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The orphans settled for lucerne soon after leaving the stockade. The orphans had missed the lucerne for quite some time. Shortly later, Melia, who had been away for a long time, reported back with a bundle of joy. Melia had a new baby girl that was nearly a month old. She was in the company of Kitirua and Maramoja. Kitirua appears to be everywhere, not having a permanent group but always joining teams with young ones. Hopefully one day she will have her own baby and will take care of it in the best way possible, since she has more experience now.

Melia introduced her baby to the stockade by taking her into the place where she used to live many years ago before joining the wild. The new baby had an opportunity to interact with Mwinzi and Kinyei.

After the orphans had enough of lucerne, Muwingu led the way to the browsing field. Melia and her team remained behind for nearly half an hour before heading west of the stockade. Esoit started his day activities by engaging Vaarti in a strength-testing exercise and later tackled Kindani. Loldaiga played with Kinyei, while Mageno, Muwingu, and Weka decided to have fun by rolling on the ground. The orphans browsed calmly as they slowly headed towards the mud bath.

At eleven o’clock in the morning, Shujaa, with a stick in his mouth, led the first group to the noon bottle feeds. He dropped the stick he was carrying when he got closer to the milk-feeding venue. The weather was chilly and none of the orphans participated in wallowing. The orphans returned to the browsing field immediately after taking their milk. Mukutan took some time off from feeding to engage Esoit in a pushing game.

Melia, her baby, and Kitirua showed up briefly at the mud bath and thereafter headed towards Imenti Dam. In the afternoon, Kindani settled to browse with Toto, while Mayan and Lodo settled to scratch against trees for some time before resuming browsing. The rest of the day was quiet as the orphans browsed calmly up to five o’clock in the evening, when Mwinzi led the way back to the stockade.

The orphans settled for lucerne soon after leaving the stockade. Shortly later, Weka led the way to the browsing field.

On the way to the browsing field, Esoit and Bondeni had a disagreement. This happened when Esoit tried to overtake Bondeni. Bondeni turned on Esoit, and Esoit defended himself by engaging Bondeni in a pushing game. Kinyei, who was following them closely, intervened by separating the two boys.

Later, Mageno engaged Kitich in a strength-testing exercise, while Kindani settled to browse with Toto, Mwinzi, and Natibu. The rest of the team browsed calmly up to eleven o’clock in the morning when Muwingu led the way to the noon bottle feeds.

After taking their milk, the orphans jumped into the wallowing water and later settled for a soil dusting exercise.

In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse west of Ithumba Hill. The sun became hot, prompting the orphans to take a break from browsing and relax under trees until the temperatures dropped to a favourable level.

Choka and Vaarti split from the main herd and browsed some distance away. The two boys rejoined their colleagues at the time of returning to the stockade.

At five o’clock in the evening, Toto led the way back to the stockade.

Shortly before the orphans were let out in the morning, Zurura, Tomboi, and Mapia were at the stockade compound. Zurura had an arrow wound on the left side of his belly.

The orphans were let out soon after getting their six o’clock milk and joined Zurura, Mapia, and Tomboi outside. Lucerne was distributed and everyone joined in feasting on it as Zurura waited for treatment.

Five bulls passed by as they tried to court Sities. Sities ran towards the east and Zurura joined the five bulls that were following her.

After feeding on lucerne, Weka led the way to the browsing field. The orphans settled to browse in the Kone area. Lodo took a break from browsing to have fun by rolling on the ground, while Choka engaged Esoit in a pushing game.

At around nine o’clock in the morning, the vet arrived and Zurura was successfully treated. Toto engaged Natibu in a pushing game that did not last for long, as Kindani arrived quickly and separated the two boys.

At eleven o’clock in the morning, Muwingu led the way to the noon bottle feeds. Shortly later, a wild group that included a female in season, a male in musth, and several bulls following her shortened the mud bath session, as there was no freedom to roam as there is on most days. The orphans had a brief mud bath and soil dusting session before the Keepers found a way to avoid the drama.

In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse in the Kanziku area. The temperatures were moderate because of cloud cover. Choka played with Kitich, while Lodo engaged Shujaa in a light pushing game.

At five o’clock in the evening, Mwinzi led the way back to the stockade.

Shortly before six o’clock in the evening, Mutara, Mambo, Mango, Kainuk, Ambo, and Sattao checked in at the stockade and left again shortly before dark.

Kalama, Kapuki, Melia, Moon, Ndiwa, Roi, Kitirua, and Siangiki joined the orphans in the morning for feeding on lucerne. Kitich, Kinyei, Choka, and Shujaa interacted briefly with Kapuki and Moon before they were pushed away by Kitirua and Ndiwa.

Shortly later, Kapuki and Moon started a running game and ended up racing towards the west. The running of the two babies brought the lucerne feeding session to an abrupt end, as their mothers and the ex-orphans ran after them to catch up. The orphans too joined the queue, trumpeting in excitement. The Keepers had to run as well in order to block the orphans from following the ex-orphans.

The orphans settled to browse at Kanziku area while the ex-orphans left for an undisclosed location. Lodo held a brief meeting with Choka and later moved to engage Mukutan in a light pushing game.

The sun was getting hotter with each passing hour. Mwinzi, Toto, Natibu, and their friend Kindani took a break from feeding and relaxed under a tree until mud bath time, when Muwingu led the way to the noon bottle feeds. The orphans had their milk, then jumped into the wallowing water and thereafter settled for a soil dusting exercise.

In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse west of Ithumba Hill and browsed calmly throughout the remainder of the day without any major observations.

Kibo, Olsekki, Tusuja and Sattao joined the orphans in the morning for feeding of lucerne. Half an hour later, Muwingu led the way to the browsing field. Lodo joined Sattao, Olsekki, Tusuja and Kibo and headed west of Ithumba Hill. Loldaiga and Esoit decided to have a warm strength-testing exercise before resuming browsing. Kitich, Bondeni, Kindani, Natibu, Toto, Mwinzi, Mayan and Weka visited the Kone Dam and had water before resuming browsing. Later, Kindani held a brief meeting with Choka while Vaarti, Mukutan, Shujaa, Mageno and Olorien split from the main herd and browsed a distance away.

At eleven o’clock in the morning, Muwingu led the way to the noon bottle feeds. The sun was hot and soon after taking their milk, the orphans jumped into the wallowing water and had a cooling-off exercise before settling for a soil-dusting exercise. The orphans were joined by Kibo, Sities, Sunni, Sattao, Mutara, Mambo, Mango and Tusuja.

In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse in the Kanziku area while Lodo followed Mutara’s team to an undisclosed location.

In the evening, Vaarti wound up his day activities by engaging Choka into a strength-testing exercise. At five o’clock in the evening, Natibu led the way back to the stockade.

Shortly before six o’clock in the evening, Vaarti, Tumaren with a new baby boy showed up at the stockade compound. She was accompanied by Chaimu, Ukame, Esampu, Mteto, Roho, Neshashi, Sana Sana, Tembo, and four wild boys. After getting enough water, Tumaren led the group east of the stockade towards Kalovoto. 

Sities, Sunni, Tusuja, Roho, Mulika, Mwende, Mkuu, Moe and Mala joined the orphans in feeding on lucerne in the morning. Kitich decided to learn pushing tactics by engaging Tusuja in a pushing game. Tusuja understood what Kitich wanted and so handled him gently for quite some time. Shortly later, Weka led the way to the browsing field. Tusuja and Roho followed the orphans to the browsing field.

The orphans settled to browse at Kone area. Esoit, Loldaiga, Bondeni, Kitich and Mageno visited the Kone Dam. After drinking water, Bondeni engaged Roho in a strength-testing exercise that ended in a draw. The orphans then browsed calmly up to eleven o’clock in the morning when Vaarti led the first group to the noon bottle feeds.

The orphans had their milk and thereafter jumped into the wallowing water. The orphans were joined briefly by the Crazy One, her two babies and a wild junior and later parted ways after sharing drinking water. The orphans settled for a soil-dusting exercise where they were joined by Tomboi. Ten minutes later, Tomboi left for an undisclosed location.

In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse at Kanziku area. In the evening, the orphans were joined by Ambo, who later escorted them back to the stockade.

Sities, Sunni, Kauro, Rapa, Tusuja, Mukkoka, Rapa and Yoyo joined the orphans in the morning for feeding on lucerne. Choka had a brief meeting with Mukkoka and thereafter changed the meeting into a pushing game. Half an hour later, Weka led the way to the browsing field.

At the browsing field, Weka settled to browse with Shujaa while Kindani teamed up with Mwinzi, Toto and Natibu. Mayan took a break from browsing to engage Loldaiga in a pushing game. The pushing game ended when Loldaiga surrendered by running away. Kitich played Mukutan while Esoit settled to browse with Kinyei and Muwingu.

At eleven o’clock in the morning, Natibu led the first group to the noon bottle feeds. The sun was hot and soon after the orphans had their milk, Vaarti led the team into the wallowing exercise. The orphans were joined by Rapa, who showed them the proper way of mud bathing. After the orphans had enough of mud bathing, Olorien led the way into the soil-dusting exercise.

In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse west of Ithumba Hill. Toto and Natibu came across a nice tree that they used to scratch their itching ears. Shortly later, Choka came and pushed the two boys away.

In the evening, the orphans returned safely to the stockade as the Queens family reported for water at the stockade water troughs. It is now getting into the dry season and the wild elephants and the ex-orphans are slowly coming back for water at the stockade water troughs and the mud bath as well.

Sidai, Sita, Silas, Sid, Sunyei, Sunni, Wendi, Wema, Wimbi, Tumaren, Tuck, Tembo, Galana, Gawa, Gala and Olsekki joined the orphans in the morning for feeding on lucerne. Wimbi challenged Mwinzi while Tembo threatened to push Toto when he tried to go close to his brother Tuck.

Shortly later, Weka led the way to the browsing field. At the browsing field, the orphans were joined by Roho and Lodo, who are spending their nights out these days. Olorien greeted them and welcomed them to browse together. Kitich and Loldaiga had a disagreement that ended in a pushing match. Kinyei, who was browsing close by, intervened and whipped the boys with her trunk so as to stop them wasting time in unnecessary pushing. Shujaa entwined his trunk with Mwinzi in greeting while Esoit played Mukutan.

At eleven o’clock in the morning, Muwingu led the way to the noon bottle feeds. After taking their milk, Lodo led the team in wallowing. Shortly later, the orphans were joined by Kanjoro, who stayed with them briefly before leaving for an undisclosed location. During the soil-dusting exercise, Weka decided to scratch her belly on Esoit, who was lying on the ground.

Mukkoka, Sattao, Mutara, Mambo, Kainuk and Malkia emerged from the western side and settled for water as Muwingu led the way back to the browsing field. Mukutan settled to browse with Shujaa while Choka took a break from browsing to have a lone game of rolling on the ground.

The orphans browsed calmly throughout the remaining part of the day. At five o’clock in the evening, Toto led the way back to the stockade. Shortly after five o’clock in the evening, the ex-orphans, in the company of wild elephants, showed up for water at the stockade water troughs.

Mapia, Tumaren, Tembo, Tuck, Neshashi, Mutara, Mambo, Mango, Kuishi, Naboishu, Sana Sana, Lodo, Roho, and Mukkoka joined the orphans in the morning. After a brief interaction and sharing of lucerne with the orphans, Tumaren and Mutara led their groups towards the west. Muwingu led the orphans to the browsing field.

The orphans settled to browse at Kone area. Bondeni, Mageno, Vaarti, and Mayan visited the Kone Dam for water and thereafter Mageno engaged Vaarti in a strength-testing exercise while Mwinzi played with Mayan. Natibu came across a nice tree that he used to scratch his itchy ear.

At eleven o’clock in the morning, Weka led the first group to the noon bottle feeds. The temperatures were low and so the orphans opted for a soil-dusting exercise. The orphans were joined briefly by Mutara, Mambo, Mango, Suguta, Sullivan, Kainuk, Turkwel, Sana Sana, Sattao, Malkia, and Naboishu, who had reported to the mud bath an hour earlier. Mukutan engaged Naboishu in a pushing game that lasted for quite some time.

In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse at Kanziku area. The temperatures were moderate and the orphans browsed calmly throughout the remaining part of the day. Shortly before five o’clock in the evening, Kitich engaged Choka in a pushing game that lasted for a very short time.

The orphans had their milk at six o’clock in the morning and thereafter walked out from the stockade and settled for lucerne. The orphans were joined by many ex-orphans with their wild-born babies. The youngest babies and their mothers, Tumaren, Tuck, Melia, and Moon, were present.

Half an hour later, Muwingu decided that she had had enough of lucerne and so started walking towards the browsing field while rumbling. The rumbling, which was a call to her colleagues, saw all the stockade-dependent orphans following. Only Olorien, Choka, and Bondeni lagged behind briefly before running to catch up with their colleagues.

At the browsing field, Muwingu settled to browse with Weka while Kindani settled to browse with her Toto. Mukutan and Choka had a brief meeting that ended in a light pushing game. Shortly later, the orphans were joined by Tusuja, Kibo, and Lodo. The Keepers kept a safe distance from Kibo, who has become unpredictable these days, chasing the Keepers away whenever he feels like it. The Keepers monitored him from a distance.

Shortly before mud bath time, Kibo left to an undisclosed location. The Keepers came down and walked the orphans to the mud bath. The weather was chilly and the orphans had their milk, then skipped the wallowing exercise before settling for a soil-dusting exercise.

Shujaa challenged Kitich to a pushing game but, when the going got tough for him, Shujaa surrendered and walked away. Kitich then held a brief meeting with Choka while Shujaa bumped into Loldaiga and requested a light pushing game, which Loldaiga accepted.

In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse at Kanziku area. Choka and Esoit took some time off from browsing to engage each other in a pushing game. Their game attracted Mageno and Kitich, who also engaged one another in a strength-testing exercise.

In the evening, Toto led the way back to the stockade.

Rapsu, Sities, and Sunni joined the orphans for feeding on lucerne in the morning. Later, Tumaren, Tuck, Tembo, Neshashi, Mteto, Narok, Esampu, Roho, Sita, and Tusuja arrived and joined in feeding on lucerne.

Choka threatened to push Sita for no apparent reason. Sita decided to avoid trouble by walking away. Kinyei briefly interacted with Tuck while Tembo pushed Toto out of his way as he moved to join his brother Tuck.

After the orphans had had enough of lucerne, Weka led the way to the browsing field. At the browsing field, Mwinzi settled to browse with Muwingu and later tried to challenge Muwingu to a pushing game. Their pushing game attracted Shujaa, who moved to challenge Esoit. Esoit understood that Shujaa was his junior and so played gently in order to prolong the game.

Mageno challenged Vaarti, who did not take the challenge lightly. Vaarti used all his strength until Mageno decided to surrender and ran away.

Weka spotted a dik-dik in the distance and charged towards it. The dik-dik sensed danger and, together with its companion, ran as fast as their legs could carry them and disappeared out of sight. This left Weka disappointed. She knocked down a few bushes in expressing her frustration. Later, she calmed down and resumed browsing after realizing that she was only wasting energy by punishing bushes that had no idea where the dik-diks had gone.

At eleven o’clock in the morning, Loldaiga led the way to the noon bottle feeds. The temperatures were moderate and the orphans simply walked through the water to wash their feet soon after taking their milk. Later, the orphans settled for a soil-dusting exercise before returning to the browsing field.

In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse at Kanziku area. Weka settled to browse with Shujaa while Toto settled to scratch against a nearby tree as Kindani watched him.

In the evening, Kitich wound up his day activities by engaging Mwinzi in a pushing game. At five o’clock in the evening, Natibu led the way back to the stockade.

Kanjoro, Kilaguni, and Orwa joined the orphans in the morning for feeding on lucerne.

After having enough lucerne, Muwingu engaged Kitich in a pushing game that ended when Kitich surrendered. Weka led the way to the browsing field, where Loldaiga settled to play with Esoit. Toto came across a tree stump that he used to scratch beneath his chin under the watchful eye of Kindani. Mayan played with Choka, while Bondeni played with Vaarti.

Kinyei came across water collected in a rock following showers received before dawn. She took a few sips before resuming browsing. Olorien, Shujaa, Mukutan, and Mwinzi visited Kone Dam for a drink and later started their journey to the noon bottle feeds.

At eleven o’clock in the morning, the orphans had their milk before settling into a soil dusting exercise.

In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse at the Kanziku area. Esoit engaged Kitich in a strength-testing exercise that lasted for quite some time. The game ended only when both of them grew tired.

The orphans browsed calmly until five o’clock in the evening, when Mwinzi led the way back to the stockade.

Sunni and Sities reported early in the morning before the orphans were let out. At six o’clock in the morning, the orphans had their milk before walking out to join Sunni and Sities. Toto and Mwinzi settled briefly to share lucerne with Sities and Sunni. Later, Sunni walked over to join Kinyei and had a lengthy interaction before going back to his mother.

Esoit and Bondeni had a morning strength-testing exercise that did not last for long. Vaarti started tossing the lucerne in the air once he felt that he had had enough.

On the way to the browsing field, Choka engaged Bondeni in a strength-testing exercise that ended when they spotted a wild bull approaching. The bull was minding its own business and, soon after it disappeared out of sight, Choka and Bondeni resumed their pushing game. Vaarti and Mayan had a brief meeting that was disrupted by Kinyei when she walked in between the two boys.

Natibu settled to browse with Mwinzi while Kitich teamed up with Mageno. Later, Mukutan joined Mageno and Kitich. Mayan walked over to Loldaiga and engaged him in a pushing game. Shortly before mud bath time, Esoit played with Mageno while Mwinzi played with Choka.

At eleven o’clock in the morning, Muwingu led the first group to the noon bottle feeds. The weather was chilly and the orphans only walked through the water to wash their feet. Toto decided not even to step into the water and ran away to have a soil-dusting exercise.

The orphans were briefly joined by Lualeni, Luki, Chyulu, Cheka, and Charli. The ex-orphan families left immediately after sharing drinking water with the orphans. Mayan, Mwinzi, and Mukutan tried to follow the ex-orphans but were turned back by their Keepers. Kitich and Esoit were the last ones to quit the soil-dusting exercise.

In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse west of Ithumba Hill. Mwinzi and Choka took some time off from browsing to have fun rolling on the ground while Kinyei settled to browse with Bondeni.

At five o’clock in the evening, Mwinzi led the way back to the stockade.

It was a quiet morning. Only Kilaguni and one wild elephant showed up at the stockade compound. Kilaguni joined the orphans in feeding on lucerne while the wild bull settled for water.

Esoit shared his lucerne with Mageno and later the two boys disagreed over something that was not clear to anyone. The disagreement ended in a pushing game that lasted for quite some time. Mayan had a strength-testing exercise with Choka that ended in a draw.

After feeding on lucerne, Muwingu led the way to the browsing field. The orphans settled to browse at Kanziku area. Kilaguni parted ways with the orphans and headed north.

The orphans browsed calmly up to eleven o’clock in the morning when Vaarti led the way to the noon bottle feeds. At mud bath time, the orphans were joined by Mutara, Mambo, Mango, Suguta, Sullivan, Sana Sana, Naboishu, Lodo, Kuishi, and Malkia. Sullivan and Mango enjoyed a soil-dusting exercise with the orphans before running back to their mothers.

In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse west of Ithumba Hill. Natibu settled to browse with Mwinzi while Kitich, Mageno, Loldaiga, and Mukutan broke away from the main herd and browsed some distance away. The boys later rejoined their colleagues when it was time to return to the stockade.

The orphans settled for lucerne immediately after leaving the stockade. Sita, Mapia, Ishanga, Chaimu, Nabulu, Olare and Ola joined the orphans in feeding on lucerne.

Choka and Kitich threatened to push Sita, and since Sita did not want any trouble with the two orphans, he simply walked away. Choka and Kitich were not satisfied with Sita walking away and charged towards him, causing him to run. It was not clear why they were targeting him.

Sita eventually took shelter behind Olare, since his mother Sidai was not present.

Vaarti, Mukutan, Mayan and Loldaiga settled for water before beginning their journey to the browsing field.

At the browsing field, several wild dogs passed by, causing tension among the orphans. Mwinzi, Natibu, Shujaa and Weka ran towards the Keepers, while Bondeni, Mukutan, Olorien and Kindani trumpeted in an attempt to scare the wild dogs away. The wild dogs did not stop and continued with their hunting mission before disappearing out of sight. Calm was restored and the orphans resumed browsing.

Shujaa later engaged Vaarti in a pushing game, while Kitich played with Choka.

At eleven o’clock in the morning, Muwingu led the way to the mud bath. The orphans had their milk, then jumped into the wallowing water before settling into a soil dusting exercise.

In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse west of Ithumba Hill and continued calmly for the remainder of the day without any major observation. At five o’clock in the evening, Toto led the way back to the stockade.

It was a quiet morning. The orphans settled for lucerne soon after leaving the stockade. Shortly later, Yoyo emerged from the southern side all alone and joined the orphans in feeding on lucerne. Shortly before seven o’clock in the morning, the Mutara group arrived and joined the orphans in feeding on lucerne.

The orphans decided to leave when the venue became crowded. Muwingu led the way to the browsing field.

At the browsing field, Esoit started his day by engaging Mukutan in a strength testing exercise, while Mwinzi challenged Loldaiga in a pushing game. Mageno settled to browse with Weka and Shujaa, while Kindani teamed up with Toto.

Muwingu came across loose soil and paused for a brief soil dusting before resuming browsing. Later, shortly before mud bath time, Shujaa, Kitich, Mayan and Loldaiga held a brief meeting, though nobody clearly understood its purpose.

At eleven o’clock in the morning, Vaarti led the way to the mud bath. The orphans had their milk and thereafter joined more than fifty ex-orphans and their young ones who had arrived early.

The orphans and ex-orphans shared a joint soil dusting session before parting ways.

In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse at Kanziku area. Kindani browsed with Toto, Natibu and Mwinzi throughout the afternoon. Mayan took a break from browsing to engage Choka in a strength testing exercise that ended when both boys became tired.

Sunyei, Siku Saba and Subiri joined the orphans in feeding on lucerne in the morning. Subiri joined Olorien in feeding on lucerne, while Siku threatened to push Choka simply because Choka had picked a flake of lucerne she had her eye on.

Kitich decided to support Choka in neutralising Siku. Siku retreated when she realised the two boys were teaming up against her.

An hour later, the orphans left for browsing once they felt they had taken enough lucerne. At the browsing field, Bondeni engaged Loldaiga in a pushing game while Mageno played with Vaarti. Muwingu, who tends to operate independently, took a break from browsing for a brief soil dusting exercise.

Later, Vaarti, Bondeni, Mwinzi and Mayan visited Kone Dam for water and then returned to rejoin their colleagues in browsing. At eleven o’clock in the morning, Weka led the first group to the noon bottle feeds.

The weather was chilly, and the orphans only washed their feet after taking their milk. They then settled for a soil dusting exercise before returning to the browsing field.

In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse west of Ithumba Hill and continued calmly up to five o’clock in the evening, when Toto led the way back to the stockade.

On the way back, Bondeni dodged the Keepers and was only noticed when they were almost at the stockade. A search was mounted, and he was found an hour later trying to catch up with the ex-orphans. Bondeni was turned back and walked all the way to the stockade for yet another night.

“Crazy One” with her two babies showed up in the morning and joined the orphans in feeding on lucerne. The youngest baby exchanged morning greetings with Mwinzi using their trunks.

Shortly later, Vaarti and Mayan walked down to the water trough to drink water. Weka led the way to the browsing field, where Choka teamed up with Kitich in browsing. Moments later, the two boys decided to relieve boredom by engaging in a strength testing exercise.

Their game attracted Shujaa, who challenged Esoit to a pushing game, while Mayan played with Loldaiga. Mwinzi settled to browse with Toto. Kindani and Vaarti took a break from browsing to roll on the ground.

At eleven o’clock in the morning, Muwingu led the way to the noon bottle feeds and thereafter led the orphans to walk through the water. After washing their feet, Toto led the group into a soil dusting exercise.

In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse at Kanziku area. The temperatures were moderate, and they browsed calmly without any major observation.

Shortly before five o’clock in the evening, Esoit wound up his day activities by engaging Mukutan in a pushing game. At five o’clock in the evening, Mwinzi led the way back to the stockade.

Ambo, Kauro and a wild elephant were relaxing outside the stockade when the orphans were let out. The orphans settled for lucerne with the three boys. Shortly later, Mapia, Esampu, Narok, Olare, Ola, Sagateisa, Tumaren, Tuck, Tembo, Ishanga, Loijuk, Lili, Lisha and Ukame arrived and joined in feeding on lucerne.

The sharing of lucerne was peaceful, and at seven o’clock in the morning Kinyei led the way to the browsing field.

At the browsing field, Mwinzi engaged Shujaa in a strength testing exercise that was interrupted when Bondeni passed by and pushed the two boys aside. Choka played with Vaarti, while Kitich tested his strength by attempting to push down a large tree. When the tree did not move at all, he selected a smaller one and managed to push it down, which made him happy.

Kindani settled to browse with her adopted baby Toto, while Mukutan, Mayan, Bondeni, Loldaiga and Mageno browsed at a distance from the main group.

At eleven o’clock in the morning, Muwingu led the way to the noon bottle feeds. After taking their milk, the orphans jumped into the wallowing water, though only Natibu, Mwinzi, Toto and Mukutan participated fully in wallowing.

After mud bathing, the orphans settled for a soil dusting exercise before returning to the browsing field. They then browsed at Kanziku area until five o’clock in the evening, when Mwinzi led the way back to the stockade.

The orphans settled for lucerne soon after leaving the stockade. Shortly later, they were joined by Galla, who was in the company of a wild friend. Kitich welcomed Galla by engaging him in a pushing game. Galla accepted the challenge and handled Kitich gently.

Vaarti challenged Choka in a pushing game that ended in a draw. Muwingu walked down to the water trough, had a drink, and later returned to rejoin her colleagues. Olorien shared her lucerne with Bondeni as Nasalot, Nusu, Noah, Nala, Naleku, Suguroi, Roho and the Mutara group arrived.

When the lucerne feeding area became crowded, the orphans began leaving gradually to make space for their seniors. Weka led the way to the browsing field.

The orphans had a quiet morning, browsing calmly without any major observation. The weather was chilly, and at eleven o’clock Loldaiga led the way to the noon bottle feeds. The orphans had their milk, skipped the wallowing exercise, and instead settled for a soil dusting exercise.

They were briefly joined by Loijuk, Lili, Lisha and Lexi. Lexi appeared to have disowned her family, as she showed little interest in joining Lualeni, Lulu and Luki. Esoit challenged Lili to a pushing game that lasted for some time.

Half an hour later, the orphans parted ways with the Loijuk group and returned to the browsing field. They settled to browse west of Ithumba Hill. Mukutan and Mayan competed to reach leaves on top of a tree by stepping on rocks; neither won, as both reached the same level.

At five o’clock in the evening, Mwinzi led the way back to the stockade for yet another night.

Melia, Milo, Moon, Naisula, Nyx, Sattao, Tumaren, Tuck, Tembo, Mutara, Mambo, Mango, Suguta, Sullivan, Sities, Sunni, Sana Sana, Naboishu, Laro, Kuishi, Tusuja, Kanjoro, Kibo, Wendi, Wiva, Wema, Wimbi, Teleki, and two wild bulls joined the orphans in feeding on lucerne in the morning.

Kinyei, Muwingu and Weka tried to familiarise with Moon but were blocked by Milo. The orphans did not stay for long, and half an hour later Loldaiga led the way to the browsing field. Olorien lagged behind with the ex-orphans for some time before catching up with them later.

At the browsing field, Kitich engaged Vaarti in a play fight but surrendered when the going got tough. Vaarti then chose to humiliate Kitich after his surrender by jumping onto his back for a free ride.

Kindani settled to browse with Toto, while Mayan teamed up with Bondeni, Esoit and Shujaa. Shortly before mud bath time, the orphans were briefly joined by Kithaka, who was on his way to an undisclosed location.

At eleven o’clock in the morning, Mukutan led the way to the noon bottle feeds. The temperatures were moderate, and the orphans only walked through the water to wash their feet soon after taking their milk. They then settled for soil dusting immediately after crossing the water, with Choka and Esoit the last to leave the soil bathing.

Kithaka later emerged from the eastern side and rejoined the orphans at the mud bath area. Esoit welcomed him and engaged him in a light pushing game. Bondeni scratched against a nearby tree while Mwinzi played with Shujaa.

As the orphans began heading back to the browsing field, Mutara and her team reported and moved straight to the water. The orphans then settled to browse west of Ithumba Hill. Esoit held a brief meeting with Natibu while Bondeni played with Loldaiga, and Kitich later teamed up with Mwinzi and Natibu in browsing.

In the evening, Weka led the way back to the stockade.

Kenze, in the company of five wild bulls, showed up at the stockade compound in the morning. Later, Dololo, Melia, Milo, Moon and the Mutara group showed up and joined in feeding on lucerne. Half an hour later, Muwingu led the way to the browsing field.

The orphans settled to browse at Kone area. Vaarti, Mayan, Bondeni and Mukutan visited Kone Dam and, after drinking enough water, the four boys returned to join their colleagues. The orphans browsed calmly as they slowly headed towards the mud bath.

At eleven o’clock in the morning, Weka led the first group to the noon bottle feeds. After getting their milk, the orphans jumped into the wallowing water. They later left the wallowing exercise when Wendi and Wiva arrived and entered the water.

The orphans then attended the soil dusting exercise and later returned to the browsing field. In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse west of Ithumba Hill and continued calmly throughout the remaining part of the day.

In the evening, Mwinzi led the way back to the stockade for yet another night.

The orphans left the stockade early as usual, soon after taking their milk. Ten bulls and twenty ex-orphans were taking water at the stockade water trough, and only the ex-orphans joined the orphans in feeding on lucerne. Shortly later, Mutara's group arrived and joined in feeding on lucerne. Kitich challenged Mambo while Esoit had a morning stretching exercise. Mageno settled to scratch against a nearby rock.

More ex-orphans continued checking in until the orphans decided to give them space by heading to the browsing field. On the way to the browsing field, Choka engaged Vaarti in a strength testing exercise that did not last for long, as it was disrupted by Kinyei. At the browsing field, Bondeni engaged Loldaiga in a friendly game as Olorien settled to browse with Natibu and Mwinzi. Kinyei and Kindani came across loose soil, which they used for a soil dusting exercise. Shujaa and Mageno charged at guinea fowl that were on their mission of looking for food. The guinea fowl flew away to avoid direct confrontation with the two boys.

At eleven o'clock in the morning, Muwingu led the first group to the noon bottle feeds while Weka led the second one. The orphans had their milk, then jumped into the wallowing water before heading to drink water. After the orphans had drunk, Mayan led the way back to the browsing field. The orphans settled to browse at Kanziku area, where they were briefly joined by Sunyei's family. Mayan and Kitich joined the family as it prepared to leave for an undisclosed location. The Keepers were quick to intervene and blocked them from following Sunyei's family.

The remaining part of the day was quiet as the orphans browsed calmly throughout without any major observations. In the evening, Weka led the way back to the stockade.

It was a bright morning with a clear sky that predicted a hot day ahead. The orphans settled for lucerne soon after leaving the stockade. It was peaceful and quiet as the orphans fed without any disturbance from any outsiders. Later, Kindani led the way to the browsing field. Loldaiga and Mayan had a strength testing exercise that ended soon after Loldaiga surrendered. Toto browsed close to Kindani as Shujaa browsed with Weka. Shortly before mud bath time, the juniors were joined by Kilabasi, Kofi, and Kanika, who left shortly afterwards for an undisclosed location.

At mud bath time, the sun was really hot but, amazingly enough, only Kitich, Mwinzi, and Weka participated in wallowing. Choka and Vaarti had scores to settle, and they did this through a pushing game. The rest of the group opted for a red soil dusting exercise.

In the afternoon, the juniors settled to browse at Kanziku area. Mukutan came across a green tree and wished to feed on its leaves. Mukutan stretched his trunk high to reach the leaves, but he could not quite reach them. He walked around the tree as he tried to devise a method of getting to the leaves. Luckily, Mukutan spotted a rock beneath the tree, and since he needed only a slight increase in height to reach the leaves, he happily stepped onto the rock with his front legs. Sure enough, Mukutan was able to gain the height he needed to reach the leaves.

In the evening, Olorien decided to take a break from feeding and relaxed under a tree before resuming browsing. At five o'clock in the evening, Toto led the way back to the stockade.

It was a beautiful morning as the day started well with babies waking up to find their milk ready for drinking. They were well served with bottles of milk and came out to feed on lucerne. They were all happy as they came out and found ex-orphans and wild bulls waiting for them. They were all served with lucerne and shared peacefully until the babies were ready to walk to the bush for browsing, leaving behind some ex-orphans and wild elephants still finishing up the lucerne.

Back in the bush, they all happily continued browsing well. Vaarti started playfighting with Esoit while Weka and Kinyei were busy playing and rolling in the soil along the road. Bondeni and Mukutan were busy having fun while Muwingu was checking on Mwinzi. Natibu later led the group to the mud bath for their milk bottles again.

However, they all had milk bottles at the mud bath and none tried to get into the water to wallow due to the cold weather in the area. They walked to the water trough to drink water. We also had some ex-orphans from Mutara’s group and Olare’s group. Ola was seen playing in the dust while Sattao and Rapa were busy playing. Mango and Sullivan were busy playing as they rolled in the dust bath with their mothers and aunties watching them. The babies later started walking back to the bush for evening browsing again.

Back in the bush, they were all actively browsing well despite the cold weather in the area. Mukutan was seen peeling the bark of a baobab tree as he fed. Toto was browsing in the last minutes of the day and later they all started walking back home in the evening again.

In the stockade this evening, we had a few ex-orphans and wild elephants who came to drink water and left. All other elephants who visited the stockade were fine and well.

It was the most peaceful morning as the babies got their share of milk bottles and walked out to feed on lucerne. The field was already occupied by ex-orphans from Nasalot’s group, with Naleku and Suguroi amongst them. Nasalot was with her babies, Nala and Noah. Nala was seen scratching on the rock next to his mum. Mayan, the orphan, was busy playing with lucerne on his trunk and later the babies started walking to the bush for browsing.

Back in the bush, Bondeni started playfighting Loldaiga while Toto was busy scratching his head on a tree. Vaarti, on the other side, was busy playfighting with Choka, and later the babies started walking to the mud bath for their milk bottles and wallowing.

At the mud bath, the babies had their milk bottles as usual and walked in for wallowing. They all wallowed fully and got out, with some like Choka going to play in the dust for drying. The babies went to drink water and walked directly back to the bush for evening browsing again.

However, it was not very hot today and the babies fully enjoyed the browsing. They later started walking back home in the evening for their milk bottles, pellets, and bedding.

Still in the stockade, we had a large group of wild elephants and ex-orphans this evening who came to drink water. They were coming in different groups as they walked back to the bush for browsing again. 

It was a very busy morning today after we got a large group of ex-orphans and wild elephants. The babies had their milk bottles as usual and walked out to feed on lucerne. While feeding, Mulika came in with her family, Moe and Mwende, with her baby Mala. They came directly to the lucerne field and started feeding on it. Kalama and Kapuki were amongst them, with Kapuki playing here and there. The babies later walked to the bush for browsing.

In the bush, the babies were very busy browsing as Esoit and Loldaiga started playfighting. Choka started playing as he rolled in the dust. Mayan came close to Choka and started playing with him. The babies later started walking to the mud bath for their milk bottles and wallowing.

At the mud bath, the babies had their milk bottles as usual and walked in to wallow. They came out and went to drink water and later to the dust bath. Muwinzi was seen playing after the mud bath wallowing and later joined his friends. We also had some ex-orphans including Sidai with Sita, Silas and Sid. We also had Sities and Sunni. We also had Galana, Gawa and Gala. Malkia was also present with them. Sidai was hiding under the shade from the sun with her baby Sid. Suni was busy playing in the dust with Gawa and Malkia together with other orphans. The babies later walked back to the bush for browsing.

Back in the bush, the babies were busy browsing as Bondeni was having a chat with Kinyei. Kindani was busy together with Toto, Mwinzi and Natibu. Bondeni started playfighting with Loldaiga while also stretching up high to browse on the trees. The babies later started walking back home in the evening for their milk bottles. Everything was fine and well as we had a large group of elephants in the evening coming to drink water. There were also some ex-orphan elephants around this evening who came to drink water and later left back to the bush.

It was such a beautiful cold and quiet morning as the babies woke up to find milk ready for them. They were very excited and started making noise when it was almost time for feeding. They were then served well with milk bottles and later walked out to feed on lucerne.

Out in the field, there was only Galla who came to join them. He enjoyed feeding on lucerne with the babies before they left for the bush. Kinyei, Bondeni, and Kindani went on to drink water at the water trough and later the whole group started walking to the bush for browsing.

Out in the bush, they all looked more active, with Mwinzi finding himself alone and starting to smell the air looking for Natibu and Toto. He later found them. Toto was always close to Kindani, and later the babies started walking to the mud bath for their milk bottles and wallowing.

At the mud bath, the babies had their milk bottles as usual and walked in to wallow. They all wallowed and came out to drink water and dust-bath themselves. Vaarti was the one who played well in the dust with Kinyei. Kinna with her family Kama, Kaia, and Kito visited the mud bath. Kito was very excited and very playful. Toto, Mwinzi, and Natibu enjoyed the wallowing on their own. Esoit and Loldaiga started playing after drinking water. The rest of the babies were busy enjoying the dust bath. Mukutan and Esoit also started playfighting after drinking water, and finally the babies started walking back to the bush for browsing again.

Back in the bush, Vaarti and Bondeni were playing together while Choka, Weka, and Shujaa were browsing together. Mageno was busy checking on Shujaa while Choka started hugging Mageno. Toto started leading the group back home in the evening.

However, there was also a large group of wild bulls at the stockade coming for water. They drank water and left back to the bush.

The orphans settled for lucerne soon after leaving the stockade. Shortly later, they were joined by Mukkoka, Roho, Mutara, Mambo, Mango, Turkwel, Sana Sana, Naboishu, Sities, Sunni, Suguta and Sullivan. Sullivan spent some time with Weka before returning to his mother.

After the orphans had eaten their fill of lucerne, Muwingu led the way to the browsing field. On the way, they met Barsilinga and Enkikwe. The two ex-orphan bulls exchanged morning greetings with the orphans before parting ways.

At the browsing field, Bondeni started his day by engaging Mukutan in a strength testing exercise. Kitich settled to browse with Shujaa, while Mayan teamed up with Weka. The orphans browsed calmly until eleven o’clock in the morning, when Vaarti led the way to the noon bottle feeds.

After taking their milk, the orphans jumped into the wallowing water. Only Muwingu boycotted the wallowing exercise, choosing instead to run away. After wallowing, the orphans moved to the drinking troughs, where they were joined by Sana Sana, Naboishu and Mambo, who later departed for an undisclosed location.

The orphans enjoyed a brief soil dusting exercise before returning to the browsing field. On the way back, Toto developed an itchy belly and stopped to scratch himself against a tree he found along the path.

In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse west of Ithumba Hill. They browsed calmly until five o’clock in the evening, when Mwinzi led the way back to the stockade.

The stockade compound was crowded with ex-orphans and wild elephants, numbering around 120 in total. Roho and Enkikwe attempted to sneak into the stockade by hiding among the orphans, but they were far too big to go unnoticed. The Keepers blocked their way, and the two boys turned back to rejoin their companions at the water trough.

The orphans settled for lucerne soon after leaving the stockade. Kilaguni, with a few of his friends, joined the orphans in feeding on lucerne. Half an hour later, Muwingu led the way to the browsing field. On the way, Loldaiga ran into trouble with Vaarti when he tried to overtake him. Vaarti pushed Loldaiga aside in an effort to block him from overtaking. Loldaiga turned to defend himself against Vaarti, and the two boys locked into a play fight that lasted for quite some time. The fight ended when Kindani caught up with them and stepped in between to stop them from fighting.

Natibu settled to browse with Mwinzi, while Kindani teamed up with her adopted baby, Toto. At around nine o’clock in the morning, the orphans were briefly joined by Sunyei, Subiri, Siku, and Saba. Weka interacted briefly with Subiri, while Shujaa engaged Saba in a light pushing game. Shortly later, Sunyei rumbled, alerting her daughters that it was time to continue with their journey.

At eleven o’clock in the morning, Mageno led the way to the noon bottle feeds. After getting their milk, Olorien led the team into the wallowing water. Soon after wallowing, Kitich engaged Esoit in a strength-testing exercise. Kinyei, Choka, and Mukutan enjoyed the soil-dusting exercise the most.

In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse at Kanziku. Later, Vaarti, Muwingu, Kinyei, Natibu, Toto, Mwinzi, Bondeni, and Mayan took a break from browsing to have fun by participating in a soil-dusting exercise. Shortly before five o’clock in the evening, Choka, Mwinzi, and Mukutan held a brief meeting before Mwinzi took the lead in returning to the stockade.