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The sky was clear in the morning as the orphans left the stockade. Kanjoro led the way as the rest followed suit. At eight o'clock Chaimu, Kilaguni and Ishanga showed up at the stockade's water trough where they drank and left soon after. In the browsing field, the orphans were joined by Lualeni's herd that consisted of Lualeni, Ololoo, Loijuk and Rapsu. Teleki had a good time with Loijuk and Ololoo. He started by tackling Loijuk so as to learn some new pushing tactics that he could put to good use with his fellow junior boys. After tackling Loijuk, Teleki surrendered and went to get more pushing lessons from Ololoo. He later surrendered, paving the way for the fastest runner Vuria, who engaged Ololoo into a strength testing game. Vuria surrendered when Ololoo attempted to mount him though as a sign of dominance. Later in the morning, Yatta’s herd joined the juniors briefly on their way out into the bush. Rapsu and Zurura engaged each other in a strength testing game, as Chyulu took over her role of taking care of Lemoyian from Kainuk. Bomani spend some time sucking Turkwel's ear. Towards eleven o'clock, the weather turned chilly so none of the orphans participated in wallowing that afternoon. Mutara instead had her own strength testing game by trying to push down a tree, which she didn't succeed. Kanjoro had a pushing game with Bomani but Sities intervened when she saw Bomani almost trying to surrender. She tackled Kanjoro, as Bomani moved off to play with Garzi. Kithaka browsed close to Kanjoro and, lazily, helped himself to branches broken down by Kanjoro. Kainuk was happy to have Lemoyian by herself since Chyulu had left and wasn't around to compete with her.

Soon after the orphans left the stockade, Bongo and Vuria got into a serious fight. It appears they had both woken up on the wrong side of the stockade. The fight went on for quite some time and thankfully ended in a draw when they both got tired. Eventually the orphans settled and, led by Mutara, moved off to browse in the Kone area. Sities browsed close to her friend Garzi, while Kainuk enjoyed the sole responsibility of taking care of Lemoyian since Chyulu hadn't shown up that morning. At mud bath time, the temperatures were moderate and Kanjoro, Bongo, Narok and Laragai were the only ones that participated in wallowing. When Bongo went to the water trough for a drink, he felt that he hadn't done enough wallowing, and got his four legs into the water trough and started splashing water using his trunk! Bongo was shouted at by the keepers as he was making the water dirty. The other orphans were watching and it appeared that Bongo had set a bad example. As soon as Bongo got out, Sities tried to go in, but she wasn't as lucky as the keepers spotted her before she got all her four feet in. On the way back to the browsing field, Bongo and Bomani had a light strength testing game that ended quickly as Bomani surrendered. The afternoon was quiet as the orphans concentrated on browsing. Shortly after six o'clock Kilaguni, Ishanga and Chaimu in the company of two wild bulls came for water at the stockade compound. One of the bulls was limping. At a closer look the bull had a swollen right foreleg above the knee with one big wound and another smaller one in the same area, meaning that more than two arrows had been used to spear him. The bulls and the three partially independent ex orphans stayed at the water trough until dark. It seemed they were waiting for any assistance after being convinced by Kilaguni, Ishanga and Chaimu that this is the place to get help. The DSWT funded Amboseli vet Dr. Ngoroge was flown in by one of DSWT’s pilots supported by the DSWT helicopter the bull was darted, treated and the prognosis for a full recovery is good.

It was a cold and quiet morning with orphans coming out of their stockades. Bongo and Vuria started play fighting just outside their gate after their morning bottles. Orwa and Sities started scratching on a rock while Bongo was mounting on Vuria as they played. Kithaka, Barsilinga and Lemoyian led the group to the mudbath for their milk. Bongo and Kanjoro were the only ones who went up to the waterhole – Bongo splashed water while Kanjoro just stood in the waterhole. Back in the bush all the orphans were busy and actively browsing. Shukuru browsed next to Turkwel while Orwa tried to play with Vuria. Mutara later led the group back to the stockade in the evening. Sunyei, Kilaguni, Chaimu and Ishanga came and drank water at the stockades. Suguta is improving with the treatment being given and her wound is healing well.

As the orphans came out of their stockades this bright morning, a group of ex-orphans were there to greet them, including Chyulu who was waiting for Lemoyian. Vuria started play fighting with Bongo and Chyulu with Naserian. Some of the ex-orphans left but those two stayed with the orphans up until mudbath time. Bongo was first to play in the mudhole as usual but was accompanied by Kanjoro, Teleki, Vuria, Gazi, Orwa, Shukuru and Turkwel. Shukuru came out of the mudwallow and started scratching on the trees. Two wild bulls joined the orphans at the mudbath which made them exit rapidly and give these magnificent two some space to duck and dive as they had a very lively mudbath. Back in the bush, the orphans were very active with Turkwel and Narok competing for the fresh green shoots from one tree. Later on in the evening five wild elephants came through. One among them had half a trunk, along with Kilaguni, Chaimu and Ishanga. They drank water and left.

A big group of ex-orphans together with three wild bulls came to the stockade trough this morning competing for water. Yatta with her baby Yetu and Mulika with Mwende were among them. Chyulu, the foster mother of Lemoyian, came straight to the orphan group looking for him. Orwa started playing and pushing with Bongo while Vuria and Teleki started play fighting. Later Kithaka led them all to mudbath. This is something Kithaka is tending to do more often, taking the lead, confident in the area and the routines now. The same group of ex-orphans who were in the stockade in the morning were also at the mudbath. They played vigorously in the mud and later started having a lengthy dust bath. Garzi was playing with chunks of soil, throwing them into the air. Laragai also started rolling. Shukuru started playing and pushing Sities. Laragai was also playing and tossing soil in the air while Vuria and Bongo play fought nearby. We also had Kilaguni, Chaimu and Ishanga come through the stockade during day. Suguta is improving enormously.

Mist covered Ithumba Hill and the weather was chilly as the orphans strolled nonchalantly out from their stockade. Kanjoro and Barsilinga led the way to the browsing. Upon reaching their destination which was Kone area, Barsilinga and Kanjoro started feeding from the same tree. However when the leaves got sweeter Kanjoro showed Barsilinga the door and pushed him away! Shortly before 11am, the juniors were joined by Rapsu. Orwa, Teleki and Garzi surrounded Rapsu all in an effort to get his attention. Later Rapsu escorted the juniors to the mud bath. Though it was cold, Rapsu walked down to the mudbath after sharing water with the juniors to enjoy a private wallowing. Kithaka and Barsilinga went to relax under a tree where they disagreed over what only the two of them can explain. Their disagreement was settled through a strength testing exercise that ended into a draw. The afternoon was quiet with fewer activities. Lualeni, Ololoo, Sunyei and Rapsu arrived at the stockade shortly before the orphans came back for the night. Lualeni tried to force her way into the stockade but she was barred by the keepers. Half an hour later Kilaguni, Chaimu and Ishanga, escorted by two wild bulls, reported for water at the stockade. Ololoo started giving Chaimu a hard time by intending to mount her. The tough Chaimu put up a spirited effort of defending herself by tackling Ololoo. Ishanga who was close by decided to help her sister in fighting off Ololoo's advances. Were it not for Lualeni that sensed danger and walked down to save her Ololoo, things might have got quite bad for him! Lualeni intervened in a peaceful manner and the fighting stopped. The wild bulls left to undisclosed location soon after taking water, while Lualeni and her herd headed east of the stockade.

It was a quiet morning as the orphans strolled nonchalantly out from the stockade and settled down to eat lucerne. They fed peacefully until a wild herd consisting of six elephants disrupted the peace. For fear of being pushed, the orphans started leaving one by one for browsing. Mutara stopped and looked for a tree stump that she could use to scratch her feet. After milk only Bongo participated in wallowing, the rest converged at the water trough to drink. As the orphans were busy taking water, Rapsu in a group of four wild elephants, joined the juniors. It's interesting to note how Rapsu is changing the wild groups he socializes with, like clothes! When he is not in a group, then he is walking on his own. Soon after drinking water, Rapsu abandoned the wild bulls and joined the juniors on their way back to the browsing field. Teleki took the opportunity to learn some new pushing techniques from Rapsu. Though he was shorter than Rapsu, Teleki managed to tackle Rapsu for some time before he surrendered. In the afternoon the sun was hot making Rapsu, Mutara, Narok, Orwa and Vuria converge under a tree until the temperatures dropped to a favourable level. Rapsu parted ways with the juniors only to reappear at the stockade in evening where he joined eight bulls that were busy taking water. Chaimu, Kilaguni, Ishanga and Chemi chemi reported at the stockade in the afternoon to quench their thirst. Chemi chemi appears to have abandoned his group and seems to be securing a place in Chaimu's group now. Only time will tell if he is there to stay or he is doing a test to see if he can fit. Ishanga is surprising as she has stuck with Chaimu's herd for some time now. Ishanga used to be herd-less, moving from one herd to another. We are not sure if she is in this herd to stay now, only time will tell.