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It's now raining hard in Umani. Many had not experienced rain, particularly little Mwana. However, she loves water and swimming more than the older babies — notably Mwashoti and Alamaya, who typically skip the midday swimming sessions and avoid the waterhole. 

After it rained for two days straight, Lima Lima and her teammates failed to come home during that period. Mwana missed their presence, and even Murera felt it. When Lima Lima and her team are around, Murera can relax. Lima Lima, Zongoloni, and Sonje, even allowed Mwana to suckle from them, although of course they are not producing milk. 

However, the two days without them felt very long for Murera, as opportunities for free time were far and few between. Now, it was the responsibility of Enkesha, Kiasa, and little Amali to entertain Mwana and give Murera a break.

On the way home, Amali took over the leadership from Enkesha so that Mwana could closely follow them. As usual, Murera was the last one at the back. When the elephants formed a straight line, blocking Mwana's view of Murera, she broke the line to go back and support her mother.

It's been raining continuously since last week, which is a cause for celebration among the whole herd of orphaned elephants. However, during their night stay in the stockades, Mwana and Murera found it challenging to stand under the open sky and endure the rain. They walked under the roof to avoid getting wet. Murera stood up to breastfeed, positioning herself at an angle that allowed her to feed the baby comfortably.

Seizing the opportunity, neighbour Kiombo extended his trunk to snatch their branches through the wooden wall. He thought Murera would be too busy nursing to notice the theft — but how wrong he was! She moved swiftly to Kiombo’s hiding place and made her displeasure clear, although the fence separating their rooms protected him from any real discipline. Still, Kiombo screamed as if something drastic had happened and retreated to the wall he shares with his other neighbour, Kiasa. She cleverly moved all her greens to the other side of her wall, to keep them out of Kiombo’s reach.

Out in the forest, Amali went out to where Kapei was pulling tall grass with his trunk and kicking it out with his feet. Kapei was not welcoming when Amali approached him. Maktao and Enkesha had to intervene, preventing the petulant youngster from pushing his little sister.

Enkesha and Kiasa approached Lima Lima and Zongoloni, seemingly seeking advice about something. It appeared that, as younger members of the herd, they were consulting their older sisters about which part of the forest they should move to. After a brief meeting, they all went towards Murera and Sonje, and eventually, the entire herd started moving towards the Kenzili area, suggesting an agreement to browse there.

Two bushbucks appeared, attempting to cross to the other side of the Kenzili forest area. Amali and Mwashoti were also trying to cross, and both groups were halted in their tracks by the sudden appearance of the bushbucks. The bushbucks ran into hiding, leaving the elephants puzzled, as the crossing happened too quickly for them to fully comprehend.

At the waterhole, there was no wallowing or swimming today due to continuous rain. Even the little elephants opted for the bush waterholes and puddles created by the rain, where they could drink and wallow as much as they pleased.

Sonje and her team of nightclubbers failed to show up in the morning, as they usually do. This is likely due to the rain. Lima Lima tried to shepherd the dependent herd over to Sonje and Zongoloni, but little matriarchs Enkesha and Kiasa had already directed the herd into the hills. Murera provided guidance to the young girls, while Amali stayed close to her little sister Mwana. 

Later, Mwana attempted to hold a small branch. However, her tiny trunk struggled to break it into two. Kiasa and Quanza came to her aid, breaking it for her. Mwana picked up the pieces and brought them to her mouth, dropping one to play with as she moved towards the herd.

This month, the orphan herd has not had as many encounters with wild elephants, due to the heavy rain. Today, only the orphans were seen roaming around — the other group of ex-orphans didn't show up either.

Murera led a group of little babies today, including Enkesha, Amali, Kiasa, Maktao, Kapei, and Kiombo. The rest of the orphans were not around. Mwashoti arrived late in the evening, coming from the Chyulu Hills direction. He joined his long-time friend Murera, who warmly welcomed him into the herd.

Amali turned out to be exceptionally playful today, actively seeking out Kapei. However, Kapei was not interested in playing with Amali. Undeterred, Amali then turned to Enkesha, who welcomed her warmly. The girls gently pushed close to Kiasa, who was given the task of keeping baby Mwana away from the play area.

Kiombo chose Maktao as his playmate, but Maktao was not in the mood for the pushing games. Observing Maktao's serious demeanour, Kiombo decided to leave him alone. Quanza and Sonje moved to where the young boys were, but Sonje felt it was not the right time for them to engage in pushing games. She sensed that the two were becoming too intense in their play, which was making Mwana uneasy.

Lima Lima and her friends arrived from the Chyulu area. Faraja, who had been absent for quite some time, was with them. After a few minutes, Ziwa and his wild group of friends joined the herd from the Kibwezi Forest side, moving into the Chyulu area where the babies were having their afternoon browsing time.

Jasiri appeared with a very large, giant bull from the bushes. The bull seemed to target Sonje and Zongoloni, but the two girls weren’t interested in him. Zongoloni rushed to hide amongst the dependent orphan herd.

The nightclubbers arrived behind the stockades very late in the evening, only to find their friends already inside their rooms relaxing. It was amusing to see Zongoloni moving around the stockades next to Murera's room, trying to smell Mwana. Meanwhile, Murera was brave and brought Mwana inside when rain started to fall. Murera moved the baby to a dry space under the roof, as Mwana dislikes rain. However, Mwana is also sensitive to the noise of the rain on the roof, and she really doesn’t like thunderstorms. She woke up when the thunderstorm began, prompting Murera to bring the baby to her chest to keep her safe. Mwana was comforted by the protective embrace of her mother during the thunderstorm.

Outside, the nightclubbers left immediately when they felt the thunderstorm approaching. Meanwhile, leopards were heard screaming around Umani Springs. This caused a stir amongst the herd. Enkesha attempted to escape through the wooden wall towards her friend Maktao, thinking that joining him would make things better. However, Maktao did not want Enkesha on his side and pushed her back to her room. The Keepers intervened and resolved the issue between them. After a few sleepless hours, everyone settled down.

The day began with cloudy skies, indicating the onset of early rains. The rain and wet grass made the orphans’ feet cold, prompting a delayed start to their daily activities. However, the little sisters and Mwana turned the situation into a playful opportunity on the termite hills. They rubbed their bellies against them, creating colourful patterns similar to the hills.

Amali and Enkesha attempted to sleep on the hills, and Kapei and Mwana joined them. Enkesha remained quiet to let the babies have their fun. Later, Lima Lima and Sonje walked to the hills, engaging in playful activities in the mud. 

Amali snatched a small stick from Mwana, which caused an irate Mwana to push her in the head. Fortunately, Amali was quick, and Mwana's small head didn't reach her, sparing Amali from any pain. Instead, Mwana went to nurse from Mwana. Her belly full, she returned to Amali and Kiasa.

It’s very green in the Kibwezi Forest, much to the delight of the orphans. Everyone is revelling in the bounty of vegetation. Kiombo and Quanza were seen with very full bellies, yet they continued to eat without taking a break. Murera and the little nannies were also busy foraging, pulling grass using their feet, while little Mwana observed and mimicked their behaviour.

At one point, Mwana left Amali and swam in a small puddle, cooling off and trying to get rid of some ticks that were bothering her. Ever the good sister, Amali followed her.

The orphans then proceeded to Chyulu and reunited with their friends, including Zongoloni, Lima Lima, Sonje, Alamaya, and Mwashoti. Sensing their presence, Zongoloni and Lima Lima ran over to welcome them into the bushes, specifically looking for Mwana and Amali.

Some of the orphans followed Sonje back to Murera, forming a group of females. However, the two big boys, Alamaya and Mwashoti, ventured on their own path. Kiombo initially lost direction and followed them, but he eventually realised his mistake and turned back to join Sonje. Murera walked slowly behind them, confident that Sonje and Enkesha would not move so fast as to leave her far behind.

A good number of wild elephants, primarily females, arrived at the mud bath area yesterday evening and remained in the area today. During the midday bottle feeding, the orphans, particularly Sonje and other babies, tried to follow the wild elephants by smelling their dung and following the path they took. Some of the orphans were observed eating the dung, with little Amali even cutting pieces to eat after seeing Quanza and Sonje doing the same. This behaviour is a natural and necessary instinct for young elephants, helping them learn what to browse on.

While in the Chyulu area, a rock hyrax crossed the road and skittered towards the babies. Amali was rolling over Kapei and Kiombo when she stumbled, causing her to scream for help. This alarmed Murera and the other older females, who rushed to see what happened. However, by the time they arrived, Enkesha and Kiasa had already helped the distressed Amali. 

The Kibwezi Forest has been blessed with abundant rain, transforming it into a rainforest. This has provided ample food for elephants and other animals, creating a celebratory atmosphere. However, some elephants like Faraja and his friends have chosen not to return home, opting to celebrate with wild friends. The rain has also prompted crocodiles to move to different waterholes — including those where the orphans usually have their wallowing moments. When Kapei and Kiombo approached a water spring, they encountered terrapins and two crocodiles, causing the crocodiles to retreat into the water.

In the Umani Hills, the orphans descended down the hill in anticipation of bottle time. Kapei and Enkesha engaged in a playful race, with Enkesha taking the lead, followed by Kapei. Kiombo and Maktao were the last to arrive. Mwana, who does not have a bottle, stepped aside, allowing Amali and Kiasa to wait for Murera.

Despite the cold and rainy weather, the orphans went to the waterhole. Mwana took the lead, urging the others to join her in the swimming pool. Even though the swimming was short-lived, Mwana emerged as the star of the swimming session, showing her signature enthusiasm for the water.

Today, Alamaya and Mwashoti attempted to play rough with little Mwana. Murera, witnessing the situation, took action to protect her daughter and chased the rowdy boys away. Little Amali, along with Enkesha, stepped in to stay with Mwana, ensuring she wasn't alone in the open fields.

Quanza later gathered the older friends who were with Lima Lima and Sonje, convincing them to return to the dependent herd. Upon their arrival at Kenzili, Murera responded with loud rumbles, signalling her presence along with the Keepers and her baby. To everyone's surprise, two large bulls emerged from the thickening Chyulu bushes, which had grown after the rains. Initially hidden, the bulls appeared friendly and humble towards the Keepers and the orphan herd.

The wet earth, caused by overnight and morning rain, slowed down the orphans as they moved cautiously to avoid slipping on the slippery ground. Sonje and Mutrera, aware of the challenging conditions, walked slowly to the springs. Amali took charge of little baby Mwana, with support from Kiasa and Enkesha. Kapei tried to interact with Mwana, who responded by pushing him with all her might. However, due to her small size and limited strength, Mwana couldn't push Kapei hard enough to make a significant impact. Kapei, understanding this, moved away, giving Mwana the space to play around.

After some time, Mwana rumbled, then hurriedly went to suckle milk from Sonje and later sought more from Murera, who actually had milk to offer.

Sonje and her nightclubber friends, including Zongoloni, Lima Lima, and Quanza, returned from their night out and joined the rest of the orphans as they headed towards the Umani hills. However, when they approached the hills, Lima Lima signalled to the others, and it was clear that they had decided not to climb to the top. They avoided the wet bushes at the summit, likely due to the recent rain and cold weather. Quanza led them back towards the Chyulu hills, walking along the road to avoid the wetness from the bushes.

Meanwhile, trouble arose when Amali accidentally hit little Kapei while running towards Mwana. In response, Kapei held Amali's tail, causing her distress. Murera and Enkesha, initially confused about who was in trouble, rushed to help. Once they realised it was Amali, Enkesha provided assistance, and Amali sought comfort with Murera. Kapei, in turn, was chased away from the herd but later found refuge with Kiombo.

It seems that there was a change in the usual routine, with Sonje and her team of nightclubbers not showing up at the stockades this morning. Enkesha and Kiasa took charge of leading the group, and Murera even entrusted them with the care of the baby Mwana. The orphans, including Kapei, Maktao, and Kiombo, followed the new leaders to the Kenzili area for their day of browsing.

While the orphans were enjoying the fresh and green vegetation on the Kenzili hills, Zongoloni appeared in the herd. Quanza and Mwashoti were particularly happy to see her, along with Murera and the others. The area has experienced rapid regrowth of vegetation after recent rains, bringing joy not only to the orphans but also to the entire wildlife community in the Kibwezi Forest and Chyulu hills. The landscape, which had suffered from wildfires, was now thriving again.

The persistent rain caused a bit of anxiety among the young elephants, notably Kapei and his neighbour, Amali. Mwana, who also doesn’t like the sound the rain makes on the roof, was uncharacteristically undisturbed as she calmly nursed her mother. 

As the rain persisted, Kapei managed to overcome his initial panic, realising that the rest of the herd was maintaining a calm demeanour. Maktao initiated a rumble, prompting a joyous response from the entire herd and effectively putting an end to the heightened tension caused by the storm. Kiasa, Enkesha, and the others remained quiet, attentively raising their long trunks in the direction of Murera and her baby, Mwana. Murera's rumble to them conveyed a message, perhaps reassuring them to wait until morning, when she would bring the baby into their collective care after a night of restlessness.

It was a great day, as Sonje was feeling better after her brief health ordeal. The other orphans joyfully received her, and lively Mwana was so happy to see her that she ran over and started climbing all over her. Sonje allowed Mwana to play with her until Enkesha and Kiasa came to pick her up. Amali attempted to mount Sonje, but was stopped by Kapei. Amali then joined Murera and Kiombo in foraging for little branches.

Alamaya and Mwashoti arrived with two wild bull friends. Murera, recognizing the approaching bulls, raised her ears and moved away with the nannies to avoid them. Lima Lima and Zongoloni approached the bulls, while Quanza and the little nannies followed Murera's guidance to keep a safe distance. Lima Lima and Zongoloni, who are always looking for potential friends, stayed back.