Choose your region

Ex-orphans Loijuk, Lili, Kitirua, Orwa, Naisula, Kilaguni, Bomani and Ishanga arrived to join the dependent orphans in the morning. Esampu, Nabulu and Sapalan had the wonderful opportunity to interact with Lili for a while, before she left to rejoin her mother. After feeding on lucerne, Sattao led the way out to browse. 

It was a quiet morning as all the orphans concentrated on browsing without any major distractions. Older orphans Orwa and Bomani chose to join the orphans for the entire morning. Ambo and Jotto decided to browse together, away from the others. Malima and Sana Sana joined them for a little while, before going to browse from a nice bush with their friend Malkia. Roi walked with Dololo through the bush slowly and escorted the little boy and his friend Musiara to some shade when they looked a little hot. Loijuk and her team joined the orphans again at the mud bath. It was hot today and all the orphans and ex-orphans decided to get into the mud bath to wallow which they really enjoyed. Even Kauro decided to get into the water today! Kamok and Karisa were the first to walk over to the piles of loose soil to dry off. 

In the evening, over seventy wild bulls showed up for water at the stockade compound. Nabulu led the way back to the stockades in the evening. None of the orphans decided to dodge the Keepers today and they all returned at the same time to go to bed for the night. 

Malima decided to stop and have a morning stretching exercise at the gate to the stockade compound. She got down on her knees and blocked the way. Jotto, who was following close behind, decided to climb on Malima to try to get past her and follow his friends. 

Two buffaloes showed up for water and had to share it with two wild elephant bulls who were also present. Shortly later, Rapsu emerged from the east and joined the orphans briefly before leaving again. Guinea fowls, who had flocked to stockade water trough for their morning drink, got it rough as Naseku, Sattao, Mundusi, Dololo and Rapa all decided to chase them. The opportunity to make these birds take flight is irresistible to them! The five orphans kept charging and trumpeting at them, trying to scare the birds away. Eventually, and much to the relief of the birds, they got tired and left the guinea fowls to do as they wished. 

Musiara teamed up with Malkia on the way out to the bush. Mundusi ran into trouble with our ‘stick carrier’, Kauro. Kauro has been christened with this name because of his habit of picking up sticks and carrying them with him each time he walks to get his milk bottles. We’re not sure when he might give up this habit, but we can’t help but think it might be when he is eventually weaned from his milk; only time will tell. Kauro fought with Mundusi when Mundusi tried to take food from his mouth. Kauro even went to the extent of climbing on Mundusi just to prove to him that he shouldn’t underestimate his strength. 

It was quite cool when the orphans made their way to the mud bath, so only half of the group decided to wallow in the water. Nabulu was the first one to get into the water followed by Ndiwa, Sana Sana, Mteto, Esampu, Malima, Ambo and Karisa. Shortly after the orphans left, Challa, in the company of Dad and other two other wild bull friends, reported to the mud bath to wallow as well. In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse along the upper Kalovoto seasonal river. In the evening, Nabulu led the first group back into the compound for the night, Sattao led the second and Esampu the third. 

Soon after leaving the stockade compound, the orphans were joined by Orwa, Bomani, Suguta and Kibo. Some wild elephant bulls were competing with some buffaloes over the water at the water troughs. Just as the buffaloes were leaving after eventually taking their fill, Sana Sana spotted them. Sana Sana decided to stop feeding on lucerne and instead chase after the buffaloes. She charged and trumpeted after them and the buffaloes, upon hearing the trumpets and seeing Sana Sana behind them, picked up their speed and sprinted away, kicking up dust as they fled. Sana Sana was ecstatic as she had single-handedly managed to drive the buffaloes away. Mapia engaged Jotto in a pushing game that ended in a draw. 

On the way out to browse, the orphans met with Tomboi, as he was on his way to the stockades for a drink. The orphans stepped aside to let him pass with their trunks raised in greeting. Tomboi didn't acknowledge the orphans’ greetings but did stop to say hello to Suguta, who was in the company of the orphans. It’s not clear why Suguta has left her own group of Sities, Mutara, Kainuk, Turkwel, Kithaka, Garzi and Lemoyian, for the time being. An hour later, Suguta, Orwa, Bomani and Kibo parted ways with the orphans, and took Barsilinga, Tusuja, Olsekki, Oltaiyoni, Roi, Naseku and Siangiki with them. Malima teamed up with Ambo and Dololo to browse. 

At mud bath time, the temperature was moderate. After finishing their milk, Maramoja stood with Musiara a few meters away from the others. Once Malkia joined them, Maramoja decided to leave Musiara under her care while she went to swim in the mud bath. Pare engaged Jotto in a pushing game but stopped when they saw Enkikwe walking towards them. Jotto then moved to play with Mapia. After drinking enough water, Nabulu moved close to some wild bulls that were relaxing under a tree. Nabulu just stared at the wild bulls for a while and then walked away. Mteto picked up a piece of bark peel from the ground and started playing with it. Esampu was standing close to her and stared at Mteto as if she had gone mad because the piece of bark was good food for eating, not playing with! Ambo walked with Kamok and engaged her in a lengthy conversation. 

In the afternoon, Mundusi played with Karisa while Pare played with Wanjala. Mapia dodged the Keepers and returned to the stockades early, where he met a lot of wild bulls drinking water. Mapia settled outside and enjoyed some lucerne on his own as he waited for his friends to return too. 

Malima walked out of her stockades with a leftover branch in her mouth that kept her busy as she waited for the morning lucerne breakfast. Sities, Mutara, Kainuk, Turkwel, Kanjoro, Kithaka, Lemoyian and Suguta were present this morning too. The ex-orphans shared lucerne with the orphans and shortly later, Rapa and Karisa had seemingly had enough, and started their journey out to the bush to browse. Three African wild dogs arrived unannounced, and this made all the orphans raise their trunks up in the air to find out more about the intruders. The wild dogs didn't waste any time and disappeared soon after taking enough water. The tension amongst the orphans died away and they soon followed Karisa and Rapa. 

Throughout the morning, Ndiwa played with Jotto while Ambo played with Nabulu. After having their noon milk feed, the orphans decided to swim in the mud bath. Shortly after the dependent orphans left, senior ex-orphans Yatta, Yetu, Yoyo, Kinna, Kama, Ithumbah, Mulika, Mwende, Mkuu, Teleki and two wild bulls arrived at the mud bath. They later headed to the stockade compound, where they joined 81 wild elephant bulls that had come for water. 

Sapalan took his share of lucerne and walked away from the rest of the group to enjoy his lucerne in peace. Loijuk, Lili, Naisula, Kitirua, Kinna, Kama, Ishanga, Teleki, Yatta, Yoyo, Yetu, Mulika, Mwende, Mkuu, Orwa and Bomani were also present this morning. Kuishi, Karisa and Mapia settled to drink water soon after having enough lucerne. Shortly later, Karisa walked over to Rapa and the two boys enjoyed a light conversation as they walked off into the bush together. The rest of the herd streamed out behind them. 

On the way out, Galla and Ndiwa came across an anthill. Ndiwa used her sharp tusks to dig at the loose soil while Galla used his trunk to scoop up the soil and dust himself. Ambo engaged Dololo in a strength testing game that ended in a draw. Later, Ambo played with Malima but ended up losing the game to Malima. Mundusi engaged Teleki in a pushing game but he couldn't withstand the Teleki’s strength! An hour later, the ex-orphans parted ways with the orphans. 

It wasn’t very hot when the orphans went to the mud bath later for their milk bottles, so they didn’t stay in the mud bath for long. They really enjoyed a soil dusting exercise however, soon after leaving the water. The afternoon was quiet as the orphans concentrated on browsing without any major distractions. 

Two wild bulls and Kilaguni joined the orphans for lucerne in the morning. After the orphans had enough lucerne, Tusuja, Oltaiyoni, Naseku, Galla, Wanjala and Rapa walked down to the water trough and had some water before following Karisa who was leading the way out. 

Mundusi challenged Kauro and they enjoyed a pushing game that lasted for quite some time. Nabulu settled to browse with Mteto while Malkia teamed up with Maramoja. Malima came across a branch on the ground which she picked up and helped herself to the remaining edible bark left on the branch. 

Mundusi and Kauro, known as the ‘stick carrier’, sneaked away from the group early and arrived at the mud bath to wait for the vehicle carrying the milk bottles. 

Just after eleven o'clock in the morning, when all the orphans had finished their milk bottles, Yatta and her herd arrived at the mud bath too. The presence of little Mumo brought all activities to a standstill, as the orphans scrambled to get a glimpse of the little one. Makena had a hectic time controlling her baby. Malkia and Malima stole the show when they commandeered Mumo and kept moving in circles around the mud bath as all the orphans and Makena followed. They took Mumo into the water for a mud bath, but Makena was quick to steer her baby out the water. Sities, who usually adores Dololo and follows him everywhere, appears to have abandoned the boy for now as she vies for a nanny position with Mumo. Makena was finally afforded some relief when the Keepers assembled the dependent orphans and took them north of the mud bath. 

In the afternoon, Musiara took a break from feeding to play with Dololo. Barsilinga, Olsekki, Siangiki, Oltaiyoni, Tusuja, Naseku and Roi returned to the stockades later in the evening, two hours after their friends had returned and gone into their stockades for the night.

Makena, Mumo, Sities, Ishanga, Kitirua, Naisula, Kilabasi and Kalama were present in the morning when the orphans were let out. Malima headed straight over to Mumo to spend some time with her, but Makena pushed her away. Several wild bulls were busy drinking water at the stockade water troughs. Two buffaloes approached cautiously as they wanted to have some water too. Sana Sana, Enkikwe and Sattao spotted them and started charging at them. The buffaloes stood their ground but gave up when Sattao started trumpeting. The moment the buffaloes turned and showed him their backs, Sattao gained even more courage and charged after them. The buffaloes ran away with Sattao in hot pursuit. He returned triumphant and seemingly very pleased with himself. When the orphans left the stockades for the day, the buffaloes were finally able to come and have a drink in peace.

An hour later the dependent orphans left the company of the ex-orphans. Kuishi and Kauro came across some loose soil that they played on, as Karisa stood on the road watching them. 

It was very hot at mud bath time, and this prompted the orphans to enjoy a prolonged wallowing session. Musiara was the first one to leave the water and eventually his friends followed him out too. In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse in the Kanziku area.

Zurura in the company of five wild bulls were busy drinking water when the orphans were let out of their stockades this morning. The orphans settled for lucerne soon after they were let out. Zurura abandoned the wild bulls and joined the orphans for their lucerne breakfast. Shortly later, Mundusi, Rapa, Roi, Sana Sana and Wanjala walked down and joined the bulls to have some water. 

Out in the bush, Galla teamed up with Musiara to browse while Kuishi settled to browse with Mteto and Malkia. The morning was quiet as the orphans concentrated on browsing up to mud bath time when Nabulu led the first group to have their milk bottles. After finishing his milk, Kauro ran off with the empty bottle and dropped it in the mud bath, giving the Keepers a hard time to try and retrieve it and they had to use a long stick to fish it out. They weren’t very impressed with Kauro, but they just wagged a finger at him for being naughty. Thirty-two wild bulls attended the mud bath and together with the orphans they all enjoyed swimming in the water.

In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse in the Kanziku area again, where Kauro teamed up with Karisa while Malima settled to browse with Musiara and Mteto. 

Ambo had an argument with Malima this morning as they were coming out of their stockade. Luckily, Jotto was behind them and saw what was about to happen, and so he walked in between them to make sure that the two orphans didn’t resort to fighting to resolve their issue. Mundusi decided to have a morning stretching exercise by sitting and rolling on the ground. Sapalan and Tusuja took their share of lucerne and moved away from their friends to enjoy it in peace. Kilaguni was the only big elephant present this morning. He escorted the orphans out to browse and settled to feed with them. 

The orphans had a quiet morning and at mud bath time they were joined by thirty wild bulls. The sun was beating down and it was really hot, so the orphans and the wild bulls had a prolonged wallowing session in the mud bath. When they were done the orphans resumed browsing for the rest of the afternoon. It’s really dry at the moment so the orphans concentrated on browsing without becoming distracted with games or wrestling matches, to ensure they had enough to eat and fill their tummies today.

Twenty-five wild bulls were present at the stockade compound this morning. Makena and Mumo were also present for the lucerne feeding time, and Sities was there, too, as Mumo’s main nanny. After feeding on lucerne, the orphans headed northeast of the stockade. 

Out in the bush, Mundusi challenged Kauro. Mundusi ended up losing and, to add insult to injury, Kauro proceeded to climb on him, just to prove his strength. Mundusi seemed to regret trying to challenge Kauro in the first place. Malkia spent time with Musiara and Nabulu.  

Later in the morning at the mud bath, Sattao, Kuishi and Karisa competed who among them was the fastest as they ran for their noon bottle feed. Sattao, who is younger and a bit sprightlier, won the race. The ex-orphans, led by Yatta, arrived at the mud bath too. Fifty wild bulls were also there, so it was a busy wallowing session. Soon after mud bath, Enkikwe, Sapalan, Naisula, Kilabasi, Jotto, Pare, Dololo, Mapia, Suguta and Malima settled for soil a dusting exercise, before disappearing off into the bush next to the mounds of soil. The afternoon was quiet as the orphans concentrated on browsing without any major distractions. 

The wild bull known as Dad visited the stockades with friends this morning. One of the bulls joined the orphans to feed on lucerne. Kauro and Tusuja settled to browse together as Maramoja teamed up with Malkia and Musiara. Sapalan had strength testing exercise with Karisa that lasted for only a minute or so. The rest of the morning was quiet. At mud bath time, Nabulu led the way. 

The temperature was moderate and the orphans, in the company of twenty-five bulls who were also present at the mud bath time, enjoyed cooling off in the water. Only Kamok decided not to take a bath. Immediately after coming out of water, Ambo walked over to Kamok and seemed to inquire why, as one of the oldest females in the dependent group, she was setting a bad example for the young ones. Kamok smiled at Ambo in reply and Ambo just walked away from her. Pare engaged Karisa in a pushing game while in the water. 

Later, Maramoja, Mteto and Wanjala moved to a nearby hole in the ground which they dug deeper with their tusks to get some nice loose soil to play with. Ambo and Dololo had a brief strength testing exercise that ended in a draw. Jotto settled to browse with Pare and in the evening, Malima led the way back to the stockades for the night. 

Mutara, Suguta, Sities, Turkwel, Kithaka, Garzi, Lemoyian, Orwa, Kilaguni, Kandecha, Kainuk and Bomani joined the orphans in the morning for lucerne. Makena wasn’t with them, and it seems Sities, who initially fought so hard to be Mumo’s head nanny, appears to have abandoned that mission for now and has decided to return to her group. It's not clear why she has made that decision, and only time will tell when Makena might choose to show up again with her baby. We aren’t sure where she has gone, as we didn’t see her yesterday. 

Later in the morning, Mundusi challenged Enkikwe, thinking that, because of Enkikwe's bad leg, he would just win very easily. Mundusi got a rude shock however when Enkikwe fought back and emerged as the winner; Mundusi’s strength is no match for Enkikwe, even with a bad leg! Jotto played with Kuishi while Ambo settled to play with Musiara. Dololo was happy to spend some time with his adopted older sisters Sities, Suguta, Turkwel and Kainuk. 

There were only a few wild bulls at the mud bath today. The orphans had a spectacular wallowing session. When they were done, they dusted themselves on the pile of loose soil. Kauro and Malima decided to have a thorough scratching session in the ditch the orphans have carved out. In the afternoon, the herd settled to browse in the Kanziku area. I50 wild elephants showed up at the stockade water troughs that evening. 

A wild elephant herd joined the orphans and ex-orphans to feed on lucerne supplements this morning. When they were done, the family walked off into the bush, while the orphans headed east. Malima decided to have fun by rolling on the ground as Malkia stood by, watching. The rest of the herd settled to browse without any major distractions. 

The orphans really enjoyed swimming in the mud bath after their noon milk bottles, as it was a hot afternoon. Dololo and Musiara spent so much time in the water, messing around and climbing on one another.

Makena, baby Mumo, Ishanga, Mwende and Yetu spent the day some two hundred metres away from the stockade compound. 

In the afternoon, Galla settled to browse with Nabulu while Enkikwe teamed up with Rapa. The rest of the day was quiet, and, in the evening, thirty-five wild bulls showed up at the stockades for water. 

It was a quiet morning. Only Orwa joined the orphans for lucerne in the morning, as three wild bulls were busy drinking at the stockade water troughs. 

As she walked out to the bush with her friends, Sana Sana came across a nice rock that she used to scratch her belly on. The quiet and shy Sapalan disagreed with Malima about something, but we aren’t sure what. All we know is that Sapalan reacted by pushing Malima and then climbing on her. Mundusi engaged Roi in a pushing game that ended in a draw. Pare played with Karisa but their game was disrupted by Olsekki who pushed the two boys away. Shortly later, Orwa, Barsilinga, Tusuja, Siangiki, Olsekki, Oltaiyoni, Naseku and Roi parted ways with their friends and walked off into the bush on their own. 

After having their noon milk bottles, some of the orphans decided to have a mud bath. Only Kamok, Ambo and Kauro boycotted the wallowing exercise. Pare engaged Kuishi in a pushing game as Kauro ran into trouble with Wanjala. Wanjala grabbed Kauro’s ready to bite it! But Kauro managed to free himself and run away. In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse in the Kanziku area. 

Later, Barsilinga and his team returned to the stockades early before the other orphans. Tusuja decided not to go into his stockade and instead joined Yatta and her herd who had come for water. Later on, he chose to leave with them, and they all walked off into the night together.

Zurura, Tomboi and Kanjoro were the guests of honour at the lucerne feeding time. As soon as they had finished the majority of the fresh lucerne laid out for them that morning, the orphans left for browsing. Oltaiyoni and Naseku walked with Ambo out to the bush, and then they walked off with him to an unknown location. Enkikwe walked next to Kamok as they discussed certain things only known to them. Malima ran into trouble with Sapalan when she tried to take some food from his mouth. Perhaps she was just trying to smell what he was eating, but Sapalan got mad with her and turned to teach her a lesson. Malima was very upset because she didn’t mean to make Sapalan angry, but she simply walked away to give Sapalan some peace. To comfort herself, Malima decided to have a lone game of rolling on the ground until Mapia came over to play with her and cheer her up. 

At mud bath time, twenty-eight wild bulls attended the mud bath. All the orphans boycotted wallowing and went for a dust bath instead. Kauro got angry with Mundusi after Mundusi accidentally smacked him with a stick he was playing with. Kauro started pushing Mundusi as punishment, and Mundusi tried to defend himself but eventually just decided to surrender just for the sake of peace. In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse west of Ithumba Hill.

Seven wild bulls were drinking at the stockade water troughs when the orphans were let out of their stockades this morning. As usual, the orphans settled for their lucerne supplement food. Shortly thereafter, the ex-orphans in Yatta’s herd arrived. They wanted lucerne, too, so the dependent orphans decided to start browsing in the bush instead. A buffalo joined the elephants to drink water and left immediately after getting enough. 

Ndiwa had a brief chat with Jotto as Kauro engaged Mundusi in a pushing game. Later, Sana Sana engaged Jotto into a pushing game too, but it didn't last for long as Jotto decided to surrender when the going got tough. Jotto later met with Mapia and had a friendly match that lasted for quite some time. 

When the orphans arrived at the mud bath for their milk feed, it was all quiet as evidently the wild bulls were late arriving for some water and the chance to wallow. The orphans moved freely about the water troughs and had some water before heading for a dust bath on the loose soil. Half an hour later, the wild bulls started arriving at mud bath. When they saw the wild bulls getting into the water for a swim, Pare, Sapalan, Mapia, Jotto, Ndiwa and Malima changed their mind as it suddenly looked very appealing – perhaps they just didn’t want to be the first ones in the water! The six orphans decided to leave the soil bathing exercise and get into the water for a cooling-off session. 

In the afternoon, the orphans browsed in the Kanziku area. Jotto joined Malima for the afternoon. In the evening, Suguta was at stockade compound and welcomed her favourite Dololo back. Shortly thereafter, Suguta left with the rest of Mutara’s herd who arrived to pick her up and they all walked off into the night. 

Fifteen wild bulls were drinking water at the stockade water troughs early this morning. Two buffaloes also joined the wild bulls drinking water. The orphans settled for their lucerne and as soon as they had enough, Karisa and Malima led the way out to browse. 

Out in the bush, Malima had a light pushing game with Maramoja while Mapia played with Musiara. The sky was clear and this foretold a hot day a head. Close to mud bath time, the temperature soared, making the orphans opt to take a break from feeding and relax under an acacia tree. Despite it being so hot, some of the orphans still chose to skip the wallowing exercise after having their milk bottles. Only Mundusi, Mapia, Malima, Mteto, Musiara, Ndiwa, Enkikwe, Jotto and Esampu decided to swim. Fifty-eight wild bulls were also at the mud bath, enjoying the water. 

In the afternoon, the orphans browsed in the Kanziku area. Mapia challenged Mundusi, but at long last lost the game. In the evening as usual, Nabulu led the way back to the stockades for the night.