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It was a peaceful morning for the orphans when they left the stockade. They settled for lucerne and shortly later were joined by Tumaren. Tumaren belongs to Olare’s group and we were not sure why she didn't visit the stockade with the rest of her group. Tumaren wasn't in a good mood as she kept on throwing back kicks to whichever orphan passed behind her. When the orphans were through with feeding on lucerne, Narok led the way to the browsing field as Tumaren headed east, probably to check on her group. The sun was hot and therefore the orphans fed under trees while trying to hide from the scorching sun. At mud bath time, five wild bulls were in attendance. The orphans participated fully in the wallowing exercise with the exception of Orwa, who opted to stay out of the water. After mud bath, Lemoyian, Barsilinga and Kamok headed for soil dusting while Roi, Shukuru and Garzi opted for a scratching exercise. In the afternoon, the sun was still hot and Bomani with Boromoko took a break from feeding to relax under a tree, and resumed browsing only when they felt that the temperature had dropped a bit.

Eight wild bulls were drinking water from the stockade water trough when the orphans were let out in the morning. While feeding on lucerne, the orphans were joined by Makireti, Kilabasi, Kasigau, Chaimu, Kilaguni, Tumaren, Naisula, Kitirua, Taita, Murka and four junior wild bulls. Soon after the orphans were through with lucerne, Shukuru led the team to drink water before heading out to the bush to start what appeared to be a hot day a head. Narok came across a tree stump that was of right size to scratch her belly on, while Siangiki concentrated on uprooting roots of a shrub to feed on. At mud bath time, the orphans were joined by the senior Ex Orphans and sixteen wild bulls. The entire herd participated in wallowing together and half an hour later parted ways. In the afternoon, Narok and Shukuru relaxed under the same tree as they dusted themselves while Kauro and Orwa relaxed under another tree few metres away. In the evening, Lemoyian and Kithaka spent some time in a strength testing exercise that ended quickly when Vuria intervened by pushing the two boys away.

Soon after leaving the stockade, the orphans settled for lucerne and were joined by Mutara and Olare’s groups. Then the senior Ex Orphans in Yatta’s group in the company of twelve wild elephants showed up. Olare’s herd escorted the juniors to the browsing field where Kibo played with Orwa. Boromoko exercised his strength by trying to bend a tree down but he couldn't move it even an inch. He then surrendered and moved to join Kandecha in browsing. At mud bath and milk feeding time, the orphans were joined by the Ex Orphans and wild elephants. The sun was so hot causing the entire herd to participate in wallowing. Given the high number of about eighty four elephants at mud bath, the wallowing was done in turns in order of seniority since they could not all fit in. There was drama when four warthogs tried to access the mud bath too. Kithaka spotted them first and without hesitation charged and went for them. The warthogs didn’t wait to be trampled on but ran as fast as their legs could carry them. In the evening, the Ex Orphans reported early when they got wind of fresh lucerne at the stockade. They were given a treat of the fresh lucerne when they arrived at the stockade. On the way back to stockade, Laragai, Teleki and Orwa joined the Ex Orphans briefly before getting into the stockade for yet another night.

Challa, in the company of two wild bulls, joined the juniors in the morning soon after the orphans were let out. They shared lucerne together briefly before parting ways. At the browsing field, Naseku and Teleki took a break from feeding to scratch against the nearby trees. Lemoyian had brief strength testing exercise with Kithaka that didn't last for long since Bongo passed by and pushed both of them away. At eleven o'clock in the morning, the orphans attended mud bath as usual. The sun was really hot making all the orphans want to play in the water. After mud bath, Lemoyian played with Sirimon, Naseku scratched her ear against an acacia tree while Barsilinga and Bomani headed for a soil dusting exercise. Back out in the bush, the orphans paired up to dust themselves. Narok paired with Lemoyian, Teleki with Laragai, Shukuru with Sokotei and Bongo with Garzi. The sun was getting hot and the orphans converged under a tree to hide from the scorching sun. Later in the day, Shukuru, Lemoyian and Kamok dodged the keepers and returned back to the stockades on their own at five o'clock in the evening, as the keepers frantically looked for them around the Kanziku area where they had all been. It was only after they received a call from the keepers back at the compound that three of the orphans had returned that those out in the bush were relieved, and brought the others back to the stockade to join those naughty three! The fun and games continued when Teleki, Laragai, Orwa, Vuria and Bomani refused to get into the stockade but joined Chaimu, Kilaguni, Challa and a wild elephant that were just feeding lucerne outside the stockade. Shortly before dark, the five orphans were bundled into the stockade after they attempted to elope with Chaimu, Kilaguni, Challa and the wild elephant. This is an early sign of these orphans who are going off milk that they are almost ready to leave, and sooner or later might leave their human family to join their friends in the wild, where they belong.

Half Trunk in a company of another twenty wild elephants were drinking water at the stockade water trough when the orphans came out this morning. Narok, Bongo, Laragai, Teleki, Orwa, Bomani and Vuria, who are off milk now, bent the rails of the gate and broke one as they tried to force their way out. When the wild elephants had enough water, they left back into the park. Only one wild bull remained at the water trough and Laragai joined him to drink water. Shortly later, Olare and her group emerged from the eastern side of the stockade and joined the juniors. At mud bath time, only Rapsu, Makireti, Kilabasi and Kasigau attended mud bath with the juniors. After mud bath, Orwa engaged Kithaka in a strength testing exercise that saw Orwa emerge as the winner. Shukuru, Boromoko, Sokotei, Olsekki and Kamok participated in a soil bathing exercise before returning back to the browsing field. Later in the day Orwa, Olsekki, Roi and Naseku took a break from feeding and relaxed under a tree with Naseku dusting herself from time to time. In the evening, Roi led the way back to the stockade.

Early before dawn, the stockade compound was flooded by over hundred elephants that were coming for water. Once the elephants had taken enough water, one by one they left back into the park leaving the Ex Orphans in Olare’s group, Mutara’s group, Chaimu’s group and Makireti’s group in the stockade compound feeding on lucerne with the dependent orphans. Only four wild elephants were brave enough to stay and join them in feasting on lucerne. Kibo was pushed by one of the wild elephants when he tried to play with one of the wild juniors his age. When it was time to leave the compound for browsing, Vuria, Kamok and Orwa lagged behind with the junior Ex Orphans only to rejoin their friends an hour later. At the browsing field, Garzi settled to browse with Naseku while Siangiki settled to browse with Olsekki. Lemoyian joined Narok as Barsilinga settled with Tusuja. Only four wild elephants attended mud bath with the juniors. It was not very hot so only Shukuru, Barsilinga, Bongo and Lemoyian decided to go into the water to wallow. In the evening, Vuria, Bongo, Narok and Bomani dodged the keepers and ended up returning back to the stockade at around seven o'clock late in the evening. The group has started showing plenty of signs that they might soon leave their human family. This group of seven who are not drinking milk anymore are always reluctant to return back to the stockades in the evening. It's so dry at the moment and we always keep encouraging them to get back to the stockade until we have proper rains and we are sure they will be safe and healthy in the wild.

It was a quiet morning today with orphans coming out of their stockades and heading to the lucerne area in a happy mood. They met with three Ex Orphans waiting for them, Rapsu, Kilabasi and Makireti, with one junior wild bull. They all shared lucerne together whilst Kauro started scratching on some rocks. The group later walked to the bush for browsing. Barsilinga was browsing with Kauro (these two have identical wrinkles on their faces). The rest were busy struggling to browse in the dry bushes. In this dry weather with no sign of rain yet, the orphans are walking long distances with their keepers in search of good browse. Still in the bush this morning, Kilabasi and Makireti came to join the orphans with Kilabasi trying to communicate with Orwa while browsing. Later on, Kithaka led the group to mudbath for their milk. Whilst walking to the mud bath area Bongo and his tight group tried to remain behind with no interest in walking straight to the mudbath like the others because they are almost independent and are not given any milk at all. At mud bath it was very hot and the majority of the orphans played in the mud. Kilabasi, Makireti, Bongo, Garzi and Shukuru were the most playful elephants of the day. Some warthogs came running in to the mud hole which scared the orphans and they ran out into the bush. A buffalo who was also in the area ran away as well when he saw the orphans running. Back in the bush, Barsilinga was scratching on a tree with Orwa whilst his friends hid in the shade from the hot sun. Kauro was scooping and tossing soil on his head and back together with Bongo in a different place. It was very hot and most of the orphans were hiding in the shade. When it was a bit cooler later on they browsed for a bit more before heading back home in the evening. Lemoyian and Barsilinga were busy scooping and tossing chunks of soil on their heads and some in the air with Boromoko and Shukuru too. Boromoko later led the group back home in the evening. At the stockade today we had Wendi's group with a few wild bulls who came to drink water and then left.

No Ex Orphans or wild elephants disturbed the dependent orphans whilst they were having their lucerne today. Kauro started scratching his neck on the rocks while others were busy eating Lucerne. They later went to the water trough to drink water before heading out into the Park. Each orphan was busy striving to search for nice browse as it’s very dry everywhere. Sirimon was stripping the bark off a tree as he searched for food. Later Kithaka led the group to mudbath. Enkikwe led the first group for milk. It was very hot and when everyone had finished his or her bottle they walked straight to the mud hole for swimming. Kithaka, Bongo, Vuria, Naseku, Lemoyian, Laragai and Shukuru were the most playful elephants of the day. Vuria and Kithaka were drinking water directly from the water bowser’s pipe! Kithaka was scratching his bottom after a long play in the mud. The group later walked to the bush with Barsilinga scratching on a tree before he decided to dust himself with Orwa. It was very hot and everyone was hiding under a tree, they later started coming out one by one in search of food. Sokotei was playing with dust while Shukuru was actively stretching her neck as she walked towards her friends. The whole group later started walking back to the stockades for their evening milk. Bongo’s group of orphans who are becoming more independent were not actively and happily walking home, hanging behind as if they didn’t want to return. They started browsing afresh and later followed their friends. Very few Ex Orphans appeared in the stockade today. We only had Buchuma, Tomboi, Rapsu, Taita and Meibai.

It was a quiet morning today when the dependent orphans came out of the stockades to feed on the lucerne and found no one else in the area. They were very happy as they enjoyed the lucerne without being disturbed by their Ex Orphan friends or any wild elephants. Kamok and Kauro were scratching on the rocks whilst Shukuru politely fed in between Olsekki and Vuria. Later some wild bulls came in and drank water at a distance from the babies before leaving again. The orphans later left to the bush for browsing led by Shukuru, the matriarch. In the bush, Kithaka and Barsilinga started play fighting, with Sirimon and Lemoyian also playing peacefully. Narok was rolling on the ground in her own game whilst Boromoko rest his trunk on Kauro. It was very hot and Shukuru and Orwa hid in the shade away from the others. Later on, Boromoko led the group to mud bath. We only had 4 wild bulls that joined our dependent orphans, they enjoyed mud bath very much. Most of our orphans led by Bongo and Shukuru were very active, playing in the mud bath. They came out and started dusting themselves. Naseku and Shukuru rolled in the dust as if they were going to be given a prize of who was the best roller! They later all walked back to the bush to browse. It was very hot and dry with all the elephants trying to search for some food to eat. They browsed until evening when Barsilinga led them back home. We also had Wendi’s group in the stockade who came to drink water and left.

It was a busy and active morning as a group of Ex Orphans and wild elephants arrived at the stockade compound very early in the morning in search of water and tasty lucerne grass. The Ex Orphans accompanied the dependent orphans to the lucerne field and started feasting together. Kauro started scratched on the rocks. Wendi with her baby Wiva were among the Ex Orphan group and they all interacted together before walking out to the bush. It is so dry in the bush and the orphans were struggling to find something to eat. They separated from the Ex Orphans and wild elephants and everyone was busy searching for vegetation to fill their stomach. Shukuru was very busy breaking big branches to strip some bark from them. The group later headed to the mud bath. At mud bath a group of 8 wild bulls arrived and after watching them for awhile the keepers noticed one with an arrow injury. They immediately called the anti-poaching team to come and confirm, but when they arrived the bull started walking back into the bush and disappeared. He was so very scared and he was running away from us. They searched for him until very late into the evening but without success, and will continue the search tomorrow. Our orphans played in the mud hole for sometime as they interacted with some wild bulls and got out to dust bath before walking back to the bush. Kithaka started playing and climbng on Olsekki during the dust bath time. The group later walked back to the bush for more browsing. They were all very busy searching for food. Oltayoni and Kamok were hiding under the shade of a tree. The group later met with Ex Orphans Murka, Kitirua and Naisula and started browsing together. In the evening, the orphans walked back home but Orwa remained with Murka’s group and came back to the stockade later. Orwa, Bongo, Vuria, Teleki, Laragai, Narok and Bomani are increasingly showing signs of joining their friends in the wild some time soon. We had also a group of wild elephants who visited the stockade late in the evening. We are expecting rain in the area hopefully sometime next week.

Half Trunk in the company of twenty wild bulls were busy drinking water at the stockade water trough when the orphans were let out in the morning. Olare’s group and Mutara’s group joined the juniors in feeding on lucerne. Shortly later a wild herd with a one year old baby arrived and it decided to join the orphans and in particular had a good time with Laragai, before heading back to join its family. Garzi and Kithaka had a brief strength testing exercise that saw Garzi emerge as the winner. Lemoyian settled to feed with Bongo and from time to time, Lemoyian would put his trunk into Bongo’s mouth. Orwa settled to feed with Kauro as Vuria came across a bent tree that he used to scratch his belly on. At mud bath time, ten bulls were in attendance and one of the junior bulls was hostile to the orphans as he kept on pushing them away from the water trough. Garzi, Siangiki, Bongo and Lemoyian ganged up against the warthogs that were trying to access the mud bath. The warthogs ran away only to come back when the orphans had gone back to the browsing field. Siangiki and Olsekki lay down to relax for a very short time and then when they were back to their feet, the duo followed their friends. In the evening, thirty wild elephants came for water at the stockade water trough. Noticeable were Half Trunk and the father to Mwende and Yetu.

The orphans left the stockade early as usual and settled for Lucerne. They were joined by a wild mother elephant and her two kids and two buffaloes that came for water. After feeding on lucerne, the wild mother and her two kids left back into the park. The orphans headed to Kanziku area where they settled to browse. It was a hot day and the orphans concentrated on browsing without any major distractions. At mud bath time, all the orphans fully participated in the wallowing exercise. Naseku headed for a scratching soon after mud bath as two wild elephants checked in and joined Orwa, Bongo, Sirimon, Barsilinga, Siangiki and Shukuru to drink water. The afternoon was quiet and hot. The orphans spent most of their time browsing under trees to avoid the scorching sun. The Ex Orphans reported briefly at the stockade to drink water. Kinna and Kama are doing well and Wiva has established herself as one of Kama’s nannies, despite being only a year and a half old!

The sky was clear in the morning as the orphans left the stockade and settled for the lucerne. Shortly later, the juniors were joined by the Ex Orphans and together they shared the lucerne. Enkikwe, Narok and Orwa spend some time scratching on the nearby rocks before Laragai led them to the browsing field. Out in the bush it was all quiet, but it was very hot and all the orphans concentrated mainly on browsing. At mud bath time, the orphans were joined by four wild bulls. The orphans participated in wallowing with bulls and thereafter headed for soil dusting. In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse in the Kanziku area. The sun was still hot and Shukuru, Teleki, Boromoko, Siangiki and Olsekki relaxed under trees that had good shade as they waited for the temperature to drop so they could resume browsing.