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Seven wild bulls had already arrived at the stockade compound when the orphans came out this morning. Buchuma arrived soon after and joined the orphans as they fed on lucerne pellets. Once out in the browsing field, Mteto started the day’s activities by dusting herself, a game that soon had Dupotto, Kauro and Esampu joining in. The boys, Tusuja, Wanjala, Karisa and Namalok decided they would kill time while browsing by engaging each other in strength testing games. Slow and independent Sapalan teamed up with Enkikwe, but after a while went their separate ways. On the way to the mud bath, Kauro found a piece of stick and put it in his mouth holding it with his trunk and sucking it as he would his milk bottle. Buchuma, Zurura and Taita showed up at mud bath with fourteen wild bulls. Zurura walked down and greeted the orphans before engaging Taita in a strength testing exercise. The afternoon was peaceful and cool and the orphans were happy to browse without having to stop to take a break from the heat. 

Just as the orphans started on their lucerne pellets, ex-orphans Yatta and Galana arrived with their groups. Esampu was nice to Siku and let her share her lucerne but poor little Kama wasn’t so lucky. Maramoja, by the use of her trunk, pointed Kama away from her lucerne. Kama not wanting to repeat the same mistake after getting a knock from Esampu decided to take Maramoja’s advice and scampered off.

Ithumbah and Naserian tried to woo Lulu to nurse on them. Lulu did settle on Ithumbah but stopped when she realized Ithumbah had no milk. Lulu walked away in disappointment to look for Lualeni. Shortly after, the ex-orphans parted ways with the juniors. The orphans settled to browse at the Kone area again, whilst the ex-orphans headed east of Ithumba Hill. Ukame and Pare browsed together as Tusuja and Dupotto chatted. Later Pare joined Karisa and for a short while and engaged each other in strength testing games, this came to an abrupt end when Tusuja interrupted them.  

On the way to the mud bath, the orphans were joined by Kibo, Naisula, Kitirua, Kalama and Murka. Dupotto and Naseku were seen sucking their trunks soon after having their milk, possibly trying to taste whatever milk remained in their trunks. Ten wild bulls were also present at the mud bath. The heat today was not as bad so the orphans enjoyed their mud bath, briefly participated in a soil dusting exercise and returned to the browsing field. In the afternoon the orphans converged under a tree to relax and resumed browsing an hour later when they felt that they had enough of a break. Kauro at one point, on his own, decided to have fun by kneeling and rolling on the ground.

Seven wild bulls were drinking water at the stockade water trough when the orphans were let out in the morning. The juniors settled for lucerne soon after leaving the stockade. Twenty minutes later, the senior ex orphans emerged from the eastern side of the stockade compound. The ex-orphans joined the orphans to feed on lucerne. Siku walked to where Esampu was feeding on her pellets but this time was cautious, leaving room for escape if Esampu reacted and tried to attack her. Esampu understood the behaviour of Siku and so continued to pick on the pellets since Siku didn't come so close and at least she was showing some respect.

After the pellets breakfast was over, the senior ex-orphans parted ways with the juniors. At the browsing field, Karisa engaged Galla in a strength testing exercise that saw Galla emerge as the winner after Karisa surrendered and walked away. 

The sun was really hot and at mud bath time we had unusual visitors come to cool off too. Seventeen wild dogs were relaxing under a nearby tree totally unfazed by the presence of humans and elephants. The wild bulls broke a record of attendance of this season. Forty two wild bulls were present and had to take bath and water in turns since they could not fit in at the same time. The orphans used one end for mud bath while the wild dogs used another end as the bulls occupied the centre. Namalok had fun riding on Pare while Karisa enjoyed riding on Mteto. Olsekki and Enkikwe charged at a wild dog that came too close to them. The two boys only quit when the wild dog stood its ground and just watched them. In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse on the western side of Ithumba Hill. In the evening Sapalan, who never gets tired of feeding, took a break this time and spent some time in a lone soil dusting exercise.

Bomani, Orwa, Narok, Kandecha and Kibo joined the juniors for lucerne pellets in the morning. Ten wild elephants were drinking water at the stockade water trough and in the group there was a mother with her two calves. The wild herd left immediately after drinking enough water. 

The orphans settled to browse along ‘hyenas hill’. Esampu spent the better part of the morning trying to put her small tusks into use by trying to peel bark from trees. The tusks were too small still, so she had to surrender and concentrate on what she could easily manage to feed on. Namalok, who is very active these days, tried to entice Pare into joining him for a strength testing exercise but Pare declined. Namalok then proceeded to take on Karisa who responded positively but their game came to an abrupt end when Turkwel passed by and separated the two boys. 

At mud bath time, twelve wild bulls were present and as usual, used one side of the mud bath while the orphans used the other side. In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse in the Kanziku area where they were joined by Mutara’s group and enjoyed peaceful quiet browsing. Later, the group took a break from feeding to relax under a tree following the rise in temperature in the afternoon. Two hours later, the group resumed browsing on their way back to the stockade. 

Ex-orphans Rapsu and Zurura in the company of thirty wild bulls were relaxing outside the stockade compound when the orphans were let out. Shortly later, Yatta, Wendi, Nasalot, Sunyei, Mulika, Lualeni, Galana and Kinna all with their babies and fellow adopted sisters reported. All the nine wild born babies were present and active. The rascal Nusu had fun climbing on Wiva while Yoyo briefly played with Esampu. Half an hour later, the orphans left for browsing, leaving the ex-orphans and the wild elephants at the stockade compound. By eight o'clock in the morning the number of elephants coming for water had hit one hundred and fifty. 

Out in the bush, Garzi started his day's activities by scratching on some rocks he came across. The temperature was moderate and the orphans concentrated mostly on browsing. At mud bath time, Dad and his company of twenty wild bulls joined the orphans at mud bath. The mud bath was brief for the orphans as they didn't want to have any conflict with the wild bulls. 

On the way back out to browse, Karisa engaged Namalok in a strength testing exercise, a game that lasted for quite some time. Roi, Kauro and Kamok dodged the Keepers and teamed up with a group of wild elephants that were travelling to the stockade to drink water, where they joined the ex-orphans and stayed to wait for their friends. It was a busy day for elephants as they checked in for water and left again to create room for their friends. A record was set for the day, as within twelve hours, the elephants had drunk 40,000 litres of water. 

Mutara, Sities, Kanjoro, Kainuk, Chaimu, Kasigau, Suguta and Kilaguni spent the night outside the stockades and early in the morning, joined the orphans for lucerne pellets. After resting for the whole night, the junior ex-orphans looked better in the morning. After feeding on lucerne pellets with the dependent orphans, Mutara’s group opted to walk in the bush in morning. Sities settled to browse with Esampu as she browsed quietly and looked relieved to be with the dependent orphans and the Keepers; they must have gone for some days without finding good water. 

At eleven o'clock in the morning, the weather was still chilly and the orphans in the company of Mutara’s group drank some water then walked back out to the bush. Namalok had a stand-off with Enkikwe after Namalok thought that simply because Enkikwe has an injury, he could bully him. Enkikwe did not tolerate this and being senior to Namalok, decided to show Namalok that he had an experience in handling his juniors. Namalok quit the stand-off after realizing that he was fighting a losing battle. Namalok then moved to play with Wanjala and Galla. In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse in the lower Kalovoto area until late in the evening, when Maramoja led the first group back to the stockades.

Karisa led the way out soon when the gates were opened. The orphans joined ex-orphans Kenze, Orwa, Bomani and Narok who had reported early before dawn. Wanjala and Ukame settled to feed on one pile of lucerne pellets with Kenze. Kenze didn't entertain the two orphans but told them to look for another pile since that one wasn't big enough for the three of them. Wanjala persisted, which forced Kenze to push him away. Shortly later, the ex-orphans and the orphans together walked out to the bush. The inquisitive Wanjala settled to feed with Kenze as he tried to understand how life is out in the wild. Kenze was not that keen on entertaining Wanjala, as shortly later he walked away. 

At mud bath time, the orphans participated in wallowing soon after having their milk. The competition was between Ukame and Esampu as each tried to get to the finish-line first; that being where the Keepers are standing with their milk bottles. When Ukame saw that Esampu was about to win, she tried to block her by pushing her from behind. Esampu didn't fight as she knew she would be fighting a losing battle, and so she surrendered and followed behind Ukame slowly. The lone and independent Sapalan joined a wild bull to drink water and later followed his group. Sapalan looked a bit tired and in the evening on the way back to the stockade he was unusually slow. Yatta and the entire ex-orphan group reported for water in the evening. Missing were Bongo and Teleki who have attached themselves to Nasalot’s group for the time being. 

This morning we found Sapalan was quite unwell and had to be assisted to get up. Shortly later, he collapsed again and had no strength to stand by himself. This was very strange and had all the Keepers worried. A quick decision was made after conferring with Angela Sheldrick, and he was put to a drip to help stimulate his energy levels. Forty five minutes later, the drip proved helpful and Sapalan was helped back to his feet and he started feeding on greens and pellets. 

The orphans settled to browse in the Kone area, where some of them could not understand why Sapalan was not with them. Enkikwe visited Sapalan when he was put on a drip and kept him company. Most of the time, Sapalan and Enkikwe lag behind the others and walk together, as they are both slow walkers these days. 

At mud bath time, Esampu made sure that she was at the front of the line to run for the milk bottles, to avoid a scenario like yesterday of being pulled back by her seniors. In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse and Karisa and Rapa gave the Keepers a hard time when they conspired to dodge them and run off without the Keeper’s knowing. The rest of their friends returned back to the stockade at the usual time with Karisa and Rapa still at large. A spirited effort from the Keepers bore fruit and they managed to smoke them out their hiding place. It was a happy ending as the two orphans were found and Sapalan was still in okay condition having spent the day in the stockade compound.