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The ex-orphans arrived early to join the dependent orphans feeding on lucerne. Kauro got into trouble with Kama when he tried to reach for some lucerne that she had stepped on. Surprisingly, Kauro, who is older than Kama, didn’t even try to defend himself and just ran away when she charged at him. Dust rose in the air as Kauro increased his speed to make sure that she didn’t get him Kama is tough, just like her mother, Kinna. 

Karisa led the way out to browse and Sapalan and Mapia settled for a soil dusting session when they got there, before going back to browsing a while later. Jotto spotted a dik dik ahead of him and decided to chase it out of the way. He was joined in the chase by Mundusi, Musiara, Sattao, Ambo and Malima. The dik dik disappeared as soon as it saw the elephants running towards it! The orphans took several rounds trying to locate the dik dik but they didn't succeed, and they abandoned the mission of chasing the small antelope to resume browsing. 

At mud bath time, Sana Sana led the way followed by Malkia, Ndiwa and Mteto. The temperature was moderate, so the orphans only had their milk bottles and some water, and then skipped the wallowing exercise entirely. Esampu led the herd away from the mud bath to continue browsing. A bit later, Jotto took a break from feeding to play with Pare. After losing the game to Pare, Jotto decided to climb on Malima just to vent his anger after losing his game. Mapia, Karisa, Rapa and Galla parted ways with the rest of the group and walked off deep into the bush on their own but reported back to the stockades later and rejoined their friends. 

Mutara, Sities, Suguta, Kainuk and Turkwel were among the senior ex-orphans this morning. Mutara’s girls, who at one time went crazy every time they saw Dololo, appear to have moved on and forgotten about him! Their attention is now directed towards the many newborns around at the moment, born to both wild elephants and our ex-orphans. They are always vying for a position to nanny any of the tiny babies! 

After feeding on lucerne, Maramoja spotted some guinea fowls and decided to charge them. The guinea fowls disappeared as soon as they saw Maramoja come charging towards them and flew up into trees! Nabulu teamed up with Galla and Ndiwa to scratch on some rocks they came across on their way out to browse. Pare enjoyed a lone game of rolling on the ground, which was disrupted when Karisa came over and started pushing him. Mapia developed an itchy ear and decided to scratch it against a nearby tree as Enkikwe teamed up with Mundusi to browse.

It was very hot today, which meant all the orphans wanted to get into the mud bath after having their noon milk feed. Nabulu, Sattao, Mapia, Esampu, Ambo, Musiara and Kuishi all settled for soil dusting soon after leaving mud bath. Enkikwe and Kauro were the last ones to leave the mud bath and they had a disagreement as soon as they were out. Their disagreement ended in a fight, but it didn't last long. Ndiwa settled to browse with Mteto. 

In the evening, only Barsilinga, Olsekki, Tusuja and Siangiki out of the Class Five members came back to the stockades to join their friends. Roi, Kamok, Oltaiyoni and Naseku decided to spend the night out.

The ex-orphans joined the dependent orphans early in the morning for lucerne. Shortly thereafter, the groups parted ways. The dependent orphans headed east while the ex-orphans headed south. Out in the bush, Ambo stood under a small tree while Mapia leaned against another, perhaps wondering when will this drought will come to an end. At the moment, they have to walk very far each day in search of nice food. Malkia teamed up with Sana Sana, while Malima took a break from feeding to scratch her hind against a rock. 

The orphans browsed calmly as they made their way to the mud bath for noon. It was very hot indeed and the orphans headed straight for wallowing soon after having their milk. Ex orphans Tomboi and Challa joined them, and they all had fun together in water. Sana Sana spotted some baboons drinking at the water trough and decided to chase them to clear the way for her friends to come and drink. 

After the orphans had enough wallowing, Esampu led everyone to continue browse. Shortly after the dependent orphans left, we were delighted to see Nasalot arrive with a brand new baby! She arrived with her older son, Nusu, as well as Chaimu, Namalok, Olare, Melia, Lenana and three wild elephants. The group was running and clearly very thirsty, as they immediately settled for a drink. After having enough water, Nasalot took her two sons to cool off in the mud bath. The group was last seen in April this year, when Nasalot only had Nusu, and now she has returned with a second little boy! Now she joins the club of mothers at Ithumba with more than one baby – Yatta, Mulika, Kinna, and Wendi all of whom have two babies now. Yatta will have a third one soon, and even her eldest daughter, Yetu, is pregnant! Later, Nasalot took her herd to the stockades where they were provided with some lucerne after what was evidently a long journey. In the evening, Kuishi, Mapia and Rapa dodged the Keepers as the orphans were returning home, but arrived shortly before seven in the evening. 

Kibo and Kasigau were at the stockade compound when the orphans were let out. It was a quiet morning otherwise, as the orphans settled for lucerne before the ex-orphans arrived. When the orphans saw the ex-orphans approaching, Karisa led the way out so as to avoid being pushed around by their seniors. However, Sana Sana, Rapa, Mundusi, Malkia, Enkikwe and Barsilinga remained behind to compete with their seniors over the leftover lucerne and later caught up with their friends. Malkia ran into trouble with Wendi’s firstborn, Wiva, when she showed interest in meeting Nasalot’s new baby, Noah. Wiva threatened to push her if she stayed any longer around Noah, and Malkia decided to leave instead of staying where she wasn’t wanted. Wiva is very protective of Noah, just as Nasalot was of her when she was a baby!

Musiara took a break from browsing later to play with Pare, while Malkia played with Mundusi. At mud bath time, the orphans were joined by 25 wild bulls, and later the ex-orphans arrived as well. After the mud bath, they even spent some time in the bush together, until the ex-orphans went their own way while the dependent babies settled to browse in the Kanziku area. Maramoja, Musiara, Dololo, Ambo, Mteto, Kauro, Jotto and Esampu decided to take a break from feeding and relaxed under a tree until it got a bit cooler. In the evening, Galla and Kamok, who have become great friends recently, failed to turn up at the stockades.

Yatta and her herd reported early in the morning and relaxed outside the stockade waiting for lucerne. It was a cloudy morning which gave everyone hope that rain might be on the way. The orphans joined the ex-orphans as soon as they were let out of their night stockades. Kinna’s baby, Kama, tried to block the orphans from having any lucerne, but the Keepers intervened by warning Kama to stop bullying the orphans — otherwise she would be the one to leave! Kama calmed down and retreated to team up with her little sister Kaia and her mum. Shortly later, the herds parted ways. Lualeni and her baby Lulu decided to team up with the dependent orphans. Lulu interacted with Mundusi, Kamok, Sana Sana and Maramoja. Lualeni decided to walk to the mud bath before the normal time. Enkikwe, who cleverly read Lualeni's moves, decided to follow Lualeni and her baby, Lulu, so as to be the first one to have a mid-day milk bottle! 

The mud bath was quiet, with not a single wild elephant showing up to join the orphans. Lualeni had a drink with the orphans before turning back and heading towards the stockades. Jotto kept himself busy by engaging Dololo in a pushing game, but Dololo quit the game early as Jotto was playing too rough. Dololo teamed up with Ambo instead, who was soil dusting, while Esampu walked over to tackle the feisty Jotto. 

In the afternoon, the cloud cover cleared giving way to sunshine. We couldn’t help but be a little disappointed. The orphans decided to take a break from feeding and relax under a tree until it got a bit cooler later in the afternoon. 

It was a quiet morning, as the ex-orphans didn't show up. The orphans enjoyed feeding on the lucerne without any competition! As soon as they finished, Sana Sana rumbled, signaling the orphans that it was time to leave for browsing before it got too hot. Malkia, Mteto and Esampu responded and trailed behind Sana Sana. The rest of the herd followed too.

Out in the bush, Ndiwa settled to feed with Jotto and Malima. Karisa teamed up with Sattao and Enkikwe, but Karisa and Sattao left when Enkikwe started harassing them. Barsilinga, Roi, Kamok, Galla, Naseku Olsekki, Siangiki, Oltaiyoni and Tusuja parted ways with their friends and walked off into the bush. Musiara and Sapalan came across a nice tree that they shared to scratch the side of their bellies on. 

Pare and Jotto had a competition about who could run the fastest to have their milk bottle at noon. Pare won the competition. It was hot and the sun was beating down, so all the orphans decided to swim in the mud bath. 22 wild bulls were there, too. Later, Naserian, baby Njema, Ithumbah, Makena, Wendi, Wema, Wiva, Sunyei, and baby Siku showed up at the mud bath. They relaxed under a tree before finally walking away towards the stockades. Buchuma and some friends also visited the stockades during the day to have water.

In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse in the Kanziku area before returning to the stockades in the evening — except for Kamok, Galla and Siangiki, who failed to turn up. Kamok and Galla are avoiding the stockades these days and often just choose to turn up in the morning. They are slowly finding their feet and becoming more independent! This is a sign that when it rains, only few of the Class Five members might choose to come back to the stockades at all. We are sure that if the conditions were more favourable, they might have chosen to leave already. 

It was a cloudy morning. 12 wild bulls were drinking at the stockade water troughs, with well-known bull Dad among them. As the orphans came out of their night stockades, Rapa tried to challenge Wanjala but couldn't withstand Wanjala’s strength and so he surrendered. Shortly later, Enkikwe walked down to the trough to share water with the wild elephants, while Ambo settled to play with Musiara. As the orphans were leaving for browsing, Galla and Kamok checked in from their nightly adventures. Sana Sana happened to meet Galla on her way out and asked him whether it was morning or evening; she couldn't understand that they were leaving for browsing, yet he and Kamok were only just arriving! 

The orphans settled to browse in the Kanziku area. It was still cloudy when the orphans made their way to the mud bath. Only five wild bulls showed up while the orphans were there. Because it was cloudy, the orphans boycotted wallowing and soon after having their milk and water, Esampu led the herd back out to the bush. 

In the evening, all the orphans returned to the stockades for the night. Yatta and her herd visited for a short time, staying just long enough to have some leftover lucerne and a drink.

It was a quiet morning. Only one wild elephant showed up and briefly joined the orphans for lucerne. Shortly later, the wild bull walked down to the water trough for a drink and was joined by Wanjala, Rapa, Mundusi, Nabulu, Esampu and Karisa. Sana Sana led the way out to browse today. On the way, Ndiwa and Kuishi came across a nice rock that they used to scratch their bellies on.

Kauro took a break from browsing to engage Karisa in a pushing game while Malkia played with Sattao. Rapa played with Jotto while Pare played with Kuishi. Sapalan had a lone game of rolling on the ground and once he had enough he stood up to resume browsing.

When the orphans made their way to the mud bath just before noon, fifteen wild bulls were present. Soon after having their milk, Nabulu, Dololo, Karisa, Malkia, Esampu, Mteto, Enkikwe and Mundusi headed straight to the mud bath wallow as it had been a very hot morning. The rest of the group just drank some water and walked off to continue browsing. In the afternoon, Nabulu found a suitable tree to enjoy a good scratch, while Wanjala and Mundusi enjoyed a soil dusting exercise. In the evening, Barsilinga and his small group decided to stay out for the night.

Kilaguni and a wild friend were the only older elephants around when the orphans were let out this morning. The wild bull feared joining the orphans to feed on lucerne and left. Kilaguni was only too happy to join the orphans and did so with great fervour, taking his own big pile to enjoy. A lone buffalo came to drink at the stockade water trough, and Tusuja, Karisa and Esampu were so good and didn’t cause any drama at all, but quietly joined the buffalo! It appears that Esampu had woken up in a good mood, as she never spares the buffaloes as far as charging and trumpeting is concerned. 

On the way out, Nabulu, Pare, Enkikwe, Mteto and Sattao scratched against some rocks they came across. As Barsilinga’s group headed out, Keepers held back Kamok, who has been spending most nights out with Galla. She has lost a bit of weight recently, due to walking long distances and not getting enough food in the current drought. Kamok knows that her Keepers’ decisions are only made with her best interests in mind, so she was happy to follow them.

The temperature skyrocketed later that morning, forcing the orphans to take a break from feeding to relax under some trees. At mud bath time, the orphans had their milk bottles then some water, before heading back out to browse. In the afternoon, Galla bullied Mapia by climbing on him without his consent. We thought perhaps Mapia might be wising for Galla to go back and rejoin Barsilinga’s herd, since then he won’t be any trouble! The orphans browsed calmly throughout the rest of the day. 

It was a cool morning. Only a few wild bulls showed up for a drink. The dependent orphans were happy, as they had the feeding area to themselves, and they didn’t feel as congested or harassed as they are when the ex-orphans are around! Only one wild bull joined the orphans to feed on lucerne. After enjoying the supplement food, Wanjala, Mundusi, Esampu, Malkia and Dololo walked down to the water trough to join the wild bulls who were drinking, and then Kuishi led the way out to browse. 

A warthog disrupted the peace and quiet when it ran through the orphans as they browsed. Esampu was very upset and started charging around, and some of her friends followed suit. Mundusi, Sattao, Ambo, Rapa, Sana Sana and Dololo all volunteered to back Esampu up on her mission to teach the warthog a lesson. The warthog didn’t stick around as it knew it had upset the elephants by running through them and giving them a fright. Once at a safe distance, the warthog turned and faced the direction of the orphans, waiting to see what they would do next. The moment the warthog saw the orphans trumpeting and charging in his direction, he ran off as fast as his legs could carry him, and by the time the orphans reached at the spot where the warthog had been standing, he was long gone. Esampu’s team was left charging about empty bushes, stamping their feet. Later, when the charging mood had died down, the orphans resumed browsing. 

Shortly before mud bath time, Pare engaged Musiara in a pushing game while Kauro played with Mundusi. It was very quiet, with only five wild bulls at the mud bath. Ex-orphan Taita showed up later. Out of all the orphans, only Rapa decided to wallow, while the rest of the herd drank fresh water and resumed browsing. In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse in the upper Kalovoto area. That evening, all the 32 orphans returned safely to the stockades for the night. 

It was a very cool morning today. The orphans enjoyed their normal routine, and the only other elephants present were ex-orphans Kibo and Chaimu. 

Out in the bush, Jotto took a break from browsing to scratch his head on a rock. As it is still quite dry, the orphans mostly concentrated on browsing, without messing around. Esampu stretched her trunk high into the trees to reach some food. Later, Mapia and Jotto couldn’t resist taking a break to start a pushing game with one another. Karisa also took a break to roll around in the dust. Chaimu and Kibo accompanied the babies all morning. It was quite cloudy and the sun wasn’t so harsh today, which meant the orphans could browse in comfort. 

It stayed cloudy into the afternoon, so the orphans didn’t feel like wallowing after their noon milk feed. Malima found a small puddle and she started playing in it, splashing water on her body for fun and to cool down a little. The orphans then walked back home to the stockades for the night. Barsilinga's herd arrived yesterday, but without Siangiki and Oltaiyoni, who stayed out for the night. In the afternoon, we received another 54mm of rain, which was wonderful.