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A wild elephant and buffalo arrived at dawn and found that all the water in the troughs was finished. They took a nap nearby until the ever-busy water bowser arrived and replenished the troughs. The elephants and buffalo were happy to drink their fill. 

The dependent orphans were let out of their night stockades soon after finishing their morning milk bottles. Nabulu walked down to the water trough and stretched her trunk to sniff at the buffalo. She prudently didn't want to run into trouble with the buffalo, however, so she walked back to enjoy her lucerne. 

Ex orphans Rapsu and Galla were the guests of honour at lucerne feeding time. Kauro and Mundusi decided to have a warmup strength-testing exercise, in which Kauro emerged the winner. 

Later, when the orphans were busy browsing, Enkikwe decided to take a break and engage Mundusi in a pushing game. Roi took this opportunity to replace Suguta and Sities as Dololo’s caretaker. It was quiet when the orphans made their way to the mud bath, as only six wild bulls showed up. The orphans enjoyed themselves in the water before going to dust themselves and dry off at the pile of loose soil. Just as the dependent orphans were preparing to leave, Yatta and her herd arrived at the mud bath accompanied by a wild herd. This didn’t change anything for the younger orphans, however, and they proceeded with their plan to go browse. Esampu was in a playful mood and kept trying to chase a bird that persistently hovered above her. 

Mutara and her herd joined the orphans early in the morning for the lucerne feeding. This meant Dololo was the happiest little orphan, of course, because his adopted big sisters were around. An hour later, the ex-orphans in Mutara’s herd parted ways with the dependent orphans. Pare engaged Rapa in a pushing game that ended when Pare surrendered. Kauro rolled on the ground while Ambo settled to browse with Malima. Enkikwe, Galla and Sapalan walked away from the others where they settled to browse together for their own little ‘boy’ chat. At one point, Sapalan had a disagreement with Enkikwe and was pushed away. The talks broke up and the boys went their separate ways. Esampu and Mteto led the way out to browse for the day. 

The weather was chilly today and when the orphans went to the mud bath at noon, only five wild bulls showed up. The orphans decided to skip the wallowing session due to the weather, and instead just drank some water before going back to browsing. Mutara’s herd, along with ex-orphan Taita, Oltaiyoni, Tusuja, Roi, Olsekki and Siangiki, showed up to the mud bath just as the dependent orphans were leaving. These Class Five members love to spend time with the ex-orphans and rarely come to the mud bath, as they have been weaned off their milk. However, it appears that Mutara’s group convinced them to come today. Sities, Malkia and Roi escorted Dololo out to browse, which made him a very happy little elephant. 

The clouds cleared in the afternoon, giving way to sunshine. Nabulu, Maramoja, Musiara and Malkia decided to take a break from browsing to relax under a tree. At five o'clock in the evening, Nabulu led the way back to the stockades. The Class Five members reported back later at night.

Fifteen wild bulls were drinking water outside the compound when the orphans were let out. Sities and Suguta were patiently waiting outside for Dololo. Ambo tried to take a shortcut to the lucerne store but was told by the Keepers to walk with his friends outside and wait to be served like everyone else. 

After having their fill, the orphans walked out to browse in the company of Mutara’s herd. Pare and Sapalan teamed up together to browse. Before long, however they seemed to develop some differences which they decided to resolve through a pushing game. Pare was defeated and decided to walk away. Due to the very dry current climate, Mteto got down on her knees so that she could uproot a tasty root with her teeth. She had her eye on the root for a while and couldn’t pull it out with her trunk. Ambo browsed with Kamok while Rapa teamed up with Kauro. 

It was very hot when the orphans went to the mud bath. Thirty-two wild bulls were there, too. Kauro decided to skip the wallowing session again. Mutara arrived with her group as well as the Class Five members and had a spectacular time wallowing. Swimming was followed by a soil dusting exercise and thereafter, the orphans disappeared back out into the bush to continue with their afternoon of browsing. Kauro lagged behind and only decided to follow his friends later. 

In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse in the Kanziku area, where they can still find good vegetation to eat. Mutara’s herd walked off with the Class Five members. Mteto, Karisa, Mundusi and Mapia took a break from feeding to relax under a tree. 

In the evening, shortly before going back to the stockades, Esampu became annoyed by some chattering baboons that were passing close by. Esampu charged with her ears raised towards the baboons. She was backed by Wanjala, Rapa, Galla and Ndiwa. The baboons didn’t want to hang around to be trampled on by the orphans, so they ran away and climbed up the nearest trees. 22 wild bulls, including Dad, showed up for water at the stockade water troughs. Later, the wild bulls were joined by Yatta, Yoyo, Yetu, Mulika, Mwende, Mkuu, Ithumbah, Loijuk, Lili and Mutara's herd. 

Ithumbah, Yatta, Yoyo, Yetu, Tomboi, Loijuk, Lili and Kitirua were there to greet the orphans in the morning. When Roi came out of her stockade, she had a brief chat with young Yoyo. Their conversation didn’t seem to go well, however, as it soon led to a disagreement which developed into a pushing fight. Yoyo's elder sister, Yetu — who is never far from the young boy — quickly separated the quarreling pair and warned them not to misbehave. Roi and Yoyo went their separate ways. 

Mulika, Mwende, Mkuu, Naisula, Kilabasi and Kilaguni arrived just as the dependent orphans were making their way out. Karisa spotted a buffalo and caused a stand-off by not allowing the buffalo to pass. Eventually, the buffalo ran off and Karisa looked pleased with the outcome. He didn't make the point of pursuing the buffalo and followed his friends instead. 

Malkia teamed up with Musiara and Dololo to browse. A short while later, Dololo moved off to play with Mapia. Pare took a break from feeding to have a solo game, digging at a bank of soil with his tusks and dusting himself. Jotto then joined him and before long he initiated a sparring contest. It didn't last long, as the orphans moved off in the direction of the mud bath for their noon milk feed.

Only Dololo, Karisa, Musiara, Enkikwe, Esampu and Ambo decided to wallow in the mud bath today. Taita, Tomboi and Challa soon showed up in the company of a few wild bulls. Given that it was quite cool, the orphans didn't stay for long at the mud bath. Ndiwa led the way back out to browse. The afternoon was quiet as the orphans concentrated on browsing without any major distractions. At five o'clock in the evening, Nabulu led the way back to the stockades for the night. 

It was a quiet morning, as the orphans enjoyed feeding on lucerne alone without any ex-orphans or wild elephants about. Kauro had a scratch while Malima shared a drink with a wild bull. The babies walked out to the bush with Jotto and Mundusi playfighting along the way. Malkia, Musiara and Dololo were being very affectionate towards one another, patting each other with their trunks. Musiara went on to scratch against a tree, while Esampu and Dololo had a playfight. 

Loijuk and her baby, Lili, visited the mud bath while the orphans were there. Most of the orphans wallowed in the mud bath after having their milk bottles, as it was quite warm. Later, they came out and walked straight to the pile of loose soil to dry off. As usual, Kauro didn’t play in the water but demanded attention from Malkia. Mapia had a good wallowing session and later really enjoyed the dust bath; he lay at the top of the mound and almost seemed to fall asleep there! There were a lot of wild bulls today who were happily wallowing in the mud bath while the orphans were there. 

Back in the bush, Enkikwe browsed with Mundusi while Jotto relaxed against a tree as he browsed at the same time. He later started playing with Ambo, rolling around on the ground. Pare led the orphans home for the evening. 

When the orphans arrived at the stockades, they found some wild bulls there, along with a female with a newborn. Ex-orphan Kitirua was with them, acting as a wonderful nanny towards the wild baby.

It was another blessed day at Ithumba, as we woke up to yet another gift, this time presented to us by Naserian. Naserian stood outside the stockade compound with her new bundle of joy, a baby girl. Naserian was accompanied by Wendi, Wiva, Wema, Sunyei and Siku — a group that was last seen back in April. Wiva was acting as nanny to Naserian's baby, just as Naserian had looked after her when she was a baby. Malkia and Sana Sana tried to get close to the baby, but were blocked by Wiva. Kauro, as usual, took his own share of lucerne and went to stand on his own, to avoid being disturbed by the others. Pare joined a wild bull to have some water. Ambo, Mapia, Esampu and Karisa took a break on the way out to browse and scratched against some rocks. 

Barsilinga, Roi, Naseku, Tusuja, Oltaiyoni, Olsekki and Siangiki followed Naserian and her herd, perhaps in an attempt to spend some time with the new baby. The dependent orphans settled to browse in the Kanziku area. It is still dry, so the orphans concentrated mostly on browsing. Sattao, Musiara and Jotto took a break from browsing to have fun by rolling on the ground. 

Later at the mud bath, the orphans only had their milk bottles and some water before going straight back out to browse without swimming. In the afternoon, Dololo dodged the Keepers and couldn't be found anywhere, right up to when it was time to return home. The Keepers hoped he had run away to be with his older adopted sisters, but to their surprise, Mutara’s herd was waiting at the stockades without the boy. The only hope now remained with the Class Five members, because Roi happens to be a close friend of Dololo’s whenever the big girls are absent. At around 8.30pm, much to our relief, Dololo arrived back at the stockades with the Class Five members. It's not clear how he managed to sneak away and walk miles away to join up with this group, but all the same, we were very happy when Dololo returned to join his stockades-mates Ambo, Jotto and Sattao.

A wild herd was waiting outside the stockade compound this morning. Mapia walked to one of the water troughs to help himself to water. Rapa went to the second trough, while Karisa joined a wild bull at the third one. 

On the way out to browse this morning, Malima, Nabulu and Sattao settled for scratching as Galla enjoyed a soil dusting exercise. Tusuja teamed up to browse with Mteto, while Sapalan took a break from feeding to dust himself with some cool soil. Pare climbed up a rock to to make himself taller, so he could reach higher leaves. Nabulu ran in trouble with Sattao when she tried to reach for a shrub that he had his eyes on. Nabulu apologised to Sattao, as it wasn't her intention to take from him and she just didn't know he had interests in the same shrub. Nabulu walked away to search for something else nice to eat. 

Sana Sana led the way to the mud bath. The temperature was moderate and only a few orphans participated in wallowing. Sana Sana, Pare, Mteto, Karisa, Sapalan and Esampu joined a wild bull relaxing under a tree. In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse along the Kalovoto seasonal river, which is dry at the moment. Rapa and Wanjala decided to go and look for their friend Galla, who spends most of his time with Barsilinga’s group these days. The two boys didn't return in the evening to join their friends. Roi, Oltaiyoni, Naseku and Kamok returned at 7pm. Barsilinga, Olsekki, Siangiki, Rapa, Wanjala and Tusuja spent the night out and returned in the wee hours of the morning. The gates were closed, so the six orphans relaxed outside, waiting for daybreak to rejoin their friends.