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The day was cold, the cold month of July beginning in style. The orphans were, as usual, playful around the Stockade before heading out with Edie, who turned up alone to collect them. Natumi’s group was not seen today. A wild herd consisting of 3 adult cows and their offspring came to drink at the Stockade.

The youngsters gathered at the Stockade waterhole to take water before heading out to the bush, with Edie in full charge. They climbed Mazinga Hill, leaving Mweiga at the base. Mukwaju turned up along in the evening, and having taken some Copra Cake, escorted Edie back into the bush. Later Edie returned alone, and was let into the Stockade to keep the youngsters company during the night.

It was a very chilly morning, as Edie took the babies out to feed, all utilizing the scarce food available at this time of the year. Because they traveled slowly, Mweiga was able to keep up with them. Serena, the orphaned zebra, and Rukinga, the young lesser kudu, arrived at the waterhole to drink earlier, but drama unfolded when Seraa, Maeya and Solango cornered them there and began to chase them. The two fled back to the Stockade, calling for their Keepers to return and escort them out again. Natumi’s group was absent throughout the day.

Today, the youngsters (known as Thoma’s group) met up with that of Natumi and later in the evening, when the youngsters were already inside their Stockade, Emily arrived with Natumi’s group. Emily and the independent elephants went round all the Stockades greeting the youngsters with a deep rumble, after which they hung around the Stockades, some of the boys enjoying wrestling matches. Later Aitong led them out of the compound, with Emily at the rear, all in a perfect line. It was amazing for the Keepers to see the elephants that Emily is introducing into the wild herds. Edie deliberately ignored them, giving them a “side eye” as much to say that they were insignificant to her little group of youngsters!

Edie allowed Thoma and Solango to lead the youngsters out today. They had a wonderful mudbath before commencing the feeding routine. Meanwhile Emily and her unit in conjunction with that of Natumi came to drink at the Stockades, but left before the youngsters returned in the evening.

Thoma’s group again went up Mazinga Hill to feed, and missed Emily and Natumi’s groups, who came to drink at the Stockades after the youngsters had already left. They took another direction, and hence did not meet up today.

The orphans spent time playing at the Compound, soil dusting and chasing each other around, probably hoping for the appearance of the Big Group. Today they fed at the base of Mazinga Hill before Mpala led them for the noon mudbath, where they had loads of fun, running in and out of the water. Later they fed on the North side of Mazinga hill. Natumi and Emily’s groups did not turn up today.

Thoma’s group left the Stockade without Natumi’s group. Natumi seems not happy that Emily seems to have again taken charge of her group, so she split away, taking with her Mukwaju, Lolokwe and Irima. Having taken a drink, they went to join the youngsters out in the field. The youngsters welcomed them with charging trumpeting before settling down to feed together with them. The four left the Stockade once the youngsters were inside, having taken their Copra ration, but Edie did not want to go with them, remaining with the youngsters. A short while later, Emily returned with Catherine’s wild family, as well as Natumi. Mukwaju enjoyed a test of strength with a wild age-mate, and later challenged Sweet Sally. It was a large gathering at the Stockade compound, all leaving a lot later in the night.

Lolokwe arrived alone to drink at the Stockade trough at noon, and then went to join the youngsters in Thoma’s group. He returned with them to the Stockade in the evening, but then left with Uaso, whom he met there.

Emily’s and Natumi’s group came together to drink at the Stockade in the evening and then wandered off. Naomi’s wild group appeared afterwards, having probably been with Emily’s group earlier. Having taken a drink, they followed the direction Emily had taken.

The orphans were in a jovial mood, playing various games at the Stockade compound in the morning. Led by Edie, they headed off to Mazinga Hill to feed, and later went to the mudbath venue, where they had a lot of fun. Edie enjoyed a wonderful rolling game in the water with Mweya, Thom and Burra, Mweya being an expert at this. Natumi’s and Emily’s group never turned up today.

The youngsters adore Edie and usually leave decisions about which direction to take in the mornings, to her. She took them up Mazinga Hill, but when it turned hot, they came down, collecting Mweiga en route, to go to the mudbath. Uaso and Mukwaju came to join them in the evening when Solango engaged Mukwaju in a tough wrestling match. Uaso and Mukwaju went back with the youngsters to the Stockades in the evening, but left once the young ones were ensconced.

Natumi, Lolokwe and Mukwaju came early in the morning to join Thoma’s group. The two groups enjoyed feeding calmly together the entire day until evening when they joined a wild herd of 3 adult cows and their family members. They did not spend much time with the wild herd, since it was time to return to the Stockades, but Mukwaju was tempted to remain with the wild elephants, but later changed his mind, and hurried to catch up with the others.

Solango mounted onto Mweya this morning, and followed her closely all day, but all the elephants had to concentrate on getting enough food to fill their bellies, although they enjoyed some chasing games at the mudbath venue. Natumi’s group was absent today.

Natumi, Irima, Lolokwe and Mukwaju were spotted feeding high up Mazinga Hill in the morning. Natumi is desperate to create her own group and seems to be successful, since the boys are not interested in going with Emily and her satellites. They came down to greet the youngsters at the Stockade compound , but Edie ignored them, and went straight into the Stockade. Later Natumi’s group left, returning to the Hill.

Thoma’s group went to the base of Mazinga Hill, led by Edie, where they fed until it was time to amble along to the waterhole. Here they were all very active, folling around in the water and the dust, tossing huge chunks of soil into the air, which turned into red ochre in the water. Natumi’s group came to the Stockades to drink in the evening, and then left again.

Natumi’s and Emily’s group came together to the Stockades in the evening, doing the rounds to greet the youngsters, who were already inside, touching them with their trunks, and rumbling to them.

Thoma’s group went up the hill to feed, and because it was cool, were in no hurry to come down to the mudbath, deciding against going in. The afternoon was spent feeding on the northern side of the hill, before Burra led them back home in the evening. Natumi’s and Emily’s groups were absent today

Natumi’s group came early in the morning to escort the youngsters out taking them to the foot of Mazinga Hill before heading to the waterhole. Burra and Mweya teamed up for a soil dusting game after the mudbath. At 7 p.m. a fire broke out on the Ndara plains, destroying almost 200 acres of land. An arsonist, who was suspected to have started it, was arrested when he was found in the Park returning from the direction of the fire. It was not until midnight that the fire was brought under control.

Natumi’s group again arrived to escort the youngsters out in the morning and after the usual games session, they all headed out to feed, first at the base of Mazinga Hill and then towards the waterhole. Because it was cold, they didn’t go into the mudbath. Having come back to the Stockades in the evening with the youngsters, Natumi’s group left.

The youngsters, with Edie, went out early to feed at the foot of Mazinga Hill and then down towards the waterhole, where they had fun. Mweiga watched them but did not join in, due to her weak condition.

The day started well, with Natumi’s group linking up with the youngsters at the noon mudbath. Mweya and Seraa became so excited when they noticed Natumi’s group approaching. There were a lot of playing activities in the mudbath before all the orphans went off to feed again. Natumi was with them when they returned in the evening, but then left once the youngsters were ensconced.

Thoma’s group joined a wild herd of elephants on the N. side of Mazinga Hill. Seraa and Solango enjoyed teasing a wild calf, but this wrestling match drew the attention of its mother, who went to investigate, scaring off the two orphans. The orphans split from the wild herd when it was time for the mudbath. Natumi’s group came in the evening to drink at the Stockades, but left later.

Whilst the orphans played their usual game around the compound in the morning, Mweiga headed out alone ahead of them, but the others soon caught up with her. She was delighted when they kept pace with her. No sign of Emily’s group or that of Natumi today.

Edie allowed Thoma to again take the lead in the morning, positioning herself at the rear of the column. Uaso and Mukwaju came to drink water at the Stockade in the evening, but then headed off towards the Voi River.

It was an uneventful day, the youngsters concentrating on feeding having enjoyed their morning games. Because it was cool, none of them chose to take a mudbath today. Neither Natumi’s group nor that of Emily turned up today.

The day began well, Edie leading the youngsters out in the morning. They spent the entire day feeding in single file, and had a jovial moment at the noon mudbath. They met up with Natumi’s group back at the Stockade in the evening, who had arrived a little earlier for water. Natomi’s wild herd also came to drink, and went off later along with Natumi’s group. Today, Edie decided to go with them.

Natumi’s group, along with Edie, came early to escort the youngsters out. They fed together all morning, and went together to the mudbath where they all had a lot of fun. Natumi’s group returned with the youngsters in the evening, leaving when they had all settled down in their respective Stockades.

Edie was there to escort the youngsters out in the morning, and they all had a peaceful day feeding, moving to the mudbath at noon. Later Burra and Solango competed for the lead back to the Stockades in the evening. Emily and Natumi’s group arrived later to drink at the Stockade. We noticed that Aitong had lost a small portion of her left tusk. They all left later, along with Edie.

Edie and Natumi were not at hand to lead the youngsters out into the field, but Thoma took control, assuming the Matriarchal duties. All accorded her the necessary respect and all were happy to be led by her. They spent the morning at Mazinga Hill, and then went to the mudbath venue. Neither Natumi’s Group, nor Edie, or Emily were encountered today.

Natumi and Emily seem to have taken Edie further afield, because she did not return to escort the youngsters as usual. However, Thoma is enjoying her new role and the youngsters had a peaceful feeding day, without the older elephants.