Our Voi family had a peaceful start to the month. Our ex-orphan regulars — Kenia, Kihari, Arruba, Araba, Suswa, Mudanda, Ndoria, and Panda — were in attendance, and as soon as the dependent herd emerged from their stockades, everyone mingled for breakfast. Little Losoito hung out with Kenderi, Ashanti, and Lemek, while ex-orphans Suswa, Kihari, and Arruba bonded with many of their younger friends on the terraces. Godoma affectionately trunk hugged young Hildana and Kihari. Everyone was together and happy.
On a wonderful sunny morning, the dependent orphans emerged from their night stockades to drink milk and eat range cubes and lucerne, mingling with visiting ex-orphans Kenia, Kihari, Arruba, Araba, Suswa, Mudanda, Ndoria and Panda. Little Losoito browsed on lucerne and then ambled over to the feeding trough with ex-orphan Mudanda following close behind. On her way, Mudanda paused to massage her rump against the rocks along the fence line as Losoito settled down at the trough with Kenderi, Ashanti and Lemeki. Not far away, ex-orphans Suswa, Kihari and Arruba were playing and bonding with many of their younger friends on the terraces. On the lowest terrace, Godoma was standing tall next to Hildana who kept trunk touching the older female affectionately. When Kihari wandered up to them, Godoma laid her trunk along his back in a welcoming gesture.
As the sun rose in the sky, the orphans set out to browse in the surrounding bush, padding out quietly in a straggly line. They spread out on the slopes of Msinga Hill, searching for green shoots and leaves as they wandered towards the baobab tree water hole. The ex-orphans set out in a different direction, wandering far beyond the hill.
At first light, the Keepers received an alarm call. A tour driver reported that he had found a day-old baby Grant’s gazelle by the roadside. Her mother had been hunted and killed by a pride of lions. Several Keepers drove there immediately, picked up the gazelle and brought her to the stockades. A few hours later, the baby was taken to the neonate unit at Kaluku.
Meanwhile, the orphans were spending the morning browsing on the slopes of Msinga Hill. In the afternoon, they padded down the hill in small groups for the afternoon milk feed. Bottles emptied, they continued on to the baobab tree water hole to drink from the trough and wallow in the mud bath. Sagala stood next to Juni on the edge while Tagwa and the rest of the herd splashed around in the refreshing pool. After rolling around in the wallow, Tagwa paddled over to massage her body against the edge and Lasayen clambered out to roll around on the large pile of dry soil as Murit lay submerged in the middle of the wallow. Itinyi ambled over to the trough where he had fun splashing as he sucked up trunkfuls and squirted the water into his mouth. Water baby Pika Pika challenged Tamiyoi to a wrestling match in the wallow and then lay back down when Tamiyoi paddled away.
Later in the afternoon, the herd ambled out to browse on supplementary lucerne on their way back to the stockades. Murit paused to scratch himself against the baobab tree before catching up with the herd. Arriving at the stockades, Ndotto and Murit sparred against each other before Murit turned around and walked away, leaving Ndotto standing on his own.
It drizzled with rain in the early morning as the orphans lined up at the feeding trough and around the pile of lucerne. No one was in the mood for playing today. Instead, they stood around quietly in groups before gathering together to set out to the browsing fields. As the rain continued to fall, Pika Pika led the orphans to Msinga Hill where they spread out to browse on fresh green acacia branches. The older orphans climbed all the way to the top but the younger ones remained at the bottom, staying close to nannies Mbegu and Sagala.
In the afternoon, the orphans wandered down the hill for another milk feed. On their way, Lasayen, Ngilai, Godoma and Emoli had fun rolling around in a muddy gully. The elephants drank their milk and padded on to the wallow where they drank from the trough or stood around, occasionally trunk touching each other. With minimal encouragement from the Keepers, they soon walked out to the bush to enjoy an afternoon treat of supplementary lucerne. Instead of heading straight back to the stockades, Sagala, Kenderi, Juni, Hildana and several other orphans returned to the slopes of Msinga Hill for a final browse.
On a cool and cloudy morning, the orphans were pacing around their stockades. As soon as the Keepers opened the doors, they sprinted down the path to the feeding area. As they ran, Itinyi and Ashanti gave each other small shoves and then stood together to drink. Ashanti finished her bottles first and immediately attempted to grab the bottle from Itinyi’s mouth. The Keepers intervened with warning whistles and the two mischievous orphans marched on to the trough.
As the orphans spread out to enjoy range cubes and lucerne, Kenia’s herd of ex-orphans arrived. They strode up to the feeding trough, pushing everyone away as they lined up to fill their bellies. All of the younger orphans, including Ashanti, were left with no choice but to wander over to the pile of lucerne.
Lemeki, Tamiyoi and Thamana were keen to head out today. They gathered close to the gate and were soon joined by Losoito. As their friends continued to browse on the lucerne, the four orphans left the stockades. They strolled out in a head-to-tail line all the way up Msinga Hill but still no one was following them. Back at the stockades, Ndotto was sparring with ex-orphans Panda and Kihari as the others stood on the terraces. Eventually, the rest of the herd set out to find their four friends and to forage for green acacia branches on the hill before padding down to the mud wallow in the afternoon.
As the sky lightened, the orphans emerged from their shared stockades and spread out to eat range cubes and lucerne. They hung out on the terraces for some time before heading out in the direction of Msinga Hill. The herd of dependent elephants browsed on the grasslands at the foot as Pika Pika and little Busara clambered slowly up the hill on their own. Godoma and Ngilai spent the morning in a deep gully on the lower slopes. They climbed into the gully, rolled around together playfully and then enjoyed a lengthy dust bath. As the time for the afternoon milk feed approached, the two friends ambled back to join the herd.
The Keepers shepherded the orphans into groups and sent them down to the mud wallow. It was another cool cloudy afternoon and no one went swimming. Instead, they stood around the pool, rubbing their bodies against the bark of trees or drinking from the trough or rolling around on the large pile of earth. Later in the afternoon, as the rain poured down, the orphans enjoyed a final browse on the hill while returning to the shelter of the stockades. The downpour continued for several hours, settling the dust and leaving large puddles all around the stockades.
Kenia’s herd of ex-orphans padded up the path soon after dawn just as the resident orphans emerged from their stockades. The two groups met and mingled in the feeding area, lining up tightly at the trough full of range cubes. Godoma and ex-orphan Panda played several rounds of the pushing game.
After a leisurely breakfast, Lemeki and Tamiyoi led the herd out for their daily bush walk. The orphans wandered out to Msinga Hill, pulling fresh green browse from shrubs and trees as they ambled all over the hill. Kenderi was browsing close to Epiya and Tamiyoi was with Kilulu and Seri on the lower slopes. Akina and Hildana were spending time together halfway up the hill and they were soon joined by Ashanti. Lasayen was standing tall, stretching up to pluck branches from the tops of acacia trees. As the herd continued to browse, Lasayen, Ngilai, Godoma and Mbegu rolled around and over each other playfully in a deep gully. In the afternoon, the orphans wandered down to the baobab mud wallow for a drink and a dust bath before heading back out to the bush.
It was a sunny morning and both current and former orphans were in playful moods. Kenia’s ex-orphan herd ambled in at dawn again for breakfast. As Itinyi stood watching from the sidelines next to the feeding trough, Ndotto and ex-orphan Kihari wrestled against each other, clashing heads and clinking tusks as they twisted and turned. After the match, Ndotto sauntered over to the water trough, play-mounting ex-orphan Arruba as she drank. She moved away, choosing to stand close to Lasayen instead. Minutes later, ex-orphan Suswa trundled over to join them closely followed by Losoito. Ndotto remained close to Arruba as he posed on one of the terraces until Kihari challenged him to another wrestling match. Meanwhile, Arruba climbed slowly up to the top terrace where she struck an impressive pose with her back legs crossed and trunk swaying.
Taking a break from massaging her rump against the large rocks, ex-orphan Mudanda challenged Ndotto to another wrestling match. After a brief tussle, Ndotto tried to mount Arruba again but was pushed away by Kihari. In the background, the younger orphans picked up pieces of lucerne at a safe distance from the older visitors. Later in the morning, the dependent herd set out to browse on the slopes of Msinga Hill, leaving the herd of ex-orphans behind at the stockades.
Kenia’s herd spent the night just above the stockades on the lower slopes of Msinga Hill. In the early morning, they wandered down to join the resident orphans in the area outside the stockades. As the younger orphans downed their bottles of milk, the older ones lined up at the feeding trough and around the pile of lucerne. Once again, big bull Ndotto was playing with the visitors. First, he sparred with Panda and then with Kihari and then with both at once. Even when Panda and Kihari both pushed against Ndotto, the determined bull refused to give in.
As the sky cleared and the sun rose, Tamiyoi, Emoli, and Losoito led the herd out to the slopes of Msinga Hill. As some orphans were reluctant to head out today, the herd moved in a long line rather than a cluster. While some finished up every piece of lucerne outside the stockades, others settled on the hill, feasting on the fresh green browse after the recent rain. Amid such an abundance of new shoots, there was no need to wander far afield. The ex-orphans remained behind at the stockades again.
In the afternoon, the orphans padded down the hill in groups to the line of Keepers standing with bottles aloft. They drank their milk and jogged on to the mud wallow. It was a cool day, and the sky was full of grey clouds. The orphans stood around the pool for a short time before strolling out to enjoy more supplementary lucerne on their way back to the safety of the stockades.
The ex-orphans were late this morning, arriving after the dependent orphans had finished their bottles. The visitors firmly pushed the younger orphans away from the trough of range cubes so they could take their places. Sensibly, the little ones toddled over to the lucerne area rather than challenge the older, stronger visitors. As the herd browsed on lucerne, ex-orphan Suswa sparred enthusiastically with resident bull Ndotto. She played with him and then trunk hugged and rumbled to him before wandering away to scratch her body against the large rock next to the water trough.
Following the rainfall, the landscape is turning from beige to green. The orphans did not venture far again today, finding plenty of tasty green shoots close to the stockades. The ex-orphans also headed out from the stockades but in a different direction.
Mid-morning, the Keepers spotted a lone buffalo lying in the baobab tree mud wallow. Suspecting that he might be injured, the men monitored the situation for a time and then called for a vehicle and driver from the stockades so they could approach in safety. As they drove towards the wallow, four lions appeared from behind the large dusting pile and ran at the buffalo in the water. Their terrified prey clambered out and cantered away, with the lions in pursuit and the vehicle not far behind. Sensing that they had lost the advantage, the lions changed direction and disappeared into the bush. Apparently, the buffalo was just enjoying a rest — although our intervention may have inadvertently saved his life!
The incident upset the orphans, who were browsing not far away on the hill. In reaction, they refused to head down the hill for their afternoon milk feed. Several were restless, walking in circles with ears flared, and a few were trumpeting. The Keepers decided instead to shepherd the herd back to the stockades. The orphans padded quickly back, happily drinking their milk close to the safety of the stockades and then spreading out to play on the terraces. No one was keen to venture out again today. Ngilai and Mbegu splashed in the small mud wallow and then dusted themselves on the pile of earth. Itinyi and Ashanti climbed up to the top terrace to play.
It was another lovely cool and cloudy morning. The ex-orphans, accompanied today by Rorogoi, ambled up to the stockades at dawn and mingled with the resident orphans. As the elephants stood belly to belly at the feeding trough, Murit massaged his rump against the rock by the gate. Ndotto is spending more and more time with the ex-orphans. Today, he sparred with Suswa and play mounted Arruba. As Kihari ambled around them, Ndotto kept following Arruba and trying to mount her. She was not interested and walked away. Accepting the rebuff, Ndotto challenged Lasayen to a noisy and prolonged sparring match. When Pika Pika wandered over to greet and trunk hug Arruba, Ndotto began sparring with Kihari. Amid all the action, Rorogoi posed calmly next to the rock by the entrance. When the herd headed out to browse, Kenia’s herd remained behind. Ndotto lingered for a time with the visitors and then caught up with his herd.
In the afternoon, the orphans jogged down the hill for their usual milk feed and on to the baobab mud wallow. Ndotto stood on the edge, splashing the water with his enormous pads, and Itinyi stood nearby. Kenderi and Hildana were paddling in the cooling water while Pika Pika and Dabida submerged themselves in the deepest part of the wallow, trunks waving happily. As Losoito and Busara rolled around on the edge and Ngilai dug down for roots with his tusks, Mbegu stood watching the herd, keeping a caring eye on the little ones. When the orphans wandered back to the stockades in the later afternoon, there was another wonderful downpour of rain.
Following yesterday’s rain, the air was fresh and the land was wet and green this morning. The orphans plodded quietly out of their night stockades and settled in the feeding area. Tamiyoi scooped up Losoito and led the herd out to the surrounding bush. They spread out over an open area carpeted with tiny green shoots. Pika Pika was having fun rolling around in a deep gully, massaging every part of her body against the wet soil. Not far away, Kenia’s herd of ex-orphans were also enjoying the fresh browse after the rain. Kihari wandered away from the independent herd to join the dependent orphans, remaining with them for most of the day. She browsed side by side with Sagala - the two friends frequently paused to trunk touch each other affectionately. Godoma and Ngilai lay down on an enormous ant hill and rolled around together playfully. Then, Ngilai stood up to dig into the soil with his large tusks. Meanwhile, the other orphans continued to browse, moving as a herd in the direction of the mud wallow.
In the afternoon, the orphans gathered around the wallow after downing their bottles of milk. Lasayen, Ngilai, Godoma, Kihari and Epiya stood close to drink deeply from the water trough and then Ngilai did some more digging as Pika Pika cavorted on her own in the water. When the orphans meandered back to the stockades in the early evening, Ndotto remained out in the bush, choosing to stay with the ex-orphans. The Keepers left him browsing quietly with Panda, Kihari, Suswa, Kenia and Arruba.
On a cold morning, Ndotto arrived at the stockades before dawn with his ex-orphan friends, having spent the night out browsing with them. Looking tired but excited to be home, the gentle bull walked straight to the gate where he waited for the herd to emerge from their shared stockades. They soon pottered out and greeted him as they headed for the line of Keepers with bottles held aloft. He settled down at the feeding trough with a mixture of dependent and independent elephants. After filling their bellies, the orphans headed out to browse on the slopes of Msinga Hill. Ndotto chose to stay with the herd rather than remain behind with the ex-orphans in the lucerne area.
The orphans spent time around the top of the hill before clambering down to browse on the green grasslands at the bottom. Itinyi and Kenderi played several rounds of the sparring game as Godoma rolled around on a patch of dry earth. Soon, Itinyi ambled over to enjoy a dust bath with Godoma. Sagala, Emoli, and Busara browsed nearby – they stood close together and the older female frequently laid her trunk along the little one’s back. As the herd padded over the savannah, Itinyi, Juni, Ushindi and Kenderi caught up with Losoito and browsed as a mini herd in the direction of the mud wallow. No one went swimming on an overcast afternoon.
The orphans set out from the stockades early this morning on a cool cloudy day, browsing on an abundance of fresh green growth. Ndotto and Itinyi were content to stay at the foot of Msinga Hill as the rest of the herd clambered all the way up to the top. They walked slowly, plucking the greenest shoots from the acacia trees. Thamana and Losoito browsed together as Emoli headed off on his own. Tagwa lay down and rolled around on some dry soil near the top of the hill with Baraka and Ushindi staying close to her. Baraka stood peacefully and Ushindi lay down on her side for a nap.
Later in the morning, Godoma led the herd down the hill to join Ndotto and Itinyi. As soon as she began her descent, the others stopped browsing and padded along behind her. Back at the bottom, Thamana posed with a front leg resting on a log. Best friend Emoli came over to be with him and the two young bulls stood close with trunks entwined. When Godoma arrived, Thamana wandered away and Emoli greeted her affectionately. Not far away, Itinyi was relaxing in a gully. As the sun emerged from behind the clouds, Thamana, Ndotto, Losoito and Murit enjoyed a communal dust bath, rubbing up against each other as they rolled around. Murit and Ndotto were left behind when the Keepers gathered the herd into groups and sent them down to the mud wallow in the afternoon. The two bulls relaxed for a time on their own before climbing to their feet and catching up the herd.
The sky was clear this morning when the orphans padded out of their stockades and down the path to the feeding area in groups of three or four. They downed their bottles of milk and spread out to eat range cubes and lucerne. After filling his belly, Ndotto ambled over to massage his backside against the two trees. Meanwhile, Ngilai was performing his party trick of moving between the feeding trough and the lucerne area with a bunch of lucerne balanced on his head, saving a treat for later.
Tamiyoi and Lemeki led the herd out to the browsing fields in a long line with Mbegu bringing up the rear. The chief nanny was making sure that all the Voi kids were present and correct! Older ones such as Itinyi, Kenderi, Epiya, Juni, Hildana, Kilulu and Dabida moved in the middle of the herd but Baraka and Busara toddled along behind her. The orphans dispersed all over Msinga Hill, feasting on soft green shoots before meandering down to the mud bath later in the afternoon. A few had a quick dip in the wallow, and then the herd wandered deep into the woods on their way back to the safety of the stockades for the night.
After a wonderful downpour of rain during the night, the orphans’ world was even fresher and greener in the morning. Unusually for Voi, there were puddles outside the stockades and the bush paths were muddy. The orphans moved around their rooms as dawn approached, eager to begin their day. Ashanti and Kenderi were the first out and raced each other down the path to the feeding area, followed by Dabida, Kilulu and Hildana. As the ex-orphans were not there today, the dependent orphans did not have to share their space and so spread out along the feeding trough and around the pile of supplementary lucerne.
Godoma and Baraka led the herd out to browse as the sun emerged from behind the clouds. The orphans climbed all over Msinga Hill with several climbing all the way to the top. Itinyi reached the top where he stood tall on a large rock, surveying his friends below. Thereafter, he meandered along behind Ngilai, browsing on the same plants as the older bull and sticking close to him. Mbegu was keeping an eye on the youngest orphans as she carefully peeled the bark off an acacia tree.
Later in the afternoon, Ashanti led the first group of orphans down the hill for the milk feed, cantering confidently ahead of Kenderi, Seri, Lemeki and Thamana. The orphans emptied their bottles and padded on to the mud wallow. They stood around the pool peacefully but no one was tempted to paddle today.
The orphans were in playful moods this morning. After filling their bellies, several played the pushing game as others enjoyed dust or mud baths. Murit and Ngilai clashed heads and tusks on the terraces. Pika Pika rolled around on the ground, legs and trunk waving in the air, as Godoma splashed and paddled in the wallow.
As the sun rose in the sky, Tagwa, Tamiyoi and Sagala led the herd out to the surrounding bush where they spread out on the lower slopes of Msinga Hill. Best friends Emoli and Thamana were standing so close that they were almost leaning against each other, trunk touching at regular intervals as they browsed. When Lemeki wandered up to them, they welcomed her into their little gang and the three friends ambled off, step in step.
Many of the orphans clambered up the hill later in the morning. Tagwa, Lemeki and Tamiyoi took a break from browsing to massage their rumps against a pile of large boulders. Ngilai was showing off to Itinyi and Epiya – as the two younger elephants stood watching, he pushed his head against a large tree, twisting around with his trunk flailing and trumpeting enthusiastically. His impressive antics did not make the tree bend even slightly, but they did hold the attention of his friends. As the herd meandered back to the stockades later in the afternoon, dark clouds gathered and rain fell. Everyone enjoyed the cooling drizzle.
In the early morning, there was another welcome sprinkle of rain. The orphans padded down a muddy path and spread out along the feeding trough and around the pile of lucerne, eating quietly as they stood next to their friends in the drizzle. Emoli and Thamana played several rounds of a sparring match. Murit tried several times to join in, but the two friends just moved off and played another round in a different location. He’s quite a bit bigger than both of them, so they knew they would be at a disadvantage! Luckily, Ngilai rescued the situation, sauntering over and challenging Murit to a wrestling match — an invitation which the bull happily accepted.
As the drizzle turned into a downpour, the orphans wandered out from the stockades to browse in the bush. Led by Mbegu, they spread out over Msinga Hill – as always, she stayed within reach of the younger members of the herd and intervened to diffuse one or two toddler squabbles. The orphans feasted on the lush green grass before jogging down to the mud wallow in the afternoon. They emptied their bottles and gathered around the wallow. Tamiyoi lay down on the ground to relax and then to play. Itinyi and Epiya both clambered on top of the enormous cushion, kneeling with their forelegs on her back and their trunks twirling in excitement. Later in the afternoon, the herd browsed again on the hill, returning to the stockades as the sun sank in the sky.
Kenia’s herd of ex-orphans were back this morning. They ambled in from their overnight browsing adventures as the resident orphans were eating range cubes and lucerne just after the sun had risen into a clear sky. The visitors pushed some of the smaller orphans out of the way as they lined up at the feeding trough. Ex-orphans Kihari and Panda challenged the ever-enthusiastic Ndotto to a sparring match as Mbegu stood in the lucerne area surrounded by the Voi kids. Emoli and Thamana were careering all over the terraces, sparring against and chasing each other. Predictably, Emoli kept trying to mount Thamana to show his dominance, but he wriggled away every time.
Tamiyoi headed out first to browse on the hill above the stockades and she was soon followed by the rest of the herd. The orphans made their way up Msinga Hill to browse on the delicious blossoming green vegetation. They wandered over the grasslands to the north and, in the afternoon, headed back to the new water trough and mud wallow which have just been constructed on the hill. Some drank from the trough as others plunged into the pool. The younger orphans explored the new wallow, paddling round it before submerging their bodies and rolling around. The afternoon was a huge mud bathing occasion! Refreshed and reinvigorated, the orphans had a final browse in some thick shrubs on their way home.
The sky was clear and the sun was out and the orphans were full of energy. They raced down the path for their morning milk feed, gulped down range cubes and lucerne, and gathered near the gate of the stockades. Although the orphans also love the drier lucerne grass, they could not wait to get going and enjoy the abundance of fresh green browse. Led by Godoma and her adopted baby Baraka, the orphans spread out over Msinga Hill. At first, they moved forward quickly, as if afraid of missing out — but soon, with encouragement from the Keepers, they settled into a slower rhythm. Mbegu and Lasayen meandered along with Ashanti, Busara, Dabida, Seri and Ushindi. Sagala took a break from browsing to roll around on a patch of dry soil. The herd moved in the direction of an open area at the foot of the hill.
Later in the afternoon, the orphans enjoyed another milk feed followed by a dip in the new Msinga Hill mud wallow. Juni, Kenderi and Ashanti paddled along the edges as Pika Pika, Lemeki and Sagala splashed in the middle of the pool. Swimming led to dust bathing and then an evening wander back to the stockades.
Former and current orphans mingled in the feeding area this morning, filling their bellies and hanging out with friends. The sun was shining in a clear sky as the orphans browsed on the supplementary lucerne. Ex-orphan Suswa played the wrestling game with Murit on the upper terrace while Hildana and Pika Pika struck impressive poses on the lower terrace and Panda sauntered along the middle terrace. Ushindi was standing close to Ndoria, trunk touching the ex-orphan frequently.
Leaving Kenia’s herd behind at the stockades, the herd headed out to browse over the open grasslands which are startlingly green and fresh after the recent rain. Godoma led the herd as they browsed in the direction of the baobab tree wallow. Ngilai and Murit were so engrossed in a wrestling match that they were left behind and had to catch up.
Later in the afternoon, the orphans padded down the hill for another milk feed and a splash in the wallow. Godoma had a quick dip and then a big stretch and a roll around on the edge. Ngilai stood quietly next to the wallow as many of the orphans played in the water. Ndotto, Lasayen and Pika Pika remained in the wallow as the herd gathered to head back out to the bush. Noticing this, Itinyi turned back and trundled into the water to join them. As Ndotto climbed out for a dust bath and Lasayen continued rolling around, Itinyi did his best to mount a submerged Pika Pika. She pushed him off and paddled away indignantly. Ngilai and Pika Pika spent time digging for baobab roots as the herd meandered out.
On a refreshingly cool morning, the orphans emerged from their night stockades and spread out on the terraces in small friendship groups. Some played sparring games as others stood quietly or hosed themselves with dry soil. As the day became warmer, Lemeki and Tamiyoi led the herd out to the slopes of Msinga Hill where they browsed in the direction of the baobab tree water hole.
In the afternoon, they headed back to the new mud wallow on the hill, drinking down their milk and settling around the wallow. Mbegu lay submerged in the middle as her young charges watched from the sidelines. Pika Pika, Juni and Kenderi were soon splashing around in the water. Tamiyoi enjoyed a lengthy dust bath next to the wallow while Sagala massaged her feet and legs against the wall. Responding to whistles from the Keepers, the orphans then walked back out to browse on soft green vegetation on their way back to the stockades. As the sun dipped towards the horizon, the elephants plodded happily into their shared bedrooms where yet more lucerne was waiting for them, just in case anyone was in need of a night-time snack.
As the sky lightened, many of the orphans paced around their stockades, impatient for their early morning bottles of milk. Kenderi and Hildana made their feelings clear by banging on the door of their stockade. As soon as the Keepers opened the gates, the orphans sprinted down the path, downed their milk and lined up at the feeding trough.
While they were settling down to browse on lucerne, Kenia’s herd arrived at the stockades. The ex-orphans are regular visitors but today they were accompanied by two wild bulls. Rather than following the lead of the ex-orphans by behaving calmly, the wild elephants imposed themselves, pushing the younger orphans around and refusing to leave. Ndotto did his best to stand up to the bulls but he was no match for the older elephants. The younger orphans were understandably agitated and ran around skittishly.
In response, the Keepers took charge and shepherded the herd out to the bush earlier than usual. Tagwa and Ushindi led the way followed by Sagala and Baraka. Soon all the dependent orphans had left the stockades. Ndotto brought up the rear after a brief wrestling march with Panda. The herd spread out on the slopes of Msinga Hill to enjoy the abundance of browse. Godoma, Pika Pika, Ndotto, Sagala and Itinyi enjoyed an energetic dust bath in a deep gully.
On an overcast morning, former and current orphans shared dairy cubes and lucerne outside the stockades. Mbegu was at her caring best, checking that the visitors did not shove any of the smaller orphans away from the feeding trough. Ndotto and ex-orphan Panda were sparring with each other, clashing heads and trumpeting in excitement. Kihari tried to join the game but was rebuffed by the two bulls and wandered away to play with Murit. Ngilai was pestering Godoma by trailing along behind and then mounting her whenever he got the opportunity.
As the clouds cleared, Tamiyoi led the orphans out to the bush with Losoito, Lemeki and Ashanti toddling along in a line behind her followed by the rest of the herd. As usual, they browsed on the slopes of Msinga Hill, heading in the direction of the baobab tree mud wallow. The orphans moved at a steady pace through the lush vegetation today except for Lasayen who meandered along after the others. Godoma stayed back to spend time with Lasayen on the rocky hill and then the two friends caught up with the herd. In the afternoon, the orphans jogged down for their usual milk feed and then carried on browsing all over the open grasslands.
The ex-orphans did not visit this morning, meaning that the current orphans had the area to themselves. They gathered contentedly outside the stockades. Today, Voi kids such as Hildana, Juni and Dabida did not need to worry about being pushed away from the trough by older orphans like Kihari and Ndoria. Lemeki stretched long and then lay down on her back on a terrace. Itinyi ambled over to join her and the two girls played a gentle pushing game. When Thamana arrived, she nudged Itinyi away and took her place until Emoli interrupted their game by trying to mount Thamana. Thamana pushed him off but then accepted a sparring challenge instead. Not far away, Ngilai was playing pushing games with Godoma, while Lasayen gave Kilulu sparring lessons. Meanwhile, Ndotto browsed peacefully on acacia branches along the fence line. As Itinyi wrestled against Kenderi and then Lemeki, Ngilai scratched his backside on the rock outside the entrance.
Playtime over, the orphans headed out to browse on the open green plains for several hours. Soon after they left the stockades, ex-orphan Laikipia strolled into the stockade area accompanied by a wild bull. The Keepers welcomed their old friend — they were sure that he had come from somewhere to the far north.
Kenia’s herd did not visit again this morning. The Keepers suspected that the ex-orphans could have joined up with Laikipia and travelled further afield. The dependent orphans were full of energy, sprinting out of their night stockades and then gathering as a herd as soon as they had finished eating the supplementary food. Led by Tagwa and Tamiyoi, they strolled out to browse on the western side of Msinga Hill. Having been deprived of playtime in the early morning, Murit and Ngilai began sparring as soon as the herd settled to browse. Kilulu and Hildana were also in playful moods, following the big boys’ example with an equally noisy game. The rest of the herd browsed on lush green grass.
Later in the afternoon, the orphans wandered down to the baobab tree mud wallow. Many either paddled around the edges or plunged into the pool to cool down on a sunny afternoon. Ndotto, Sagala and Murit had a brief swim and then rolled around on the pile of dust together. Busara and Baraka both went swimming today but stayed close to Godoma and Mbegu in the water. Kenderi was playing with Juni on the edge as Lemeki ambled around, greeting the Keepers.
As has been the case most days, Kenia’s herd of ex-orphans arrived at first light this morning, mingling with the dependent orphans in the feeding area. The Voi kids have grown in confidence, becoming relaxed and gregarious around the wild-living visitors rather than clinging to their nannies. After filling their tummies, Arruba clasped Pika Pika with her trunk, almost leaning on her as she hugged her head and body. As Pika Pika enjoyed the attention, Mbegu about-turned and huffed away from the two elephants, behaving like a jealous auntie!
The herd wandered far afield today, browsing all over Msinga Hill and then in a wooded area to the north. They ambled peacefully in small clusters over the bright green landscape. Later in the morning, Losoito, Seri and Juni become quite playful, chasing each other around and playing the pushing game with ears and trunks waving enthusiastically.
Returning to the stockades in the early evening, the orphans plodded into their shared bedrooms and settled down for the night. At dusk, Kenia’s herd visited for the second time in one day – but this time they were accompanied by a teenage wild bull and also by Laikipia! The Keepers were happy to see their old friend and refilled the trough with range cubes for the visitors.
The orphans sprinted out of their night stockades this morning and down the path to the line of Keepers waiting with bottles held aloft. They drank their milk in seconds and trundled over to the feeding trough to scoop up range cubes. They played briefly on the terraces but gathered to head out as soon as Kenia’s herd ambled up the path to the stockades. The reason for their swift departure was that the ex-orphans were again accompanied by a wild bull who had developed a liking for range cubes.
The herd walked out to the bush, settling in friendship groups to browse on the green vegetation that covers Msinga Hill. After the afternoon milk feed, the orphans padded on to the mud wallow. Many had fun in the pool on a hot afternoon. Lemeki and Thamana rolled up against each other on the edge as several others submerged their bodies in the deepest part of the wallow. When Emoli and Ngilai sauntered over, Lemeki sensibly darted away as Emoli once again clambered onto Thamana. With a shake of her head, Thamana pushed him away and moved off to stand next to Mbegu.
Soon after dawn, the orphans were given their first bottles of the day before lining up at the trough full of range cubes. Ashanti knelt down to scoop up the cubes directly into her mouth, rather than using her damaged trunk. Standing next to her, Tagwa then used her intact trunk to touch and explore Ashanti’s trunk, behaving as if she had not seen it before. Ashanti tolerated the older female’s inspection as it was done in a gentle friendly manner. The orphans spread out on the terraces in the early morning, standing quietly as the sun rose in the sky.
Lemeki and Tamiyoi led the herd out to browse on the slopes of Msinga Hill. Many played in trenches at the foot of the hill, lying down in the crevices as they covered themselves in dry soil. Emoli and Itinyi were spending time together — Itinyi rested his forelegs on Emoli’s back and then the two orphans played the sparring game. Not far away, Murit and Lasayen were wrestling, clashing heads and clinking tusks in a contest of strength. In the afternoon, the herd visited the baobab tree mud wallow but the weather was not warm enough for swimming.
On another overcast morning, the orphans headed out in single file led by Mbegu with Godoma bringing up the rear. They spread out to browse on the lower slopes of Msinga Hill. The ex-orphans did not visit the stockades this morning, and the Keepers did not spot Kenia’s herd as they shepherded their young charges out to browse. They did, however, see a lone pregnant female in the distance.
As she approached, they realised that it was ex-orphan Mudanda! She greeted her old friends and settled down to browse among the herd. Mudanda is heavily pregnant and probably found it challenging to keep up with the herd of ex-orphans. Thus, she had opted to spend the day with the dependent orphans, who do not wander far from the stockades. Initially, the Voi kids were apprehensive about Mudanda’s presence, choosing to browse at a considerable distance. Gradually, they relaxed and moved in closer, with a couple even extending their trunks in greeting.
In the evening, Kenia’s herd arrived at the stockades accompanied by another teenage wild bull. They had come to collect Mudanda. The visitors scooped her up and headed out a short distance to browse and rest for the night. The ex-orphans knew that Mudanda was reluctant to walk any distance.
There was a fabulous surprise this morning for the Keepers. As the orphans spread out in the feeding area soon after dawn, some long-lost visitors arrived. Arriving soon after Kenia’s herd of ex-orphans were Mweya, her wild-born calf Mwitu, Eden, Ndii and a wild bull. The Keepers had not seen Mweya and Eden since March — and Ndii for over two years! They welcomed their old friends, as the ex-orphans greeted Kenia’s herd and the dependent herd (most of whom are new faces for them). Many rumbles could be heard as the older orphans trunk touched each other. Some of the Voi kids joined in, but others watched from the safety of Mbegu’s side. The Keepers filled the trough and brought out more lucerne for the many elephants to enjoy.
Mweya, Mwitu, Eden and the wild bull ambled back out to the bush after some time, but Ndii stayed behind at the stockades. In the time she had been away, her trunk had been cut — based on appearances, severed by a poacher’s snare. While we wish more than anything that we could have spared her such a tragedy, we are thrilled she came home for help. For as long as Ndii chooses to remain with us, we will support her with supplemental feedings and any extra care she might need. Fortunately, we have seen countless wild elephants who lead perfectly normal lives with compromised trunks.