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Wild elephant bull ‘Dad’ and his two friends were peacefully enjoying water at the stockade water troughs moments before the orphans were let out, and the environment turned very busy and noisy. Dad, who loves a quiet environment, started moving away from all the frivolous babies to a quieter place. His two friends slowly followed behind him. The orphans settled for their morning Lucerne and later passed by the water troughs to arm themselves with enough water that would see them through the entire morning. 

Out in the bush, Mapia tried to challenge Galla but Galla wasn’t very interested in playing. After a lot of persuasion however from Mapia, Galla gave in and started a strength testing exercise that saw Mapia surrender after Galla turned rather ruthless. Karisa, who appeared to have woken up in a playful mood today, played with Esampu and later played with Sapalan. 

At mud bath time, Mutara, Suguta, Sities, Turkwel, Kainuk, Kithaka, Garzi and Lemoyian, who had taken a holiday for one week away from the Ithumba stockade area, were back. Sities, Kainuk, Turkwel and Suguta had really missed their baby Dololo and decided to wait for him at mud bath. As soon as Dololo arrived, he was surrounded by these girls while taking his milk. Afterwards, Dololo left with the older girls as they wanted to know how he had been while they were away. After mud bath time, the ex-orphans joined the dependent orphans for the afternoon in trying to catch up with whatever they might have missed while they were on their holiday.

The wild elephant ‘Kijana’, who doesn’t have a family and who has joined up with the ex-orphans, has made it a routine to join the dependent orphans for Lucerne in the morning, and later in the evening, to come back to try his luck for some more Lucerne, reported early before the orphans were let out. The orphans were let out soon after their morning milk bottles and headed straight for Lucerne. Ambo remained behind to request for the pellets. Naseku tried to join Ambo but was told by the Keepers to go and join her friends who were feeding on the grass Lucerne. This made Naseku cross and shake her head in protest. The Keepers stood their ground leaving Naseku with no option other than moving to join her friends. Naseku decided to comfort herself by having a game of rolling on the ground in front of everyone. No one showed any interest in her game and shortly later she quit her game and joined her friends to eat. 

Out in the bush, Dololo decided to have fun by soil dusting and rolling on the ground since his older nannies failed to show up this morning. Wanjala felt that he wanted to test his strength and to do so, he wanted someone strong to tackle. Wanjala settled for Tusuja and their game ended in a draw. Later, he moved to play with Kauro but unfortunately he lost the game to Kauro, leaving him embarrassed since he was aiming for a win or a draw. 

At mud bath time, the temperature was moderate. Several wild bulls showed up and one among them appeared to be fearless and totally relaxed and unconcerned with what was happening around him regarding the orphans and their human family, behaving almost like an ex-orphan. Another wild bull stood at the edge of the mud bath and caught the attention of Naseku. Naseku decided to entertain and impress the wild bull by playing and dancing in the water, splashing and whipping the water using her trunk. The wild bull didn’t seem very interested in Naseku’s playful antics however. In the afternoon, Mapia, who loves scratching, settled to scratch against a tree as Siangiki led Ambo to an area where they could feed without any disturbance. 

The stockade compound looked deserted before the orphans were let out today. No single animal could be seen anywhere close by. When the orphans were let out they headed straight for Lucerne. The orphans had the whole place for themselves; even Kijana who shows up nearly every morning was nowhere to be seen. Tusuja and Ambo settled to drink water at the water trough while Kauro carried a bundle of Lucerne and moved to feed far away from the others. Shortly later, Ambo led the way out for the day. 

Roi had a game of scratching and lying on the ground and then called Dololo to come and play close to her. Dololo stepped forward and had a game of rolling on the ground while Roi scratched on a nearby rock watching over Dololo. Siangiki and her friend Enkikwe settled to browse together and had a general talk, while Naseku decided to keep Ambo company for the entire morning. 

At mud bath time seven wild elephant bulls were present and enjoyed drinking water and wallowing with the orphans. Ex-orphan Challa showed up later and joined the orphans to cool-off in the mud bath. The wild bulls retreated to relax under a tree where Olsekki followed them to enquire why they had done so. One of the wild bulls threatened to push Olsekki if he continued to bother them and as a junior he was being very disrespectful. Olsekki realized his mistake and so moved away to avoid angering the bulls and hoped that one day he would be their size and just like them. 

Sapalan decided to engage Jotto in a pushing game when Jotto tried to underestimate his strength capabilities. The pushing game lasted for quite some time before Ukame intervened and pushed the two boys away. Sapalan informed Jotto to count himself lucky because he wanted to teach him a lesson that he would never forget if it were not for Ukame. The afternoon was quiet as the orphans concentrated mostly on browsing. 

Dololo was the first one to leave the stockades this morning, hoping to meet his older ex-orphan nannies, but unfortunately they had not shown up yet. Orwa and Bomani, who had spent the night just close by, joined the dependent orphans in feeding on Lucerne. Shortly later, the orphans headed out for browsing. Barsilinga, who is slowly recovering from his sore foot, managed to have a strength testing game with Orwa. Barsilinga wanted to show Orwa that he is still physically fit and he can take care of himself. Bomani ran into trouble with Tusuja when he tried to climb on Tusuja’s back. Tusuja complained and turned to attack Bomani. Bomani wasn't perturbed by Tusuja's threats and seemed to just inform Tusuja to calm down, because he is his senior and he didn’t mean anything by it. Tusuja didn’t seem to agree with Bomani and swiftly walked off into the other direction. 

At mud bath time there was not a single wild elephant or ex-orphan around again. This could be because perhaps rains have fallen in different parts of the National Park and elephants appear to have migrated to those areas. The orphans took their milk bottles and drank some water and after some of them decided to wallow in the mud bath, before Ambo led the way back out to browse. The orphans had a quiet afternoon feeding along the upper side of the Kalovoto seasonal river. In the evening, Orwa and Bomani escorted the orphans back to the stockades again. 

It was a lovely morning with the orphans finishing their milk bottles before walking down to the Lucerne feeding area. They all looked very active today with each baby participating in one way or another. Sapalan took a bunch of Lucerne and walked away with it, and started scratching on a rock while eating. Mapia was busy scratching his bottom on the terrace. Kauro scratched his neck on a rock with Kuishi, while the rest of the herd started to walk out to browse for the day. 

Out in the bush, Tusuja and Wanjala started play fighting while Kamok was rolling on the ground playing with her head in the air. Namalok and Enkikwe were having a conversation between themselves, and then Enkikwe started rolling on the ground playing. Kauro was digging at the ground with his tusks, digging up some loose soil to play with. Later, Wanjala, Siangiki and Karisa joined Kauro for the same game, as they found he had created quite a nice area of loose soil to play with. Enkikwe was doing some morning press-ups and play fighting with Namalok. Karisa started hugging Mteto with his trunk. Dololo was busy testing his strength against Malima while Olsekki was busy playing with soil and scratching his back leg. The rest were very much busy browsing and later they walked to the mud bath for their milk bottles.

When the orphans walked to the mud bath just before noon today, it wasn’t very hot so only a few of the orphans decided to wallow in the mud bath. Wanjala was playing with Tusuja and climbing on him beside the mud bath. Wanjala and Namalok too started play fighting with Mundusi and Olsekki separately. They all walk out to the bush for browsing again.

Back out in the bush, all the orphans looked active and busy browsing, except for Pare, Esampu and Sana Sana who sought some shade under some trees. Enkikwe and Namalok started play fighting after they felt satisfied they had eaten enough food for the day. 

Only two junior wild bulls visited the stockade today. Most of the wild elephants and ex-orphans have disappeared after we had the first few short rain showers, but we are still waiting for more rain this season.

Sattao led the herd out to the Park to browse while Ambo was still scratching his belly on a rock. Enkikwe and Namalok started play fighting while Sapalan was busy doing some morning press-ups and digging down at the ground with his tusks deeper and deeper. He later lay down and enjoyed throwing the soil which he had dug up onto his body. Kuishi also lay down on the ground and Dololo accidentally stepped on her. One of our Trusts aircraft flew overhead on a patrol and Dololo and Kuishi looked up into the air at the aircraft. 

Musiara was the first one to arrive for his noon milk bottles when he was done he walked straight to the mud hole to cool off as it was very hot. The rest followed him after their milk with Rapa, Olsekki, Tusuja, Wanjala, Namalok and Mundusi being the most playful today. We had only two wild bulls who visited the mud bath at the same time today. Roi came out of the water and started play fighting with Mundusi and the whole herd walked back out to the bush for browsing.

It was a very hot afternoon and most of the babies were hiding under the shade of some trees for a large part of the day. When it was cooler they started browsing again more seriously until it was time to return back to the stockades. This evening Mutara's herd decided to visit with a wild bull, then Kithaka, Garzi, Lemoyian, Kilaguni and Chemi Chemi also arrived. They drank some water and then walked off into the Park.

It was a very quiet and chilly morning today after we were blessed with rain last night. We recorded 70mm of rain and this marks the first substantial rains we have had so far. The Ithumba dependent orphans had their milk bottles and walked down to feed on Lucerne. It was muddy and slippery but they managed to feed on the Lucerne quite happily. Ambo started scratching his bottom on the gate post, while Malima scratched her tail on the terrace wall. Dololo was busy scratching his neck at the same time with Mapia and Kauro on the terrace. Sapalan was busy play-fighting with Namalok before they all walked out to the bush.

All the orphans all looked very happy to have received some rain. Barsilinga and Kuishi were busy browsing on the fresh green shoots. Maramoja, Oltaiyoni, Mapia and Mteto were amongst those stretching high up into the trees with their trunks reach nice fresh leaves. Olsekki was talking to Naseku and then started to try and take some food from her mout to see what she was eating. Roi was tending to Dololo all morning. Later the orphans walked to the mud bath for their milk bottles.

We found the mud bath was almost full of water today after the rainfall we have had so far! After their milk bottles the orphans couldn’t resist, and the majority of them went to swim in the now brimming mud bath. Roi was busy rolling in some mud separately to the side with Jotto.

It wasn’t very hot today so the orphans were enjoying browsing. We are expecting more rain soon too. We didn’t see any ex-orphans or wild elephants today at the mud bath or the stockades. 

We received more rain of 45mm last night so it was another quiet and cold morning at the stockade compound. This was the second big rain shower so far this short rainy season. The orphans came out of their stockades carefully as it was very slippery, and walked down to feed on Lucerne. Kauro started cleaning his beautiful tusks on the gate post while Mapia and Dololo enjoyed scratching their bodies on the stockade terrace. Later the orphans walked out to the bush to browse.

Malkia was browsing on the side of Ithumba Hill while Pare and Karisa were browsing together in the bush. Wanjala started playing with Sana Sana after browsing and later Kuishi led the group to the mud bath.

It wasn’t very hot this afternoon but it was humid, which meant the majority of orphans decided to go for a swim anyway. Galla climbed on Karisa in the water and all the orphans enjoyed a mud bath. Later they got out and walked back out to the bush for browsing again. On the way back Namalok started play fighting with Mundusi. Musiara was browsing together with Sana Sana. Some of the orphans found a small pool of rain water that they started playing in, particularly Wanjala and Kuishi who enjoyed rolling in it so much they soon formed a muddy quagmire. 

Just before 5pm the orphans made their way back to the stockades for the night. We didn’t see any other elephants again today, including our own ex-orphans, as they must all be out in the bush enjoying the benefits of the recent rain.

Mapia appeared to be very itchy this morning and spent a long time scratching his whole body, and finished up just in time to follow his friends out for the day.

Whilst most of the orphans were busy browsing, Karisa and Sapalan were busy playing. Rapa seemed busy doing his morning press-ups digging down and playing in the mud with his tusks. Jotto and Sattao stopped browsing and started rolling in the mud too. Namalok started digging in the mud with his sharp tusks. Roi, Tusuja, Barsilinga, Malima and Wanjala enjoyed rolling in the mud separately. The orphans then walked to the mud bath for their milk bottles.

At the mud bath the orphans enjoyed swimming as it was a hot afternoon. The mud bath was very full after we got 60mm of rain which filled the water hole right up. Roi and Mundusi spent a short time wrestling after they had finished their wallowing activities.  

Later in the afternoon most of the orphans were busy browsing but a small group like Musiara and Dololo were busy playing in a small pool of water they came across in the bush. Ambo and Jotto led the herd back home in the evening for their milk bottles. 

Roi was scratching her neck on the stockade terrace wall while Oltaiyoni was busy scratching her bottom. None of the orphans looked as playful as other mornings but they were still quite active. They happily walked out to the bush to browse for the day.

Out in the bush Olsekki and Kamok were busy playing while Barsilinga and Kuishi were busy stretching high up to the green leaves. Siangiki was spotted scratching her bottom while Roi and Dololo were browsing together. Tusuja and Olsekki started play fighting while Kamok, Tusuja and Wanjala teamed up together and started playing. The babies later walk to the mud bath for their milk.

Barsilinga played with Olsekki and climbed on him while wallowing in the mud bath. Wanjala was next to them and started climbing on Malkia after watching how much fun Barsilinga was having. Tusuja and Kauro started play fighting just outside the mud bath and Barsilinga decided to copy them and went to engage poor little Siangiki to play with! We didn’t have any rain today and didn’t see any ex-orphans or wild elephants again today.