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The orphans went for some lucerne breakfast soon after leaving the stockades. Several wild bulls were milling around, along with Naisula, Nyx, Mteto, Esampu, Kenze, Kalama, Mutara, Kithaka, Mambo, Suguta, Sities, Nasalot, Nusu, Kainuk, Turkwel and Chaimu. After having enough lucerne, Sagateisa led the way out. Roho, Naboishu, Dololo, Larro and Kinyei passed by the water trough to drink enough water to see them through the entire morning. Olorien lagged behind with the ex-orphans and followed her friends later. After the orphans left two buffaloes showed up and joined the wild elephants drinking water.

Musiara teamed up with Lodo to browse while Olorien settled to browse with Roho. Esoit, as usual, engaged Bondeni in a strength testing match. It was nice to see Zurura when he joined the orphans briefly on his way towards the Ithumba compound for a drink. The orphans raised their trunks to acknowledge Zurura but quickly got back to browsing.

Kindani led the way to the mud bath for the noon milk feed and after their bottles, the orphans joined some wild bulls in the mud bath. When they were done swimming, Ambo led the group to drink some fresh water. Kindani busied herself on the loose soil while her friends drank and only after the group left did she decide to go for a drink herself. By the time she went for a drink the wild bulls had moved back into place and she felt she couldn’t access the water trough. Kindani raised her front foot from time to time and turned to face the Keepers, signalling that she needed help accessing the water. The Keepers understood her message and came forward to request the wild bulls to make way so that little Kindani could have a drink as well. The bulls stepped back as Kindani ran happily to the water trough to quench her thirst.

On the way back out to the bush, Lodo engaged Roho in a pushing game that ended in a draw. The dependent orphans were joined by Mutara’s group for a short while. It was very hot and the orphans took a break from feeding to relax under a tree until it was cooler. Olorien led the way back to the stockades in the evening.

The drier it gets, the more elephants we have visiting in search of water. Perhaps they can smell it, and some already know they will always find water at our water troughs. The damp ground and pools of water from the rain two days ago have already dried up completely; even water collected amongst the rocks has evaporated. More elephants showed up this morning and joined the orphans for their lucerne supplement food. A totally new wild herd who we have never seen before also visited the stockade water troughs. The herd hastily drank water, looking all around them at the unfamiliar sight of little elephants and their human carers, before leaving and heading south east. After the orphans had enough lucerne, Naleku, followed by Suguroi, led the way out.

The orphans settled to browse in the Kanziku area. At around ten o'clock in the morning, Naserian, Njema, Wendi, Wiva Wema, Wimbi, Galana and Gawa, who have been away for almost a month, passed by where the orphans were feeding as they headed towards the stockade compound. The dependent orphans only raised their trunks up to acknowledge the presence of the ex-orphans passing by, as they didn’t want to pause their browsing session.

At mud bath time Kinyei led the first group for their midday milk feed. After finishing their milk, the orphans were joined by more ex-orphans: Mulika, Mkuu, Mwende, Naisula, Nyx, Esampu, Mteto, Maramoja, Roi, Siangiki, Oltaiyoni, Ithumbah, Iman and Naseku. Twenty-five bulls were also present at the mud bath. Sagateisa played with Iman for a short while before rejoining her friends. Later in the afternoon the orphans decided to visit the small roadside mud bath to cool off again before proceeding to browse. The rest of the day was quiet as the orphans browsed calmly without wrestling or playing too much. 

Some ex-orphans and a few wild bulls joined in to feed on lucerne this morning. As soon as it was finished, Suguroi led the dependent orphans out for the day. Olorien came across a nice rock that she used to scratch her belly on. Sattao settled for a soil dusting exercise as Kuishi teamed up with Esoit to browse together. Lodo, who happens to share a stockade with Olorien, tried joining her so they could feed together. Olorien blocked Lodo from sharing the same shrub as her and pushed him away. Clearly despite sharing a stockade, Olorien doesn’t feel particularly close to Lodo. Lodo didn’t complain but simply walked away looking a little dejected.

It had been a hot morning and Olorien hastily led the way for the noon milk feed. After finishing their milk, all the orphans jumped into the mud bath to cool off. Shortly later they were joined by Olsekki, Galla, Mapia, Naisula, Nyx, Esampu, Mteto, Ndiwa, Rapa, Kauro, Barsilinga, Mteto and Oltaiyoni. Galla engaged Rapa in a pushing game while still in the mud bath, hoping that might give him some advantage over the feisty Rapa! It worked and Rapa surrendered, leaving the mud bath. Musiara and Olsekki got out of the water.

In the afternoon the orphans settled to browse west of Ithumba Hill. Bondeni took a break from feeding and relaxed under a tree until the temperature dropped to a more favourable level. In the evening Kindani led the way home for the night.