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The nightclubbers were waiting outside the stockade gates early this morning. A wild bull accompanied them. The wild bull was cautious of the Keepers and moved away when they walked out with Sonje and Murera. The wild bull watched curiously as the orphans milled around the pellet corner, but he kept his distance. Lima Lima went over to tell him that he was safe, and the Keepers were their friends. He was not convinced and decided not to join the orphans. He moved away to the Umani springs area; Lima Lima was sad to see him leave, but she stayed with the orphan herd.

Sonje led Kapei and Kiombo towards the Umani hills, while Kiasa, Quanza and Alamaya followed Lima Lima in the same direction. Amali followed Mwashoti over to where Murera and Enkesha were browsing. Enkesha joined the other heading up to browse on the top of the Umani hill while Mwashoti, Amali and Murera remained browsing around the base.

The day had become extremely hot by midday, so the babies were all very ready to go to the mud bath. Enkesha even started looking for water along the way home, checking the pipeline for leakages. Sonje led the herd to a different waterhole that was on the way home. The mud bath was big enough to hold all the orphans at the same time. They all got in and were happy wallowing.

After their midday bottles the orphan herd went to the dust bath. Amali decided she wated to do something different and she started walking off on her own. She turned round to find that no one was following her, so she trumpeted loudly to get everyone’s attention. The orphans spun round to see what Amali was doing. Mwashoti went to get Amali and Murera rumbled for them to come back to her. Murera was happy to see Mwashoti bringing Amali back to her.

Kiasa, Enkesha and Quanza took over control of the orphan herd. They were browsing in the bush when a group of wild elephants came along. Faraja and Ngasha appeared with the wild herd and joined the orphans. Then a huge wild bull approached Faraja, Faraja got worried and quickly moved off persuading Lima Lima to leave with him. Ngasha, Mwashoti and Alamaya stayed with the Orphan herd, peacefully browsing, not drawing attention from the wild bull.

It was getting hot, so the head girls led the babies to the mud bath. All the orphans got in to cool off, they had lots of fun playing in the mud. Kapei with Amali emerged as the swimming stars.

The orphan herd did not stop at the pellet eating corner this morning; instead, they marched straight out into the bush. Amali and Enkesha were in a rush to get out. Kapei wanted to stop, but he was outnumbered by all the other orphans who decided to follow Amali and Enkesha. Sonje pleaded with Amali to slow down, but she would not, so Kapei and Sonje were forced to follow, Kapei rumbling his discontent all the while. Lima Lima tried to get the others to stop and wait for Kapei, but Quanza and Kiasa were on Amali’s team and kept moving. 

Kiasa walked ahead and suddenly found herself alone on the opposite side of the Umani Springs. She felt unsafe without the older girls, so she backtracked to be with them. Alamaya, Mwashoti and Murera peacefully made their way around the Umani springs. Then Ngasha’s arrival changed everything. Murera turned around immediately and started walking in the opposite direction. This left Mwashoti in the middle. He took a minute then decided to catch up with Murera. Ngasha went to join the young boys Kiombo and Maktao, but they also abandoned him, not interested in his rough games.

Sonje was having a good scratch on a big rock by the stockades. She scratched her bottom then lay on the ground rolling around. Kiombo came to play with her, but she chased him away. The Keepers were surprised to see Sonje behaving like this, and they wondered why she was in such a bad mood. Then a little while later Kiombo came back to Sonje. She invited him to play, feeling bad about chasing him away.

Kiasa and Enkesha took over leading the babies this morning, giving Sonje a break from her duties. Enkesha led the herd towards the Kibwezi Forest to browse. Murera being a very smart girl stayed away from Sonje, she could tell her friend was in an unpredictable mood and she did not want to get chased or pushed.

Sonje was in a happy mood today, unlike yesterday. She was being very playful, showing some unique moves with her friends. Kapei went to join Sonje, but she was preoccupied with her other friends. Lucky for Kapei, Enkesha and Kiasa were happy to take him in and give him the attention he was looking for.

While the orphan herd was browsing out in the forest, a giant wild bull appeared and went straight over to Sonje, ignoring all the other orphans. The Keepers think Sonje might be in season. The wild bull and Sonje had a conversation, then they walked off together. Later in the day the wild bull re-joined the orphan herd, but he was aggressive towards the males. The boys in the orphan herd, especially Ngasha, Alamaya, and Mwashoti, stayed far away from the wild bull and Sonje for the rest of the day.

Sonje’s boyfriend from yesterday was still hanging around, and today, four other wild bulls joined him. They were all competing for Sonje’s attention and a big fight broke out. The original bull was fighting to keep his place, as he got to Sonje first, but he got outnumbered and moved off. 

The Keepers watched all the commotion a safe distance from the wild bulls. Sonje was in the middle of all the action, but enjoying the attention. Enkesha, Kiasa, Kiombo and Maktao watched the entertainment from a distance. They were intrigued by the scene but equally glad they were not in the middle of it.

Murera did not move last night, instead remaining where she had given birth. The Keepers brought milk bottles, lucerne, and fresh vegetation to her. Lima Lima stayed by her side all night.

Lima Lima, Quanza, and Enkesha have been appointed as her nannies, helping Murera clean Mwana and fussing over her. All the orphans were so happy and wanted to get close to the new baby. Little Amali was especially curious.

Ngasha, Jasiri, and Faraja joined the herd later in the day. They were getting along, not fighting like usual. They all watched the tiny baby with curiosity as she slowly stood up. At first, Ngasha feared the new-born, as he did not know what it was.

Mwana is the first baby born to an orphan from the Umani Springs Reintegration Unit. The Keepers thought Sonje would be the first to have a baby, as she has had many boyfriends over the last couple of years, but instead Murera surprised everyone. The Keepers were worried about her being a mother due to her past injury, but she has proved to be a strong and capable mother.

Sonje, Lima Lima, Enkesha and Kiasa have not left Murera’s side. They are a good support system for her and take their nannying jobs very seriously. They are very calm and caring, but the Keepers can see how excited they are to have a new-born baby in the herd.

The boys, Alamaya, Mwashoti, Ngasha, Maktao, and Kiombo are keeping their distance. They are not quite sure what to do with the new arrival.

Faraja and Ngasha brought along some wild friends. One of the wild elephants was a young bull that was interested in Lima Lima, but she did not reciprocate. Lima Lima was interested in the much bigger, older bull that had been to visit just a few days ago.

Lima Lima stood with Murera in the thickest bush as Mwana slept peacefully between them. Kiasa and Enkesha are also taking their nanny roles very seriously. Kiasa came over to get Mwana when she woke up, then persuaded the tiny baby to follow her. Mwana followed Kiasa a short distance before rumbling to Murera, who then came running over.

Quanza and Lima Lima were waiting at the stockade gate this morning, eager to see Mwana.

Kapei, however, is bored of the new baby in the herd. Kapei likes the attention being on him, so he gets very jealous of Mwana. Amali does not mind the diverted attention; in fact, she seems happy to have a new baby girl to play with.

Mwana walked over to Kapei, but he was not friendly. The Keepers ran to her defence, worried that he would push her. Kapei ran to Sonje for comfort, but she was not happy with his behaviour either. Kiasa and Enkesha were confused by Kapei’s behaviour; they love Mwana so much and cannot understand why Kapei doesn’t.

Mwana is getting stronger and more playful with each passing day, although she still gets hungry and tired often, like any newborn. Murera must stop to feed her then wait for her to have a nap. Lima Lima, Quanza, Enkesha and Kiasa are all happy to hang around Murera and wait for Mwana to wake up.

Sonje stays in charge of the other orphans, moving them slowly around for browsing sessions. Lima Lima seems to have taken it personally that Murera will not let her take full custody of Mwana, so she seems to be shifting her affection back to Kapei. Naturally, he is happy to have the attention.

The mud bath was full of activity again today. The orphans were all wallowing and swimming, not leaving any space for Mwana to get in. Mwana, as usual, insisted on being a part of all the fun. The Keepers and her nannies all tried to stop her from getting in, but she was determined. Enkesha blocked her path, making Mwana trumpet, which brought Kiasa over. Kiasa tried to comfort Mwana, but she was not in the mood to be comforted; she just wanted to play in the water.

Eventually, once Maktao, Kiombo and the others had gotten out, Mwana found a quiet corner to get into the mud bath. When she was tired, she followed her mother over to the shade to have a milk feed. Afterwards, Mwana took a nap in the shade next to Enkesha and Kiasa. Kiombo and Maktao were in the background pushing each other like they always do, while the girls rested peacefully, creating a barrier around sleeping Mwana.

The nightclubbers were waiting at the gate again this morning. There was the usual fight over who got to be with Mwana. Kiasa was being cunning, trying to get Mwana before Quanza and Lima Lima took over. She managed to block Lima Lima, but then Murera intervened and took her own baby away with her.

A wild bull tried to join the orphan herd just as they left the stockades. The Keepers were worried about this and shepherded Murera and Mwana away from the bull. Eventually, the bull left the herd in peace. The orphans walked towards the Umani Hills, with Sonje leading followed by Kapei, Kiombo, and Maktao following. Amali followed Mwashoti and Alamaya. Finally, Murera, Mwana and her nannies Kiasa, Enkesha, and Quanza brought up the rear.