Choose your region

The sky was crystal clear in the morning when the orphans were let out. Mutara, Suguta, Kainuk, Turkwel, Sities, Kanjoro and Kilaguni welcomed the juniors out and walked with them to the bush. Kanjoro as usual met with Garzi and they had a strength testing exercise that ended again in a draw. Kauro started his day's activities by performing a soil dusting exercise using his versatile trunk. Shortly later, his game attracted Suguta who joined him, and then forced him out from where he was performing the soil dusting exercise. Kauro wasn't pleased but he had no choice other than to respect his elders wish. The orphans settled to browse and Kilaguni and Kanjoro visited a nearby dam and had an early wallowing session while engaging in strength testing exercise. The orphans were visited briefly by Yatta’s herd including baby Yoyo, Mulika, Mwende, Kinna, baby Kama, Galana, baby Gawa, Ithumbah, Loijuk, Makena, Lenana, Narok, Yetu, Lualeni, Kilabasi, Makireti, Zurura, Wendi, baby Wiva and Rapsu. After mud bath, the orphans headed to the lower kalovoto area where they settled to browse for the rest of the day. Mutara’s group parted ways with juniors and left. In the evening, a few minutes to seven o'clock, Siangiki and Olsekki who had been missing for nine days, arrived in the company of Mutara’s group Orwa, Bomani, Vuria and Kilaguni. Though darkness was approaching, the wounds that were as a result of an attempted lion attack on Siangiki’s back and tail were now clearly visible. The two were bundled into the stockade to join their friends and application of green clay to the wounds was to commence the following day. Laragai’s group is almost complete; now we are just waiting for Boromoko to show up since he has joined the senior ex-orphans.

Nasalot, baby Nusu, Zurura, Chyulu and Naserian, Orwa and Bomani welcomed the juniors out when the gates were opened. The ex-orphans checked on Enkikwe briefly and after being satisfied with his condition, the small group left again. Orwa and Bomani remained behind to communicate with those in Laragai’s herd who are staying in the stockades at night again. Siangiki's small wound on the top of her tail was cleaned and the necessary medication applied before she was let out to join her friends. Out in the bush Siangiki remained nervous and from time to time attempted to run away, probably due to the bad experience she had with the lions. When one looks at the wounds now, it is obvious that the lion jumped on top of her back. The sharp Siangiki made a quick calculation and ran through thickets leaving the lion with no option than to fall to the ground after being hit by trees and bushes. It was a miraculous escape since the lions were determined to make a meal out of Siangiki. The orphans tried to comfort Siangiki each time they passed close to her by placing their trunks on her. Mutara and her group were not left behind and joined the juniors throughout the day as they tried to chat and give comfort to Siangiki.

Yatta, Kinna, baby Kama, baby Yoyo, Yetu, Naserian, Sidai, Orwa, Bomani and Teleki were at the stockade compound when the orphans were let out. Yatta and the babies Yoyo and Kama stood at the entrance as if they were counting the orphans one by one as they came out of the stockade. Enkikwe was the last one to leave and amazingly enough, the ever playful Kama decided to gang up with Yoyo and hold Enkikwe captive for almost a minute. The two rascals attacked Enkikwe from the sides knowing that due to his injury he could not turn quickly to get them. After Yoyo and Kama had terrorized Enkikwe for long enough, the two naughty ones ran away knowing that Enkikwe had no way of catching up with them, since he cannot run fast. The ex-orphans escorted the juniors to the browsing field and after parted ways. Karisa and Naseku at had a brief chat that ended with a strength testing exercise. Wanjala, who was feeding close by, was jealous of the two having a nice pushing game and so came forward to disrupt their peaceful game. On the way to the mud bath, the orphans were again joined by Yatta and her small group. The two groups had a spectacular wallowing before parting ways again. Zurura and Kenze also attended mud bath with Zurura checking on Enkikwe before walking away. In the afternoon the orphans browsed for the rest of the day.

Mutara’s group in the company of Vuria and Kilaguni, who appear not to stick to one group in particular, reported at the stockade early in the morning. Sities, Mutara, Turkwel and Kainuk watched as Enkikwe and Siangiki received their morning treatment and after led them to the browsing field where Kilaguni played a pushing game with Suguta. Their game attracted Kanjoro and Garzi who started their own. Tusuja settled to browse with Lemoyian and they had a lengthy chat. Perhaps Tusuja was interrogating Lemoyian about what happens in life outside the stockade. Sapalan settled to browse with Naseku while Karisa browsed with Oltaiyoni. At mud bath time the herd was joined by Orwa, Kalama and Bomani bringing the ex-orphans to eleven that attended the mud bath. Shortly after mud bath time was over, Vuria had a disagreement with Kalama that was settled through pushing each other. Vuria lost the fight to Kalama and decided not to pursue the matter. Mutara took the entire herd to the western slopes of Ithumba Hill where they settled to browse throughout the remaining part of the day.

Bomani, who appears to have withdrawn his membership from Narok's group, reported early before dawn to join with Laragai’s group. We not sure of the status of Narok’s herd as they have all separated. Narok was seen hanging out with Yatta’s herd and we think Orwa and Vuria have joined another herd. After the juniors were let out, Pare exchanged morning greetings with Bomani by entwining their trunks. Shortly afterwards, Bomani offered to lead the way to the browsing field. Galla settled to browse with Rapa. The two didn't feed together for long though as Rapa couldn't tolerate Galla’s behaviour. Galla kept trying to take what Rapa had been working so hard to feed on for himself. Kauro settled to feed with Sirimon who is an independent boy and they engaged in a brief chat that was interrupted by Laragai, who happened to pass by and shove Kauro aside to make room. Kauro wasn't happy about the bossy behaviour of this older girl, but there was nothing he could do since by protesting he would be inviting the wrath of Laragai! Kauro parted ways with Sirimon and headed to feed on his own. At mud bath time the orphans fully participated in the wallowing exercise, and after they were briefly joined by two wild bulls but they were a bit scared of them, and so they walked towards the keepers. In the evening, Bomani returned with the orphans back to the stockade and since he had no group to join outside, he was so happy when he was allowed to spend the night in the stockade with the juniors.

This morning we were visited by Zurura at the stockades just after the orphans had their milk. He was on his patrol with Rapsu and Kenze. The orphans walked straight to the bush after their milk. Enkikwe and Siangiki had their wounds washed and treated as usual and then joined their friends. Kithaka was in a very naughty mood this morning. Out in the bush, Turkwel was rolling on the ground while Orwa watched her. She embraced Orwa as she stood up. The two groups later walked to the mud bath for milk and mud bath. The dependent orphans had their milk and walked to the mud bath after having some water. They were all very active as they played. Kinna’s group including her baby Kama then arrived. Kitirua was acting as Kama’s security guard. Rapsu was the most playful one in the mud bath as he was as rolling around as he swam. When they were done the orphans along with Mutara’s herd walked back to the bush to browse. There was a female wild elephant among Kinna’s group who was trying to scare away the keepers and trying to charge at them. Mutara's herd accompanied the orphans back home in the evening.

The sky was crystal clear as the orphans left the stockade in the morning. Garzi, Barsilinga and Sirimon, who rarely have milk even though they have been coming back to the stockade recently, had spent the night out with Orwa and Bomani who reported in the dead of the night and comfortably slept just outside the stockade. Garzi, Barsilinga and Sirimon didn’t spend much of their time feeding with the other orphans. After briefly feeding on lucerne, Laragai led the way to the browsing field. The weather was sunny and the vegetation is now slowly turning yellowish in colour, an indication that the rains may have come to an end in the area. The orphans had a quiet morning with Sirimon, Garzi and Barsilinga dodging the keepers, but Orwa and Bomani decide to stay put with the rest of the orphans. At mud bath time, the orphans had a spectacular wallowing session with Karisa and Wanjala stealing the show by competing who could ride on many of their friends as possible. Their game ended up as a draw as they only managed to ride on two friends each before the show came to an end. Shortly after having enough of mud bath, Orwa led the team to soil dust. Sapalan, who never wastes time in meaningless activities, led the way to the browsing field as his friends followed behind him. In the evening, the orphans returned back to the stockades without Barsilinga, Garzi and Sirimon. The three boys returned back at midnight.