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Karisa walked hand in hand with Ambo and settled for water before deciding which way to go. Soon after they had enough water, Mapia arrived and picked on Ambo for a pushing game. Ambo must have wondered why Mapia picked on him yet he was standing next to Karisa who was more his size and equal in strength. Ambo didn't retreat but tackled Mapia like a brave boy, knowing that he could send signals to the big boys for help if things turned nasty. As it turned out, Galla was standing close by and swiftly intervened to help Ambo before Mapia could go full force on the little boy. Ambo left happy that Galla came in to help him wrestle Mapia. 

Out in the bush, the orphans were joined by Orwa and his friend Bomani. Bomani hugged Barsilinga and for some time they enjoyed a pushing game that reminded them of the good old days when Bomani was still stockade-dependent. Bomani must be wondering why it is taking Barsilinga so long to become independent and leave with them again, but it is Barsilinga’s sore foot that is preventing him from doing so, since their human family, the Keepers, are still tending to him and making sure he is alright before he leaves. 

Rapa ran into trouble with Sapalan today for some unknown reason – and a wrestling fight ensued. Rapa, who is light, defended himself from the attack and when he realized that he was losing, he decided to run away. 

At mud bath time the orphans had fun in the water and went for a mud bath. Kauro, as usual, and Galla didn't have a swim but had some drinking water, then waited for their friends to finish wallowing. Ambo came out of the mud and led the way back out to the bush to browse. The orphans settled to browse in the upper Kalovoto area for the rest of the day.

It was a surprise in the morning when we woke up to find Wendi and her two children Wema and Wiva at the stockade compound. The mother of two was in the company of Kinna, baby Kama, Sunyei, baby Siku and Vuria. Wendi and her children were last seen in March this year. Upon closer observation, Wendi had the end part of her trunk missing, probably from a crocodile attack. Kinna, as always, appears to know the whereabouts of all her friends as she always surprises us by bringing the ex-orphans back who have been missing for quite awhile. The ex-orphans positioned themselves strategically waiting for Lucerne that they haven't tasted for a very long time. Malima had a small skirmish with baby Siku when she tried to remove Lucerne from Siku's mouth. Both babies felt the support of their families behind them – Malima the Keepers and Siku her mother Sunyei; after a bit of standoff, the two girls decided to make peace with each other after Siku apologized to Malima. 

On the way out to browse, Esampu spotted guinea fowls ahead of her. These are her favourites to play with, and she trumpeted and charged at the birds. The birds flew way. Esampu felt happy for winning and informed her friends that she had cleared the way for them. Bomani, Orwa and Chemi Chemi, who were accompanying the dependent orphans, congratulated Esampu for a job well done. 

Out in the bush, Naseku and Sana Sana competed who between them could pick leaves from the top of a tree with their trunks stretched up high. Naseku won the competition and it's not clear if they were doing it for fun or they were competing. 

At mud bath time, though the sun was hot, no single wild elephant showed up to join the orphans and the orphans had the venue for themselves. In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse on the upper side of the Kalovoto River. In the evening, Meibai showed up and joined Orwa, Bomani and Chemi Chemi who had escorted the orphans back to the stockades. 

Wendi, Wiva, Wema, Mulika, Mwende, Mkuu, Kinna, baby Kama, Sunyei, baby Siku, Ithumbah, Kenze, Kitirua, Melia and two wild elephants were at the stockade compound early in morning. Mulika and her two babies were the latest arrivals after being away for eight months. Mulika was so eager to taste the Lucerne that she hasn’t had for so long that she made the bold move of walking up to the store to see if there was any one to give her the Lucerne there, as she wanted it as quickly as possible. Lucerne was provided at the usual venue and Mulika went round to have as much as she wanted. 

Wiva ran into trouble with Pare when she thought that after being away for so long she might be able to beat Pare in a wrestling match. Pare couldn't allow this to happen and so fought tooth-and-nail to make sure he wasn't embarrassed in front of his friends. Wiva felt the heat was too much for her and opted to bolt instead of finishing the game. Pare felt happy after winning over Wiva since he wasn’t sure at the start of their game that his win was a given. 

After the Lucerne feeding time, the ex-orphans parted ways with the orphans but Orwa and Bomani decided to follow the orphans. The orphans had a quiet morning as they looked forward to the rains that are still on the way. 

At mud bath time, the orphans were joined by Melia, Kibo, Kandecha, Kalama, Chemi Chemi, Tumaren, Tomboi and several wild bulls. In the afternoon, Musiara counted himself lucky when Melia offered to spend time with him throughout the rest of the day. Sapalan and Namalok, who have not played together for some time, decided to have a strength testing exercise which lasted for quite awhile. In the evening, Mutara and her herd showed up at the stockade compound after being out of touch for several days. 

Two wild bulls were drinking water at the stockade water trough when the orphans were let out. Karisa decided to grab a branch as he left the stockade, which he enjoyed as he walked to wait for the Lucerne. Ambo headed straight to the water trough where he was joined by Siangiki and Naseku. After drinking water Siangiki took Ambo to the Lucerne feeding area, because she very well knew that if she just left him behind, Ambo would just disappear off into the bush on his own! Sapalan and Namalok had a strength testing exercise that didn't last for long as Olsekki intervened and pushed the two boys away. After feeding on Lucerne, Karisa led the way but first scratched on the edge of one of the water troughs before carrying on leading his friends out. 

Out in the bush Kamok and Olsekki, who are yet to establish who is dominant amongst themselves, engaged in a pushing game that again ended in a draw. Bomani and Orwa, who have reunited again, joined the dependent orphans and later escorted them to the mud bath. 

A few wild elephant bulls attended the mud bath, including the one who behaves like an ex-orphan, who joined the orphans to drink water, so calm and unbothered by everything around him. He finally left when he had enough water. It was cloudy and hot this afternoon so the orphans fully enjoyed wallowing in the mud bath. Tusuja and Olsekki were the last to quit the mud bath as they were busy enjoying what they love most – a pushing game in water. 

In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse north of the mud bath. It was a quiet afternoon as the orphans concentrated on browsing and hoping the hot weather would call for the rains to come soon. In the evening, sure enough, the rain began to fall! It wasn't much but at least it brought a cooling effect that the orphans enjoyed. 

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. 

Orwa and Bomani, who had spent the night not far away again, were standing outside the stockades when the orphans were drinking their milk. As soon as the gates opened for the orphans to come out, Orwa and Bomani entered the stockades and ransacked everywhere for any leftovers, but unfortunately the orphans had picked every last branch that had been put there for them for the night. The two boys left quietly to join the dependent orphans feeding on Lucerne. Malima was watching to two bulls and felt sorry for them in not finding any nice leftover branch to feed on! Ambo headed straight to the water trough and had some water before joining his friends. 

Out in the bush Barsilinga, who is gaining confidence day by day, tackled Orwa again in a strength testing exercise. Bomani again climbed on Tusuja, something that Tusuja detested. He managed to rid himself of Bomani and left thinking what he could do to stop Bomani picking on him. 

It was quiet at the mud bath time with no wild elephants showed up again. The orphans were in the company of Orwa and Bomani still. After drinking their milk bottles and having some water, the orphans wallowed and after, led by Ambo, walked back out to the bush to browse. Kauro teamed up with Enkikwe to feed while Naseku took care and controlled Ambo, who is known for walking off in any direction, not minding where it will lead him.