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It was a chilly morning following light showers we had overnight. Orwa and Bomani as usual reported early as three wild bulls enjoyed drinking water at the stockade water troughs. The orphans settled for their favourite breakfast of lucerne before leaving for browsing. Challa joined them, and Sapalan had a brief chat with Malima. The Keepers wondered if Sapalan was wondering how old she was, and whether it was appropriate for her to come over and share the lucerne he had decided to carry off and enjoy feeding on privately. Malima didn't respond, but left so as to avoid getting herself in trouble with Sapalan. 

The Ithumba dependent orphans were happy because the overnight showers had made it cool and enjoyable as they went on with their browsing activities. At mud bath time, the orphans were joined by ex-orphans Kibo, Naisula, Kitirua, Kandecha, Kasigau, Melia, Tumaren and a wild female elephant. The weather was cool and the orphans only had their milk and some water before they headed back out to browse. After the orphans left for browsing, five wild bulls showed up for water. In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse in the upper Kalovoto area. In the evening shortly before going back to the stockades, the weather changed and it started raining lightly again. This prompted Kauro to perform a soil dusting exercise in order to cover his back with nice damp soil.

It was a chilly morning as the orphans left the stockade and settled for their lucerne. Orwa and Bomani were present as usual. Tusuja and Wanjala exchanged morning greetings with each other before settling for some breakfast Lucerne. Soon after feeding on Lucerne, Ndiwa led the way out to browse. Kuishi teamed up with Galla to browse while Garzi settled to browse with Barsilinga. Just before it was time to go to mud bath it started raining lightly again. The change in weather changed the orphans’ mood as well, as they took a break from feeding to a have a wet-soil dust bath. They were rolling all over the place and having fun. Kauro and Rapa continued soil dusting as their friends stopped and started heading to the mud bath. The two boys followed them later when they felt that they had done enough. 

At the mud bath, the temperature was moderate and the orphans only had their milk bottles and some water again before deciding to go back out to browse and not have a mud bath. In the afternoon, Jotto ran into trouble with Kamok when he settled on a shrub that Kamok had her eye on. Kamok pushed Jotto away to get what she thought was rightfully hers. The rest of the afternoon was quiet as the orphans browsed calmly without any major distractions. 

It was a quiet morning with only one wild elephant showing up for water at the stockade compound. The orphans left the stockade early as usual and settled for Lucerne. Orwa and Bomani were not late either but were punctual for the morning Lucerne. Ndiwa and Kuishi decided to keep themselves busy by scratching on the nearby rocks as they waited for the Lucerne to be brought out by the Keepers. Shortly afterwards, Barsilinga, Olsekki, Pare, Namalok and Wanjala walked down to the water trough to join the wild bull drinking water. Later, Orwa and Bomani accompanied the orphans out to browse. A troop of baboons passed by chattering and making noise, scaring Malima, Ambo and Jotto. The three ran to the Keepers as Orwa single handedly tackled the baboons and chased them away. 

Just before noon the orphans made their way to the mud bath to have their milk bottles. It was cool and the orphans decided to boycott the wallowing exercise after having their bottles, and went straight back to browsing. The afternoon was cool and the orphans concentrated on browsing throughout the rest of the day. Mapia led his friends back to the stockades with the Keepers in the late afternoon. 

Melia, Olare, Tumaren, Kalama, Chemi Chemi, Kitirua and Naisula reported early at the stockade compound and waited for the juniors to come out this morning. The ex-orphans then joined the dependent Ithumba orphans to feast on lucerne. Orwa and Bomani were missing in action today; perhaps they decided to go wandering since they had spent a considerable number of days around the stockade area. Olare’s group parted ways with the orphans soon after feeding on lucerne. 

Later the dependent orphans were joined by Kibo, Kandecha, a wild female, Kasigau, Challa and Kanjoro. Sapalan decided to have fun by scratching on some rocks while Enkikwe, who had an appetite for roots, spent time digging for them. At mud bath time, Kuishi competed with her seniors Sana Sana and Ndiwa of who could get to the milk feed first, but came second after defeating Ndiwa. Due to the chilly weather, only two wild elephants showed up for water while the orphans were at the mud bath. The orphans didn't stay for long and left for browsing soon after having their milk bottles. Tusuja led Kamok, Kauro, Enkikwe and Karisa to look for their friends who had left them while drinking water. The orphans settled to browse in the Imenti area. Jotto found a suitable tree that he used to scratch his belly on as Kanjoro played with Garzi. In the evening, Kuishi led the way back to the stockades. 

We were visited by a mixed group of ex-orphans including, Kilaguni, Zurura, Tumaren, Narok and Chaimu this morning. They came early and waited for the orphans to come out and join them for Lucerne. Zurura has been away for some time and it was nice to see him; he joined the others after having arrived alone. Kilaguni and Chaimu are always together, Tumaren is always with Olare's group and Narok is usually with Bomani and Orwa. The orphans came out after having their milk and started interacting with the ex-orphans who were around. Sapalan and Namalok started play fighting after they were done eating their supplements. Mapia scratched his neck on the wall and started patting Naseku with his trunk. 

We have had some rain but we are still waiting for all the vegetation to grow lush and plentiful again and we watched as Lemoyian stretched his trunk high to reach the green leaves high in the trees. Kilaguni and the whole ex-orphan group followed the dependent orphans in the bush and stayed with them the whole day. The orphans walked to the mud bath just before 11am to have their milk bottles.

It was a hot day today and the majority of the orphans walked into the water to swim. They swam from one side to the other in a line led by Pare. Zuzura was also with them in the water hole. They walked out and walked straight back out to the bush to browse for the afternoon.

All the orphans browed quietly to have enough food and when they walked back to the stockades later in the evening, they came across a water point on the road and started playing in it to cool down. Garzi and Kilaguni started play-fighting, with Sapalan and Turkwel enjoying the mud bath in the pool separately. The two groups made their own way back home. 

This morning we were visited by the same ex-orphans who were here yesterday. They slept on the slope of the hill behind the Keepers kitchen and came to see the dependent orphans again in the morning. It was Kilaguni, Chaimu, Tumaren, Narok, Orwa and Bomani who decided to visit us again today. They came down to the Lucerne feeding area after the orphans had finished their bottles of milk and came out of their stockades. Kamok and Olsekki started scratching their neck and bottom respectively. Tusuja and Sapalan started play fighting while Enkikwe joined his friends after his daily treatment on his leg. Chaimu was busy feeding on Lucerne with the dependent orphans, and later the whole group walked to the bush to browse.

All the orphans looked very busy all morning as they searched for enough browse to fill their tummies. Kamok was stretching high in the trees. Enkikwe was not left behind and was actively browsing too. The group later walked to the mud bath for their milk. When they finished their bottles they walked straight to have some water from the water trough while the water bowser was still pouring water in. It was not very hot so the orphans didn't feel like going in the mud hole except for Wanjala and Rapa who were the only ones who went in the water and started playing vigorously with each other; the other orphans all just walked around the water hole and didn’t go inside. The two groups later walked back out to the bush to browse.

Later in the evening on the way back to the stockades, the orphans came to the same water puddle they usually come across and they all stopped and started playing in it. Chaimu was the most playful with Kilaguni as they were rolling around in it energetically. Orwa was on the road but rolling in the dust instead. The orphans were led back home by Enkikwe. They all followed him to the stockades with Keepers closely behind.