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The sun was shining on the first day of the new year when the orphans padded out of their shared stockades, down the path and around the corner to the feeding area. The milk-dependent elephants emptied their bottles in groups and walked on to the trough full of range cubes. Sagala, Mbegu, Lasayen, Murit, Ngilai, Ndotto and Godoma — who may have been weaned off milk but still live in hope — paused at the line of Keepers standing with bottles held aloft before walking on. In contrast to most days, the herd of ex-orphans were nowhere to be seen. Ashanti knelt at the trough, ignoring a small shove from naughty Hildana and continuing to scoop up pellets with her damaged trunk. As usual, Ngilai was the first orphan to move on the lucerne area. After carefully placing a bunch of lucerne on his head (just in case the tasty greens ran out before his belly was full), he wandered between the trough and the lucerne.

Responding to the Keepers’ calls and whistles, the herd of orphans soon set out to browse in the surrounding bush, spreading all over Msinga Hill. Matriarch Mbegu remained at the bottom with babies Busara, Baraka and Losoito while the others padded quietly up the hill. In the afternoon, the herd walked down for another milk feed and continued browsing. Unusually, no one was keen on swimming in the baobab tree mud wallow today.

This morning, the orphans were in a hurry to head out. Soon after emerging from their stockades, they gathered in the area that leads to the bush, making it clear to the Keepers that they wanted to get moving! They set out in a trunk-to-tail line in the direction of Msinga Hill. Ngilai, Kilulu, Pika Pika, Itinyi, and Emoli chose to browse over the open grasslands as the rest of the herd settled on the hill. Once again, Ndotto was doing his own thing. Today, he strode off in the opposite direction to his friends. The gentle bull is on his way to living an independent life. Lasayen and Ngilai followed him for half an hour or so before returning to the herd but Ndotto browsed on his own for a further couple of hours before reappearing. 

In the afternoon after the milk feed, the orphans padded on down to the baobab mud wallow. Many paddled or splashed or submerged their bodies in the muddy water and then rolled around on the large pile of earth, covering themselves with soothing red soil. While Hildana, Kenderi and Ashanti continued to wallow, Thamana, Tamiyoi, Pika Pika, Losoito, Busara, Ngilai and Godoma enjoyed a dust bath, lying on their sides and backs on the earth, and Lasayen massaged himself against the bark of the baobab tree. As the sun dipped in the sky, the orphans meandered back to the safety of the stockades for the night.

The ex-orphans were back this morning! Seventeen elephants strolled up the path to the stockades at dawn, drinking from the water trough and standing around the mud bath while the Keepers prepared bottles of milk and filled the feeding trough with range cubes. Led by Kenia, Mweya, and Edie, Ndii, Panda, Naipoki, Kihari, Ndoria, Arruba, Araba, Mudanda, Suswa, Mwitu (Mweya’s wild-born baby), Eden, Eco, and Enzo (Edie’s wild-born babies) were accompanied by a wild bull. He stood by Edie and Naipoki as they rubbed themselves against the large boulder. Soon, the dependent orphans emerged from their stockades to mingle with the ex-orphans at the feeding trough and around the lucerne. When the herd headed out to browse, the visitors remained behind.

After spending the morning on Msinga Hill, the orphans cooled off in the baobab tree mud wallow. Ngilai paused to drink from the trough before joining Lasayen, Godoma, Pika Pika, Mbegu, Kenderi and Busara in the water. After a quick swim, Hildana, Sagala and Losoito hosed themselves with dust from the pile of earth and lay down for a roll around. Godoma ambled over for a dust bath as Lasayen dug into the ground with his pads, kicking dust in every direction, and Tamiyoi massaged her rump against the creamy peacock tree. When Lemeki led the herd back out to browse, Sagala stayed behind at the mud wallow. She caught up with her friends out in the bush before the orphans headed back to the stockades in the early evening.

As the dependent herd set out from the stockades with their Keepers this morning, the independent herds of ex- orphans led by Kenia, Mweya and Edie ambled in to take their places at the feeding trough. They scooped up every last pellet and piece of lucerne and then headed out in the opposite direction to Msinga Hill. Meanwhile, the resident orphans spread out around the hill - Mbegu browsed with babies Busara, Baraka, Dabida, Ashanti and Juni over open grasslands as Ndotto, Ngilai and Lasayen clambered to the summit of the hill in search of fresh foliage. 

Later in the afternoon, the Keepers shepherded the orphans down to the mud bath in groups of three or four. Most groups were made up of one older elephant and two or three of the ‘Voi kids’ (Itinyi, Ushindi, Ashanti, Kenderi, Epiya, Juni, Hildana, Kilulu, Seri, Dabida, Losoito, Baraka and Busara who were rescued last year). Many orphans plunged into the wallow as others stood quietly around the edges. Pika Pika, Thamana and Emoli were the last to clamber out of the water. On their way back to the stockades, the herd browsed deep in the woods.

In contrast to yesterday, the herds led by Kenia, Mweya, and Edie arrived before dawn this morning, having spent the night close to the stockades. The Keepers found them standing around the mud bath when they awoke to prepare bottles of milk and open the doors of the stockades. Edie stood close to young Enzo as their wild bull friend drank from the water trough. Former and current orphans lined up at the feeding trough full of range cubes as others gathered around the pile of lucerne. The ex-orphans did not stay long, returning to the bush as their younger friends were browsing on lucerne.

As always, the herd soon headed out to browse around Msinga Hill. Kilulu, Epiya and Baraka were spending time together this morning. When Baraka pottered away to find Godoma, Kilulu and Epiya wandered over the hill, trunk touching and playing the pushing game as they browsed. The two friends were soon joined by Tagwa. Meanwhile, Akina, Sagala and Emoli meandered around near the bottom of the hill and Losoito rolled playfully on a patch of dusty ground. 

On a cloudy afternoon, the orphans jogged down the hill for another milk feed and a visit to the mud wallow. Most stood peacefully around the baobab tree while Ndotto and Ngilai splashed in the water and Lasayen enjoyed a dust bath.

The orphans were full of energy this morning, walking around their stockades and occasionally pushing at the gates before dawn. As soon as the Keepers opened the doors, they sprinted down the path, gulped their milk and lined up at the feeding trough. The ex-orphans arrived a few minutes later, sauntering up to the trough and pushing the Voi kids away. Respecting their elders, Kenderi, Kilulu, Ushindi, Hildana and Ashanti padded over to the pile of lucerne.

As the sun rose in the sky, the herd set out to browse in the bush, settling in an area to the north of Msinga Hill. In the afternoon, the Keepers shepherded them down to the mud wallow. When a small herd of wild elephants arrived at the wallow, Mbegu immediately gathered up the Voi kids and led them away into the bush. She was not running the risk of any of the little ones being kidnapped. The wild herd remained on one side of the wallow as Godoma posed next to the water trough and Sagala and Tamiyoi massaged their backsides against the baobab tree. Soon, Godoma, Tamiyoi and Ngilai did some elephant stretches on a muddy patch near the tree and then stood up to dig into the ground with their growing tusks.

Mweya and Edie’s herd of ex-orphans padded silently up the path at first light this morning. Edie and Enzo stood by the milk feeding area and the rest of the herd under the two trees as they waited for range cubes and lucerne. The dependent orphans arrived and settled down with the visitors at the feeding trough. Ushindi and Epiya were standing next to each other at one end and little Losoito was glued to big sister Tamiyoi. After eating their fill, Ngilai scratched himself against the trees as Ndotto struck an impressive pose on the terraces. Meanwhile, more ex-orphans led by Kenia arrived and spread out to eat range cubes and lucerne. By now, Pika Pika was massaging herself on the rocks along the fence, Ngilai was stretching his long trunk over the fence to pluck down tasty acacia branches, Murit was posing next to the rocks at the entrance and Godoma was playing on the terraces with the wild bull who often accompanies the ex-orphans. 

The elephants spent the morning ambling across the savannah near Msinga Hill, browsing as they wandered, before visiting the mud wallow in the afternoon. After a refreshing dip in the muddy water, Lasayen, Murit and Godoma rolled around on the pile of earth and Kilulu squatted on a nearby patch of dry earth. On their way back to the stockades, Godoma, Ushindi, Ndotto and Itinyi came across a large irresistible puddle. As their friends browsed around them, the four orphans paddled in the thick mud and rubbed their torsos along the edges.

As the sun rose in a clear sky. Sagala led the herd out from the stockades. The orphans spread out all over Msinga Hill to browse and play. Sagala performed an elephant version of a down dog yoga pose between two large rocks and then ambled over to join Thamana who was browsing on some crunchy shrubs. The two friends stood close, laying their trunks along each other’s backs between mouthfuls. Ndotto was climbing carefully up several boulders, pausing along the way to stretch his trunk up high and pluck down branches of acacia tree. After filling his belly, he rested his haunches on the rocks. Brave Ushindi soon climbed up to join him as Ashanti and Baraka stood browsing side by side at the bottom. Feisty little Kilulu stood under an acacia tree, alternately scratching his bottom and pulling down small branches with his trunk.

Later in the afternoon, the orphans jogged down the hill for another milk feed and some time around the baobab mud wallow. Lemeki and Itinyi were hanging out together. They had a paddle and stood with trunks entwined, almost leaning against each other.

On an overcast morning, the orphans squashed together at the feeding trough to eat range cubes as Losoito daintily picked up cubes from a special pile on the upper terrace. Murit and Lasayen played several rowdy rounds of the pushing game on the lower terrace as Ngilai enjoyed a good scratch against the wall and Lasayen, Ndotto and Emoli took turns to massage themselves against the rocks along the fence line. 

The Keepers soon shepherded the herd out to the surrounding bush. Emoli and Tagwa browsed on acacia trees, deftly twisting their trunks around branches, pulling them down and breaking them into mouth-sized pieces. Ngilai and Murit ambled through the shrubs at the foot of Msinga Hill, plucking up shoots at every step. 

The afternoon was a dramatic one. As the dependent orphans paddled in or stood around the mud wallow, a family of wild elephants wandered up to the wallow, surrounded several of the Voi kids and walked away with them. The Keepers reacted immediately, almost before Mbegu, Godoma and Tamiyoi were aware of what had happened. Four men followed the wild herd, calling for their orphans. Their persistent whistles achieved the objective. Itinyi, Ushindi, Losoito and Juni about turned and sprinted back to the herd where they were welcomed with rumbles and trunk hugs.

This morning, the orphans headed out early, browsing as they ambled along in the direction of Msinga Hill. On their way, they met the large group of ex-orphans heading towards the stockades. They had spent the night again on the hill behind the stockades. In her haste to reach the trough of range cubes, Mweya pushed her way through the middle of the dependent orphans, scattering the younger ones in all directions. The former orphans continued on towards the stockades and the current ones towards the bush. Moments later, the Keepers realised that Ndotto had sneaked away with the ex-orphans. A wild bull was with the herd and the Keepers could not approach the herd on foot to find him. Ndotto spent the day and the night with the ex-orphans, returning to the stockades the following morning.

The rest of the dependent herd browsed on the abundant vegetation at the foot of Msinga Hill before padding down for another milk feed in the afternoon. It was an overcast day and the elephants were content to hang out around the baobab tree rather than paddling into the water. Lemeki and Itinyi played a gentle version of the pushing game and caught up with the others as they meandered back to the stockades.

To the delight of the Keepers (as they had not seen him for months), Laikipia visited the stockades this morning! The 25-year-old bull strode up the path on his own and joined the orphans and ex-orphans in the feeding area. Kenia’s, Edie’s and Mweya’s herds were already there, having arrived just before dawn. The former orphans, including Laikipia, stayed back at the stockades when mini matriarch Mbegu led the current orphans out to browse over the open grasslands. 

In the afternoon, the orphans emptied their bottles of milk and padded on down to the mud wallow. Many paddled and wallowed today. Sagala plunged into the water for a quick splash and then scratched herself against the baobab tree. In contrast, Mbegu, Godoma and Pika Pika took their time. They paddled and then submerged their bodies, splashing water with their trunks and forelegs as they rolled around. As usual, Pika Pika was the last out of the wallow.

The orphans had the feeding area to themselves this morning as the ex-orphans did not visit. The Keepers were surprised not to see them as they knew that they had spent the night nearby. Mbegu was being especially protective this morning. First, she insisted that Baraka, Busara, Losoito, Ashanti and Kenderi stood next to her at the trough, touching each of them in turn, and then she ushered them over to the lucerne, walking behind the babies and pushing one or other if they paused along the way. 

Itinyi loves hanging out with bulls like Murit, Lasayen and Ngilai – giving the babies a wide berth, he trundled along doggedly behind the big boys. Meanwhile, Ndotto had already left the stockades. The Keepers could see him browsing close to the stockades on his own and knew that he was hoping to meet up with the herd of ex-orphans. 

The dependent elephants soon set out to enjoy the abundance of green browse. As they meandered towards the mud wallow, clouds of butterflies flew up in their wake. In the afternoon, they drank their milk, ambled past the wallow and clambered all the way up Msinga Hill instead. After several peaceful hours, the herd returned to the safety of the stockades for the night.

Everyone was outside the stockades this morning! At first light, Laikipia ambled up the path followed by Mweya, baby Mwitu, Edie, babies Eden, Eco and Enzo, Kenia, Naipoki, Ndii, Panda, Kihari, Ndoria, Arruba, Araba, Mudanda and Suswa and a wild bull. Moments later, the Keepers opened the gates of the shared bedrooms and the 27 resident orphans pottered down to the feeding area. A total of 45 elephants mingled at the trough and on the terraces, scooping up every single pellet and every scrap of lucerne. The herds fed peacefully, rumbling and touching each other occasionally as the Keepers stood on the sidelines. 

While the visitors were walking back out to the bush, Godoma played the pushing game with the wild bull. She took a few steps after the ex-orphans before running back. Ndotto, Lasayen and Ngilai followed the herd for longer before returning to the stockades. 

The resident herd soon headed out to the plains around Msinga Hill. They were joined by ex-orphan Ndii who browsed with them for most of the day before wandering away. In the afternoon, Lasayen, Ndii, Pika Pika, Sagala and Epiya stood belly to belly to drink from the water trough next to the mud wallow. Many of the orphans spent a few minutes cooling off in the water before the herd padded back out to browse in a still green paradise covered with wildflowers and shrubs.

This morning, the orphans were padding around their stockades before dawn, rumbling and pushing the gates occasionally. As soon as the Keepers opened them, they sprinted down the path in groups, racing each other with trunks aloft. After gulping their milk, they calmed down and walked sedately over to the feeding trough. There was no sign of the ex-orphans today. 

Lemeki led the herd out to browse on the slopes of Msinga Hill. Most of the orphans strode out through the long flowering grass today, for some reason still feeling full of energy. Ndotto wandered a distance away to browse on his own but the Keepers called him back. Moments later, Hildana followed his example and walked away although the younger bull returned as soon as the Keepers whistled, in contrast to Ndotto who dragged his feet. 

Later in the day, the orphans padded down for a milk feed and a visit to the mud wallow. They gathered around the baobab tree but no one went swimming as it was a cloudy afternoon. Instead, they spread out in the surrounding bush to feast on the tall green grass dotted with creepers and wildflowers.

In contrast to recent days, former and current orphans pushed and shoved at the feeding trough this morning. Respecting the strength of their elders, the younger elephants sensibly walked away to the lucerne area with Mbegu and Godoma following close behind. Ex-orphan Mweya was shielding baby Mwitu from the wild bull who had made himself a space at the trough by pushing away several orphans. Moments later, she ushered her baby away to the terraces. Ex-orphan Naipoki played several rounds of sparring with Dabida as Suswa squatted on the terrace wall to massage her rump and Arruba practised elephant yoga poses next to her. Panda wrestled with the wild bull on the upper terrace until Tamiyoi took her place to play a pushing game with the visitor. 

As the sun rose in the sky, the herd headed out to spend the morning around Msinga Hill before padding down to the mud wallow in the afternoon. Godoma and Pika Pika were the first to plunge into the pool today as many of their friends drank from the water trough and then joined them. Soon, the mud bath was full of wallowing elephants rolling around and rubbing up against each other. Epiya climbed out first to enjoy a dust bath followed by Tamiyoi and Godoma. An excited Kilulu joined the three others – he rubbed his torso against the pile and then rolled onto them and finally tried to play mount them. They put up with the youngster’s antics for a time before ambling away in search of peace.

Independent and dependent orphans ate range cubes and browsed together outside the stockades on another wonderful morning. Mbegu led her herd out first to an area close to the stockade compound and ex-orphan Mweya followed with her herd. The two groups mingled in the bush. Ex-orphan Panda was babysitting little Enzo until he decided to sprint back to Edie and Eco (his mother and sibling) who were hanging out with Ndotto. Not far away, ex-orphan Suswa was sparring with Godoma and Murit was wrestling against Ngilai. When Mweya decided to lead her herd away, Araba remained behind for a time with the dependent herd and then sprinted off to catch up with her wild-living friends.

As usual, the orphans visited the baobab tree mud wallow in the afternoon. On her way down, Epiya paused to browsed on a tasty shrub and arrived at the wallow after everyone else. Emoli and Epiya stood drinking from the water trough for a time as Godoma splashed around in the wallow, happily hitting her trunk against the water. Lasayen stood in the shade of the baobab tree while Losoito and Ashanti rolled around on the pile of earth. On their way back to the stockades in the early evening, the herd meandered deep into the forest.

This morning, Ndii, Kenia, Mweya and Edie led the large herd of ex-orphans into the stockade area just after dawn. The resident orphans, who were lined up at the trough eating range cubes, ambled away to the lucerne area and the visitors took their places. Once again, over 40 elephants shared the feeding area in front of the stockades. As Sagala massaged herself against the boulder at the entrance, she rumbled to the orphans, signalling that it was time to head out to the bush. They followed her obediently. The ex-orphans stayed for a time before heading out in a different direction. 

The herd browsed peacefully through the long flowering grasses in the morning and all wallowed in the mud bath in the afternoon. Climbing out of the water, Murit scratched himself against the peacock tree and then the baobab, also exploring its crevices with his trunk. Balancing a bunch of creepers on her head, Sagala checked that Murit had not found anything delicious and joined her friends on the pile of earth. Over ten orphans were lying down or rolling around on the dry soil.

Full of excitement on a sunny morning, the orphans ran down the path in groups, emptied their bottles in seconds, and lined up at the feeding trough full of range cubes. After eating their fill, many orphans played on the terraces as Itinyi massaged his sides against a large rock and Busara straddled a smaller rock to scratch her tummy. 

Tamiyoi and Sagala led the herd out to browse around Msinga Hill. As the herd ambled on through the flowering grasses, Lasayen and Ndotto were left behind because they were playing in a trench. The two boys pushed their sides together and dug into the trench with their tusks. After walking a distance away, Kilulu about turned, trumpeted, shook his head vigorously and ran back towards them. The bulls were happy to be left behind but Kilulu was not happy to leave them! On a cloudy afternoon, the orphans spent minimal time at the mud bath, choosing instead to meander up Msinga Hill on their way back to the safety of the stockades.

The orphans were full of energy again this morning. As they played on the terraces or scratched themselves against boulders, Lemeki was up to mischief! Spotting an opportunity — the door of the room where the Keepers prepare the bottles was open — she sneaked up the corridor and peered around the door. She was hoping to find bottles of milk but only succeeded in surprising two Keepers who laughed as they whistled her back to the herd. 

Tamiyoi and Tagwa led the orphans out to browse. As usual, they spent the morning on Msinga Hill and then padded down the slope to the mud wallow in the afternoon. Almost the whole herd, including all the Voi kids, went swimming today. Cheeky Itinyi clambered on top of Seri and Ushindi as they lay relaxing in the water. They tolerated the play mounting for a few seconds before pushing him away. After cooling off, Mbegu and Tagwa waited for their friend Pika Pika under the shade of a tree – they knew that the water baby would be the last out! As she continued to splash around, Mbegu gave up waiting and ambled over to look after Busara who was rolling around on the pile of earth.

On another sunny morning, the orphans played for a time on the terraces before heading out to the bush. Ndotto and Lasayen stood leaning against each other and entwining trunks while Tamiyoi massaged herself on the famous rock and Mbegu on the terrace wall. Emoli and Thamana were playing the pushing game. They sparred and chased each other until Emoli made the mistake of mounting Thamana as he lay on the ground. Shaking his trunk, Thamana stood up and walked away to stand next to Sagala. This morning, the ex-orphans did not arrive until after the herd had left the stockades. The visitors ambled up the path just as Mbegu led the orphans out to Msinga Hill, filled their bellies with range cubes and wandered back out. 

In the afternoon, the herd plunged into the mud wallow and clambered out for a massage or a dust bath. Tamiyoi, Sagala, Tagwa, Dabida and Epiya enjoyed a group massage against the baobab tree as Itinyi rolled around in a shallow trench and Hildana and Kenderi relaxed on the pile of earth.

In the early morning, the orphans emerged from their stockades and spread out on the terraces and in the feeding area. As many clustered around the pile of lucerne, Kilulu, Busara and Ashanti were hanging out on the lower terrace. Lasayen and Juni rolled around on the pile of earth while Sagala stood next to them kicking up clouds of dust with her forelegs. When Lasayen walked away, Mbegu, with several toddling along in her wake, took his place on the dust pile. Itinyi and Kenderi were wrestling with each other, pushing heads, pulling apart, chasing around and clashing again. 

Little Losoito led the herd out today to browse on the slopes of Msinga Hill. Itinyi and Thamana ambled along together, alternately browsing and sparring and play mounting. They have become close friends. In the afternoon, the orphans padded down for a milk feed and continued browsing on the long grass covered with ipomea flowers.

The orphans had the area to themselves for a short time this morning before the ex-orphans ambled up the path. By the time they arrived, Mbegu had ushered the youngest orphans over to the lucerne area because Ngilai and Tagwa kept pushing them away from the feeding trough. When Kenia’s, Edie’s and Mweya’s herds wandered in, heading straight for the trough, almost all the resident orphans walked over to the lucerne area. 

The dependent herd set out to browse around Msinga Hill. Everyone spread out on the hill with the exception of independent Ndotto who headed off in a different direction, hoping to meet up with the ex-orphans. In the afternoon, the orphans drank from the water trough and settled around the baobab tree mud wallow. On a cloudy day, only Godoma, Ngilai, Sagala and Busara paddled in the water before climbing out to enjoy a dust bath with the others. Sagala and little Busara stayed close together, rubbing their bodies against each other. Later in the afternoon, the herd clambered to the summit of Msinga Hill and then, led by Lemeki, returned to the safety of the stockades for the night.

Matriarch Mbegu was looking after Ashanti at the feeding trough this morning, standing close and shielding the little girl from feisty boys like Thamana and Hildana. Ashanti has to kneel to scoop up range cubes from the trough because of her damaged trunk, which was severed by a poacher’s snare. As Itinyi showed off various poses on the terraces, Baraka spent time with his favourite nanny, Godoma, and Ndotto played pushing games with Kenderi. 

It was an uneventful day. As usual, the elephants spent several hours browsing on Msinga Hill before wandering down to the baobab tree mud wallow in the afternoon. Almost the whole herd cooled down in the wallow, covered themselves with dry soil and set out to browse once again on their way back to the stockades, led by Tamiyoi, Thamana and Lemeki. On the way back, Ndotto caught sight of the ex-orphans and sneaked away to join them, staying out for the night on the hill behind the stockades.

Former and current orphans shared the area outside the stockades this morning. Over 40 elephants again wandered around the area and over the terraces. Big bull Ndotto returned ‘home’ this morning after his sleepover with Kenia’s herd. He wrestled against Panda and sparred with the wild bull (who is always with the ex-orphans). Edie lined up at the trough with babies Eco and Enzo next to Ndoria, Tahri and Araba. As Ndotto continued to chase the wild bull, Emoli and Thamana played several rounds of the pushing game while Busara and Sagala massaged their rumps against the large boulder.

Later in the day, the SWT/KWS Galana Anti-Poaching Team drove up to the stockades with a very special cargo — a baby zebra! A tourist had spotted the little boy on his own while on a game drive along the Galana River. She reported the sighting, the Kaluku control room organised the rescue, and an SWT vehicle delivered the baby. Kulalu, as he has been named, is healthy and around two weeks old.

This morning, the visitors arrived as the residents were finishing off their bottles and lining up at the feeding trough. On some days, the orphans are very quiet but today several were prancing around as others played pushing and chasing games. Good friends Godoma and Suswa entwined trunks and laid them along each other’s backs as they stood close together with Ndoria looking on from the shade of a tree. In the past, the presence of Ndoria would put other orphans on their guard but she has grown out of her habit of biting tails! Losoito moved away from the crowd to scratch her backside against the terrace wall. 

Tagwa and Sagala led the dependent herd out to browse in the surrounding bush, leaving the ex-orphans behind at the stockades. In the afternoon, the orphans plunged into the mud bath, splashing water with their enormous feet or lying down in the wallow. Only Ndotto did not get wet. He stood under the baobab tree, looking out for the ex-orphans.

The elephants headed out to the bush early this morning. Pika Pika, Tamiyoi and Losoito were the first to set off for Msinga Hill with the others trailing along in their wake. Ngilai was browsing next to Lemeki, touching her affectionately with his trunk between mouthfuls. She tolerated his attention! As usual, Emoli and Thamana were wrestling against each other. As they tussled on the slopes of the hill, Emoli made the same old mistake of mounting Thamana. Immediately, Lemeki walked over and pushed the older bull off her old friend Thamana. Not far away, Mbegu was looking after little Busara, the youngest orphan in the herd, and Pika Pika and Sagala were massaging their backsides against several boulders. 

On a sunny afternoon, the orphans meandered down the hill for a milk feed and a visit to the mud wallow. They headed straight for the cooling water, plunging in one by one until the pool was full of splashing elephants. Ngilai lay relaxing on the edge of the wallow as Itinyi did his best to clamber on top of Tagwa. The older female moved forward, pushing him off with a splash. Busy scratching on the baobab tree, Thamana was the last to leave the wallow but he soon caught up with the herd as they ambled back to the stockades.

The dependent herd had the area outside the stockades to themselves this morning as the independent orphans did not arrive until after they had left. After browsing on lucerne, Mbegu, walking side by side with Busara and Ashanti, led the herd out to the bush. Hanging out together, Emoli and Kilulu stopped off at the water trough on their way. Lasayen was last in line, catching up with the others as they approached Msinga Hill. They spread out to browse on the abundance of flowering grasses and plants. Ushindi and Seri, reserved little girls who rarely play games, toddled around quietly as Godoma browsed with adopted baby Baraka.

In the afternoon after the milk feed, the orphans rushed into the wallow as the sun was scorchingly hot. As they splashed and wallowed in the muddy water, ex-orphan Edie and her herd appeared and joined them in the pool. They shared the wallow for a time before Mbegu and her herd meandered back to the stockades.

As the Keepers opened the doors of the shared stockades, the orphans sprinted out and down the path to the line of men waiting with bottles held aloft. They drank their milk and padded on to the feeding trough. As usual, Ngilai was the first to move on to the lucerne area. Lasayen followed along behind him while Mbegu remained at the trough, keeping a protective eye on Baraka, Ashanti, Dabida and Ushindi as they carefully scooped up pellets. If the ex-orphans arrived (which they did not today), she was there to shield the little ones. 

The orphans spent the morning browsing on the northern side of Msinga Hill before padding down to the mud wallow in the afternoon. Ngilai, Mbegu, Ndotto and Tagwa stopped off at the water trough as most of the herd paddled into the water. Full of energy, the orphans waved their trunks as they splashed water and rolled around. Tamiyoi stood up to perform some elephant stretches in the water as Epiya continued to rub up against her. When Lemeki began massaging herself against the edge, Itinyi took advantage of an opportunity by climbing on top of her. She shook him off with a twirl of her trunk. Seri climbed out of the water first to scratch herself against the water trough and Kilulu joined her a few minutes later. Eventually, the herd were persuaded to leave the wallow and head back out to browse.

When Tagwa led the herd out this morning, Ndotto and Lasayen stayed back at the stockades, hoping to meet the ex-orphans. Pika Pika, on her way out, spotted Mudanda walking up the path, turned around to greet her and followed her back to the stockades. Minutes later, to the delight of Ndotto and Lasayen, many more ex-orphans arrived and settled down either at the water or feeding troughs. 

The dependent orphans spread out to browse on the rocky side of Msinga Hill. When the Keepers whistled to them in the afternoon, they moved quickly down the hill for another milk feed. After emptying their bottles, the elephants padded on in groups of three or four to the water trough and on the wallow. They plunged into the muddy water for a cool down before climbing out for a dust bath. Some rolled on the pile of earth as others squirted dry earth all over the place or rubbed their torsos playfully on the ground. Today, Lemeki led the herd back to the stockades for the night.  

Soon after dawn, as Murit and Ndotto played the pushing game on the terraces and Ngilai enjoyed a morning dust bath, Edie’s, Kenia’s and Mweya’s herds wandered into the area outside the stockades. Over 40 elephants shared the space and the range cubes reasonably peacefully for half an hour before the dependent orphans headed out to browse. Mbegu gathered up her herd efficiently and led them out at a fast pace, showing off her leadership skills in front of her older friends. The visiting herd followed along behind. The groups separated when they reached Msinga Hill — Edie’s herd ambled off to the water hole on the hill and Mbegu’s towards the baobab mud wallow.

Later in the afternoon, Thamana and Itinyi had a wonderful sparring game around the wallow. When Itinyi clambered on top of Thamana, Emoli could not resist striding over to push Itinyi off his back and away from his best friend! Emoli took Itinyi’s place and the two bulls played many rounds of the pushing game before catching up with the herd as they wandered back to the stockades.

The orphans headed out to Msinga Hill soon after emerging from their stockades. They settled around the hill, browsing happily on the long flowering grasses. As they ambled along, hundreds of white butterflies danced around them and a flock of swifts flew in their wake, feasting on insects kicked up by the orphans. It was an especially peaceful morning.

In the afternoon, as usual, the herd visited the mud wallow. After lots of frolicking and showing off in the water, Pika Pika invited Losoito to play with her. The little girl accepted the water baby’s invitation and Pika Pika climbed playfully onto Losoito as she lay in the water. Seconds later, Mbegu was lying next to both girls – she was there to restrain Pika Pika and look after Losoito. After a mud bath, Sagala massaged herself against the baobab tree while Emoli stood next to Tamiyoi as she rolled around on the pile of earth. Lemeki invited favourite friend Thamana to play on the dust pile, sucking up trunkfuls of soil and spraying them into the air. As the sun sank towards the horizon, the Keepers gathered the herd and escorted them back to the safety of the stockades for the night.