The area around Voi remains beautifully lush and green; with ipomoea creepers still found carpeting the area in a green like lace, their broad-faced white flowers resembling snow for as far as the eye can see. It is also a favourite delicacy for our orphans as they spend each day munching through trails of it. We received further rain showers too this month during which the orphans are less inclined to enjoy mud bathing in the main waterhole near the Baobab tree, but instead they love rolling on the cool wet slippery red earth and playing in the trenches which are created by the rainwater as it flows down the side of Msinga hill. Some of our orphans are hardened mud-bath lovers however, and even when the weather was cold and windy, this did not deter Pika Pika and Embu from enjoying a muddy swim and dominating the mud bath, showcasing their bathing skills while the other watched from the water’s edge.
The orphans exited the stockades for their morning milk feed and were joined by independent orphans Mashariki and Tundani who arrived in time for the supplement feed. Godoma, Emoli and Tahri were the first in line for the milk and when done they moved away, giving room for the next group to be fed. Godoma made her way over to the terrace wall where she had fun swinging her trunk back and forth over the wall.
Ndotto and Rorogoi became engaged in a sparring game while Pika Pika had fun digging up dirt with her tusks at the far end of the stockade compound while Kenia watched. Ndotto then engaged Mashariki in a pushing game with Ndoria coming to join the two and they all happily played together.
Sagala led the orphans out for the day and they settled to browse at the foot of Msinga Hill. At noon the orphans made their way to the baobab tree area for their milk, a drink and a mud wallow. Suswa, Rorogoi and Lasayen walked straight to the water trough while the other orphans headed to the mud wallow. Once they had a drink of water, Suswa and Lasayen joined the others at the wallow leaving Rorogoi on her own.
Ndotto, Godoma, Emoli, Embu and Mbegu all enjoyed swimming and rolling in the mud bath. Murit took a quick break from wallowing to enjoy a scratching session against the baobab tree before getting back in the water. Tahri then had a turn scratching against the baobab tree while Pika Pika enjoyed a dust bath before joining the rest of the group who were heading back to their browsing activities.
As Sagala led the herd out to the Park for the days browsing activities, Ndotto and Suswa remained behind for a while before following the rest. They joined the others who had settled to browse on the rocky side of Msinga Hill.
When it was time for the noon milk feed the Keepers called the orphans who carefully came downhill and followed their human family to the mud wallow where they had their milk bottles and a drink from the water trough before resuming with their browsing activities, forgoing the mud bath entirely.
The independent orphan elephants Mashariki and Ishaq-B headed off on their own, taking a different direction to the stockade-dependent group. In the evening, Ngilai took the lead back to the stockades for the evening feed after which the orphans settled into their night stockades.
At 6am the orphans were banging on their stockade gates, eager for them to be opened so that they could begin their day. Godoma came running out heading straight to the feeding area with Emoli and Pika Pika hot on her heels.
After the morning feed, the orphans left the stockade for the Park. Once out in the bush they concentrated on feeding, pairing up as couples to browse together. Pika Pika and Arruba were inseparable. The two always seem to be browsing together, as do Emoli and Sagala. Murit teamed up with Ngilai as they browsed on the foot of Msinga Hill.
After the noon mud wallowing session, the orphans resumed browsing, heading deeper into the thick bushes as they searched for greens to feed on. In the evening, as they were making their way back to the stockades with the independent orphans Mashariki and Ishaq-B, Mashariki decided to lead the herd to the stockade mud wallow first, where they had a brief mud bath and a drink of water at the water trough. When they were done they went into their respective stockades for the night.
Early in the morning, Mashariki took the lead of the stockade dependent orphans out to the Park. Pika Pika then took over, leading the group along the foot of Msinga Hill. Murit and Lasayen stopped to enjoy a pushing game with Murit leaning against a tree for a scratch while playing with his friend.
The orphans gathered at the baobab tree feeding area before it was time for the 11am milk feed and they stood waiting patiently for their milk bottles to arrive. After the milk feed the orphans headed to the mud wallow where Mashariki was the first to get in and she had a lot of fun rolling around in the water before the others joined her.
The orphans had a quick wallow before heading to the dust piles. Embu was the last to exit the water as she took her time and enjoyed wallowing in the cool water. At the dust piles, Mashariki, Ishaq-B and Rorogoi took center stage, showcasing their dust bathing skills. When they were finally done they followed the other Voi orphans to the eastern side of the water hole where they spent the rest of the day browsing.
Mbegu and Ndotto led the orphans out after the morning feed and they all concentrated on browsing during the morning hours. Mbegu and Emoli paired up as they walked side by side at the foot of Msinga Hill, browsing as they moved towards the milk feeding area. At 11am the milk truck arrived and the orphans rushed in for their milk bottles. Godoma was the first to arrive followed by Tahri, Emoli and the Pika Pika, who was rumbling loudly, eager to receive her share.
Mbegu and Godoma came to the water trough where they quenched their thirst before joining their friends at the mud wallow. Godoma, Emoli and Pika Pika enjoyed wallowing with Emoli burying his head in the water while Godoma lay in the shallow end enjoying the cool water lapping over her body.
Standing outside the mud wallow, Ngilai started a wrestling game with Emoli, who was still in the water. Once everyone else had left the mud bath, the independent orphans Mashariki and Ishaq-B arrived and enjoyed a mud bath themselves. Ndotto stayed with them scratching his body on the ground at the water’s edge. Mashariki came out of the water to join Suswa who was enjoying a dust bath close to the mud bath while the rest were having fun dust bathing on the red earth piles. Ndotto enjoyed a scratching session against an acacia tree next to the dust bath until rejoining his friends for the afternoon browsing session.
Mbegu headed off to the Park after the morning milk feed. She was followed closely by Sagala and Emoli. Mbegu carefully maneuvered through the bushes along Msinga Hill where the rest of the orphan herd settled to browse. When it was time for the noon milk feed, Emoli led the group downhill to the baobab tree area. The independent orphans Mashariki, Tundani and Ishaq-B did not bother coming for the milk feed and chose to remain browsing on Msinga Hill.
Emoli downed his milk bottle first and headed to the water trough for a drink. He was joined by Sagala and Rorogoi who had a drink and left him drinking water as they headed to the mud bath. Rorogoi soon exited the water to rejoin Emoli at the water trough while Sagala enjoyed a scratch against the baobab tree. Lasayen, Ndotto, and Godoma enjoyed a mud bath together with Tahri and Embu who were having fun swimming in the middle of the waterhole.
The orphans later resumed with their browsing activities but did not rejoin the independent orphans who had moved on to a different area. In the evening Ngilai led the orphans back to the safety of the stockades for the night.
This morning the orphans settled to browse on the rocky side of Msgina Hill once they had left the stockade compound following the morning milk and supplement feeding. Ndotto and Suswa lagged behind the rest of the group, keeping a small distance between them and their friends. Godoma teamed up with Emoli and the two walked side by side browsing as they made their way towards the baobab tree area in preparation for their noon milk feed.
After the milk feed, Mbegu led the herd deep into the bushes, munching on soft vegetation, lush green grass and creepers as they walked. In the evening Emoli led the group back to the stockades for the night where they fed on grewia branches that had been cut for them by their Keepers.
Independent orphan Mashariki, who had joined the stockade dependent orphans when they returned home, watched them enjoying the greens that had been provided for them. She stayed outside the compound for a while before she left to continue her browsing activities close by.
Mashariki, Sagala and Mbegu led the orphan herd up Msinga Hill early in the morning as soon as the morning feed was over. The orphans spent the morning browsing on Msinga Hill before coming down for the noon milk feed. Murit walked to the water trough after having his milk bottle and was joined a few minutes later by Emoli and Godoma and the three headed to the mud wallow to cool off in the water.
Mashariki and Embu quenched their thirst at the water trough as did Pika Pika who enjoyed scratching her bottom on the walls of the trough. When she was done she had to rush to catch up with her friends who were already headed back out for the afternoon browsing session. The afternoon session was peaceful with Sagala and Emoli taking the lead back to the stockades for the night.
Diria, the orphan baby zebra who was rescued on the 20th of February 2020 after his mother was killed by lions, is doing well and is always seen closely following one of his Keepers, who wears a zebra pattern jacket so that he can imprint on the black and white stripes, which will make reintegrating back to the wild much easier.
Arruba and Ndoria headed straight out to the Park with the others after the morning feed. The two were seen walking side by side, trailing their friends who were a short distance ahead of them. Suswa and Rorogoi made their way up Msinga Hill, but came back down when they saw that the rest of the orphan group had headed in a different direction. On her way downhill Rorogoi crossed paths with a Rock Hyrax and tried to charge at it, but the hyrax simply walked away.
While the orphans browsed Ndotto enjoyed a scratching session against a rock. Emoli and Sagala were busy browsing beside a big rock when they were joined by Godoma. At noon the orphans ran to the mud wallow where they had their milk feed before enjoying a mud bath. Embu walked straight into the water and stared wallowing as Mashariki, Sagala, Mudanda and Godoma stood in the water splashing muddy water over themselves. Embu was having such a fun time swimming and wallowing that she was left behind when the rest headed off to continue browsing, and she had to run to catch up with them.
After the morning feed the orphans left the stockade compound and headed straight out to the Park. Mbegu led the orphan herd a short distance away where they settled to browse. The orphan elephants met up with the independent orphans Mashariki, Ishaq-B and Tundani and the two groups browsed together along Msinga Hill until the afternoon.
Together they headed to the milk feeding area where the independent orphans stood watching as the stockade dependents downed their milk bottles. Once the feeding was over they all made their way to the waterhole where Embu, Mashariki and Godoma went straight into the water, leaving their friends drinking from the water trough. The three were later joined by the rest of the orphans who all enjoyed swimming and wallowing in the muddy water.
Once the orphans left the stockades for the Park this morning, Mudanda and Arruba headed straight up Msinga Hill to browse. They remained there a short while before descending to join Embu and Suswa who were browsing at the foot of Msinga Hill together with the rest of the orphan herd. Arruba decided to lie on the ground for a nap, while the rest of the orphans browsed, and ended up being left behind when the rest of the group headed to the baobab water hole for their noon milk feed.
Arruba joined her friends at the mud bath once they had all finished their milk bottles and she ran from one side of the wallow to the other swinging her trunk as she did so. After the fun and games in the water the orphans returned to their browsing activities, except for Arruba who was busy dust bathing; she only re-joined the group when she was done.
Independent orphans Tundani and Mashariki browsed in the opposite direction to the orphan herd making their way through the thick bushes to browse while the stockade-dependent orphans browsed around the baobab tree area until the late evening.
Early this morning the orphans kept banging their stockade doors eager to be let out for their morning milk bottle even though it was not yet time. Once the doors were opened, Godoma and Tahri rushed to the feeding area rumbling loudly for their bottles. After the feed the orphans hung around the stockades for a few minutes before Sagala led the group out to the Park for the day.
Sagala teamed up with Emoli and Lasayen to browse while Ndotto teamed up with Mudanda, and Mashariki teamed up with Rorogoi, as they all settled to feed at the foot of Msinga Hill. The orphans browsed throughout the morning before gathering together to make their way to the baobab feeding area for their noon milk feed and a wallow. As it was a chilly day none of the orphans wanted to wallow, choosing instead to quench their thirst at the water trough before resuming with their browsing activities. At around 4:45 Mbegu and Ndotto took the lead back to the safety of the stockades for the night.
Early in the morning after the milk feed, the orphans took time playing around the stockade compound. Suswa enjoyed scratching her trunk on the terrace wall while Lasayen and Godoma enjoyed a sparring game. Pika Pika was digging the ground with her foot to gather loose soil for a morning dust bath while Emoli tried to engage Sagala in a sparring game.
Once the fun and games were over the orphans headed out to the Park for the day. On the way Suswa stopped to browse on some leafy vegetation along the fence line while Pika Pika had a scratch against a rock as did Mudanda while Ndotto and Mbegu enjoyed a wrestling game. Before the stockade dependent babies could get to their intended morning browsing spot they met up with the independent orphans Tundani, Nelion, Ishaq-B, Kenia, Ndii, Ndoria and Araba who were browsing at the foot of Msinga Hill. Ndii was happy to be reunited with Tahri and the two browsed together while Ishaq-B attempted to break a branch from acacia tree, using different techniques, until she was successful. Ndoria enjoyed a dusting session under a tree where she was joined by Ndii and the two dust-bathed for a while, before joining the rest of the herd who were browsing nearby.
The stockade-dependent orphan elephants left the compound for their daily bush walks immediately after the morning milk and supplement feeding. Along the way they reunited with Mashariki and headed straight to the browsing grounds where they remained until it was time to head to the baobab tree for the noon milk feed.
Godoma, Arruba and Tahri were the first ones at the water trough after they downed their milk bottles and were joined a few minutes later by their friends. Together they all proceeded to the mud wallow where they enjoyed wallowing and swimming in the muddy water. Pika Pika exited the water and stared rolling around on the ground next to the water, while Sagala dug at the soil with her tusks.
Arruba and Lasayen joined Sagala in digging and rolling as Pika Pika headed to the dust piles. Mudanda headed to the baobab tree for a scratch while Suswa lay relaxing on the grass. Pika Pika enjoyed a dust bath with Lasayen and Sagala while Arruba scratched against an acacia tree nearby. Suswa came to join Arruba for a scratching session and when done the orphans returned to their browsing activities with some of the orphans seeking shelter from the sun under the canopy of the trees.
Emoli and Murit woke up this morning and engaged in a pushing match as soon as they had both finished their morning milk bottle. Godoma was busy digging the ground with her foot to enjoy a dust bath and was joined by both Pika Pika and Lasayen. Pika Pika then headed to the water trough where she had some water before joining the others out in the Park for the morning browsing session.
The orphans settled to browse at the foot of Msinga Hill, slowly making their way towards the northern side, as Mudanda and Suswa remained browsing where they were. As the noon milk time approached the orphans hurried towards the milk feeding area. When Ngilai saw the milk van arriving he started running towards it, leaving the others behind. Godoma, Emoli and Tahri arrived soon after Ngilai. Once the orphans had all downed their share of milk they headed to the mud wallow where they had a quick bath before drinking from the water trough and resuming with days browsing activities.
The independent orphans arrived at the stockade compound early this morning before the stockade-dependent babies had exited their night quarters for morning milk feed. They waited patiently outside the stockades for their friends to come out. After the milk feed, Mashariki took the lead to the bush while Tahri walked side by side with Kenia.
The orphan elephant herd browsed together along Msinga Hill until midday, when the independent orphans walked straight to the mud wallow, while the juniors waited for the milk van. The orphans quickly downed the contents of their milk bottles before joining their older friends at the mud bath, where they all enjoyed rolling around in the mud as they swam and splashed water all over themselves.
While in the water, Arruba climbed on Mbegu. Mashariki with Nelion submerged their heads in the water, leaving their trunks raised up as snorkels. Ndii rolled around on the wet earth next to the mud bath while the others enjoyed a dusting session on the dust piles. A wild bull approached the water trough for a drink of water. When the orphans saw him and his big tusks they got to their feet, spread their ears and raised their trunks, showing that they were quite unsure of their wild visitor.
The orphans decided to make way for the bull and left the mud bath. Kenia and Pika Pika remained dust bathing with Mashariki and Godoma before joining the rest of the herd, leaving the bull to enjoy a mud bath on his own.
The milk-dependent orphan elephants came running out of their stockades and assembled for their milk bottles which they downed in a matter of seconds. They then enjoyed playing games around the stockade compound before following Embu and Rorogoi out for the day.
The orphans browsed their way to the northern side of Msinga Hill, where they settled for the morning browsing session. Arruba enjoyed browsing with Pika Pika while Mbegu settled to feed with Emoli.
The orphans call came downhill at noon for their milk feed and a drink of water. Sagala, Ngilai, Emoli, Rorogoi and Murit arrived with the first milk feeding group and were closely followed by the rest of their friends. They then headed to the baobab tree water hole for a brief bath, with Pika Pika and Murit enjoying a scratching session against the baobab tree. Once done they continued with their browsing activities nearby, until it was time to return to the stockades under Godoma and Emoli’s leadership.
The independent orphan elephants were led to the stockades early this morning by Kenia. They enjoyed meeting with the stockade-dependent orphans, after which they settled for a drink of water from the water trough. The orphans left the stockade compound under the careful leadership of Mashariki and Ishaq-B. When they got to the western side of Msinga Hill, Tundani and Nelion took over leading the group half way up the hill for the morning browsing session.
At noon, the milk dependent orphans came down for the afternoon milk bottle at the baobab tree water hole, leaving the independent ones browsing up on the hill. Pika Pika and Murit later took the lead and were the first into the water hole, while Mashariki and Rorogoi rolled on the sides of the wallow before bathing. The two groups did not join up again after the mud bath, each enjoying an afternoon browsing session with their friends.
It was a good beginning to the day as the milk dependent orphan elephants came running up for their morning milk bottle. There were no games around the compound this morning as the orphans headed out as soon as the milk and supplement feeding was over, and they settled to browse on eastern side of Msinga Hill. Arruba, who was leading her friends, stopped to watch two klipspringers standing on a rock near the path the orphans were on. She spent a few minutes watching them before going on her way.
The orphans made their way to the baobab tree water hole at noon where they had a milk feed before proceeding to the mud bath. They all had a lot of fun playing in the water after which Rorogoi and Mudanda went to the dust piles for a dust bath before rejoining their friends who were browsing nearby.
The weather was cool this morning as Kenia, Ndii, Ishaq-B, Mashariki and Araba arrived at the stockade at 6am to join the dependent orphans. The two groups enjoyed a warm socializing moment after the morning milk feed after which the orphans left for the Park, making their way to the southern foot of Msinga Hill where they engaged in various games. Ndotto enjoyed a sparring match with Mashariki while Murit teamed up with Sagala and Ngilai for a pushing game. Lasayen lay in a soil erosion trench where he enjoyed a dust bath. The orphans then settled to browse, feeding on the soft lush green grass and creepers which are abundant in Tsavo at the moment.
The orphan elephants visited the water hole in the afternoon and Kenia took the lead of the group to the wallow after the milk feed. Embu headed straight to the centre of the mud bath where she rolled around in the water while Ndii engaged Tahri in a game at the water’s edge.
In the afternoon Nelion, Mudanda and Tundani visited the stockade for a drink of water from the water trough but did not meet up with any of their friends.
The milk-dependent orphan elephants were busy downing their morning milk bottle when Kenia’s herd arrived at the stockade compound having spent the night out. The orphans were all excited and ready to play games around the stockade compound following the milk and supplement feeding. Kenia and Ndotto sat on one of the stockade terraces for a scratching session while they watched over the rest of the orphan herd and the games they were playing. Ndotto then ran off to catch up with his friend Lasayen and engage him in a strength testing game while Tundani enjoyed a sparring match with Nelion.
The orphans spent the morning browsing before visiting the baobab tree water hole for their milk feed. They then enjoyed playing in the wallow before heading to the red earth piles for a dust bath. Ndotto and Embu left the dust piles to play at the edge of the waterhole. The afternoons browsing activities took place close to the waterhole.
The stockade-dependent orphan elephants came running out of their stockades to grab their morning milk bottle which they downed before joining up with Kenia’s herd, who had arrived at the stockades to join the juniors. Rorogoi was in a very playful mood running around kicking up clouds of dust as she charged here and there. None of the other orphans wanted to play and as such the group made their way out to the Park, settling to browse on the northern side of Msinga Hill.
At noon the orphans came for the milk feed; Pika Pika, Emoli, Sagala, Ngilai and Rorogoi were the first to arrive. After the milk feed was done they made their way to the mud bath to play in the water. Rorogoi left the water to enjoy a scratching session against the baobab tree. Sagala was having the most fun in the mud bath and later realized she was all alone in the water as the others had already left. When she realized she came running out of the water to join her friends who were already heading out for the afternoon browsing session.
This morning the stockade-dependent orphan elephants were happy to join their older friends Arruba and Suswa for fun and games around the stockade compound before heading out to the Park for the day. Ndotto was in an adventurous mood and left his friends behind to go and browse around some big rock boulders before rejoining his friends a short while later.
Kenia’s herd was seen browsing high up on Msinga Hill but they didn’t come down to join the juniors who browsed their way to the baobab tree water hole at noon. They had their milk bottles and a drink from the water trough before heading to the wallow. Pika Pika, Lasayen, Embu and Sagala were the mud bathing stars of the day today, running back and forth in the water, kicking the water with their front feet and charging around; once the bathing fun was over the orphans all headed for a dust bath before continuing with their browsing activities. In the evening, Emoli and Godoma led their friends back to the safety of the stockades for the night.
The stockade-dependent babies met up with the independent orphans in Kenia’s group while on the way to the Park this morning, as they were headed in the same direction. Suswa lagged behind to remain in the company of the independent orphans. Mbegu’s group stayed together. Arruba stopped to wait for Suswa who was walking alongside Nelion and Tundani.
The two groups browsed until midday at which point the orphans made their way to the milk feeding area where they waited patiently under a commifora tree for the milk truck to arrive. After they had finished their bottles they walked to the baobab tree waterhole where they had a drink from the water trough, before entering the water for a wallow where Embu, Mashariki, Nelion and Tundani dominated the wallowing session.
The water bowser arrived to fill up the water trough as the orphans were still wallowing. Ndotto and Mbegu ran to the water trough for a drink of fresh water, drinking it straight from the bowser as it emptied into the trough. Suswa, Arruba, Rorogoi and Mudanda came in late for the mud wallow and joined Nelion who was still in the water, while the rest of the herd resumed with their browsing activities. Suswa then enjoyed a scratching session against the baobab tree, after which they all rejoined their friends who were browsing nearby.
Early in the morning, after the milk feed, both the stockade dependent babies and the independent orphans were playing games around the stockade compound. Ndotto and Rorogoi became engaged in a sparring match when Rorogoi charged towards Ndotto, inviting him to play a wrestling game, while Nelion and Tundani locked tusks in a sparring game. Sagala climbed over the terrace wall while Ndotto, who had finished playing with Rorogoi, took on Tundani for a pushing game instead.
Emoli lead the orphans out to the Park for the day and they browsed their way to the northern side of Msinga Hill. At noon the orphans walked towards the baobab tree area for the milk feed and a mud bath. Embu and Pika Pika were the stars at the mud wallow today while their friends stood on the periphery watching them, before heading off to browse for the afternoon. Pika Pika came out of the water and enjoyed a dust bath before rejoining her friends for the afternoon browsing session.
It was an early morning with the milk dependent orphan elephants joining their milk-weaned friends Arruba, Mashariki and Suswa for the Lucerne pellet feeding, after their morning milk bottles.
Kenia’s herd also came to join the stockade group for the supplement food. Ndoria, who is part of Kenia’s herd, did not seem to be in a very welcoming mood today and kept pushing Arruba away from the Lucerne pellets. Arruba stumbled but did not fall from being pushed, and rather than get into a fight, she chose to move to a different spot to feed on the pellets.
Ngilai enjoyed a wrestling match with his best friend Emoli while Sagala stood watching their game. Rorogoi scratched the underside of her neck on a big rock close to the stockade water trough before joining her friends who were making their way out for the day.
Kenia’s herd remained at the stockade for a while enjoying what was left of the Lucerne pellets before making their way to the southern side of Msinga Hill. They came down at about 3:30 to have a drink from the stockade water trough but left before the stockade dependent babies returned home for the night.
The morning followed a similar routine to most days as both the junior dependent-orphans and their independent friends converged at the Lucerne pellet feeding area. Godoma saw that it was a big group of orphans enjoying supplements today and became greedy, picking up a trunkful of pellets and putting them up onto the terrace to enjoy them all to herself, doing her best to hide her stash from the rest of the group.
Mudanda and Mashariki took the lead of the orphan herd out to the Park today and they settled to browse on the open plains along the northern side of the stockades. We had a small rain shower around 11am and the orphans did not leave their browsing area today, choosing to have their noon milk where they were instead of going to the mud-bath area. Kenia, Ndii and Ishaq-B had a mud bath on an abandoned, low lying anthill and managed to cover their bodies in mud. Kenia’s group returned to the stockades in the evening with the rest of the orphan herd, but left once their younger friends were settled for the night, to return to the Park to browse.
The stockade was full of activity this morning as the orphans engaged in various games around the compound following the milk and supplement feeding. Araba invited Tahri to sit on one of the stockade terraces for a scratching session and the two enjoyed their time together.
The orphan elephants together with Kenia’s group, who arrived early in the morning, made their way to the eastern side of Msinga Hill to browse. The orphans visited the baobab tree water hole at noon for their milk bottle and a drink of clean water from the water trough. The orphans had a quick mud bath, as it was a cold and cloudy day, and then returned to their browsing activities.
At about 4pm there was a downpour, recording 30mm in the rain gauge, and the orphans stopped browsing to play. Arruba and Rorogoi played in a deep, wide erosion trench at the northern foot of Msinga Hill while Suswa, Tundani and Nelion enjoyed a scratching session against a tree. In the evening Tundani and Nelion a sparring match close to the stockade water trough before leaving the stockade compound for a night browsing in the Park.
After the morning milk feed the orphans proceeded to the supplement feeding area for Lucerne pellets. Mudanda kept picking on Ngilai who was feeding next to her by taking the same pellets that he was reaching for. Arruba came to the rescue making Mudanda move away so that everyone could enjoy the pellets in peace.
Sagala took the lead out to the Park for the day with Emoli following close behind. Ndotto and Mbegu brought up the rear and the group spent the morning browsing until it was time for the noon milk feed, after which Mbegu led the orphan herd to the baobab tree for a drink of water before having a wallow. The weather was cold and windy but this did not deter Pika Pika and Embu from dominating the mud bath and showcasing their bathing skills while the other watched from the water’s edge.
Embu, Arruba and Suswa enjoyed a dust bath next to the baobab tree with Suswa using her long tusks to dig up the earth which had become compacted by the rains. Murit enjoyed a scratching session against the baobab tree while Ndotto relaxed there before joining his friends for the afternoon browsing session, after a quick stop at the dust bath.
The orphans browsed until the late evening at which time Ngilai took the lead of the group back to the safety of the stockades for the night.
It was a cold morning when the orphans exited their stockades for their morning milk bottle and supplement feeding. Rorogoi was in a playful mood and wanted to play as soon as she had enjoyed some Lucerne pellets. Her friends, however, were not done eating and ignored her antics of charging around in an effort to get them to join her. Once the orphans were finished they enjoyed a dust bath before following Arruba, Pika Pika and Embu out to the Park for the day.
The orphans spent the morning browsing on the western and northern sides of the stockade, stopping to have their milk at noon. They visited the baobab water trough for a drink of water and enjoyed playing in the mud wallow. At the baobab tree waterhole there was a big wild bull elephant that was resting under a tree but the orphans didn’t want to disturb him, choosing instead to mud bath before returning to their browsing activities. They returned to the safety of the stockades in the evening.
It was another cold morning, following a downpour last night which recorded 30mm, as the orphans enjoyed their milk bottles followed by some Lucerne pellets together with Kenia’s herd. When they were done they all walked out of the compound to browse for the day.
Ngilai, Ndotto, Murit, Lasayen and Emoli enjoyed running down a slope near the stockades, their ears and trunks flopping about as they came down and followed their friends into the Park. The orphans spread out to browse with only Arruba and Pika Pika browsing next to one another.
The orphan elephants visited the baobab tree water hole but were reluctant to take a bath due to the cold weather. Nelion and Mashariki took a partial mud bath before joining their friends for the afternoon browsing session which took place close to the waterhole.