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The sky was clear and blue this morning so we knew it was going to be a hot day ahead. The orphans settled for their morning lucerne grass soon after finishing their bottles. Ndiwa, Malkia, Kuishi, Esampu, Mapia and Pare walked down to the water trough and helped themselves to enough water that would take them through the entire morning. Karisa, the ‘street wise’ boy led the way and decided which direction the orphans should take this morning.

It was a quiet morning as the orphans concentrated on finding enough food before the end of the day. Mother nature has still not yielded any rain in the area, and the drought continues.

Ambo led the first group to the mud bath while Nabulu led the second one. After finishing their noon milk bottles, Kuishi, Mukkoka, Dololo, Musiara and Maramoja settled for soil a dusting exercise. The afternoon was quiet and hot too. This prompted the orphans to head to the roadside mud bath to cool down. Later the orphans took a break and relaxed under a tree for some time before resuming their browsing activities. In the evening, Larro led the way back to the stockades for the night. Malima and Mteto made a brief stop as they walked in to interact with some wild babies who were in the company of their mothers. 

Six wild elephant bulls, who were drinking water at the stockade water troughs in the morning, left immediately after the orphans were let out. The orphans settled for lucerne as usual soon after coming out of their stockades. Naboishu decided to walk down to the water trough to enjoy a cool drink of water. Shortly later he was joined by Karisa, Olsekki, Mutara, Sities and Ambo. A thirsty wild bull arrived and drank a bit of water then joined the orphans to feast one some lucerne. The bull was peaceful and didn't bully the orphans. He didn’t stay long. Sana Sana and her favourite Naboishu led the way out to browse for the morning.

Mukkoka, who is now very familiar with all the bulls in the dependent herd, decided to challenge Sattao. Sattao didn't play rough with him, and they had a friendly game that lasted for quite sometime. Musiara was enjoying a solitary game of rolling on the ground and when Sattao saw him, he quit playing with Mukkoka and walked over to roll on Musiara. Musiara was annoyed by Sattao coming to roll over him. Once Musiara was on his feet, he tried fighting Sattao. Malkia, who was playing on a heap of soil close by, stopped her game and came over to separate the two boys. Karisa, Rapa and Dololo grouped together as they planned their escape to join the late-night gang. The Keepers spotted their meeting however and warned them not to even consider it, and that they were watching them very closely!

Nabulu led the first group for the noon milk feed while Larro led the second group. The orphans had their milk bottles and some water from the trough, then headed to the small roadside mud bath. It was a quiet afternoon. The orphans took a break from feeding to relax under a tree to escape from the heat of the day, and resumed browsing later when the temperature dropped a little. 

Naboishu led the way out of Class One’s stockade this morning. Ambo turned right as soon as he came out of his room and headed to the lucerne store. What he didn’t know is that the Keepers were ready for his antics and that there was a wire put across the lucerne store. Upon seeing the wire, Ambo turned around and walked back to join his friends. Sana Sana and Kuishi walked straight down to the water trough, but they got a fright from two Egyptian geese when they made a funny loud noise. Sana Sana, with her ears raised, retreated whilst trying to find out where the strange noise had come from. As Naboishu was heading down to the water trough as well he was held back by Sana Sana as she made sure the area was safe for everyone. The Egyptian geese then flew away, giving Sana Sana the confidence to continue walking down to the water trough, followed by Naboishu and Kuishi. Mutara, baby Mambo, Sities, Turkwel, Suguta, Kainuk, Kalama, Kilaguni, Kandecha and Chaimu joined the orphans and shortly later they all left together to browse, except for Kilaguni and Kandecha who had a brief strength testing exercise before disappearing off in a different direction.

The orphans settled to browse at in the Kone area. Rapa and Karisa decided to sneak off without Dololo this time. The two boys understood that if they took Dololo with them, then they would be tracked down by the Keepers and made to come back to join the others. As the orphans headed to the mud bath, Rapa and Karisa, who looks like twins, were on their way back to the stockades. Mutara and her herd escorted the rest of the dependent orphans to the mud bath. Malkia had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with little Mambo, much to her delight. The orphans had their milk bottles and some water before heading straight back out to continue browsing. Though it was dry it wasn’t very sunny, so it wasn’t enough to convince the orphans to use the big mud bath to cool off. Instead, together with Mutaras’s herd, the orphans walked to the smaller roadside mud bath where they just splashed themselves. The rest of the afternoon was quiet. Mteto, Esampu, Malkia and Malima stayed close to baby Mambo and in the evening, as Mutara’s herd escorted the orphans back to the stockades for the night. 

Mutara and her team reported early again, before dawn. It seems they didn’t want to miss out on anything happening at the stockades this morning. Mutara understands that she has a small baby who needs milk and so she needs to eat enough food to produce enough milk for the little one, and she is enjoying the supplement lucerne. Soon after the orphans came out of their stockades, Malkia went straight over to say hi to little Mambo. Loijuk, Lili, Tumaren, Kithaka, Barsilinga and Lemoyian arrived later. Mambo brought the whole lucerne feeding exercise to an abrupt end when he charged and ran off to the west of the stockades. Suguta, the main nanny, ran to catch up with the baby and the entire group followed.

On their way out to the bush Mteto and Musiara found some nice rocks to scratch on. Kauro teamed up with Kuishi to browse with her. Enkikwe, Mundusi, Dololo and Mapia sneaked off early and went to the mud bath where they stayed until the milk vehicle arrived and they managed to get their bottles early. After having their milk, Mukkoka and Malima settled for a soil dusting exercise as the rest of their friends joined the only wild bull present who was drinking water.

In the afternoon, the orphans settled west of the Ithumba Hill. It was very hot and the sun was beating down, so the orphans took a break from feeding to relax under some trees. In the evening, Larro led the first group back while Nabulu led the second one. 

Four wild bulls were drinking water at the stockade water troughs when the orphans were let out. As soon as the four wild bulls saw the orphans pouring out of their night stockades, they turned to face them. It seemed as if the bulls were new to the area and they couldn’t understand where all these elephants of nearly of the same age and size were heading to. The bulls watched as the orphans turned right outside of the compound and settled for the lucerne grass where the Keepers were distributing it. Unable to fathom what was going on, with people and elephant babies together, the bulls decided to leave in a slow measured walk, heading west. Sattao, Nabulu, Dololo, Mteto and Naboishu started their day with some scratching exercises against the nearby rocks. Later, it was the ‘street wise’ boy Karisa who led the way out to the bush.

Pare, Kuishi and Mteto teamed up together to browse. Musiara took a break to enjoy a soil dusting exercise in a hole with some loose that he came across. Maramoja, Naseku and Ndiwa joined him later and they all had fun together in the small pit in the ground. Kuishi joined Naboishu to browse as Ambo teamed up with his favoruite, Kamok.

Shortly before mud bath time, Kauro the ‘stick carrier’, Enkikwe, Mundusi, Rapa and Karisa sneaked off and went to the mud bath early. Ten Wild Dogs were cooling off there as well and Kauro got irritated when he saw them, thinking the elephants should have the mud bath area to themselves. Kauro charged and ran towards the Wild Dogs, but they didn’t budge, making Kauro panic and started retreating. Mundusi saw what was happening and decided to support Kauro in driving the dogs away – so they charged at them together!

As the milk feed was taking place, Roi placed herself strategically in anticipation of stealing a bottle of milk if the Keepers weren’t paying full attention. The Keepers saw Roi however and knew what she had in mind, so they kept a keen eye on her as the milk feeding went on! Roi stood no chance once she had been spotted, so she gave up and left, hoping to try again another time. The orphans decided to go to the smaller roadside mud bath after their milk feed, and then carried on walking out to the bush to continue browsing. It was all quiet as the orphans concentrated mostly on browsing for the rest of the afternoon. 

The orphans left their stockades early as usual. They settled for lucerne and shortly later they were joined by Mutara’s group and the late-night gang. Soon after having enough lucerne, Karisa once again led the way out to the bush for the day. Musiara and Roi found some loose soil that they used to dust themselves with. Sana Sana and her favourite Naboishu walked together as Dololo had his own game of charging and running around. Mutara and her group lagged behind as they tried to wash down the lucerne that they had eaten with some nice cool water. Sities, in Mutara’s herd, decided to walk into the compound to find out if there had been any changes since she left. She found that everything was pretty much the same and it was easy for her to find a water trough in one of the stockades. After having enough water, Sities left to join her friends. Mutara and her baby Mambo came face to face with a buffalo who was also coming for water. Mambo charged at it, not knowing what kind of an animal they were facing. The nannies acted quickly by running to surround Mambo and block him from moving any further towards the buffalo – he is such a little daring and mischievous baby!

It was all quiet out in the bush as the dependent orphans browsed calmly throughout the morning. At the noon milk feeding time, Maramoja decided to pull the teat off from her bottle and leave with it in her mouth. A Keeper had to run after her to retrieve it! Mutara and her small herd decided to participate in a soil dusting exercise while the dependent orphans shared the water trough with some wild bulls. Shortly later, both Mutara’s herd and the orphans headed back out to browse. Mutara and the late-night gang managed to lead the dependent orphans all the way to the airstrip while the Keepers were having their lunch! The Keepers thought that the orphans were feeding just close by but they were surprised to find the that they had walked all that way! They soon found the orphans close to the airstrip where they were busy browsing, not concerned in the slightest that it was nearly time to start heading back towards the stockades. The Keepers whistled for the orphans and called for them and soon they realised that it must be time to start walking back for the day, and all the orphans including Mutara’s herd decided to walk slowly back with the Keepers.

Six wild bulls arrived early before dawn and found that the water troughs were empty as elephants had visited throughout the night and finished all the water. The bulls waited patiently until daybreak because they knew that the water troughs would be refilled! At six o'clock in the morning the water bowser arrived and refilled the troughs so the wild bulls had their fill of water before walking off into the bush. A wild herd and Mutara’s herd joined the orphans in the morning for lucerne again. The girls, Mteto, Esampu, Malima and Nabulu, occupied themselves by taking care of the babies within the wild herd. When all the elephants finished the lucerne, the different herds parted ways. Mundusi and Sapalan led the dependent orphans out to browse today.

It was cloudy morning which was perfect weather . The orphans browsed quietly up to mud bath time when pare led the first group to the mud bath. Larro and Naboishu tried to snatch two bottles left on the ground for Kauro and Enkikwe who had lagged behind. The keepers were alert and managed to spoil their attempt of running away with the milk bottles. Only Jotto, Ambo, Dololo and Maramoja that participated in wallowing. The rest led by Musiara and Mukkoka participated in a soil dusting exercise. Kauro led the way to the browsing field. The rest of the afternoon was quiet as the orphans concentrated more on browsing. 

Wendi, Wema, Lualeni, Lulu, Lexi, Narok, Olare, Mutara’s herd and an aggressive wild bull that was coming into musth were present at the lucerne feeding time this morning. The aggressive wild bull was making it very difficult for the orphans to enjoy their lucerne. The orphans trumpeted and bellowed as they disappeared off into the bush to begin their day instead, leaving the ex-orphans with the aggressive wild bull.

The orphans walked off and settled to browse north of the Kalovoto seasonal river. They browsed calmly without any major distractions. At mud bath time, the orphans were joined by the ex-orphans and the aggressive wild bull again, who kept charging at everybody in sight. Pare, Sapalan, Larro, Naboishu and Malkia managed to have a brief swim before joining their friends in a soil dusting exercise.

In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse west of the Ithumba Hill . The ex-orphans joined the orphans briefly before parting aways again. Jotto teamed up with Dololo, Mapia and Mukkoka to browse while Esampu teamed up with Kuishi, Mteto, Maramoja and Musiara. In the evening Larro led the way back to the stockades but was overtaken by Nabulu as they got closer, but Larro didn’t seem to mind.

Sana Sana, who was moved to Class Five recently due to persistently bullying Mapia in Class Three, left her new stockade this morning. Her bullying behaviour earned herself an express ticket to the next class for discipline! Sana Sana spotted a buffalo drinking water at the stockade water trough and decided to vent her anger at being moved up a class on the unsuspecting buffalo. The buffalo stood its ground and continued to drink water as if nothing was happening. This prompted Sana Sana to retreat and plan her next move, which only she knew.

The orphans settled to browse in the Kone area again where Maramoja teamed up with Mteto as Sana Sana teamed up with Naboishu, Jotto, Kuishi, Rapa and Ndiwa. It wasn’t clear why Sana Sana decided to include Kuishi, Jotto Rapa and Ndiwa in her team. Although the Keepers suspected she was up to something they didn't take it seriously.

At mud bath time the orphans had their milk bottles then shortly afterwards Pare, Karisa, Rapa, Malkia, Musiara, Dololo, Mteto and Kamok participated fully in a wallowing exercise. The rest of the herd opted for a soil dusting exercise. In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse west of Ithumba Hill. This is where Sana Sana decided was the perfect place to execute her plan, and punish the Keepers for moving her up a class! Sana Sana sneaked past the Keepers and left with Naboishu, Rapa, Ndiwa, Kuishi and Jotto. In the evening, the Keepers realised that five orphans were missing and they had no other option than to search for them because young Naboishu was with them. Sana Sana was clever since she knew that by taking Naboishu with her, the Keepers would have to look for them.

Back at the stockade compound Mutara’s herd, Wendi, Wema, Lualeni, Lulu, Lexi, Nasalot, Nusu, Noah, Ithumbah and Narok arrived at the stockade shortly before five o'clock. Wendi can sometimes be very badly behaved and this afternoon was the perfect example of her occasional uncouth behaviour, and she very nearly indirectly hurt Mambo today as a result. This happened when Wendi pushed Turkwel for no apparent reason, and Turkwel fell on Mambo, as Wendi walked away as if she had done nothing wrong; or perhaps she was embarrassed about what she had done. Our quick intervention saved Mambo's life as we had to lift Turkwel’s both front and back legs to pull Mambo out who was underneath her. When Mambo was on his feet, we turned to Turkwel and supported her head so that she could stand up. The whole experience was very distressing for Turkwel and the rest of Mutara’s herd and they were clearly very unhappy with Wendi.

Sana Sana and her small group were finally located just after six o'clock in the evening, and escorted back to the stockades. Sana Sana looked pretty happy with herself to have punished the Keepers by making them walk for longer and further to look for them!  

The orphans settled for lucerne soon after leaving their stockades. Musiara briefly tackled Ambo in a strength testing exercise that didn't last for long. Shortly later, Dololo led the way out to browse.

Musiara teamed up with Malkia and Sana Sana to browse. With no hope of rain anytime soon, the orphans decided to concentrate mostly on browsing since they didn't want the day to end without getting enough food. Rapa and Ambo climbed up the hill behind the stockades to enjoy the vegetation available and later came down to rejoin their friends. Mundusi, Sapalan, Mapia and Jotto teamed up and moved away from their friends as they browsed and had boy talk from time to time.

Karisa left with the late-night gang and missed the eleven o'clock milk feed. Four wild bulls joined the orphans at the mud bath where they were having their milk bottles. Once they had finished wallowing in the main waterhole, they decided to give space to the wild bulls and walked to the water trough to drink water before leaving. 

In the afternoon the orphans settled to browse along the upper Kalovoto River. It was a quiet afternoon. Karisa returned to the stockades early before five and demanded his share of milk. The Keeper on duty quickly prepared milk for Karisa and he soon relaxed and waited patiently outside for his friends to return too. 

It was a beautiful morning today as the orphans walked out of their stockades after their milk bottles, to feed on lucerne. A wild elephant was present, alongside a pack of wild dogs, who were all drinking from the water trough. The orphans had their lucerne and when they were done they walked out to the bush to browse. They all looked busy and active browsing because it is still very dry and they wanted to make sure they found enough food to eat. Malkia, Sana Sana, Mteto and Esampu all led the way to the mud bath for the noon milk feed.

The orphans all played at the mud bath peacefully after having their milk bottles. Some wild elephants were also present having some water, as well as ex-orphan Wendi the trouble-maker, and her baby Wema. Later Ndiwa led the way back out to the bush. It was a very hot afternoon and once again the orphans focused on their browsing activities and not playing any games.  Sapalan and Jotto browsed side by side as Kamok took Ambo to some shade where they stood relaxing for some time. Musiara and Dololo looked as though they might start a wrestling match, but they thought better of it and continued browsing until all the orphans and Keepers started to make their way home for the night.

It was beautiful morning with a beautiful sunrise as the babies had their milk bottles and walked down to feed on lucerne as usual. There were just a few ex-orphans around from Wendi and Mutara’s herd and the young dependent orphans really enjoyed the lucerne without being disturbed too much. Kibo was among the few ex-orphans who were around, and later he went to share some water with a buffalo. Mambo, Mutara's baby, was even being protected by the young bull elephant Kibo today.

Out in the bush, Musiara was playing with Ambo as they greeted each other in a morning exercise. The others were very busy browsing in the bush. Naboishu was browsing on his own while Maramoja and Rapa were browsing together.

After the orphans had their milk bottles some decided to go to the mud bath to cool off. Pare was the most impressive wallower of the day, together with Larro and Dololo. Dololo had an impressive way of playing in the loose soil after the mud bath too and really enjoyed himself, throwing soil everywhere and rolling about. Some wild bulls were in the mud bath as well. One bull looked particularly beautiful, like he had painted himself, after his mud bath as he sprayed himself with red soil on top of the dark grey mud. Pare and Sattao decided to copy the bull and busied themselves playing and rolling in the loose soil after their mud bath as well, decorating their bodies. Later the juniors walked back to the bush for browsing.

It was a very hot afternoon and some of the orphans took refuge under some shade. Dololo and Malkia were browsing on their own separately away from the others. For whatever reason, perhaps it was the heat, Rapa and Karisa strayed from their orphan herd and instead followed Mutara's herd who was passing by, and they stayed out with them for the entire night.