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The independent Sapalan who weaned himself off from milk the moment he arrived at Ithumba, left the stockade with a branch in his mouth that he continued to enjoy feeding on as he waited for lucerne supplements. Karisa walked to the nearby rocks and kept himself busy by scratching his buttocks while Galla conversed with Naseku. Shortly later, Laragai rumbled, signaling her team of rebels that it was time to hit the road and go and browse while looking for their other graduate orphan friends. Kithaka followed immediately and the rest followed suit. It was a quiet morning in the bush as the orphans settled to browse in Kanziku area. Esampu teamed up with Maramoja as she tried to learn some survival tactics. At mud bath time, the orphans were joined by all the senior graduate orphans including Yatta, baby Yoyo, Yetu, Kinna, baby Kama, Wendi, baby Wiva, Mulika, Mwende, Naserian, Bongo, Teleki, Zurura, Chyulu, Makena, Sunyei, baby Siku, Nasalot, baby Nusu, Sidai, Narok, Vuria, Ololoo, Lualeni, Kilabasi and Olare’s group and four wild bulls. The atmosphere was tense as the wild elephant’s, Yatta, Kinna, Mulika, Sidai and Chyulu were grumpy and everyone kept away from them. It appears that something had affected them or they had an encounter with a bad experience as they had been missing for some time. Yoyo and Wiva had torn ears that have healed while Narok had lost her right tusk. The commotion was so much at mud bath that the dependent orphans called it quits early, before they could fully enjoy the mud bath. Baby Yoyo was also grumpy as he tried to attack Tusuja who responded by knocking him to the ground and thereafter left immediately fearing the consequences he might face if caught by Yoyo's nannies, and more, his mother Yatta! Makena, who appears to be the main nanny in charge, came running and picked Yoyo up and walked away as Siku followed them. Makena relaxed with Yoyo and Siku under a tree for some time before leading them to their respective mothers so as to nurse. Despite the atmosphere being tense, Olare and Chyulu didn't forget to check on Enkikwe's progress. The orphans headed to Kone for the afternoon and the graduate orphans walked away. Narok decided to stick with the dependent babies as she had been away for so long and she had missed them. Despite losing her tusk, Narok didn't let that become a hindrance and she seemed to be fine.

Narok, who has a new identity after losing her tusk, showed up in the morning with Mutara’s group. When the gates were opened for the dependent orphans to come out, Narok walked in to the stockade in anticipation of finding some nice leftovers, while Kainuk stood at the exit gate where she welcomed the juniors outside. The herd briefly settled for lucerne before being led away by Mutara. Siangiki and Enkikwe, the lion victims, stayed together and had a chat as they settled to browse. Siangiki has now recovered and only has a small scar above her tail to show where the lions tried to make a meal out of her. Enkikwe is still on the path to full recovery, and it will take a long time for the wound to heal since it is the knee joint which is always moving. At mud bath time, the orphans were joined by two huge bulls. Mundusi, Esampu and Mteto were mesmerized by the size of the bulls, who were very gentle with them. They expected to be pushed away from the water trough but the bulls were very friendly and allowed everyone to have some water. Sapalan, who is never in a hurry, was the last one to leave the water trough as he enjoyed the company of the two wild bulls. In the afternoon, Esampu spent time trying to forge a friendship with one of the big girls, the hot tempered Ukame, of all elephants! It was amazing to see Ukame behaving nicely towards Esampu, since she is known for often hitting the other young boys and girls.

The dependent orphans came out of their stockades this morning and went to feed on the lucerne supplements. Nasalot’s herd then came in with baby Nusu among them. They were also accompanied by Olare’ herd including Kitirua, Naisula, Tumaren, Kibo, Kandecha, Kilaguni and Chaimu. They all interacted in the lucerne feeding area and followed the dependent orphans out to the bush when they were done feeding on the lucerne as well. Kitirua and Kandecha were looking after baby Nusu. The same herd of graduate orphans tried to follow the dependent orphans as if they wanted to browse with them, but the juniors walked to the top of the hill leaving them behind. The graduate orphans chose to browse at the bottom of the hill instead, with Bongo browsing with baby Nusu trying to show him the nice fresh grass that was good to eat. The herd was very busy browsing except for Orwa who was playing and scratching his trunk on a tree. In the dependent orphan group we watched Olsekki and Siangiki browsing together and remarked how these two hate to be separated. They were browsing and communicating all morning, putting their trunks into each other’s mouths and just generally keeping each other company. Later the dependent orphans walked to the mud bath to have their milk bottles and have some water. Olare’s graduate orphan herd arrived at the water hole too. The orphans had their milk and decided to go for a swim in the water hole. Graduate orphan Murka joined in too and was really enjoying the swimming, which prompted the others Tumaren, Olare, Kilaguni Ololoo and Chaimu to swim too. A wild bull also visited but he only had some water from the water trough and then walked away again. The orphans came out of the water and walked to the dust bath to coat themselves in loose soil, before walking out to browse. Everyone concentrated on browsing in the afternoon with new babies Esampu, Mundusi and Mteto actively browsing together. Sapalan still seems to enjoy browsing on his own separate from the others. Graduate orphans Orwa, Bomani and Bongo joined the dependent orphans and later walked back with them to the stockades in the evening. Esampu, the new little leader at the Ithumba Unit despite only just arriving, led the group home for their milk bottles and to go to bed. Laragai's herd turned up in the evening as well, and were locked in for the night in their old stockade.

It was a busy morning at the stockades as we had a big group of elephants including Nasalot, Wendi, Yatta, Olare, Mutara and Orwa’s herds, plus some wild elephants. They all visited and wanted to share the lucerne supplements too. Nasalot was with Nusu, Yatta with her babies Yetu and Yoyo, Sunyei with Siku, Kinna with Kama, Mulika with Mwende and Wendi with her baby Wiva. Only Galana and Gawa were not present. It was so lovely to watch all the orphans and graduate orphans interacting with the wild elephants and watching some of them playing together. Babies Yoyo and Kama were trying to climb on Kainuk when she was lying on the ground resting. The orphans didn't have time to feed on the lucerne, and they walked straight out to the bush to browse. Rapa and Dupotto browsed together while Karisa was scratching behind his ears on a tree. Oltaiyoni was scratching her bottom as she played with her trunk. Later the group walked to the mud bath for their noon milk bottles. Wendi and Nasalot’s herds also arrived at mud bath with their babies. They mingled with Mutara’s group as the younger dependent orphans respected their space and stayed away. Some of the graduate orphans walked in to play in the mud hole, including Nasalot with baby Nusu. Nusu was playing in the water as Nasalot watched him. When the graduate orphans arrived, the juniors decided to walk back out to the bush to browse. Namalok was scared of the monkeys playing around him. New arrivals Esampu, Mteto and Mundusi were very active; Esampu kept trying to take the lead of the whole group, taking them in different directions to browse. Later on the dependent orphans walked back home in the evening for their milk. Mutara's group with Kainuk, Turkwel, Sities, Kanjoro, Kilaguni, Vuria, Bomani and Orwa also came to drink water and later they walked out again. Laragai's herd then arrived and they were locked into their stockades as well.

When the orphans woke up this morning they found some visitors from Mutara's herd sleeping on the ground just inside the compound. Mutara, Suguta, Sities, Turkwel, Kainuk, Kanjoro, Orwa and Bomani were all there. Kilabasi was with them as well, even though he is not normally part of their group. Barsilinga started scratching his neck on the raised wall, and Kilabasi relieved an itch on a nearby rock as he fed on lucerne. The dependent orphans then walked out to the forest with the graduate orphans following them. In the bush, everyone was busy browsing. Namalok browsed on his own and seemed to be happiest that way. Sapalan was also browsing separately as this seems to be what he prefers as well. The graduate orphans separated themselves from the dependent ones and walked off into the bush. The dependent orphans walked to the mud bath for their milk. Namalok drank his milk from the bucket as usual. Some wild bulls arrived and drank water from the water trough before walking to the mud bath to prepare for a swim. The dependent orphans also lined up to get into the water from the other side. The wild bulls got in first and started wallowing. They did not swim for very long and soon gave way to the little orphans to get in. Esampu led them in and they swam from one end to the other. They walked out in a line and made their way to the dust bath where they started rolling on the soil and playing again. Esampu started rolling on the ground first, and the others followed suit. Finally they all walked back out to the bush to browse again. We had one wild bull drinking from the water trough next to Enkikwe who came in late to have some water.

Early before dawn the lions were roaring close to the stockade compound. We had not heard them for some time. At six o'clock in the morning, Mutara and Olare’s groups showed up and waited outside for the juniors to come out, probably to escort them out to the forest because they had heard the lions and they wanted the juniors to be accompanied by a mature herd. Karisa came out of the stockade with a branch in his mouth but he met with Kainuk who forcefully took the branch away from him. Karisa had to reluctantly let it go, since he didn't have the ability to fight Kainuk. Galla and Wanjala, who both have folded ears, settled for a strength testing exercise that didn't last for long since Kanjoro happened to pass by and push the two boys away. Turkwel had a brief chat with Sirimon while Esampu settled for a scratching exercise on the nearby rocks. At mud bath time, the weather was chilly and the orphans just waded through the water, choosing not to swim, and instead they went to dust themselves in the loose red soil. In the afternoon, they settled to browse in the Kanziku area in the company of Olare and Mutara’s groups. It appears that Laragai and her group took the warning given in the morning seriously as they dodged the Keepers and went back to the stockade early before five o'clock in the evening. At five o'clock in the evening the rest of the group returned back to the stockade and then Laragai and her group were allowed into the stockades for the evening as well. One Tusk, one of the biggest wild elephants we have in the Ithumba area, reported for water and later left after drinking to his satisfaction.

Early in the morning, the stockade compound was deserted with no other elephants in sight. Early before dawn, the lions were heard roaring again. Karisa, who used to be quite shy, now seems to be quite confident challenging his fellow bulls. He first challenged Galla, but lost the pushing game to Galla. Later he moved to try his luck on Tusuja but things got tough, leaving him with no option other than to surrender. Pare then invited Tusuja for a pushing game which didn't last long since Oltaiyoni passed by and interrupted their game by picking on Tusuja. Shortly later, two jackals came for water and brought the orphans activities to a standstill as suddenly made their barking noise out of the blue, prompting the orphans to flee as they got a fright, and they ran towards the Kone area. The Keepers then intervened by calling them and assuring them that all was well and there was no need to panic. The orphans listened to the Keepers and calmed down, settling to browse. The jackals seemed very pleased with themselves that their presence had caused the orphans to run away, as they are actually quite little chaps. In fact they were so happy it seemed they forgot that they had come to drink water! They just turned and walked away. Esampu settled to browse with Roi while Dupotto had a disagreement with Namalok when Dupotto tried to take grass from his mouth. Namalok decided to walk away from Dupotto to avoid a direct confrontation which seemed to work since Dupotto didn't try to follow. The weather was chilly and at mud bath time, the orphans didn't dare to touch the mud bath water. They went around mud bath to the loose soil, before heading back to the browsing field. In the evening, four wild bulls reported for water and left only after they had drunk enough.

In the morning, Yatta, baby Yoyo, Sunyei, baby Siku, Galana, baby Gawa, Loijuk, Naserian, Lualeni, Ololoo, Wendi, baby Wiva, Mulika, Mwende, Yetu, Sidai, Makena, Ishanga, Ithumbah, Zurura and several wild elephants were at the stockade compound when the orphans were let out. Gawa, who is now one year and ten months, has tusks which are starting to show and she seems to be very happy about it as she tried to challenge Esampu and Mteto. Mwende tried to charge at the Keepers but was calmed down by Tusuja. He seemed to communicate to her that she should calm down as the guys she was charging at were good people who raised her mother. Later, Tusuja, Kauro and Rapa held a meeting under the only remaining acacia tree in the stockade compound. Their conclusion seemed to be that they should walk out to the forest, and shortly later that was what all three did. The sky was clear with no clouds, which was an indication of a hot day a head. Tusuja wondered if Kauro, who hardly takes a bath, would feel like one if it turned into a hot day. Kauro wasn't bothered by Tusuja and kept himself busy feeding. Galla challenged Ololoo and when he lost the fight he ran to follow his friends who had already left the stockade. Out in the bush, Sapalan, who never participates in any activity apart from soil dusting and mud bathing, found a suitable tree stump that he used to scratch his buttocks. Later, he relaxed under a tree and forgot that it was time to go to the mud bath. The Keepers came back and found him and led him to join his friends who had already started the walk to the mud bath. There the junior orphans were joined by a lone wild bull who shared water with them. Mutara and her group then showed up and joined the orphans to mud bath and soil dust. Garzi engaged Kanjoro in a strength testing exercise that lasted for quite some time and later joined Sirimon in soil dusting exercise. In the evening a wild herd consisting of twenty five wild elephants reported for water and left immediately after having enough.

The orphans headed straight to the water troughs soon after the gates were opened. They joined Mutara’s group who had arrived shortly before six o'clock in the morning. The orphans enjoyed sharing water with the junior graduate orphans and after they walked together to feed on lucerne. Half an hour later, Yatta’s big graduate group of orphans showed up and joined in feasting on lucerne. Later on, the groups parted ways; the dependent orphans headed north-west while Yatta’s herd went east. It was a quiet morning with the orphans concentrating on browsing. At one time, the quiet Namalok tried to defend himself from being bullied by Galla but unfortunately he didn't have experience and so turned to run away as Galla attempted to climb on him. At eleven o'clock in the morning, Mteto, Mundusi and Esampu, who have now been at Ithumba for over a month, led the way to the mud bath. The trio walked to the mud bath as if they have been here for years. After taking their milk, Esampu, Mundusi and Mteto walked to the water trough unaided and relaxed there waiting for their friends. It is good that the trio have mastered the routine and ways around Ithumba, and more have confidence in themselves. The orphans felt it was warm enough to have a mud bath and got in the water to wallow. They really enjoyed themselves with Esampu, Mteto Olsekki, Naseku and Roi putting on quite a show, which was followed by a soil dusting exercise. Later, Maramoja led the way back to the browsing field as the rest of the team filed in behind her in a single line. At around three o'clock in the afternoon, fourteen wild bulls reported at the stockade for water. The number of wild elephants reporting for water is now slowly going up and this is an indication of many waterholes drying up in the area.

Yatta and her group reported early before dawn and relaxed just outside the stockade. At six o'clock in morning, during the milk feeding time, Esampu finished her bottles and ran to where Namalok's bucket was kept and stretched her trunk to try and get a sip. Namalok complained bitterly to Esampu but she didn’t listen and continued to sip at the milk using her trunk. The Keepers then intervened to avoid the scene getting out of hand. Rapa and Karisa left with branches in their mouths but these were taken from them by the senior graduate orphans in the compound. Tusuja exchanged morning greetings with Kilabasi while baby Yoyo settled to play with Galla. Sapalan parted ways with the herd and moved down where he settled to browse on a shrub, while a bird sat on top of the shrub watching him. Sapalan was later joined by Wanjala as Naseku settled to play with baby Wiva. After sharing lucerne, the orphans parted ways with the graduate orphans, taking wild born babies Yoyo and Wiva with them. The orphans settled to browse in Kone area and had a quiet morning until mud bath time, when Mteto led the first group for their milk bottles. Rapa led the second. Ukame led the third and Mundusi led the fourth group. The orphans were joined by Mutara and Olare’s graduate groups and had a mud bath together before parting ways. In the evening, the number of wild elephants coming for water increased from previous days. First, a wild herd consisting of sixteen wild elephants reported for water and an hour later they were followed by another herd consisting of twenty wild elephants. The herds left shortly after having enough water.

It was a quiet morning with Orwa, Narok, Bomani and Vuria present at the morning lucerne feeding time. This used to be Narok’s old herd and they appear to be re-grouping! Only Orwa and Bomani had remained from the old herd as the others had dispersed amongst the other graduate herds, where Bongo and Teleki seemed to have stayed. At the moment, the two boys are with Yatta’s herd, and seem to be very attached to Nasalot and her baby Nusu. Namalok and Esampu decided to briefly scratch on nearby rocks while Galla teased Vuria. Vuria didn't retaliate and allowed Galla to push him around. Galla felt great that he seemed to be winning, not realising that Vuria was just having fun with him. The sky was bright clear and the day promised to be a hot one. Narok and her small team escorted the juniors to the browsing field and they all browsed together up to mud bath time. At the mud bath, the orphans were joined by six wild bulls and had water together but when it came to wallowing, the dependent orphans were reluctant to share the space with their seniors, perhaps for fear of being pushed around. The juniors instead walked to another smaller water hole north east of the main one, and had fun before returning back to the bush. In the afternoon, the temperature soared, making the orphans take a break from feeding and relax under a tree before resuming browsing. In the evening, twenty wild bulls reported for water and left as soon as they had enough.

Nasalot and her small group reported early before dawn and relaxed outside the stockade waiting for the juniors to come out. As soon as the orphans were let out, Nasalot and her group joined them to feed on lucerne. A while later, a lone buffalo checked in for water. Kithaka, Barsilinga and Olsekki walked towards the buffalo with their ears wide open as they tried to scare it away. The buffalo stood its ground however and drank water until it was satisfied, before leaving the same way it had come. Nasalot led the entire herd out to browse, where they were joined by Mutara’s group. Mundusi had fun with baby Nusu as they chased each other around, while Mteto briefly played Gawa. The sun was really getting hot and Esampu took a break from feeding to relax under a tree for some time before resuming browsing. At mud bath time, the temperature was so hot all of the orphans decided to go wallowing, without the encouragement of the Keepers. Only Kauro, who is well known for boycotting any swimming session, escaped and went for a soil dusting exercise instead. We are sure that he is so adverse to water because he was a well-victim and will always dislike the water. In the afternoon, the sun was still hot and the orphans converged under a tree that had a good shade while continuously flapping their ears in order to cool down. They only resumed browsing later on when the temperature dropped to a favourable level. In the evening, twenty wild bulls reported for water at the stockade water troughs and left at their pleasure when they felt that they had drunk enough.

Nasalot and her small group consisting of baby Nusu, Galana, baby Gawa, Loijuk, Bongo, Teleki, Kilabasi, Makireti, Lenana and Meibai joined the juniors for lucerne in the morning. After lucerne time, Maramoja rumbled as she made her way to the browsing field. The rest of the herd followed her. Nasalot’s group browsed with juniors the entire morning. For a while now, Yatta and the rest of the senior graduate orphans haven't shown up at stockade and we hope wherever they are they have enough water. At mud bath and midday milk feeding, the orphans were joined by a junior wild bull who shared water with them and later left with Nasalot’s group. Mundusi, Mteto and Esampu had a spectacular wallowing session. Mundusi specifically enjoyed sitting in the water and splashing around with his trunk, a game he enjoyed for some time. In the evening, Sapalan again hid and dodged the Keepers. The rest of the group returned back to the stockade without him but the Keepers soon realized and half of them went back to look for him. Half an hour later, Sapalan emerged from the eastern side of stockade in a slow measured walk like someone who knew exactly where he was going. The Keepers were still looking for him in the bush and were informed over the radio that Sapalan had arrived on his own. He likes to do everything in his own time!