.

Most of the Umani orphans are now beginning to return to the milk-dependent group. Today, Jasiri showed up with Faraja. They were welcomed home by Lima Lima and Sonje, who arrived alongside them. When Murera spotted Jasiri and Faraja, she appeared unhappy, as she worried that they might be rough around her. Their return meant she would no longer enjoy the freedom she had when they were away from the herd.

Mwana walked over to her mother and rumbled, and Murera rumbled back in response. As soon as Mwana reached Murera, Lenny joined them, and the three moved off together in the opposite direction from where Jasiri and Faraja were playing with Mwashoti and the other girls. Several others followed Murera.

The Keepers then called everyone to follow from behind, and Kamili, Latika, and Kerrio came running after them. Kerrio led the Nairobi girls before moving to where the Keepers stopped for a short rest. Latika and Kamili also stopped and chose to rest close to the Keepers.

Mwana was later seen trying to get back to Kerrio and sniffing around. When Kamili noticed Mwana attempting to smell Kerrio, she charged at her and stopped Mwana from getting closer. Kamili still seemed to think that Mwana was trying to bully them, as the Nursery girls had only returned a few days earlier. Today, Kamili decided that Mwana needed to learn her lesson. She pushed Mwana firmly, after which Mwana stopped sniffing around Kerrio and Kamili and moved away, leaving them alone.

As reported yesterday, since the start of the new year 2026, many ex-orphans have begun returning home to visit their Keepers, to make their caregivers happy, and to say thank you as the year 2025 ended only a few weeks ago.

This morning, Alamaya and Jasiri arrived with their close friend Faraja and reported to the pellets feeding area, making their presence known to the Keepers. It was clear that Alamaya, Faraja, and Jasiri were doing well despite having been away for many months. They appeared keen to be part of the new year period and to spend some time with the Keepers, Murera, and the rest of the herd.

Later, Alamaya and Faraja walked behind one corner of the stockades and returned with a very large bull, which alarmed the Keepers and forced them to retreat inside the stockades for safety until the bulls moved off.

The presence of Faraja, Alamaya, and Jasiri soon revealed a deeper purpose that had not been immediately clear to the Keepers. Faraja walked directly into the middle of the orphan group, where the babies were enjoying themselves around their nannies. Kiasa, Enkesha, and Amali were busy with Zigi, Lenny, and Sulwe. To the Keepers’ disbelief, Faraja and Jasiri moved quickly towards Enkesha, singled her out, and drew her away from the herd.

Moments later, when Enkesha was already inside thick bush, her screams were heard, followed by the sound of two large bulls moving in. It became apparent that this had been carefully planned. The wild bulls had used Faraja as a go-between to separate Enkesha from the Keepers and the crowded area, allowing them to approach her away from interference.

The courtship appeared to have been ongoing for some time, with the bulls determined to claim Enkesha as a mate. Although Enkesha still seemed reluctant and unwilling, the bulls were persistent, which explained the strategy involving Faraja and Jasiri to draw her away from the safety of the herd.

Enkesha and her wild bull companions were camping by the gate this morning. Enkesha looked very sleepy, having been pursued by the bulls for much of the night. It seems they are still trying their luck with little Enkesha.

As this is nature and Enkesha was clearly in estrous, there was nothing the Keepers could do to intervene. They had to allow the elephants to communicate in their own way and come to their own agreement with Enkesha. When more bulls appeared, the Keepers stepped back, giving space and leaving the orphans and wild elephants to have their own interactions while maintaining a safe distance.

At the mud bath, the orphans arrived ready for their midday bottle feeding. Before Murera came for her bottle, a wild bull arrived and immediately focused his attention on Enkesha. At the time, Enkesha, Quanza, and Zongoloni were swimming together at the waterhole. The bull crossed over, but Enkesha managed to dodge him.

The wild bulls then approached Faraja and used him to shepherd Enkesha out of the herd. Faraja did as directed by his wild companions and escorted Enkesha away to the waiting bulls. After leaving Enkesha with them, Faraja returned to Murera and Sonje, while Enkesha remained with the wild bulls.

Sulwe and Lenny proved to be very clever as Sonje and Lima Lima ran for their bottle-feeding time. Lenny and Sulwe also ran along and stopped under their mothers’ bellies, waiting for milk drops to fall to the ground. Today was especially interesting, as Lenny and Sulwe were seen pulling their mothers’ trunks, trying to make them drop the bottles so they could get milk drops. When Lima Lima refused to drop her bottle, Lenny screamed loudly in protest. A Keeper looked for some empty bottles and gave them to the two babies, but Sulwe and Lenny quickly realised the bottles were dry. They kicked the bottles and put them in their mouths, showing their anger at not getting any milk.

Murera then rumbled to calm Lenny. When Lenny heard Murera rumbling, he walked over and went under her, pleading to nurse. Murera was not in a good mood at first, and Lenny kept pleading and then screamed. This time, Murera allowed him to nurse. Later, they moved towards the Chyulu side, where Jasiri and Alamaya had headed to browse.

Kiasa, with Zongoloni, followed Latika, Kerrio, and Kamili into the bushes. Latika found some sweet branches and tried to pull them down, but they were too strong for her short trunk. Mwashoti and Maktao came to help by pulling the whole branch down, allowing everyone to enjoy it together, including Kamili and Kerrio.

Mwana and Amali were not very friendly towards Kerrio and Kamili. When Mwana saw Kamili enjoying the branches, she walked over to Amali, and the two returned to bully Kamili. This was not a good decision. Kamili charged at Mwana, forcing her to retreat in disbelief, as she did not expect Kamili to stand her ground. It was Kamili’s turn to assert herself after settling in from the nursery. Kerrio, Kamili, and Latika now know everyone’s characters and showed their colours to Mwana, Amali, and the other orphans.

Since Enkesha began her courtship with a wild bull that the Keepers had never seen before, many bulls have continued to arrive, trying to persuade Enkesha to allow them to mate. It was not easy for Enkesha to come to an agreement with these giants. She remained undecided, which led the bulls to start fighting among themselves, as none was willing to give way. Enkesha could not allow every bull to mate with her, and it became up to the bulls to fight for dominance.

Some junior bulls remained nearby as gatekeepers, but they stood little chance against the dominant bull. The wild bull with very long, heavy tusks overpowered the others and chased them out of sight, leaving himself the only chance to mate. This was the moment Enkesha mated for the first time.

Faraja was sent to speak with his sister Enkesha and guide her into an open area for the dominant bull. Faraja did as instructed and led Enkesha to them before returning to Murera and her group. Enkesha then disappeared with four bulls into their hideout, away from the Keepers. Lenny and Lima Lima moved back, leaving Enkesha with her wild companions.

The orphans went out this morning and celebrated their pellets. The nightclubbers arrived later, after Murera and her team had already started enjoying their pellets. The Keepers kept a close watch on Kerrio, Latika, and Kamili to ensure that Amali or any other older babies did not disrupt their time. Since they are slow eaters, the three girls do not finish as quickly as the other orphans. Latika and Kerrio are the slowest eaters.

The Nairobi girls still show respect to Mwana and Amali — and sometimes, Mwana and Amali misuse that respect and try to intimidate the girls. Today, however, things were different. When Amali and Mwana turned and faced Kerrio, Kamili reacted immediately. She jumped forward and blocked Amali and Mwana. The Keepers were very happy to see Kamili defending her friends from bullying, and Amali and Mwana retreated back into the herd.

Murera and Sonje then led the orphans into the deep forest for the new day. Mwashoti, Alamaya, and Faraja later emerged from the bushes and joined the orphans. Murera was surprised to see Faraja and Alamaya approaching with Mwashoti, as she had not seen them earlier. A wild bull appeared some time later and joined Alamaya and Faraja.

Before the mud bath, the situation became tense again when Enkesha appeared with her bull companions, running through the bushes. Murera and the Keepers prioritised safety and moved the herd away. It has been about a week since the elephants last had a normal mud bath, and today all of them missed the mud bath.

Enkesha again arrived today with several giant bulls, and among them was one very big tusker, the one she chose as her mate. He was a strong bull with a huge body. She did not choose a slim bull, but instead stayed close to the biggest and strongest one.

The bulls did not give Enkesha any space at all. They stayed very close to her, watching every movement she made. Because of this, Enkesha could not even go for her milk bottle, as whenever she moved, the bulls moved with her. For safety reasons, the Keepers kept their distance and stayed well away from the elephants.

Mwana stopped to look at one of the bulls, clearly surprised by his size, before returning quickly to her mother, Murera. Murera then moved away into the bushes with Mwana, and Lenny followed close behind. Sonje rumbled, and Zongoloni, Zigi, and Sulwe followed her as she led them away toward where Murera had gone, keeping the younger ones away from the bulls and Enkesha.

Maktao followed Faraja toward the mating area, but Faraja soon ran into trouble. When the bulls saw him moving toward Enkesha, they seemed to think he was going to take her away. The wild bulls chased Faraja and drove him far from Enkesha to keep him out of the way.

Since the courtship began about two weeks ago, Enkesha has had very little time to browse properly. She looks a bit thin and tired, with sleepy eyes. The Keepers hope that once the mating period ends, Enkesha will be able to rest and feed well again after the long and demanding courtship, which finally ended with one dominant bull overpowering the others and becoming the chosen one.

The honeymoon period Enkesha spent with the giant bulls is coming to an end. The old giants who took on the responsibility of mating with Enkesha have begun to leave, one after another. What remained were only junior bulls, very young ones, who were not capable of mating. Their role now seemed limited to keeping Enkesha company, or perhaps Enkesha was simply entertaining them so that they remained calm. The main business was already a closed chapter, having ended yesterday.

This morning, the wild family that adopted Jasiri arrived again. They came with a small baby girl, who immediately attracted the attention of Kamili and Kerrio. Kerrio, who loves little babies, moved over with Latika and tried hard to befriend the young calf. However, the mother was very alert and quickly stepped in, separating her baby from Kerrio and Latika before anything could happen.

Jasiri, instead of staying close to his wild family, remained near Enkesha. However, he made no attempt to mate, as Enkesha is considered his sister within the family, and such behaviour would be forbidden. Even so, Murera and Sonje watched Jasiri’s movements very carefully, making sure he was not tempted to mount Enkesha. When Jasiri realised this was not an easy situation, he walked away toward Mwashoti and Lima Lima, and later disappeared back into the bushes.

As the orphans prepared to head toward the waterhole for mud bath time, some bulls emerged from the bushes behind the waterhole. This prompted the Keepers to quickly call Kerrio, Latika, and Kamili to follow them closely, to ensure they were not chased or drawn away by the wild bulls into the thick Kibwezi Forest, where it would have been very difficult to bring them back home.

The bulls that had been invading the Umani orphans to court Enkesha took a break today. Enkesha, now that nature’s moment is done, appeared calmer and ready to walk around again with Murera and her team.

Maktao and Kapei, the young stars, were still picking up a unique scent that made them follow Enkesha. However, Enkesha gave them no chance. She defended herself firmly, pushing Maktao away. When Kapei saw that Enkesha rejected Maktao, he retreated and disappeared into the bushes, leaving Enkesha with Mwana and Amali.

Although Enkesha rejoined the herd today, she was very dull. The Keepers couldn’t help but worry about Enkesha, even though everything that happened was natural. She returned home looking exhausted and very thirsty for milk, which she had been unable to get while with the wild bulls.

Enkesha was fortunate today, as Lima Lima and her team missed the midday feeding. The Keepers gave the remaining milk bottles to Enkesha, and Kerrio, Kamili, and Latika were also lucky to receive extra bottles.

Enkesha left last night in the company of Jasiri and the wild bulls. This morning, however, she returned alone. She came to the gate and waited for Murera and her team to come out. It was a good morning for Enkesha, as she was finally getting back into her old routines.

Enkesha stood quietly by the gate, waiting. The Keepers were surprised to see her there alone. Amali rumbled, and Mwana walked over and embraced Enkesha as they communicated in elephant language. The Keepers felt that Mwana and Amali were questioning her about where she had been and where the bulls had gone.

Kerrio, Kamili, and Latika — known to the Keepers as the Nairobi girls — then joined Enkesha, with Amali staying close by her side. At the pellets, all the babies enjoyed feeding together until Kapei approached Latika. Latika recognised his intention and calmly moved away, giving Kapei space to avoid confrontation, as she was not ready for his bullying behaviour. Kamili and Latika then moved to Kerrio, whom they clearly listen to above all others.

When the Keepers called Murera and the herd toward the Umani Hills, Murera refused to follow. Instead, she chose her own direction, one she considered safer. Murera made it clear that her authority was strong, and the babies followed her lead. She showed that it was her decision, not the Keepers’, to determine where the orphans would go to browse.

Latika led Kerrio and Kamili as Murera and her baby Mwana were coming out of the stockades. At the gate, Amali tried to push Latika from behind, but Latika stood her ground and remained unmoved. Eventually, Amali gave way, allowing Latika to reach Kerrio.

Murera and Mwana then proceeded to the pellets. Once all the orphans had eaten and were satisfied, Kerrio led her small group out to the bushes to browse. Murera joined Sonje and Quanza, and the rest of the orphans moved together in one direction, while Kerrio and her team went separately. Kerrio found some good greens that wild elephants had pulled down and left uneaten. She led Kamili and Latika there, but Kapei and his friend Maktao interrupted them. Seeing this, Kerrio decided to walk away, leaving Kapei and his friends behind, as she did not want to deal with their childish behaviour.

Meanwhile, Mwashoti and his team — Quanza, Kiasa, and a newly recruited girl to the nightclubbers — were also present. That friend is Enkesha, who is now part of the nightclubbers as she left the stockades earlier in the month in search of bulls for mating. After the bulls left to pursue their own paths following their “honeymoon,” Enkesha was left alone in the forest. Luckily, Jasiri came to her rescue and brought her back to the stockades, where Lima Lima, Sonje, and Zongoloni welcomed her into their growing team.

The orphans returned from the Umani Hills to the Chyulu Hills area this morning. Murera and her team guided the babies in that direction after failing to find Lima Lima and her team early in the day. The Keepers felt that Murera leading Amali, Kapei, and Maktao together with Kerrio, Kamili, and Latika towards Chyulu had its own purpose. The understanding was that Murera was trying to search all possible areas where Lima Lima and the other nightclubbers might be found.

As Murera and her team crossed through several bushy areas, a group of elephants was detected and Amali began rumbling. She raised her trunk and started smelling around, likely hoping to find Lenny and the others. She searched in different directions but did not find Lima Lima, Lenny, Sonje, or Sulwe. Instead, she came across a wild family with a very small baby, which immediately attracted her. Amali lingered there and failed to return to the herd.

From a distance, Amali was later seen moving off with the wild family, taking on a nanny role to the little wild baby boy. Shortly afterwards, Jasiri emerged from the deep forest and joined Amali with the herd we believe to belongs to Ziwa. The wild mother welcomed Amali, allowing her to help with nanny duties. When Keepers attempted to separate Amali from the wild family, she ran off with the baby into the herd, choosing to remain with them. As a result, Amali spent the night out with the wild elephants.

While this caused some concern for the Keepers, there was also reassurance in knowing that Amali appeared happy and comfortable, especially given her strong affection for young babies. Jasiri and Ziwa were present with her, which helped ease concerns, and the hope was that Amali would return to Murera and her team the following morning, or possibly rejoin Lima Lima and her group when the time felt right to her.

When the rest of the babies returned, Amali was not among them, having chosen to remain with the wild family. Meanwhile, Kapei, who is usually Amali’s neighbour, spent the night without her and took advantage of the situation by eating all the food left in Amali’s room.

Lima Lima and her team arrived very early this morning and spent time patrolling along the fenceline, waiting for the Keepers to open the gate for Murera so that the groups could join up. Lenny was unsettled and made several stops along the fence near the pellets store, raising his trunk and trying to smell the pellets, which he was clearly eager for.

When the Keepers opened the gate, there was great excitement as Lima Lima and her team met Murera and her group. Kerrio led her friends Latika and Kamili forward. Lenny, however, was the one who missed Murera the most. As soon as he spotted her, he went straight to her and begged to be allowed to breastfeed. Murera did not refuse him and allowed Lenny to nurse, which settled him immediately.

Sonje, together with her baby girl Sulwe, ate pellets alongside Kiasa and Enkesha before moving off towards the Umani springs. After drinking fresh water at the springs, Zongoloni, Quanza, and Kapei walked quickly to join Kerrio and Kamili as they led the way towards the hills.

Later, as Lima Lima and her friends were slowly climbing uphill, a wild bull joined the herd. He was about the size of Mwashoti and began engaging him in pushing games. Mwashoti was not playing, however, and tried seriously to drive the bull away, but the bull refused to leave. Eventually, the wild bull overpowered Mwashoti and managed to stay with the orphans. He appeared to bond particularly well with Quanza, who seemed comfortable with his presence and allowed him to remain with the group. Enkesha, however, kept her distance. Having had enough of bulls recently, she chose to stay well away from him.

Since the start of the new year, many wild elephants and large numbers of buffalo have been arriving daily, leaving little space for calm time with the orphans. This began shortly after Enkesha finished her honeymoon with the large wild bull she had chosen. The Keepers wondered about the purpose of these continued visits, as Enkesha’s chapter with the bulls appeared to be closed, and she was now settling back into the herd.

Within Lima Lima’s team, a young junior bull also joined and decided to stay with the orphans. He remained with Lima Lima’s group for about a week, befriending Mwashoti, Quanza, and Maktao. This bull had been introduced by Jasiri, and even after Jasiri left, he continued to spend time with Lima Lima’s team. It was striking to see him enjoying pellets alongside the orphans, though he did not associate with Murera. Whenever Murera came close, she chased him away to keep him at a distance.

At midday bottle feeding, the Keepers guided the herd towards the waterhole so the elephants could wallow. Kerrio, with Latika, Kamili, and Mwana, were the first into the water and began swimming. Many of the older orphans refused to enter. The leaders — Sonje, Murera, and Lima Lima — tested the water with their trunks and appeared unimpressed by the temperature, choosing not to swim. When they moved off towards the bushes, Kerrio, Mwana, Latika, and Kamili followed them.

Two warthogs suddenly emerged from the open fields and ran towards Kerrio, causing Kerrio, Latika, and Kamili to quickly turn back and rejoin the main herd.

Kerrio led Latika and Kamili to the pellets as soon as the Keepers distributed them. A separate feeding area had been prepared for the Nairobi girls, away from the other orphans, as some — including Amali and Kapei — had been attempting to bully them. The Keepers remained alert and closely watched all movements around the feeding area to ensure the girls were left undisturbed.

A short while later, trumpeting was heard from the bushes, and the Keepers stepped back to assess whether it was wild elephants or Lima Lima’s team. Relief followed when Enkesha appeared, recently rejoining the nightclubbers after her honeymoon. Behind her came Lenny, Kiasa, and Quanza. The Keepers were reassured to see the trumpeting was coming from the orphans and not a wild herd.

The Keepers then called the orphans to follow them into the bushes. Murera hesitated and remained behind with Mwana. When she realised she was alone with only her calf, Murera followed Sonje and Zongoloni to where the Keepers were sitting. Lenny briefly approached a Keeper, passed by quietly, and then walked off again.

At the waterhole during midday bottle feeding, once the orphans finished their milk, Quanza and Mwashoti headed towards the water with Sulwe, Kamili, Latika, and Kerrio, eager to swim. At that moment, a rogue wild bull appeared and charged when he picked up human scent. He tried to move towards the area where Murera, Kerrio, Kamili, and Enkesha were splashing water, close to where the Keepers were standing.

The Keepers immediately retreated with Kerrio, Latika, and Mwana, moving everyone out of danger and ensuring the Nairobi girls were not separated from the group. The Keepers remained vigilant until all were safely together again.

It was very interesting to see one young wild bull trying as much as he could to bond with the orphans. At first, the Keepers thought he was just a casual visitor who would come and go, but since he arrived with Jasiri one week ago, he has continued to visit and has stayed close to Lima Lima and her nightclubbers team.

When Lima Lima and her team arrived today, and both groups of orphans lined up behind the Keepers, the bull also formed his own line, following behind and staying with Mwashoti and Quanza at the back. At the bottle-feeding point, the bull stopped when he saw the Keepers giving bottles to the orphans. Mwashoti walked back to keep him company, and again we felt Mwashoti was explaining about the human family giving bottles and why the orphans were not running away.

Kerrio, with Latika and Kamili, were then encouraged by Amali and Kapei to go and say hello to the wild friend who was with Mwashoti. However, when the bull raised his ears, Kerrio and Kamili felt he looked too scary. Amali walked back with Kerrio, and that was the end of their visit to the wild bull.

Mwashoti remained behind and kept the bull company at the waterhole while both were enjoying a mud bath. When Murera and Sonje were satisfied, they moved off, leading their babies back towards the bushes. Mwana stayed close to Murera, while Sulwe walked beside her mother as the group slowly made their way back.

As the day became hotter for the babies, Lima Lima and Kiasa moved Lenny and Zigi into the shade so they could rest out of the heat.

Later, while moving through the bushes, several wild herds joined the area. As bulls took up position around the orphans, Murera was the saviour and cleared a path for everyone. The Keepers called to her, and eventually Lima Lima guided her boy and moved towards the Keepers as she joined Murera.

The Keepers then called Kerrio. Lima Lima helped by shepherding all the babies and the Nairobi girls over to the Keepers, making sure none were left behind with the wild herds.

By the time everyone reached the stockades, all were safe. One bull continued to follow Enkesha, but she showed no interest. Since returning from her honeymoon a few weeks ago, Enkesha appears uninterested in wild bulls and seemed to want a break from them.

When Murera and her team were about to leave for the bushes in the morning, screaming noises from little elephants were heard from the bushes. The Keepers said it was Lima Lima and her friends, and they were right. By now, the Keepers can recognise the voices of the babies, and this time it was Zigi making loud screams.

Zigi continued making noise as his mother walked on. He wanted Zongoloni to stop and give him a chance to nurse, but Zongoloni was in a hurry trying to keep up with her friends. She would not stop, especially as Sonje and Lima Lima were already close to the pellets and Murera was leaving with the other babies towards the bushes.

Amali stopped when she heard the noise and tried to locate where it was coming from, to be sure it was Zigi and Lenny. Once she confirmed the direction, Amali left Kapei and Maktao and hurried to get Zigi and Lenny. Kamili and Kerrio followed Amali to escort the little ones. This was a happy moment for the Nairobi girls, who were keen to be with the babies. Since waking up, they had not seen them, and everyone had been missing little Lenny, Zigi, and Sulwe.

Mwana stood waiting as Kerrio led Sulwe and Lenny back to where Murera was. Lenny’s first stop was under Murera to nurse. Murera had also been missing Lenny, and when he went under her, she rumbled in welcome as she allowed him to nurse.

Mwashoti, Enkesha, and the wild bull who has been bonding well with the orphans joined the group, and they all moved off together towards Chyulu for the new day. Sonje and Quanza waited for Latika, who was still pulling roots using her foot, so she would not be left behind. They wanted to walk as one team, without anyone getting lost. The Keepers continued calling out names, especially as Enkesha stayed very close to Kerrio.

When the elephants returned home after a long day, Mwashoti arrived early and helped himself to all the fresh lucerne that had been put out by the Keepers. He had played his tricks again and got home ahead of everyone. When Sonje and her team arrived later, the Keepers had to bring out more lucerne, as Mwashoti and his wild friends had already eaten everything. 

This morning, as the Keepers began feeding the babies, they started with Murera, followed by Kerrio and Latika. One Keeper stood beside them, while another pushed a wheelbarrow full of pellets towards the gate. At the gate stood Lima Lima and her team, with Lenny and Zigi making a lot of noise as they tried to nurse, their mothers moving closer to the wheelbarrow.

There were many bystanders around, making it difficult for the Keepers to clearly identify whether any wild herds were mixed with the orphans. As Murera was about to move out, she helped alert the Keepers that there were wild elephants outside, signalling that extra care was needed. Behind the stockades, several wild elephants appeared from the rear, while at the gate stood Faraja with two unfamiliar wild bulls, new faces that had never been seen before in the Kibwezi Forest. Most of these elephants were non-resident.

Kerrio and her group were kept inside the stockade compound so that they could eat their pellets safely, rather than going outside where they might be taken away by the wild families. It was interesting to see the wild elephants also eating pellets, leaving the Keepers wondering how they had learnt about them. It became clear that they had copied this behaviour from their orphan friends, eating what they saw the others eating, and they have now become comfortable feeding alongside the orphans.

This situation has also encouraged two young, junior bulls, about Mwashoti’s age, to remain close to the orphans rather than moving away. They now appear settled with the group, and from the Keepers’ observations, they do not seem likely to leave anytime soon.

At midday, a large bull arrived and drew Enkesha away. Since Enkesha completed her honeymoon period, which included a lengthy courtship, many bulls have continued to linger nearby to see her. She still attracts attention, but Enkesha has shown little interest, even when admired. After spending over three weeks with several large bulls and enduring many sleepless nights, she is clearly not ready for further courtship. Although bulls continue to gather around her, Enkesha will not be ready to begin another honeymoon anytime soon, and they may have to wait more than two years.

Faraja came along this afternoon, accompanied by two junior wild bulls who seemed keen to know more about him and his home. They appeared curious about where Faraja and his friends lived, and it seemed that Faraja gave them a good sense of life at the stockade. This encouraged the two bulls to come and see for themselves. They found that Faraja was treated very well, with plenty of food, and they also witnessed the orphans being given their bottles. This made the wild bulls keep their distance, as they were unsure about Faraja being so close to human families. Later, Faraja walked back to join his friends for a mud bath, as other orphans followed.

Murera moved off with Sonje and Kerrio, taking Latika and Kamili to a separate mud bath, away from Kapei and Amali. This was because Kapei appeared to warn them by raising his trunk. Kerrio, being a very peace-loving little elephant, did not want any disagreement with Kapei and accepted the warning. She moved off with Kamili and Latika. Lenny and Enkesha followed them, and Lenny seemed to realise that Kerrio was a good nanny who cared for him and the other little babies, which drew him to stay close to her.

Lima Lima later noticed that her baby boy, Lenny, was not nearby. She first checked with Murera, but Lenny was not there. She then moved around the browsing groups, searching for him. When she still could not find him, she made deep rumbling calls that reached Lenny, who was with Kerrio. Lenny received the message and ran back to where Lima Lima was with Kiasa.

Lima Lima needed Lenny to nurse, as her breasts were full and painful. Lenny went straight under his mother and nursed as she needed. After that, he moved again towards Murera, but found Mwana standing beside her. Mwana did not want Lenny to approach Murera and pushed him away, as Lenny had ignored her warning.

Umani is a very blessed paradise and a place full of joy for all animals and their human caregivers. We have never experienced such large numbers of wildlife, from elephant families to many other species, coming into the Kibwezi forests. It has truly become a blessed paradise, a home and a place of safety for all.

Enkesha and her honeymoon followers continued visiting in large numbers, including very big bulls that had not been seen in Umani before. This is an indication of the goodwill and the great care given to the forest, which has now become a home for many. The water springs remain full despite minimal rainfall, and the Kibwezi Forest has maintained its greenery and glory throughout most of the year.

Today, bulls arrived in especially large numbers. Enkesha became overwhelmed by the many male visitors constantly seeking her attention. She could not tolerate them and their behaviour, which made her run away and hide within Sonje and Murera under the Umani orphans’ big group. Murera and Sonje called everyone to close ranks as they tried to shield Enkesha and the little babies from the large bulls who wanted to take her away. After her honeymooning, Enkesha has lost interest in bulls. She wanted them to go elsewhere and leave her alone, as she had finished with them weeks ago.

This did not immediately deter the wild bulls, and they moved closer. Murera managed to break away from the herd, leaving Lima Lima with Sonje, but Lima Lima later followed Lenny, who was with Murera. Eventually, the troublesome bulls realised they had no luck with Enkesha today and left, clearly unhappy, to try elsewhere. Even Quanza showed no interest in their stories.

The Keepers called all the babies to the waterhole, and the Nightclubbers came running, thinking there might be extra lucerne. Sonje and Lima Lima also came out of the bush, running behind the Keepers, who were simply trying to move everyone away from the wild bulls. Latika and Kamili became confused and walked back towards the wild bulls when they realised Kerrio was not with them. Kerrio then walked back to collect them and guide them safely back into the orphans’ herd.

This morning, Zongoloni had an issue with Kiasa, and the Keepers wondered why Zongoloni was unusually bitter towards her. Kiasa had checked on Zigi, and Zongoloni chased her away, then followed closely behind to ensure Kiasa did not return. When Zigi saw his mother chasing Kiasa, he was unhappy. Even when Kiasa screamed, Zongoloni continued pushing her hard with her tusks.

Despite this, Zigi remained close to Kiasa, whom he clearly loves. Murera intervened and gave Zongoloni a strong warning to stop harassing Kiasa, who cares deeply for the little babies, especially Zigi. When Kiasa and Quanza later returned, Zongoloni was busy pulling branches from large trees nearby. With Sonje and Murera present most of the time, Zongoloni calmed down and did not challenge Kiasa again. She respected the firm warning from Murera and Sonje and stopped completely.

Later, all the babies followed Kerrio, Latika, and Kamili as they led the way. Kerrio has become a very enthusiastic swimmer. Whenever she goes for her midday bottles, she insists on visiting the mud bath. She splashes mud along her sides, then goes into deeper water to swim, emerging fully coated in mud, which helps remove flies and ticks. Latika always waits for Kerrio to enter the waterhole first, then follows with Kamili, while Mwana usually joins them last.