Tomboi leading the group
Daily updates
April 1st
Yatta, and her favourite baby, Olmalo, trailed the group, which seems to be the pattern these days. Napasha teamed up with Nasalot, Kinna and Mulika whilst browsing whilst Selengai and Taita remained near the Keepers. Yatta, Olmalo, Wendi and Tomboi formed their own little group and grazed their way towards the mudbath. In the evening Tomboi was very happy to be allowed to lead the way back home.
April 2nd
Napasha engaged Yatta in a pushing game, but after a while Yatta placed her trunk gently on his head, as if to tell him that he is not yet big enough to win such a match! Selengai, Olmalo and Nasalot watched this little drama closely from the shade, where they had taken refuge from the scorching sun. After a while Yatta joined the group in the shade.
Olmalo resting in the shade
April 3rd
At 11 a.m. Mulika decided it was time to head for the mudbath, but the younger orphans, headed by Tomboi had other ideas about who should be leader. They rushed forward, and Wendi and Tomboi took charge. Whilst taking their milk after mudbath, troublesome Napasha upset Selengai and Olmalo approached, demanding some of their milk. Yatta immediately intervened, and Napasha went back into the mudwallow.
Wendi leads, Tomboi follows then Napasha
April 4th
For the first time ever, it was Olmalo and Selengai who led the group from the Stockade in the morning, and headed Westwards. At 11 a.m. Napasha, Tomboi and Wendi took over leadership from Olmalo and Selengai and the youngsters headed for the mudbath, leaving Yatta, Kinna, Mulika and Nasalot behind. In the evening, Napasha led the group back to the Stockades.
Heading back to the stockade
April 5th
It was a cool day today, and out in the bush the orphans encountered many dikdiks. Nasalot was the only orphan to chase them off. At the mudbath, some warthogs were enjoying themselves, but the orphans did not mind, because it was too cold for them.
The orphans at feeding time
April 6th
It rained during the night which left puddles everywhere, so the orphans had a marvellous time playing in these puddles, rolling in the mud, and digging the damp earth with their short tusks. Kinna and Mulika lay down to roll about in the mud and were soon joined by Olmalo, Nasalot and Wendi, whilst Taita and Yatta enjoyed digging the damp earth using their front legs.
Kinna and Mulika playing
April 7th
The temperature was pleasant today. The Orphans Matriarch, Yatta, led the orphans across a plain, browsing as she went, with her group doing the same.
Napasha feeding
April 8th
The morning was cool and cloudy. On the way to the mudbath, Taita and Tomboi got left behind. The Keepers heard rumbling from behind, and noticed that these two were missing, so the column halted, as we called their names. The two came running.
The orphans on their way to the mudbath
April 9th
A troupe of chattering baboons mesmerized the orphans this morning, and scaring Olmalo, who ran to the Keepers for protection. Seeing this, the three boys, Napasha, Tomboi and Taita plucked up enough courage to scatter the noisy baboons, driving them out of sight.
Nasalot rests her trunk on Napasha
April 10th
It was drizzling with rain this morning when the orphans left the Stockade, which excited them very much. The day was spent playing in the mud, in between feeding, Wendi playing a key role in these games. Mulika took the opportunity to lean on Napasha as he was lying down.
The orphans enjoying themselves in the water
April 11th
It was very hot by 2 p.m. today, so the orphans had to take refuge in the shade. Napasha, Wendi, Taita and Tomboi were sharing a tree, but Napasha decided that he needed more room, so chased Taita to another shady spot, where Yatta and the other elephants were sheltering.
Napasha resting under the shade of a tree
April 12th
Today, Yatta led her group to the East side of Ithumba hill. Napasha and Taita enjoyed a pushing game whilst Wendi and Selengai engaged each other in shoving at the noon milk feed.
Keeper feeding two orphans at the noon milk feed
April 13th
Kinna and Napasha had a wonderful pushing game, which looked serious, but was just a game. Napasha surrendered eventually and decided to try and climb on Taita. They all enjoyed the mudbath today.
The orphans playing at mudbath
April 14th
It was another unbearably hot day, so the orphans sought shade early on. Shortly after 11 a.m. it began to rain, so only Olmalo was interested in the mudbath, thrashing the water with her trunk. In the evening Napasha again mounted on Taita, whilst Olmalo watched.
Olmalo playing
April 15th
The orphans browsed slowly towards the mudbath during the morning. Yatta and Olmalo isolated themselves from the rest, and rejoined the group later when it was time to return to the Stockade.
Nasalot and Mulika drinking water
April 16th
Another hot day, so the orphans went to the mudbath early, led by Mulika and Selengai. They all had a very joyful mudbath, after which they again sought shade.
The orphans swimming
April 17th
Chattering baboons again scared Olmalo who ran to Yatta, her adopted mother and Matriarch. Yatta consoled her, and they all watched the baboons passing by with interest.
Olmalo, Yatta and Kinna charging
April 18th
A lone lesser kudu ran past the orphans, scaring Wendi, who ran to the Keepers for protection. Yatta followed Wendi to see what was amiss, calming her down before returning to her favourite, Olmalo. Wendi spent the rest of the day near the Keepers.
Wendi scratching against a rock
April 19th
On the way to the mudbath, Selengai fell behind, and rumbled, bringing the group to a halt. Nasalot went back to collect her, and when everyone was together, they proceeded to the mudbath. At milk time, Yatta came to Olmalo, placed her trunk gently on Olmalo’s head, and when she had finished her milk, led her away to browse.
An orphan drinking its milk at the noon feed
April 20th
A wild herd passed near the Stockade during the night. In the morning, Yatta led the orphans following the tracks of this wild herd, testing the air for any hint of their presence. However, to the orphans’ disappointment, they could not catch up with the wild herd, so Mulika took over from Yatta and led the orphans back to Ithumba hill. During the mudbath Yatta played with Kinna whilst Selengaei played with Olmalo.
Mulika scratching against Kinna
April 21th
Nasalot and Kinna came across a dikdik on their way out this morning, and chased it off. On the way to the mudbath Taita mounted Tomboi, but Yatta, who was behind them, pushed Taita away, something that made Tomboi very happy. In the evening Napasha took on Nasalot, and after a few moments, Nasalot gave up, which made Napasha very happy for having won the contest with a bigger adversary.
Selengai charging
April 22th
Yatta played with Napasha just before Wendi led the group to the mudbath. Napasha was the only one to roll around in the mud, whilst the others just sprayed it over themselves. Later on Taita was very frightened by a warthog which was running towards the orphans. He fled to the Keepers for protection.
The orphans enjoying a soil bath
April 23th
In the afternoon Taita, Selengai and Tomboi went to graze some distance from the rest, who had been led by Yatta towards Ithumba Hill. The three panicked when they found they were left behind, running around trumpeting and crying. The Keepers called them and they rejoined the group. In the evening Wendi led the orphans back home.
Tomboi and Selengai charging
April 24th
Tomboi has been trying very hard to learn how to hold his bottle of milk like his friend, Napasha. Finally, he succeeded and proceeded to dance, by swinging one front leg! Yatta stood by Olmalo, waiting for her to finish her share, before leading her away to feed.
Tomboi sniffing the air
April 25th
The orphans left the Stockades, happily swinging their trunks from side to side. Selengai and Tomboi took a soil bath today, instead of the usual mudbath.
The orphans race for their milk
April 26th
Yatta led the group out to another very hot day. Taita and Tomboi spent a long time in the shade, playing with one another, testing their strength until Kinna intervened to separate them.
The orphans drinking water
April 27th
A strong wind suddenly began to shake the trees, which alarmed the orphans. Yatta raised her trunk to test the air for any hint of danger, but finding none, calmed the group, who all settled down to feed again.
Kinna playing
April 28th
The day was sunny, so the morning was spent browsing towards the mudbath, to which the orphans went early, led by Wendi, because the day became scorchingly hot.
April 29th
When the orphans were close to the mudbath, Napasha raced ahead, followed by Wendi, Taita and Tomboi. Kinna raced around trumpeting, which prompted Yatta to come running to Olmalo, to protect her special baby from any danger.
April 30th
Yatta led the orphans browsing peacefully throughout the day. Occasionally, Napasha, Tomboi and Selengai stood motionless, closing their eyes, as though savouring the “sweetness” of the vegetation. In the evening Kinna led the way back to the Stockades.