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It was another wet morning following a 35mm of rain received overnight. Karisa was the first one to leave the stockade armed with a branch in his mouth. The ground was slippery and the orphans skidded as they followed Karisa out. Laragai and her group didn't report back and were still in the bush. Kauro teamed up with Namalok and Karisa to browse as Tusuja, Roi and Maramoja settled to drink rain water which tasted so sweet to them. For few days the orphans, Ex Orphans and wild elephants will at least have something to smile about. The temperature is back to normal and now they will be happy to have a break from drinking brackish and salty water, and instead have tasty rain water anytime they feel like. Galla took a break from feeding to have a scratching exercise as he held a branch in his mouth to make sure that he was also chewing something just like his friends. In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse on the western side of Ithumba Hill. Pare and Karisa came across a small water hole and decided to share the water. Shortly later, they were joined by Ukame and Namalok. For some reason, Ukame wasn't happy about Namalok being there too and she pushed him out. Karisa and Pare moved away to comfort Namalok, leaving Ukame to drink on her own. The three boys returned later for a drink after Ukame had left. Later in the evening, Tusuja settled to browse with Galla and from time to time, Tusuja could be seen picking some of the food from Galla's mouth. Laragai and her group showed up late in the evening in the company of Narok, Orwa and Bomani.

Orwa, Narok and Bomani spent the night just outside the stockade and teamed up with their friends in the morning. The weather was cloudy in the morning and we had some light showers. Narok took Laragai’s group in a different direction to the rest of the orphans. The light showers initiated a playful mood within the orphans. Galla and Naseku dusted themselves with wet soil from the same hole. Namalok teamed up with Karisa to browse. At mud bath, the weather was still chilly and the orphans had their milk and after headed straight out to browse. In the afternoon Kauro, who never seems to see eye to an eye with Kamok, were seen browsing together and chatting. Perhaps they were trying to iron out their differences! Roi and Oltaiyoni, who came to Ithumba at the of December 2016, had a moment to reflect about their past and discuss how time really flies. In the evening, only Siangiki, who belongs to Laragai’s group, returned back to the stockade with the orphans, perhaps because she wanted to check on her best friend Enkikwe. Enkikwe has completed his three weeks dose of noroclav injections since he was attacked by a lion last month. He is still in pain and it will be a long road to recovery, but he is improving. Though he has lost a bit of weight, new skin can be seen covering the wound from the top.

The sky was partly covered by clouds and it was wet in the morning following 18 mm of rain received over night. Laragai and her group joined the orphans briefly before disappearing into the Park again. Galla was in joyful mood and while at the browsing field felt energetic and wanted to find someone to measure how strong he was. Galla turned to Tusuja who appeared uninterested in his pushing games. When Galla saw that Tusuja was not responding, he decided to ride on him so as to annoy him and probably change his mind. Tusuja didn't even bother but continued to browse as if nothing happened. Galla gave up and walked away, perhaps wondering what might be wrong with his friend Tusuja since they always do pushing games together! Anyway there are some days when an elephant wakes up in a dull mood – they have good days and bad days just like humans! Each day is always different and for the likes of Tusuja, today he didn't feel like engaging in any form of fun games, but preferred instead to focus on browsing. In the afternoon the clouds cleared giving way to sun shine. The orphans had a rest under some trees until the temperature dropped to a favourable level. Laragai and her group didn't return back to the stockade for the night but teamed up with Orwa, Narok and Bomani, a team that they are slowly becoming a part of and hopefully they will be welcomed into the herd.

Orwa, Narok and Bomani were the only visitors in the morning. Once the orphans were let out, Galla tried to challenge Bomani. Bomani, the late bloomer, finally had his tusks come through when he was five years old, and now at least has something to boast about and defend himself with! Bomani used his new tusks to discipline Galla and indirectly inform him and all the other boys who used to look down on him due to his lack of tusks that now he was complete and ready to duel with them. Shortly later, Narok, Orwa and Bomani escorted the juniors to the browsing field where they were met by Laragai and her group that had not returned back to the stockade for another night. Galla and Tusuja had a brief strength testing exercise as Kauro scratched himself. At mud bath time, the orphans were joined by three Ex Orphan girls Naserian, Makena and Loijuk. Tusuja challenged Makena in an effort to try and enhance his pushing skills, which in return will be using to defend himself against the fellow boys. In the afternoon, the temperature was high and this prompted the orphans to take a break from feeding and converge under a tree with nice shade. The orphans resumed browsing later when the temperature dropped.

Orwa, Bomani and Narok brought Laragai back at midnight and opted to take a nap just outside the stockades. When the orphans were let out in the morning, Galla headed straight to Bomani to exchange morning greetings by entwining their trunks. Roi had a morning stretching exercise that also attracted Ukame. Kauro came across a tree stump later that was the right size to scratch his neck on. Roi and Ukame took a break from feeding to soil dust themselves. The temperature was moderate and the orphans concentrated on browsing up until eleven o'clock when they were joined by Ex Orphans Makena, Loijuk and Naserian. Shortly after mud bath time, the three big girls took Laragai and her group with them. In the afternoon, Sapalan, as usual, separated from his friends and was picked up later in the evening on the way back to the stockades.

Naserian, Loijuk and Makena, who appear to have lost contact with their group, joined the juniors in the morning just outside the stockade. Also present were Narok, Orwa and Bomani. Tusuja, Rapa, Oltaiyoni, Roi, Sapalan and Naseku headed to the water trough to arm themselves with enough water. The weather predicted a hot day a head. Kamok just used her trunk to play with the water instead of drinking, hoping to find some fresh rain water out in the Park left over from the previous rain showers. Shortly later, Maramoja, who has the qualities of a future matriarch when the older girls leaves, set the pace for rest of the group when she rumbled and started heading out to browse. The rest of the herd snaked behind her including Makena, Naserian and Loijuk. Only Orwa remained behind but followed later after completing whatever his unfinished business was in the stockade compound. Pare settled to feed with Tusuja as Kauro and Sapalan decided to start their day with a soil dusting exercise. Shortly later, Tusuja passed close to where Bomani was feeding. Bomani raised his ears in an attempt to warn Tusuja that he wasn't interested in his childish behaviour of pushing his seniors. Tusuja behaved like a naughty boy and he wasn't intimidated by Bomani's threats. He only looked at Bomani and seemed unmoved, and then he moved on. Roi and Sokotei used the same tree to scratch their bellies. At around ten o'clock in the morning, the weather turned cloudy and the orphans felt a lot cooler. They concentrated mostly on browsing and enjoying the new green shoots from the plants.

Soon after leaving the stockade, the orphans were joined by Narok, Orwa, Bomani, Laragai’s group Makena, Loijuk and Naserian. Missing from Laragai’s group was Boromoko, who was last seen with the senior Ex Orphans at the beginning of the month. Makena exchanged morning greetings with Tusuja by entwining their trunks briefly. Shortly later, Naserian led the way to the browsing field where Makena and Oltaiyoni shared the same tree to scratch. Pare, Lemoyian, Roi, Narok, Tusuja, Rapa and Kauro, who rarely takes a bath unless he is forced to do so, had a game of rolling on the ground. The soil was wet following some 10 mm of rain received overnight. Lemoyian brought the game to an end when he started misbehaving by riding on his friends. One of the affected, Tusuja, decided to question Lemoyian on why he was behaving that way. We assumed that Tusuja was annoyed with Lemoyian as while Lemoyian and his group were away, the other orphans had been enjoying more peaceful games. We imagined that he would either like him to stay and behave himself, or go and permanently make a herd in the wild and stop bothering them! Tusuja had brief tussle with Lemoyian before moving on to play with Bomani. Shortly before mud bath time, Naserian, Loijuk and Makena took Laragai and Narok’s groups with them. The rest of the afternoon was quiet as the orphans concentrated on browsing.

Soon after feeding on lucerne pellets, Maramoja led the way to the browsing field. Roi loves games of sitting and rolling on the ground and she spent some time enjoying this kind of game. Kamok passed by and decided to use Roi as a scratching post, to scratch her itchy belly. Ukame, Naseku, Sapalan, Karisa and Namalok had a moment of soil dusting while Wanjala and Galla decided to settle their scores through a pushing game. At mud bath time, the temperature was quiet warm and the orphans participated briefly in a mud bathing exercise. In the afternoon, the orphans were joined by Orwa, Narok and Bomani. Later in the evening, Bomani invited Naseku to a game of rolling on the ground which Naseku accepted but she approached cautiously as she didn't understand the reason behind the invitation. Naseku played the game as she watched Bomani carefully and when she saw Bomani trying to stand up, she did the same and walked away to avoid the embarrassment of being climbed on by him without her consent. Shortly before five o'clock in the evening, Narok, Bomani and Orwa escorted the juniors back to the stockade.

Chaimu and her long time friend Kilaguni joined the orphans for lucerne pellets early in the morning. Orwa, Bomani and Narok were also present. Kamok settled to share her pile with Orwa. Shortly later, Kauro left quietly and when she spotted him leaving the vocal Maramoja saw him and immediately alerted her friends by rumbling that it was now time to leave for browsing. At the browsing field, Roi settled to browse on the same shrub as Naseku as Karisa settled for a moist soil bath. Dupotto came across a suitable tree that she used to scratch on but shortly later Oltaiyoni pushed her away from the tree just to show Dupotto that she was her senior and she deserves the right to use the tree as she wishes. Dupotto just left without a word since she knew the consequences of arguing with her seniors. Oltaiyoni was the matriarch when they were together at the Nursery and she continues to be the ‘boss’ here! Later in the day, Naseku and Tusuja took a break from feeding to participate in game of rolling on the ground. It was quite cold so at mud bath time the orphans only drank their milk then headed back to the browsing field. In the afternoon, Galla had fun by rolling on the ground while Dupotto and Maramoja took a break from feeding and relaxed under a tree before resuming browsing. In the evening, the clouds opened up giving way to 5 mm of rain. Laragai and her group didn't show up for the night.

After spending the night out, Laragai and her group accompanied by Kilaguni, Chaimu, Orwa, Bomani and Narok joined the orphans in the morning. After feeding on lucerne, Maramoja, who likes leading, led the way followed by the quick-tempered Ukame. In the bush Kilaguni, whose tusks are twice long as compared to Orwa's, engaged Orwa in a pushing game. Tusuja and Galla who were feeding close by, stopped feeding so they could watch Kilaguni and Orwa’s game. A few minutes later, Orwa surrendered and went back to browsing. Tusuja and Galla decided to put into practice what they had learned by watching the two boys fighting each other. As Tusuja and Galla were busy pushing each, Kilaguni came and separated the two boys by pushing them away – it was as if he did not want them messing around in front of their seniors! At midday as the orphans made their way to the mud bath, the sun was really hot which we thought indicated more rain ahead, but unfortunately the day ended without receiving a single drop. Dupotto, who at one time disappeared for almost three months, created a scene when after having her milk bottles she tried to join another group who had not had theirs yet. Dupotto made sure she wasn't leading the group to avoid detection. Upon arriving at where the keepers were holding the milk she raised her trunk up as if asking for her share of milk. She was surprised when she was turned away and wondered how the keepers managed to know that she had already finished her own share of milk. One thing Dupotto had forgotten was to wipe her mouth clean because traces of milk could be seen in the mouth and around her chin! In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse close to Imenti area and in the evening Laragai and her group escorted the juniors back to the stockades. Upon arriving at the stockade compound, Laragai and her group went past the compound as if heading to kalovoto area. She and her group had grown wise and knew that if they went into the stockade they would definitely be locked in until morning. The gate was left open for whoever felt like staying to go inside.

The orphans woke up to a cold morning after showers of 6mm early before dawn. As usual, the orphans settled for lucerne pellets and later Karisa led the way to the browsing field but later was overtaken by Maramoja who wants to make sure that she is the one leading most of the time. The orphans settled to browse at Kone area where they were joined by Narok, Bomani, Orwa and Laragai’s group. Tusuja held a strength testing exercise with Bomani that ended shortly when Tusuja was overpowered by Bomani. Barsilinga and Maramoja had a game of rolling on ground as the rest of the herd concentrated on browsing. It was a day with moderate temperatures and the orphans chose not to mess around. Vegetation is really growing now and the orphans are making choices of which type of vegetation they most like to eat! Pare led the first group to the mud bath while Maramoja led the second one. In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse in Kanziku area until in the evening when Maramoja led the first group back to the stockade.

The sky was crystal clear as the orphans strolled nonchalantly out from the stockades. This was a clear indication of a hot day a head and that the rains are taking a break. Orwa, Narok and Bomani joined the juniors for the morning pellets. Kamok shared her pile with Kauro and Maramoja, while Pare shared his with Sapalan. The orphans drank water at Kone dam and after went back to browsing. Kauro had fun playing on the ground but that game ended abruptly when he saw a dik dik approaching. He stood up and decided to play with the dik dik that had invaded his privacy. With his ears raised, Kauro ran at the dik dik which promptly disappeared into the bushes, leaving Kauro wondering where it had gone so quickly. Tusuja settled to play on a anthill while Roi dusted herself with soil. Soon after taking their milk at noon, Naseku played one of her usual tricks. She has become cheeky these days and likes to scare her friends for no reason by pretending that she had seen something scary and runs into the bushes shouting so everyone follows her. The keepers intervened by calling them all back and took them to the mud bath to wallow and cool off. Ukame, who appears to have a dislike of water, was the first one to jump in but she ran through without stopping, straight to the other side. Her friends followed her which made this the shortest mud bath ever, lasting less than three minutes! At the end Naseku had a conflict with Galla but it was quickly sorted out by Oltaiyoni. In the afternoon, Naseku and Dupotto settled for a soil dusting exercise and they were later joined by Namalok, Tusuja, Kauro, Roi and Wanjala.

Soon after reaching the bush to browse, the orphans were joined by Narok, Orwa, Bomani, Narok and Laragai’s group. Naseku settled to have a chat with Bomani as they engaged in a brief soil dusting exercise. Lemoyian, whose one tusk broke but is now re-growing up again, joined the two to soil bath. Maramoja, Rapa and Pare, who came together from Nairobi three months ago, settled together to browse. It is touching to see that Nursery friends remain such even after such a long time in their new surroundings. This is often the case and these orphans will probably reintegrate back into the wild altogether as well. Galla played with Tusuja but later walked away when Tusuja hit him hard; contrary to the rules of the kind of game they had started playing. Kamok had a brief soil dusting exercise as Kauro teamed up with Dupotto to browse on some bushes. Later on at the mud bath, the orphans were briefly joined by Yatta’s group. There was excited trumpeting when the two groups met, with Naseku leading the trumpeting from the dependent orphan’s side, and baby Wiva leading the other side! Their interaction lasted for less than twenty minutes when Yatta and her group left. In the afternoon, the sun was still hot but the orphans continued browsing throughout without being bothered by the heat of the sun.