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It was lightly drizzling in the morning as the orphans left the stockades to join the ex-orphans that were waiting outside. The noisy weaver birds, who are always indicative the impending rains, perched in the only acacia tree remaining in the stockade compound, constructing their nests. Nasalot’s baby, the rascal Nusu, was at it again, pushing the orphans away from their piles of lucerne pellets. The moment he got to the no-nonsense Esampu however, Nusu was awestruck when Esampu couldn’t care less about who he was and knocked him to the ground. Esampu had been watching how Nusu misbehaves with the other dependent orphans and vowed not to stoop so low as to be pushed around by a one year old baby! Nusu left a disappointed little boy and walked over to his mother.

Half an hour later, the ex-orphans parted ways with the juniors. The orphans settled to browse north east of the stockade and had a quiet morning. 

At mud bath time, the orphans were joined by Chemi Chemi and Kibo. The sun was really hot and the orphans participated fully in the wallowing exercise. Later, the orphans were joined by two wild bulls to drink water. In the afternoon, the orphans walked over to the hill-slope, west of the Ithumba Hill where they settled for the afternoon. In the evening, the temperature was still high and the orphans passed by the mud bath where they cooled off before heading home.

Karisa and Namalok briefly held a strength testing exercise early before six in the morning. This was one way of keeping themselves busy as they awaited the morning milk. After the morning feeding, the orphans walked outside and were joined by senior ex-orphans. Noticeable were the tiny wild born babies Nusu, Siku, Lulu, Kama, Yoyo, Wiva and Gawa, their mothers and nannies. The herd shared the pellets peacefully and after parted ways. 

The orphans settled to browse in Kone area and had a quiet morning. At mud bath time, Mteto led the first group while Esampu led the second one to the milk bottles. Three bulls attended the mud bath and only one of the bulls interacted with the orphans. 

In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse along the western slope of the Ithumba Hill. At around 3.30 pm, the Keepers herd lions roaring close by and within seconds, the orphans came back to them running. Upon checking if all the orphans were okay, the Keepers were surprised to see Lemoyian with blood on his head and left legs. We were devastated to see that the same lions had attacked another one of our orphans, and we will endeavor to trap and move them still. Lemoyian was thankfully not injured too badly, but these lions are very brazen and bold, even attacking in broad daylight. 

The sky was clear in the morning as the orphans left the stockades. In the compound, the orphans were joined by Yatta’s ex-orphan group and several wild elephants. Baby Kama settled to feed on pellets and showed respect to the no nonsense Esampu. Kama was very humble and respectful of her space as she knew that any slight provocation to Esampu would land her in trouble. Baby Yoyo settled to feed with Rapa but tried to push Rapa away from the pile of pellets. Rapa checked around to see if Yatta, Yoyo's mother, was close by and was delighted to find that Yatta was some distance away. Rapa turned and pushed Yoyo away from the pellets. Yoyo ran away as if to tell on Rapa but none of the nannies paid any attention. 

Later, Mundusi found a suitable tree that he used to scratch the side of his belly, an exercise that also attracted Esampu who joined Mundusi. Sapalan as usual teamed up with his new found friend Enkikwe to feed and later had a soil dusting exercise. Twenty wild bulls attended the mud bath and had fun for nearly three hours. The orphans used the smaller mud bath before heading back out to browse. Karisa briefly played with Pare before Naseku ended their game by pushing the two boys away. In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse in the upper Kalovoto area but avoided the area they had heard the lions. In the evening, all the orphans returned back safely to the stockade for another night.

There were no ex-orphans or wild elephants who joined the dependent orphans for their lucerne breakfast this morning, so they enjoyed their food peacefully without being bullied or bossed around by any other elephants. Galla and Tusuja were feeding together. 

In the bush they were all busy browsing with Galla stretching high to reach the greenest leaves. Later, at the mud bath, we had one huge bull with his friends who came to drink water. He looks magnificent and very handsome. 

Kithaka was busy stretching high in the tree for food. Other orphans were very busy wallowing in the mud hole. The water bowser came in and topped up the drinking water before emptying the rest into the mud hole. Esampu played right in the middle of the mud hole and came out to scratch her head on a tree. Galla and Naseku were the most playful as they were play-fighting in the mud wallow. Other wild bulls came in to drink water and later walked away.

When the orphans walked back out to browse it was very hot and the they hid in the shade for a bit. Namalok and Karisa started play fighting while the others were busy browsing. Roi and Pare were browsing together. Siangiki, Olsekki and Pare were left behind this evening because of Olsekki. He likes to hide and come in at the last minute, but he likes to recruit some others to stay with him as well, today it was Siangiki and Pare. They all came in after the others and had their milk bottles late. 

It was another cold morning after the rain last night and this morning. The orphans were a little more reluctant to come out of their stockades as well, as they could feel the weather too! They had their milk bottles and had a quick feast on the lucerne, before walking out to the bush to browse. Olsekki and Siangiki were feasting together as usual; they are such close friends.

All the orphans browsed until noon when Siangiki led the group to the mud bath for their milk feed. It was a lot warmer by this time, and on the way the orphans came across a small pool of rain water that they decided to use to cool down before they reached the mud bath itself.

After their bottles, the elephants walked into the water in a straight line and swam the length of the water. They were led by our youngest here, Esampu. It was quite interesting to see them wallowing despite the relatively cool weather in the area.

The orphans were very restless as they browsed in the afternoon. After the rain there were so many soft green shoots they did not know where to look, or browse! Everyone went his or her own way looking for the best browse. Namalok started spraying dust on his back. Lemoyian sneaked from the group to follow Kithaka's group who always like to be on their own, but come in later at night to sleep in the compound. The whole group later made their way back to the stockades for their evening milk, and to go to bed.

The orphans woke this morning to have their milk bottles and did not stay in the compound long before walking out to the bush. Pare started scratching his neck while Mundusi his and browsed separately from the others. Lemoyian was busy stretching and browsing high in the trees in search of fresh leaves.

Later at noon the orphans had their milk and walked straight to the mud bath to cool down as it was a very hot day. They all walked in and started wallowing in a long line, with Esampu leading the group. They walked and swam the length of the muddy pool, and came out the other side still in a line, to walk straight to the bush to browse again.

Later when the elephants were browsing, they came across a small pool of water that they decided to play in as well. After they finished splashing around, they continued with their browsing right up until the last minute, when they made their way back home for their milk in the evening. Laragai's group decided to accompany the others back to the stockades this evening too. We had no rain today and it has been very hot since morning, however we saw no other elephants today.