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On a wonderful sunny morning at the Voi stockades, the orphans emerged from their shared enclosures for breakfast treats followed by playing and bonding. Ex-orphan Lasayen (our only visitor today) lined up at the feeding trough between Thamana and Lemeki to scoop up range cubes and then browsed on lucerne next Kilulu and Kenderi.

Sileita led the orphans out to the browsing fields with Rokka, Losoito and Mushuru following behind. The dependent elephants spread over the slopes of Msinga Hill to browse on shrubs and acacia trees. Thamana, his best friend Lemeki, and her adopted baby Losoito were browsing together on delicious acacia branches.

In the afternoon the orphans returned to the stockades for another milk feed and a mud wallow. Seizing their chance, Busara and Rokka rolled around on the mound of red soil by themselves – but it was not long before Akina, Epiya and Ashanti joined them.

After an afternoon treat of supplementary lucerne (because of the dry conditions), the orphans wandered out from the stockades for a final browse of the day around the hill.

Just after dawn, we opened the gates and the elephants walked out and down the path for a milk feed. Afterwards, while the others browsed on lucerne and range cubes, Losoito had her usual early morning dust bath, rolling and splashing on the red soil.

The orphans soon left the stockades and settled to browse on the slopes of Msinga Hill. Itinyi was showboating while Kilulu and Hildana browsed next to him on the hill. Akina was posing near the boulders with her friends Ushindi and Seri. Today, ex-orphans Lasayen, Mbegu, Tagwa and Godoma joined our herd on the hill rather than at the stockades earlier in the morning.

In the afternoon, the orphans returned to the stockades for their milk feed. We sent Busara back in the first group. After gulping her milk, she rushed down to the mud wallow. However, as the second group were jogging to the feeding area, the clever girl sneaked back to run in with them. Busara managed one extra bottle before we realised that she had already been fed!

After the feed, most of the elephants either wallowed in the small pool or covered themselves with soothing soil but good friends Kenderi and Kilulu could not resist a final sparring match of the day. 

In the early morning, the elephants crowded around the feeding trough full of range cubes. When Hildana tried to push Baraka away, Juni was there to protect her. Since Godoma left, Juni has stepped into her shoes and has been looking after Baraka very well.

Samaa and Serenget were also enjoying breakfast but in their stockades. Samaa is still being treated for her injured foot and Serenget has not yet accepted a bottle of milk despite our best efforts. Even though she has settled well, we would like her to drink milk before allowing her to wander with the herd.

As usual, the dependent orphans soon left the stockades for the browsing fields. They manoeuvred over the rocks on Msinga Hill to the open grass fields beyond where they settled to browse, walking towards the baobab tree mud wallow. Ex-orphan Lasayen joined his old herd again and spent the morning bonding with Thamana and Kenderi.

In the afternoon, Rokka, Busara, Sileita, Baraka and Mushuru were in the first group sent down for their milk feed. They padded down quietly, drank their milk and walked on to the wallow. Losoito, who was in the last group, did not behave so well. She sprinted in, trumpeting loudly to warn the others not to take her feeding spot!

Afterwards, the elephants splashed in the muddy pool, drank from the trough and headed back to the hill to continue browsing.

Ex-orphans Mbegu, Tagwa, Tamiyoi, Godoma, Ngilai, Murit, Ndotto and Lasayen padded in to the stockades soon after dawn and gathered around the tree. Our orphans soon emerged from their stockades and the two groups mingled at the trough and on the terraces.

Lasayen stood next to Ashanti who was scooping up pellets with her damaged trunk, Sholumai and Mushuru stood close on the lower terrace, and Godoma was with Seri. Lemeki was looking after adopted babies Losoito and Rokka, trunk hugging both regularly.

After filling their bellies, Ashanti and Mushuru scratched their backsides on the terrace wall while Baraka and Dabida stood with trunks entwined. Rokka, Mbegu, Thamana and Busara rolled around on the mound of red soil, pushing against each other while hosing themselves with dust. When Lemeki and Losoito joined the dust bathing party, Baraka clambered on top of Lemeki while she lay on her stomach. 

The elephants spent the morning browsing over Msinga Hill before returning to the stockades for their afternoon milk feed. Afterwards, Losoito had another dust bath and Baraka wallowed in the mud and massaged herself against the famous rock.

In the afternoon, we received a report of an abandoned three-month-old calf found on Ndara Plains. The baby was rescued, brought to the stockades and airlifted to Kaluku in the evening.

Mbegu’s herd of ex-orphans arrived at the stockades before dawn today. The land is dry as we wait for the rains – at these times, we expect our former orphans to visit for supplementary food. While they stood quietly under the tree, our current orphans waited in their stockades as the Keepers mixed the milk. Losoito was standing at her gate, determined to be first out.

After browsing on range cubes, Tamiyoi scratched her backside on the famous rock, Seri posed next to the rock, Losoito and Ushindi rolled and played together on the dry soil, Lemeki and Rokka stood close with trunks touching, and Ndotto, Murit and Lasayen stood motionless, resting after a night of browsing.

The herd soon headed out to browse over the hill for the morning before visiting the mud wallow in the afternoon. Today, Seri and Thamana were the biggest show-offs – Seri splashed in the middle of the pool while Thamana lay with legs aloft on the mound of soil.

Later in the afternoon, the orphans left the wallow. Before heading into their shared stockades for the night, they browsed on another large pile of supplementary lucerne. 

This morning, the orphans were full of energy and excitement. A showboating Kilulu was running up and down in front of the stockades, causing trouble, pushing everyone and attracting attention. When he pushed Epiya, she responded with a trumpeting tantrum.

After filling their bellies with pellets and lucerne, Kilulu and Thamana had a sparring match, Ushindi massaged her body on the famous rock, and Losoito, Sholumai, Ushindi, Baraka and Lemeki enjoyed a dust bathing party. Baraka climbed on Lemeki and then Losoito clambered onto Ushindi.

In the afternoon, the orphans cooled off in the mud wallow. Busara loves mud bathing – today, she was first in and last out! She paddled into the pool followed by Akina, Juni, Baraka, Ashanti, Kenderi and Epiya. Busara, Juni and Baraka submerged their bodies in the middle while Akina and Kenderi rubbed their faces along the edges and Epiya lay half in and half out of the wallow with her stomach resting on the edge 

The herd cooled off, covered their wet bodies with dry soil, and went back to browsing over the hill.

On a wonderful morning at the Voi stockades, ex-orphan Lasayen browsed on lucerne with our orphans, cooled off in the muddy wallow, and covered himself in dry soil. Ashanti climbed into the small pool to join him and then posed on the mound of soil, rolling around playfully.

Led by Rokka and Lemeki, the herd ambled out in a long line to the browsing fields and spread out over the slopes of Msinga Hill. Good friends Rokka and Lemeki stayed together at the bottom while Losoito, Sileita and Sholumai walked all the way to the summit in search of green browse.

Later in the afternoon, we called the herd together for their milk feed. Rokka, Losoito and Busara were in the first group sent down to the feeding area. Mischievous Busara tried her trick again today, sneaking back to the others in hope of being given a bonus bottle. Her little trick worked a few days ago but not today, as the Keepers were on high alert. The orphans paddled in the mini mud hole first and then moved on to the main wallow.

Mbegu’s herd of ex-orphans were late this morning. By the time they arrived, our orphans were already enjoying their breakfast. The two groups greeted each other and spread out in front of the stockades. Ex-orphan Ngilai lay down for a morning mud wallow while Murit tried to mount Busara on the mound of soil and Ushindi scratched herself against the famous rock.

Many elephants soon joined Murit and Busara on the heap of dry soil. Ngilai hosed himself with dust, Ashanti rolled on the ground, Thamana lay on his side relaxing, Baraka showed off her stretches, and Juni stood tall and elegant. Godoma walked over and entwined trunks with Thamana while massaging her backside on a rock.

The herd spent the morning browsing on the open shrub vegetation overlooking Msinga Hill, ambling in the direction of the baobab mud wallow. After the afternoon milk feed, Rokka rushed down to the mini mud wallow for a brief solitary swim before the others caught up with her and the mud bath became crowded.

Current and former orphans gathered at the feeding trough as soon as the younger elephants had drunk their milk and stood belly to belly to scoop up range cubes. Ashanti still kneels to reach the pellets and scoop them into her mouth. Fortunately, Lemeki was standing next to her to offer protection from bullies like Hildana and Dabida.

Tamiyoi was catching up with Baraka, trunk touching her little sister, until Baraka walked away to play dust-bathing games with Busara. Ndotto and Itinyi joined in the games. Busara squatted on her bottom and then pushed against Itinyi. The two friends rolled together until Itinyi made the mistake of mounting Busara. She pushed him away and stood up, telling him that the game was over.

After cooling off in the wallow, Ashanti lay down to relax on the dry soil while Tamiyoi draped her trunk along her back. Still in the water, Mbegu was trunk hugging Baraka while the younger elephant splashed around. Afterwards, Mbegu and Ndotto covered themselves with dust and Lasayen massaged his body against the wall.

At last, Rokka led the herd out to Msinga Hill where they spread out and settled to browse. The ex-orphans also left the stockades, walking away in a different direction.

Early in the morning on a cloudy day, the orphans sprinted out of their pens as soon as we opened the gates for the morning milk feed. Rokka came out first followed closely by bossy Losoito, and then Sileita and Mushuru. Busara ambled out last, in no hurry at all because the Voi princess was sure that her milk would be waiting for her no matter how late she arrived!

As the rest of the herd and also the visiting ex-orphans led by Mbegu enjoyed range cubes and lucerne, Busara and Kilulu played a noisy sparring game, pushing each other back and forth and clinking little tusks. Ndotto and Dabida were browsing on pellets side by side. Tamiyoi joined them on the upper terrace after feeding on lucerne. On the lower terrace, Godoma and Mbegu were with Baraka – her two former nannies were sandwiching the younger girl between them.

After the afternoon milk feed, the dependent orphans hung around the stockades. Sholumai scratched her rump on the terrace wall and Kilulu posed elegantly on the mound of soil while Akina and Hildana lay relaxing next to him and Losoito rubbed herself against Akina. Finally, the orphans headed out to resume browsing.

On a wonderful morning at the Voi stockades, current and former orphans browsed and played in front of the stockades. Ex-orphan Ndotto enjoyed a strength contest with Thamana and ex-orphans Mbegu, Ngilai and Godoma were with several dependent orphans around the mound of dry soil. When the herd headed out to the browsing fields, Ngilai remained behind, rolling on the red soil.

The orphans settled to browse on the slopes of Msinga Hill. Sileita led her two babies Sholumai and Mushuru high up the hill in search of fresh foliage. Lemeki spent time with little sister Rokka after Losoito walked away to join Sileita’s herd on the hill.

In the afternoon, Rokka and Busara were in the first group sent down for a milk feed. Rokka ran off in the lead but Busara, stout legs flailing, overtook her on their way down to the line of Keepers waiting with bottles. The orphans gulped down their milk and continued on at a slower pace to the mud wallow.

After splashing in the muddy water, Rokka and Lemeki rubbed their bottoms on the wall, Ushindi and Kilulu drank from the trough, and Sholumai and Itinyi enjoyed a baobab tree massage. We whistled and the herd followed us back out to the bush. 

We woke up to the most exciting news - ex-orphan Naipoki had given birth to a baby boy! The new mother visited the stockades to introduce her baby to the Keepers who had raised her. When Naipoki and baby Nsimba walked up the path, there was great excitement. Current and former orphans welcomed her with rumbles and extended trunks.

Naipoki hung around for a time to show off her little boy. Mbegu, the former matriarch of the Voi herd, was on nanny duty and was staying very close to little Nsimba. Unbothered by the baby, Losoito carried on with her usual early morning dust bath.

When it was time to set out, Naipoki led the elephants out from the stockades to browse. Along the way Naipoki and the other ex-orphans walked off in one direction and our herd continued on towards the baobab mud wallow. Epiya and Dabida made several attempts to follow the ex-orphans as they wandered towards the river circuit. We intercepted the two young orphans as they are still milk dependent. Later in the afternoon, the herd returned to the stockades for another milk feed.

The rain was drizzling this morning at the beginning of a dramatic day. Our orphans padded out of their stockades and down the path to join ex-orphans Murit, Ngilai, Ndotto, Tagwa, Tamiyoi and Godoma in the feeding area.

Afterwards, Godoma started a game of hide and seek. More and more orphans joined the running-around game which spread to the bush until only Ndotto remained at the stockades. Current and former orphans were chasing each other and everyone was excited. When Godoma and the ex-orphans ran off towards the river, Juni, Hildana, Kilulu, Seri, Akina, Itinyi, Epiya, Baraka, Dabida, Sholumai, Mushuru and Ushindi sprinted along behind them.

We followed in our vehicle but could not find them in the thick forest. A chopper was sent out to look for the elephants but could only locate Sholumai and Mushuru who were with Ngilai, Murit, Mbegu, Rorogoi, Naipoki and tiny Nsimba. The two girls were shepherded back to the stockades – but the others were nowhere to be seen.

A wonderful thing happened in the early hours of the morning. At around 4am, wise Godoma brought our orphans home from the forest. She led Juni, Akina, Hildana, Kilulu, Seri, Itinyi, Dabida, Ushindi, Baraka and Epiya up the path to the stockades. The Keepers opened the gates and our runaways (as well as their rescuer) padded happily into their enclosures to a chorus of rumbles. Godoma spent the night in her old stockade.

After the events of the last 24 hours, the orphans were still agitated in the morning, although they set out as normal to the browsing fields around Msinga Hill. To our surprise, Godoma stuck with our herd all day, walking along in their midst and calming startled younger orphans with trunk touches.

In the afternoon, the orphans were calmer but still Godoma was with them. On a cloudy day, they did not cool off in the wallow but covered their bodies in dry dust. Losoito, Hildana and Kenderi took centre stage on the mound of soil while Thamana rolled around on his own nearby.

When we whistled, the orphans left the wallow and browsed some more on their way back to the stockades. Godoma spent the night again with her old family.

As usual, the orphans enjoyed their breakfast in the morning. While some were finishing all the pellets in the feeding trough, others browsed on the pile of fresh lucerne.

Still with the herd, Godoma was looking after Baraka, standing close with her trunk draped over the younger girl. Lemeki and adopted baby Losoito were having an early morning dust bath. Losoito rolled around on the soil while Lemeki stood guard. Looking a little out of sorts following the return of Godoma, Lemeki was being especially protective of Losoito and Rokka. Perhaps, she was showing that she is the new mini matriarch of the dependent herd!

Very sadly, little Samaa died today. Despite feeding well and seeming to be gaining in strength in recent days, she collapsed in the morning. We immediately treated her and put up a drip but lost her a few hours later. Her leg injury had been more severe than was initially thought.

In the morning, after finishing the range cubes, the dependent orphans gathered around the pile of lucerne grass before leaving for their daily browsing bush walk around Msinga Hill. The orphans were in no hurry. They ambled along very slowly enjoying the tiny shoots of green browse that have appeared in recent days. 

In the afternoon, we whistled to the herd and sent them down for their milk feed in groups. Losoito, Rokka, Sileita, Sholumai, Busara and Kenderi sprinted down in the first group, emptied their bottles and padded on to the wallow.

The elephants did not go mud bathing due to the cool and cloudy weather. Losoito lay down under the baobab tree and invited Sholumai to play. When Sholumai refused her twirling trunk of invitation, Losoito stood up and walked over to a patch of dusty soil for a roll around.

The herd spent only a brief time at the wallow before heading back out to browse in a long line led by Rokka and Akina with Sileita bringing up the rear.

It was another good-news day! Ex-orphan Mbirikani arrived at the stockades with her first-born baby boy! Our old friend was with ex-orphans Arruba, Ndii, Mudanda, Suswa, Pika Pika, Mweya and her babies Mwangaza and Mwitu whom we have not seen for many months. Godoma was also there.

Our orphans welcomed the visitors, especially Mbirikani and baby Mica, with excited trumpets and charging. Mweya’s baby, Mwitu, was being a very protective nanny to tiny Mica. She did not allow any of our elephants to come close and gave Epiya a stern warning when she kept trying to touch the baby.

The ex-orphans feasted on fresh lucerne grass, before leaving in the direction of the river circuit. Some of our orphans tried to follow them but we shepherded them back to the stockades. Our orphans are still milk dependent and not ready to wander far away with Mweya’s herd. Only Godoma went with the visitors.

Ex-orphans Mbegu, Naipoki, new-born Nsimba, Rorogoi, Ndotto and Ngilai did not visit today but Tagwa, Tamiyoi, Murit and Lasayen walked into the stockades soon after dawn. The four orphans were with Mweya’s herd of ex-orphans who returned today after visiting yesterday following a long absence. Godoma was also here again – she belongs to Mbegu’s herd but has been hanging around the stockades since she shepherded many of our orphans home a few days ago. The ex-orphans joined our elephants at the feeding trough and around the lucerne.

After feeding, Murit and Thamana were playing pushing games on the lower terrace. When the older heavier bull tried to mount his young friend, matriarch Mweya warned him off from the upper terrace. He responded to Mweya, climbed off Thamana, and challenged him to another sparring match.

The ex-orphans left the stockades first, browsing in the direction of the river. Our herd headed out in the opposite direction and spent much of the day on the slopes of Msinga Hill.

On a bright morning, Mweya’s herd of ex-orphans and also Tamiyoi and Tagwa padded up to the stockades just before dawn and stood waiting under the tree for supplementary feeding. The dependent orphans soon sprinted out of their shared stockades to drink their milk and join the older elephants at the trough full of range cubes.

Many of the younger orphans were very keen to interact with wild-born babies Mwangaza and Mica but this was not possible as Pika Pika and Mwitu would not let them approach the tiny babies. The two nannies sandwiched the babies and did not leave them alone for even one minute. The visitors did not stay for a long time today, heading back to the bush as soon as they had eaten.

In the afternoon, Losoito and Ashanti played a rolling-all-over-each-other game in the mud wallow, until a jealous Thamana interrupted the game and pushed his way between them. After cooling off in the mud, Kilulu climbed out full of energy - with ears spread wide, he charged happily all over the place. Still in the wallow, Kenderi was splashing mud high in the air and spraying it over her friends. She was splashing so much that the others left her on her own in the pool.

On another sunny day, the ex-orphans arrived for breakfast before the current orphans had had their morning milk feed. The area in front of the stockades was crowded with elephants – our herd was mixed up with Mweya, her babies Mwangaza and Mwitu, Mbirikani, baby Mica, Arruba, Ndii, Mudanda, Suswa, Pika Pika, Tamiyoi, Tagwa, Murit and Lasayen.

Desperate to interact with Mwangaza, crafty Lemeki walked backwards towards her in the hope that her mother would not notice! But, of course Mweya noticed. Rather than seeing off the enthusiastic nanny, however, she moved away and allowed Lemeki and Juni to enjoy time with Mwangaza.

In a repeat of yesterday, Mweya’s herd soon headed out and our herd remained at the stockades until later in the morning. The land is very dry as we await the rains – so far, we have had very little. When the elephants left the stockades, they walked almost in slow motion, twisting up every shoot they could find.

At a charged session in the afternoon at the mud bath, Sileita did not want to touch the water but she did want to keep watch over her friend. Mushuru wallowed in the muddy pool while Sileita stood guard on the edge. After cooling off and covering themselves in dust, the herd left the baobab tree wallow and wandered back to the stockades.

Mweya’s herd of ex-orphans visited this morning but not Mbegu, Ndotto, Naipoki and Nsimba. The three orphans and tiny Nsimba have been seen quite close to the stockades browsing along the river. Maybe Naipoki is reluctant to visit with her tiny baby because of the dramas earlier in the month.

Mweya’s herd settled to drink from the trough and browse on lucerne while some of our orphans tried (unsuccessfully) to sidle up to Mica and Mwitu. Pika Pika and Mwangaza were being very protective and our girls could only watch on from a distance. After feeding, Suswa massaged her rump against a rock outside the big stockade before catching up with her herd as they headed out.

Our orphans wandered out in a long line and settled to browse on Msinga Hill. Several times, Sileita tried to pull her friend Mushuru away from the others. We think she would like to be in charge of her own small herd as she was the mini matriarch at the Nursery for a long time.

In the afternoon after milk feeding, Akina squatted in a shallow part of the wallow for a bottoms massage while Thamana lay on his side in the shade of the tree and allowed Hildana and Kilulu to clamber onto his belly.

As the dry days continue, many ex-orphans visit every day for supplementary food and water. They are welcomed by our dependent orphans who are happy to share their range cubes and lucerne. While scooping up pellets this morning, Mweya kept her wild-born babies, Mwitu and Mwangaza, very close to her. As the ex-orphans walked out towards the river, our orphans settled to browse to the north of the stockades.

In the afternoon, the herd visited the baobab tree water hole. Many covered themselves in muddy water as it was a very hot day. Sileita is usually reluctant to join the others in the wallow but today she climbed in and splashed around next to a welcoming Rokka. We have been thinking that Sileita shares a dislike of water with Ndotto but maybe we are wrong. Ashanti, Busara, Akina and Kenderi rolled around together in the wallow.

Climbing out of the pool, the elephants hosed themselves with dry dust and ambled back out to the bush.

Ex-orphans Mweya, babies Mwitu and Mwangaza, Mbirikani, new-born baby Mica, Suswa, Mudanda, Ndii, Arruba, Godoma, Tagwa, Tamiyoi and Murit arrived soon after dawn this morning. Mbegu, Ndotto, Naipoki and her baby have not visited for nearly two weeks but have been seen near the river.

Our herd welcomed them with excited rumbles and trumpets. Epiya and Dabida ran up to little Mica but Mwitu again intercepted them and did not allow the two girls to touch the newborn.

After breakfast, Mweya led her herd out from the stockades and over the rocky Msinga Hill. The dependent herd finished up all the lucerne and then walked out in the opposite direction. We are encouraging the two herds not to browse together in the bush to avoid the risk of another kidnapping.

In the afternoon, we sent the orphans down in small groups to the feeding area. Rokka sprinted down first followed by Sholumai, Mushuru and Sileita. The orphans drank their milk and continued on to the wallow.

Ashanti stood on the edge splashing and then scratched herself against the baobab tree. Juni, Seri, Kilulu and Epiya drank from the trough while Busara, Kenderi and Akina rolled around having a dust bath, and Kilulu, Epiya and Lemeki splashed in the mini mud wallow.

Mweya’s herd of ex-orphans arrived at dawn again today and gathered around the pile of lucerne. Mbirikani and new-born Mica browsed while Mwangaza played around them. After browsing on lucerne, Mbirikani greeted some of the older elephants while Mwitu looked after Mica. The current orphans lined up at the range cubes feeding trough rather than mingling with the visitors today.

In keeping with the routine of the last few days, the ex-orphans did not stay for long. Rather than playing with our orphans, the visitors ate and drank and then left the stockades. They walked towards the river. Today, our herd spread out over the hill. Hildana and Itinyi climbed up to the summit while Akina and Ashanti stayed on the lower slopes.

In the afternoon, the orphans had their milk feeding session and then proceeded down to the mud wallow. Juni, Seri, Dabida, Epiya and Akina stood side by side drinking from the trough as the rest of the herd were having fun in the wallow. Baraka and Busara paddled in the mud while Kenderi and Kilulu played a water sparring game in the middle.

Chapeyu is still spending his days inside his stockade which is large enough for him to walk around in. He is healthy and gaining weight but does not want to leave his enclosure. For now, he is staying there but, when the rains come, we will try to tempt him out.

We woke in the morning to the sounds of ex-orphans rumbling outside the stockades. After preparing the milk, we opened the gates and the elephants ran eagerly down the path for the morning milk feed and for breakfast with the visitors.

Today, while Mbirikani was feeding on lucerne, Godoma took on nanny duties for baby Mica. Meanwhile, Losoito was doing her very best to make friends with Mwangaza. Wary of upsetting Mweya, Losoito approached Mwangaza very slowly with trunk outstretched. The matriarch allowed the friendly girl to stand next to her baby. After achieving this objective, Losoito enjoyed a solo dust bath.

The orphans settled to browse over the lower slopes of the rocky Msinga Hill, walking slowly in the direction of the baobab tree mud wallow. Later in the morning, Thamana and Hildana led the herd over the open savannah.

In the afternoon, the orphans cooled off in the mud wallow. Some climbed in while others stood on the edge slapping muddy water onto their bodies. Rokka, Thamana and Sholumai rubbed their bottoms against the baobab tree while Sileita drank deeply from the water trough and Busara massaged herself against the side.

Neither Serenget not Chapeyu is milk-dependent, Serenget because she will not accept a bottle and Chapeyu because of his age. This independence changes their relationships with the Keepers. Although Serenget is recovering well from her injury, she is still within her stockade as we continue to encourage her to drink milk.

This morning, for the first day in many days, the ex-orphans did not visit and so the dependent orphans had the area to themselves and did not have to share their range cubes and lucerne. The elephants spent longer than usual on the terraces before heading out towards Msinga Hill. They settled to browse over the hill. Later in the morning, Kenderi, Juni and Itinyi sheltered from the sun in the shade of a large tree.

In the afternoon, everyone except Lemeki enjoyed another milk feed before visiting the mud wallow. Some lay down in the small water holes while others drank from the water trough or plunged into the main wallow. Almost the whole herd covered their bodies in mud except for Sileita. She walked around the wallow while best friend Mushuru splashed and played with the others in the muddy pool. Sileita led Mushuru and Sholumai at the Nursery and she still behaves likes their matriarch. After cooling off, Mushuru and Hildana rolled around together on the ground while Juni and Epiya hosed dry soil along their backs.

Mud and dust baths done, the herd wandered away from the wallow for a final browse on their way back to the safety of the stockades for the night.

The ex-orphans were back today. Mweya, her babies Mwangaza and Mwitu, Mbirikani, baby Mica, Arruba, Ndii, Mudanda, Suswa, Pika Pika, Tamiyoi, Tagwa, Murit and Lasayen padded up the path at dawn. The visitors joined the dependent orphans at the trough and on the terraces.

 After feeding, Juni and Sholumai walked very slowly towards Mica, hoping to touch the baby. They were not successful because Mweya, Mwitu and Mwangaza kept tight security around Mica, preventing any elephant from getting close to Mbirikani’s baby.

The two herds headed out separately with the ex-orphans leaving first. They settled to browse not far from the stockades but in separate groups at a distance from each other.

As usual, the elephants visited the baobab water hole in the afternoon, had a brief mud bath, left to feed on extra lucerne grass in the field, and then resumed normal browsing. Later in the day, Losoito took a break from browsing to lie and play on the sand at the foot of the hill. Lemeki hid Losoito’s head under her belly when Busara and Ashanti joined the game.

On another wonderful morning at the Voi stockades, the ex-orphans arrived when our orphans were still in their enclosures. They stood waiting for us to bring out the lucerne. Mbirikani was with baby Mica and with Mweya’s babies Mwitu and Mwangaza. Mweya was standing on the terrace on her own but still keeping watch over the others. Mudanda, Pika Pika, Arruba and Suswa were waiting in the feeding area with Godoma, Tagwa and Murit.

Losoito sprinted out of her stockade first to the milk feeding area followed closely by Busara and Rokka. Mushuru and Sileita were not in a hurry and so they came last. We opened the other gates and the rest of the herd ran down the path to join them. As soon as we brought out the lucerne, Mbirikani and Mica calmly walked over to browse with our herd. For the first time, Mbirikani allowed our orphans to get close to Mica.

Afterwards the elephants had an early morning dust bath before leaving for the browsing fields. Thamana and Akina stopped off to drink from the water trough and Sholumai scratched her backside on the terrace wall and then caught up with the herd. The ex-orphans went off in a different direction.

After spending the night outside the stockades, Mweya’s herd of ex-orphans mingled with our dependent elephants in the morning. Ex-orphans Suswa and Tamiyoi browsed on lucerne and then on range cubes and then on lucerne again. Wannabee nannies Epiya and Dabida fussed over baby Mica until a possessive Mwitu shoved them away. Mudanda massaged her rump on the big rock at the entrance while Tamiyoi and Busara lay relaxing and Pika Pika and Mushuru rubbed faces and bellies on the red soil.

Mweya led her herd out to browse in the direction of the river while Lemeki led our orphans towards Msinga Hill. The dependent herd settled to browse over the dry savannah. 

In the afternoon, we gathered the herd together before sending them down for another milk feed. While waiting, Itinyi and Mushuru stood with trunks entwined. Best friends Thamana and Lemeki were also trunk kissing as an impatient Losoito tried to sneak off to the milk feeding area. The vehicle full of bottles arrived and we sent the elephants down in groups to enjoy their milk and to cool off in the mud wallow.

On a cloudy morning at the stockades, the orphans browsed quietly on range cubes and lucerne. Mweya’s herd did not visit today and so the area in front of the stockades was less crowded than on most days. At the feeding trough, Ashanti was eating pellets close to Juni who protects her from bullies. Itinyi, Sileita, Mushuru and Rokka were enjoying their cubes on the upper terrace.

After the herd headed out to the browsing fields, ex-orphan Ndotto ambled into the stockades. We were so surprised to see the gentle giant as he has not visited since the kidnapping drama. We wondered where he had left Naipoki, Nsimba, Rorogoi, Mbegu and Ngilai as we know he has been with this little herd.

In the afternoon, the orphans splashed and rolled around in the mud wallow. After showing off in the pool, Kilulu climbed out for a scratch on the baobab tree. When he walked on, Dabida took his place at the scratching tree. Losoito, Itinyi and Thamana squatted against the wall of the wallow with trunks waving and Lemeki kept watch over Rokka while she lay in the pool in case one of the bulls tried to mount her.

The orphans hosed themselves with dust before ambling out in a long line to browse over the dry savannah on their way back to the safety of the stockades for the night. We are really hoping for downpours of rain soon.