Although we received a few rain showers towards the end of the month it was more light drizzle and we still await the more heavy rains which will hopefully arrive in November. Meanwhile however it has started to rain more excessively in other parts of Tsavo and the wild elephant herds with their wise and experienced matriarchs have felt more confident in their water sources, and have begun to move away from the Msinga Hill area where the orphans browse, to explore further afield. There were still plenty of interactions between our orphans and wild herds this month however, with the favourite obviously being those herds with wild calves for the orphans to play with! Sometimes they find a sparring partner and enjoy the company of a new friend for a short while, and other times their sole mission is to greet the very tiny babies in the group. Mbegu, Godoma Tamiyoi and Sagala will take up strategic positions to greet any wild babies, but they are not always successful in their mission as some families can be very protective of the very young.
The morning began with the orphans playing around the stockade compound following the milk and supplement feeding. Mudanda and Mashariki enjoyed scratching against one of the rocks in the stockade compound while Tahri lay on the red earth piles while Kenia and Ndii, her adopted mothers, kept watch over her to make sure she wasn’t bothered. Emoli became engaged in a strength testing competition with Pika Pika while Ngilai had a fun time picking up a dry piece of wood and tossing it into the air. His game caught Embu’s attention and she came to watch him.
At noon the orphans had a lovely time playing at the waterhole. Godoma lay in the water and Emoli ran in to join her and engage her in a sparring session. Ndotto then tried to engage Emoli in a game, but Emoli wasn’t interested, and used Rorogoi to get away from Ndotto and exit the water. Godoma stayed in the mud bath longer than the rest and welcomed a visiting wild herd for a wallow before joining the rest of the orphan herd for the afternoon browsing session.
It was a bright beginning to the day with the sun shining as the orphans left the stockade for the Park following the milk and supplement feeding. Mbegu took charge of the group leading them up Msinga Hill for the morning browsing session.
As noon approached it got warmer, making the orphans thirsty, and they quickly made their way to the noon milk feeding area for their milk bottles, after which they headed to the waterhole. Lasayen lay down near the feeding area to play. His friends watched him for a short while before making their way to the water trough for a drink of water. After a brief mud bathing session, Lasayen exited the water to enjoy rolling around on the ground with Mbegu coming to sit on his back, while Godoma enjoyed a partial mud bath at the edge of the waterhole.
A wild elephant herd came running towards the waterhole while the orphans were still wallowing. Upon seeing the wild herd running towards them, the orphans swiftly exited the water and started making their way out to begin the afternoon browsing session. Ndotto and Sagala remained at the waterhole for a while to welcome the wild herd and interact with them before leaving to rejoin the orphan herd.
It was an active beginning to the day for the orphans who came running out of their stockades and made a beeline for the milk feeding area where they grabbed their morning milk bottle downing the contents in a matter of seconds. There were some brief games on the red earth piles before the orphans headed out for the day.
The Voi orphans browsed slowly and peacefully grabbing as much to eat as they could, as it is fast drying out and the vegetation no longer has the same nutritious qualities as when it is greener.
Emoli, Pika Pika, Murit and Tahri were the first ones to arrive at the noon milk feeding area, finishing their bottles before the others arrived. There was not much happening at the waterhole today. Rorogoi was the most active of the orphans in the water, running and charging around. Murit left the water and made his way to the loose soil where he had fun playing before joining his friends who were ready to resume their browsing activities.
It was a lovely morning as the orphans exited their stockades to begin their day. They downed their morning milk bottles after which Araba, Sagala and Mashariki introduced the others to a game of hide and seek around the stockade compound before they all walked out to browse.
The morning browsing session was uneventful with Kenia spending her time browsing with Pika Pika while Ndii stuck close to Tahri. The three musketeers, Tagwa, Tamiyoi and Sagala were found browsing in one another’s company.
The orphan zebras, Diria and Nzuki, were the first to arrive at the noon milk feeding area where they had their milk bottle before the orphan elephants came in for their share. After the noon milk feed it was time for a mud bath with Rorogoi and Emoli showcasing their wallowing skills as they rolled around in the muddy water After the mud bath the orphans assembled at the soil piles where they enjoyed a dust bath with Rorogoi remaining in the water as she was having such fun wallowing, and wanted to show that she was the day’s mud bathing star.
It was another wonderful beginning to the day with the orphan elephants coming out of their respective stockades in a happy mood. They emptied the contents of their milk bottles before enjoying a game of hide and seek, following by a chasing game.
The journey out the bush took place under Tagwa, Tamiyoi and Sagala’s leadership. Arriving at the foot of Msinga Hill, Suswa, who was behind Tagwa and Tamiyoi, stopped to decide if she wanted to continue to follow her friends or head further up Msinga Hill for a private browsing session. She decided to follow the rest of the herd who had joined up with a big wild elephant bull who had seen Kenia and was making his way over to greet her. Kenia was not interested in the bull and quickly moved away, avoiding him completely. The wild bull then left the orphans and they continued to enjoy the morning browsing activities.
At noon the orphans made their way to the waterhole where they all enjoyed a mud bath. Ndotto and Rorogoi enjoyed playing at the edge of the mud bath while Arruba sat on the wall at the edge of the water and watched Pika Pika who was busy wallowing in the shallow end of the mud bath. Araba enjoyed a dust bath before Kenia came to join her and the two enjoyed playing in the soil together.
The morning began with the orphan elephants linking up for their morning milk bottles, after which they headed to the supplement feeding area where they enjoyed feeding on the Lucerne pellets which had been put out for them. Ishaq-B wanted to head out for the Park right after the supplement feeding was over but the rest of the orphans ignored her as they were busy engaging in soil dusting and scratching games around the stockade compound.
Once the stockade games were over the orphan herd made their way north of the stockade compound for the morning browsing session. They browsed their way to the bushier areas where they settled to feed for a while before making their way to the baobab tree waterhole. After a wonderful noon mud bath, Ndotto and Godoma lay side by side on the soil mounds where they became engaged in a dusting competition. Godoma picked up trunkful’s of dust which she then blew into the air and all over Ndotto.
As the orphans were preparing to leave the waterhole for the afternoon browsing session, a wild herd arrived for a drink of water. Tamiyoi joined them for a drink at the water trough before following her friends who were making their way to the browsing fields close to the waterhole where they spent the afternoon, until it was time to return to the safety of the stockades for the night.
It was a nice beginning to the day with the orphan elephants concentrating on their milk and supplement feeding before engaging in sparring games with Ndotto looking to take on Arruba for a strength testing game. Once the stockade fun and games were done and dusted, the orphan heard made their way out to begin the days browsing activities.
After the noon milk feed the orphans all enjoyed a mud bath followed by a dust bathing session. Ngilai went looking for his friend and sparring partner Emoli to engage him a pushing game before joining the rest of their friends for the afternoon browsing session.
Later in the afternoon, the Tsavo Mobile Veterinary Unit needed help from the Keepers at the Voi stockade to assist them in rescuing a young wild elephant calf that had become stuck in a drying mud hole at Aruba Ashnil safari lodge. The calf’s family was understandably quite upset and aggressive but the team managed to temporarily move them away so that they could then rescue the calf. The team was then thankfully able to reunite the calf with its mother and wild elephant family who were happy to have the baby safely back with them.
The day began as usual for the orphans who exited their stockades and downed their morning milk bottles before enjoying the supplements that had been put out for them. They then enjoyed playing around the stockade compound before heading out for the day. Arruba stopped to strip bark off some acacia trees before catching up with the rest of the group.
After the noon milk feed it was time for some fun and games in the wallow. Emoli enjoyed playing with Godoma who allowed him to climb on her back and rest there. Ngilai went and scratched against the big baobab tree with Godoma coming in for a turn once she was done playing with Emoli. Pika Pika remained in the mud bath awhile longer than the rest coming out only when she saw that they were moving away from the wallow to begin the afternoon browsing session.
In the evening, once the orphans had returned to the stockade compound Kenia, Ndii and Araba went straight to the stockade water trough where they enjoyed cooling down as it was a rather warm evening and they wanted to cool off before settling down for the night.
The orphan elephants came rushing out of their stockades this morning eager to begin their day and have their morning milk bottles. They then settled to enjoy the Lucerene grass pellets that the Keepers had put out for them before engaging in games around the stockade compound.
Mbegu took the lead of the orphan herd today. On the way out she noticed that Ivia and Cheza the buffaloes were following her, and she stopped and doubled back to chase them away.
The orphans spent the morning browsing peacefully until it was time to head to the baobab tree waterhole for their noon milk bottle followed by a mud bath. Emoli and Godoma seemed to be having the most fun as they rolled around in the muddy water until Araba came and interrupted their game for no particular reason. Godoma then exited the water and enjoyed playing in a small muddy hole for a while and when she was done, Kenia came and had a turn.
It was another wonderful beginning to the day with the stockade dependant orphan elephants concentrating on their morning milk and supplement feeding before taking off out to the Park to browse.
It was a warm, sunny day with the sun shining brightly which had Mbegu, Emoli and Godoma taking a break from browsing to seek refuge in some shade under a small tree. Pika Pika, Emoli, Godoma, Murit and Ngilai were the first of the orphan herd to come running to the baobab tree waterhole for their afternoon milk bottles. Everyone downed their share before the orphans made their way to the water trough to have a drink of water before engaging in mud bathing games.
Once they were done wallowing they headed to the soil mounds where Mashariki enjoyed playing with Ndoria, with Rorogoi coming in after they were done to enjoy a solo dust bath. The afternoon browsing session took place to the west of the waterhole.
It was over cast this morning as the orphans exited their stockades and walked over to the milk feeding area for the morning milk bottles after which the orphans enjoyed feeding on the supplement foods put out for them. Arruba, Suswa, Araba, Murit and Ngilai then lay on the ground, trying to extract its warmth, as it was rather chilly.
Tagwa, Sagala and Tamiyoi took the lead of the orphan herd out towards the Park for the day. Sagala set a fast pace which found her way ahead of the others and eventually she stopped to give them all a chance to catch up with her. The orphans browsed their way to the baobab tree waterhole where they had their noon milk feed before proceeding for a mud bath.
Ndotto was the star of the show at the mud bath today as he rolled around in the water with Mbegu standing nearby watching him play. Godoma exited the water and headed to the mounds of soil where she lay on the ground and rolled around, enjoying a solitary dusting session away from the others.
Once the fun and games at the waterhole were done and dusted the orphans made their way to the eastern foot of Msinga Hill where they spent the afternoon browsing before returning to the safety of the stockades for the night.
The day began as usual with the morning milk and supplement feeding after which the orphans became involved in various games around the stockade compound. Mashariki and Mudanda led the orphan herd out to the Park today with Kenia sticking close to her new adopted baby Pika Pika who she did not let out of her sight.
The orphan elephants browsed their way slowly to the waterhole arriving in time for their noon milk bottles after which they plunged into the mud bath for some fun and games. Emoli has become known for wanting to ride on Godoma’s back when in the water and today was no exception. Ngilai came and got Emoli down off of Godoma by engaging him in a sparring session. The two then exited the water which allowed Embu to take centre stage at the mud bath as she sat and rolled around in the water showcasing her bathing skills. Suswa enjoyed a scratching session against the baobab tree before joining her friends who were heading back out for the afternoon browsing session.
Emoli, Godoma and Pika Pika came charging out of their stockade and ran to the milk feeding area for their morning milk bottle. The two eager beavers were followed by the rest of the orphans and once the milk feeding was over the milk dependent orphans joined their older friends at the Lucerne pellet feeding area.
Tagwa and Tamiyoi took up position at the soil mounds while Mbegu visited the stockade waterhole where she splashed water over herself before joining Tagwa and Tamiyoi for a dust bath. It was a warm morning with Pika Pika lying at the edge of the stockade waterhole where she used her trunk to suck up water and spray it over her body. Sagala came and gently tried to push Pika Pika into the water for a mud bath but Pika Pika simply got to her feet and walked away.
The orphan herd together with the orphan zebras and buffaloes left the stockade compound for the Park. They all browsed their way to the baobab tree waterhole where they had their milk and went for a mud bath. As the orphans’ wallowing session was coming to an end, a wild herd of elephants arrived at the waterhole for a drink. Tamiyoi and Sagala approached the herd, under the pretense of joining them for a drink, when in actual fact they were both plotting on how they could get close to the tiny wild elephant calves that were among the wild group. Mbegu and Tundani each become engaged with a wild friend for a sparring session after which the orphan herd left to continue with the browsing activities for the remainder of the day.
It was business as usual for the orphans this morning as they started the day with the milk and supplement feeding as soon as they exited their stockades. Tagwa then went and lay on the soil mounds where she became so relaxed that she closed her eyes and dozed off momentarily. Mashariki, Kenia, Araba, Emoli and Mudanda approached Tundani and they all went to join Tagwa at the dust pile. Ndotto was busy sparring with Mbegu while Ndii was enjoying a scratching session against the favourite rock. Ndoria came up to Ndii and tried to get her to move away as she felt that Ndii was taking too long and she wanted to have a turn before it was time to head to the Park.
After browsing for two hours, Ngilai and Emoli took a break from browsing to enjoy a sparring match. When Emoli got tired of playing he went and hid his face behind Ngilai’s ear. At the noon mud bath a wild elephant herd came for a drink just as the orphans were leaving to resume their browsing activities. Mbegu went back to join the wild herd in an effort to try and steal the wild calves and play with them while they were all having a drink. Godoma and Tamiyoi joined tried to do the same but all three were prevented from getting too close to the calves by the older elephants in the herd who knew exactly what the orphans were up to.
It was a happy morning for the orphans who enjoyed playing games around the stockade compound following the milk and supplement feeding. Ndii enjoyed scratching against a big rock while Mashariki enjoyed scratching against the orphans’ favourite rock. Emoli, who was standing on one of the stockade terraces, tried to ride on Pika Pika’s back. This was a dangerous thing to do as Pika Pika was standing below the terrace and if she moved Emoli could end up getting injured. Thankfully Pika Pika realized the danger posed to Emoli and made sure to stand completely still. Sagala came in to warn Emoli and got him to stop what he was doing, after which she escorted Pika Pika away, thus removing the temptation from Emoli.
After a morning spent browsing the orphans headed to the baobab tree waterhole where they had their noon milk feed followed by a drink from the water trough before enjoying a mud bath. Emoli came out of the waterhole to roll around on the ground while Arruba and Pika Pika enjoyed playing in a small hole near the waterhole where they enjoyed a dusting session.
This morning the orphans concentrated on their milk and supplement feeding following a peaceful night spent in the safety of their stockades. Ndotto tried to engage Pika Pika in a sparring session but Pika Pika was not interested and ran off. The orphan herd all followed Tagwa, Sagala and Tamiyoi out to the Park.
Emoli, Embu and Tagwa settled to browse at foot of the northern side of Msinga Hill while the rest of their friends headed half way up the hill for the morning browsing session. They all came down when it was time for the noon milk feed and as a group made their way to the baobab tree waterhole where they had their milk and then made their way to the mud bath.
The orphans had a wonderful time in the water as the rolled around in the mud trumpeting happily. When Ndoria came to join the others in the water they quickly exited, afraid that she would bite their tails; a habit she has been guilty of in the past but thankfully one that she seems to have stopped doing for the time being, but the memory still exists with the other orphans who are still a little wary of her! Mbegu and Godoma enjoyed a wonderful dust bath before the orphan herd all left the waterhole to begin the afternoon browsing session.
The morning began with Mbegu, Godoma and Sagala holding Emoli trapped behind them when the Keepers came to let the orphans out of their stockades in the morning. Perhaps the reason for them doing this is due to the fact that Emoli is usually the first one to come running out for the morning milk bottles and they wanted to prevent him from doing that today. Emoli tried to break through the barricade that they had formed but was unable to do so. There were not many games around the stockade compound this morning and the orphans left for the Park soon after the milk and supplement feeding was over.
Emoli and Ngilai had missed playing their usual strength testing game at the stockade compound this morning and soon became engaged in a sparring session in the Park, after which they continued browsing with the rest of the orphan herd.
At noon the orphans enjoyed their milk bottles and they visited the baobab tree waterhole for a mud bath. Ndotto enjoyed scratching against a tree close to the mud bath while Godoma scratched against the large baobab tree. A wild elephant herd came to have a drink of water from the trough with Mbegu, Tamiyoi and Sagala taking up strategic positions to greet the wild elephant calves. The wild herd left soon after quenching their thirst. Emoli surprised Tamiyoi by trying to drink water from her mouth as opposed to the water trough. The afternoon browsing session took place close to the waterhole.
The morning began with the usual milk and supplement feeding after which the orphans enjoyed playing around the stockade compound. Murit enjoyed a scratching session against the orphan’s favourite rock while Tahri lay on the red earth piles for a dust bath while Kenia and Ndii watched over her, and Tagwa and Tamiyoi watched her rolling games.
The orphan elephants left the compound for the Park and slowly browsed their way to the baobab tree waterhole for the noon milk feed. Pika Pika wanted to take on Ngilai for a sparring session after Ngilai tried to steal her milk bottle when he had finished his share. The orphans were having lots of fun playing in the mud bath until Ndoria plunged into the water and lay down to play with them. This resulted in some of the orphans leaving the waterhole to avoid her as they still worry that she will bite their tails.
There were some wild elephant herds browsing close to the waterhole. Emoli went to join the wild groups and enjoyed playing with some wild calves before rejoining his friends who were ready to resume their browsing activities.
The morning was fairly cold as the stockade dependent orphan elephants left the stockade compound for the Park following the milk feed and having some supplement food provided by the Keepers. They browsed in single file along the northern area of Msinga Hill as they explored the area. They browsed as slowly as they could in an effort to get as much vegetation to fill their stomachs as possible.
At the waterhole the orphans had a lovely time playing in the water following the noon milk feed. They then also enjoyed playing on the piles of loose soil, with Tagwa sitting on her best friend Sagala who was busy rolling around in the loose soil. Mbegu and Tagwa are forming a better relationship with Mbegu giving Tagwa more of a leading role along with Sagala, something that pleases the two no end. Emoli was still busy playing in the water when his friends left the waterhole to resume their browsing activities. The young boy naughtily tried to prevent a teenage wild bull from approaching the water trough for a drink but was unsuccessful in doing so and ran off to join his orphan elephant friends before the older bull could reprimand him.
It was a warm morning for the orphans today and they enjoyed playing around the stockade compound following the milk and Lucerne pellet feeding after which they started the journey out to the Park. Mudanda was busy scratching her leg against a rock while Pika Pika and Ngilai became engaged in a sparring session and after they had to run to catch up with their friends who had already left the stockade compound.
The orphans browsed their way to the baobab tree waterhole where they had their noon milk feed before heading down to the waterhole. The mud bath games were enjoyed to the max by each of the orphans. After the bathing games were over Ngilai engaged Tagwa in a sparring session.
As the orphans were preparing to leave to resume their browsing activities a teenage female wild elephant arrived on her own for a drink from the water trough. It is a little abnormal for a female elephant to be on her own but the Keepers suspected that the rest of her herd was not far away and sure enough they came to the waterhole a short while later. In the meantime the wild cow had followed the orphans and browsed near them before rejoining her herd that were drinking at the waterhole.
It was a wonderful morning as the stockade dependent orphan elephants gathered at the milk feeding area where they downed their milk bottles before making their way to the Lucerne pellet feeding area. Tagwa left the Lucerne feeding area and went to the loose soil where she sat on top of one of the piles to enjoy a dust bath. Ivia and Cheza the buffaloes came to the stockade water hole for a drink, with Ivia sitting in the water trough for a quick wallow.
The orphan elephants, buffalo and zebra all left the stockade together for the Park and the browsing grounds. At the baobab tree waterhole at noon Godoma exited the mud bath and found Ivia relaxing inside the small hole that the elephants often enjoy playing in. She quickly ousted him from the hole and took it over for herself. Mbegu then came and expelled Godoma from the hole before enjoying playing in it herself.
In the afternoon Ngilai found Ivia and Cheza seeking refuge from the sun by relaxing under the shade offered by a small tree and wanted to play with them, so he chose to chase them from their shady spot so they would stand and engage him. The elephant orphans spent the afternoon browsing before returning to the safety of the stockades for the night.
It was another wonderful morning with the orphan elephants running out of their stockade and making a bee line for the milk feeding area where they downed their morning milk bottles before heading to the supplement feeding area where they enjoyed munching on Lucerne grass pellets.
The orphans enjoyed playing around the stockade compound before heading out to the Park for the day.
Soon after arriving in the browsing fields Ivia and Cheza the buffaloes enjoyed a sparring session. Mbegu saw them playing and went to lie near them on a loose pile of soil where she enjoyed a dust bath. The rest of the morning was spent browsing before heading to the baobab tree waterhole at noon.
Arriving at the waterhole the orphans had their milk feed and headed to the mud bath where they were joined by a wild herd that came to drink from the water trough. One teenage wild elephant bull chased Ivia away when he went to greet them. Surprisingly Tundani bravely came to Ivia’s rescue, preventing the wild bull from getting to him. Cheza came and joined Ivia and together they felt brave enough to go and have a drink together with the wild group of elephants.
The stockade-dependent orphan elephants exited their stockade this morning full of joy and eager to begin the day with the usual milk and supplement feeding. It was then time for fun and games around the stockade compound. Tagwa and Tamiyoi enjoyed playing on the red earth piles as did Emoli who picked up soil with his trunk, tossing is skyward and creating a huge cloud of dust which had the others moving away from him.
The orphans headed out to the Park and spent the morning browsing before slowly making their way to the waterhole at noon. No wild elephants joined the orphan herd today but there was a herd of wild zebra that were waiting nearby for the orphans to leave so that they could come in for a drink. The orphans had a brief mud bath before leaving the waterhole area to continue with the days browsing activities.
The beginning of the morning was quiet as the orphans concentrated on their usual milk and supplement feeding. Ndotto then went to the stockade terraces where he knelt down to get down from there in order to join up with Arruba and engage her in a sparring session. Tundani intercepted him and took him to task in a strength testing game.
The orphans left the stockade for the Park and spent the morning browsing in single file before heading to the waterhole at noon. It was a rather cloudy day and the orphans did not wallow much, choosing instead to enjoy playing dust bathing games.
Two hours after the orphan elephants, zebra and buffalo had left the waterhole to spend the afternoon browsing on the western side of Msinga Hill, the Keepers noticed two lions walking not far behind the group. The Keepers immediately radioed the stockades and a back up vehicle was sent, which was used to drive the lions away from the orphan herd while the Keepers moved the orphan herd towards the safer southern side of Msinga Hill for the rest of the days browsing activities.
The milk-dependent orphan elephants were up bright and early this morning, exiting their stockades to grab their morning milk bottles with Mbegu’s herd of six being the first to arrive followed a few minutes later by Pika Pika, Sagala and Tahri.
The orphans then headed out to the Park where Ngilai and Emoli became engaged in a sparring session which Emoli won. Emoli celebrated his victory over Ngilai by playing on the ground, at which point Ngilai chose to climb on Emoli’s back.
The orphans made their way to the northern side of Msinga Hill where the lions were again spotted. The Keepers again called for backup from the stockade and the vehicle soon arrived and escorted the orphan elephants, zebra and buffalo to the southern side of the stockade. The orphans spent the day not far from the stockades where they had a drink from the water trough before enjoying a mud and dust bath.
The day began with the milk-dependent orphans running out of their night quarters straight to the milk feeding area where they downed their milk bottles before joining their older friends for the Lucerne pellet supplement feeding.
Today the orphans spent the morning browsing on the southern side of Msinga Hill, where the Keepers kept a keen eye out for any lions. The mobile veterinary team was also on patrol searching for the lions in order to try and move them away from the area.
The orphan elephants, buffalo and zebra all returned to the stockade compound at noon where they had their milk bottles and engaged in various games. They enjoyed mud bathing in the waterhole before having a soil dusting, after which they resumed their browsing activities. Later in the afternoon they all took a break from browsing to play. Ndotto engaged both Tundani and Arruba in separate sparring sessions while Ngilai enjoyed playing with a stick which he tossed into the air several times. When the fun and games were over, the orphan herd all returned to the safety of the stockades for the night.
This morning the orphans came running out of their stockades eager to begin their day. The milk-dependent orphans gathered at the milk feeding area where they downed their milk bottles before joining the rest of the stockade dependent orphans at the supplement feeding area. Ngilai engaged Emoli in a sparring session after which the orphans began the days browsing activities on the southern foot of Msinga Hill.
Just to be cautious of the lions in the area, the orphans returned to the stockade compound for their noon milk feed again and to enjoy a drink of water from the water trough. They then all enjoyed wallowing in the waterhole before heading back towards the southern foot of Msinga Hill for the afternoon browsing session. It was a rather warm day and the orphans ended up taking refuge under the acacia trees where they browsed by stretching their trunks up to the branches to feed on acacia leaves.
The orphans were in a joyful mood this morning as they exited the stockade for their morning milk bottles and supplement feeding. As the orphans headed out for the day it started drizzling which slowed them down a little and Tamiyoi took the opportunity to enjoy a scratching session against a big rock while she waited for the other orphans to catch up with her.
The orphan herd browsed their way to the baobab tree waterhole at noon where they had their milk bottles and made their way down to the mud bath. As it was a cold day they were reluctant to wallow and soon they were ready to return to their browsing activities. As the orphans were preparing to leave a wild elephant herd came to the waterhole for a drink of water and once they had their fill and were leaving, Ivia and Cheza the buffaloes decided to follow them. The orphan elephants followed as well in an effort to get Ivia and Cheza back, but were unsuccessful in their attempts so the Keepers intervened and got the two buffaloes to rejoin the orphan herd, and that way ensured that they were safe from any lions that may be in the area.
This morning, Tahri enjoying a scratching session against a rock following the morning milk and supplement feeding. She enjoyed scratching her belly before joining the rest of the orphans who were ready to head out to the Park for the day. The group slowly browsed their way to the baobab tree waterhole where they downed their milk bottles before making their way to the water trough to have a drink of clean water. As it was another cold day none of the orphans wanted to wallow which seemed to upset Embu the most as she stood near the mud bath biting her trunk showing her displeasure at not being able to enter the water.
Buffaloes Ivia and Cheza were busy wrestling head on as they engaged one another in a strength testing competition. Once they were done playing they followed the orphan elephants back to their browsing grounds for the afternoon feeding session. Ngilai and Emoli later took a break from feeding to enjoy a sparring session which Murit came to watch. In the evening the orphans returned to the safety of the stockades for the night.
It was drizzling lightly this morning when the orphan elephants came out of their stockades this morning to have their milk bottles. Ngilai walked up a mound of loose soil to slide down the side with his best friend Emoli.
While out browsing, the orphans decided to pause along the southern side of Msinga Hill for some fun and games. Emoli was playing in some mud with Godoma, while Tahri climbed on Mbegu who was also on the ground playing. Tamiyoi, Ndii and Murit all took up position against separate rocks to enjoy scratching themselves.
After the noon milk feed, Ngilai surprised his elephant friends by playing with Ivia the buffalo again. When he was done with their sparring game, Ngilai curled his trunk around Ivia’s neck in a friendly way, and held him close.
The stockade-dependent orphan elephants hung around the stockade compound after their milk and supplement feeding. Lasayen enjoyed scratching on the favourite rock in the compound, while Arruba walked around seemingly very much excited about something, swinging her trunk from side to side and rumbling.
Soon after the orphans arrived out in the bush, Ngilai went looking for his new best friend Ivia the buffalo to enjoy a sparring game. The orphans visited the baobab tree water hole in the afternoon to have their milk bottles and have a drink of water, but they didn’t mud bath because it was quite cool today. Later in the afternoon, Ivia chose to take on Mbegu for a sparring game but Ngilai intervened and intercepted Ivia to replace Mbegu in the game. Sagala came downhill running to catch up with her friends who were already making their way back to the stockade compound for the night as she had been left behind browsing.