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On a wonderful sunny morning, the dependent elephants gathered in the area outside the stockades for breakfast, joining ex-orphan Rorogoi who spent the night under the tree. Lemeki was having an early morning dust bath with Losoito and Itinyi. Rokka and Manda were the first to wander over to the lucerne area from the feeding trough but the rest of the herd soon followed. Mbegu browsed on lucerne with her favourite baby Busara and Ndotto stood close to Kilulu. Lemeki and Losoito were together - when Losoito cheekily tried to grab a branch from her friend’s mouth, Lemeki quickly swung her head away. Losoito padded away to rub herself against Mbegu’s big body and then moved on to the mound of soil where she found Kilulu rolling around. When Kilulu invited Losoito to a sparring match, Losoito refused at first but then accepted the challenge. The two friends played the pushing game and caught up with the herd as they headed out to the browsing fields. 

On the slopes of Msinga Hill, Ngilai was trunk touching Godoma as Emoli browsed with Lemeki. Godoma and Ndotto pushed away Emoli and Lemeki so they could wander along on their own. Ashanti bent down on her knees to browse as Lasayen scratched himself on a boulder and then walked over to be with ex-orphan Rorogoi who is spending time with the herd. 

In the afternoon, the orphans padded down the hill for a milk feed, stopping off to drink from the trough and then plunging into the mud wallow. In the water, Kenderi was play-mounting Itinyi and Losoito was clambering all over Rorogoi. After cooling off, Mbegu massaged her body against the creamy peacock tree, Lasayen and Murit chose the baobab tree, and Ndotto the rocks next to the mud wallow. Afterwards, the herd meandered back to the stockades for the night.

In the early morning, the orphans drank their milk, lined up at the feeding trough to eat range cubes, and walked over to the pile of lucerne. Thamana and Manda were browsing and sparring at the same time while Akina was trunk hugging Baraka as he stood close to Godoma, and Ashanti was being affectionate to Busara. 

On the lower slopes of Msinga Hill, the orphans (and ex-orphan Rorogoi) settled down to browse on shrubs and acacia trees. Emoli and Godoma were browsing side by side as Tagwa and Tamiyoi ambled over to the grasslands. Juni, Ashanti, Epiya and Kilulu browsed calmly with the rest of the herd. As usual in the morning, the orphans wandered in the direction of the baobab tree mud wallow. 

In the afternoon, the orphans ran down in groups for their milk feed and on to the mud wallow. Manda struck impressive poses on the edge while Tamiyoi knelt to rub her face against the mound of red soil and dig holes with her tusks as Busara enjoyed a dust bath. Several orphans including Rorogoi congregated on the mound of soil to roll around and throw soothing soil along their backs. As the herd headed out to browse, Ndotto stayed back to enjoy a solitary dust bath.

The Keepers opened the gates at first light and the orphans walked out of their shared stockades. This morning, the orphans were pushing each other at the feeding trough until matriarch Mbegu intervened, telling off Hildana and Thamana and sending them away to the lucerne area so that younger babies like Busara, Baraka, Dabida and Ashanti could scoop up range cubes in peace. Manda and Rokka were already browsing on lucerne and Ngilai was walking from one place to the next with his special stash of lucerne grass balanced on his head.

The herd left the compound for their usual browsing walk and settled on the slopes of Msinga Hill. In the afternoon, the orphans had a quick mud wallow after the milk feed and then disappeared deep into the woods to browse.

After the morning breakfast routine, Tamiyoi led the orphans out on their usual browsing adventures. They spread out around the bottom of Msinga Hill, bonding as they browsed in the direction of the afternoon milk feed. Juni was gently pushing Kenderi forward as she did not want her friend to be left behind. Akina stretched out her trunk to snatch a branch from Ushindi while Busara browsed next to them. Baraka spent time with Ushindi and then padded ahead to catch up with Mbegu. Losoito and Tagwa walked side by side, trunk touching each other regularly. Busara toddled along behind Godoma, having to jog now and then to keep up. Emoli was stretching up high to twist down acacia branches and Mbegu was clambering over the rocks as Itinyi and Kenderi sparred against each other nearby.

After the milk feed, the orphans strolled on down to the baobab tree mud wallow where they found a wild elephant family. The two groups interacted peacefully although the youngest members of the dependent herd kept their distance. Later the orphans browsed some more on the rocky slopes of Msinga Hill.

The morning was wonderful. The orphans played with one another after drinking milk and feeding on range cubes. Hildana posed next to and then scratched himself against a large rock while plucky Lemeki sparred against the bigger and stronger Ngilai. Busara ambled around chewing a dry stick, hoping to attract the attention of her friends. Thamana lay down for some soft soil bathing and Kenderi soon joined him. When Rorogoi saw Kenderi lying on top of Thamana, she thought that Thamana was in trouble and ran to his rescue. He was not! Kenderi clambered off as the older female approached but was then challenged by Thamana to a wrestling match.

As the sun rose in a clear sky, the orphan elephants left the stockades for a busy day of browsing. In the afternoon after the milk feed, the orphans had a lot of fun mud bathing. Lasayen, Thamana, Murit and Rorogoi remained in the water to continue sparring before catching up with the rest of the herd.

On a chilly morning, the dependent orphans were out of their stockades early and settled down for their usual breakfast of milk, range cubes and lucerne grass. Ex-orphan Rorogoi – who is spending every night outside the stockades – was with them. She stayed back at the trough with little Seri after the other orphans moved on to the pile of lucerne.

Tamiyoi led the way out from the stockades followed closely by Busara, Emoli and Tagwa. The orphans spread out on the western side of Msinga Hill, browsing as they ambled in the direction of the stockade water hole. After the afternoon milk feed, the orphans enjoyed an extensive mud bath. Tamiyoi played with Losoito in the water as Ngilai and Mbegu enjoyed a dust bath on the mound of red soil while Lasayen and Murit enjoyed a bottom scratching session on one of the terrace walls.

On a sunny morning, the orphaned elephants congregated calmly at the feeding trough, enjoying the range cubes before moving to the lucerne grass. Busara chose to seek shelter under Mbegu’s head and particularly under her big ears. When Ndotto strolled over to join them, Busara initially took a few steps away as she was nervous of the older bull but then returned to the matriarch on realizing that Ndotto just wanted to spend time with them.

The elephants spend the rest of the morning browsing on top of the hill. When the Keepers called them, they came down for the afternoon milk feed. Today, they were not in a hurry as they were happy feasting on an abundance of untouched browse on the hill. After the milk feed, the orphans splashed in the wallow and hosed themselves with muddy water before leaving for their usual browsing walks. June is a cool month and no one swam in the mud wallow.

This morning, the dependent orphans were excited when they came out of their stockades. They ran down the path, gulped their milk and padded on to the range cubes and lucerne grass. When Mbegu moved a few metres away, four elephants showed their love and appreciation of the matriarch. Epiya was the first to walk over and trunk hug Mbegu for around two minutes. Following her lead, Ashanti did the same affectionate gesture and then Akina and lastly Rokka.

When the herd headed out to browse in the bush, Ndotto had to catch up with them. He was so busy massaging his chest on a large boulder that he was left behind. At the water hole in the afternoon, Ngilai kept trying to play mount Godoma, chasing her from the pool to the mound of red earth. Lemeki enjoyed playing with her darling Thamana as she lay on the dry soil while Ndotto relaxed next to them. After enjoying mud and dust baths, the herd ambled back to the stockades for the night.

After enjoying their milk, range cubes and lucerne, the orphaned elephants headed out to the browsing grounds led by Tagwa and Tamiyoi. Soon after arriving in the field, Ngilai began pursuing Godoma again, doing his best to flirt and mimic mate with her. She did not welcome his advances, moving off swiftly whenever he came too close.

On a wonderful afternoon, the orphans padded down the hill to the mud wallow. When Ndotto (who does not like mud bathing) lagged behind, Mbegu took charge of the situation. The matriarch of the herd would not leave Ndotto’s side and persuaded him down the hill to the water hole. Mbegu, like a wild elephant matriarch, always makes sure that no one is left behind, whether large or small, and that every member of the herd is safe. She has also been friends with Ndotto since they were very small babies in the Nursery, so perhaps she holds a particular affection for her old friend Ndotto! 

After the morning feed, the dependent orphans played in front of the stockades. Ushindi bent down to scratch her neck against one terrace wall while Kilulu and Hildana rubbed their bottoms against another wall. Noticing that Seri was watching him, Kilulu began showing off – she wiggled around and did some climbing-up-and-down terraces tricks as the little girl watched on from the sidelines.

The herd soon headed out to browse over Msinga Hill. Today, everyone wanted to be with Mbegu! Juni browsed so close that she was leaning against her and Dabida squeezed up against her on the other side. Not wanting to be left out, Baraka then pushed in between Juni and Mbegu, doing his best to get rid of the competition. Lovely Mbegu reached her trunk over the little boy to reassure Juni and the four orphans went back to browsing.

Last night, not only Rorogoi but also Naipoki spent the night outside the stockades. The two ex-orphans seem to have been left behind by Mweya, Kenia and Edie’s herd. Pika Pika and Sagala have not been seen this month so far as they are with the ex-orphan herds. Dependent and independent orphans browsed on range cubes and then headed out to the browsing fields. Ngilai clambered up the hill to browse on acacia branches while Emoli remained at the foot of the hill. Naipoki and Rorogoi wandered with the dependent herd in the direction of the baobab tree water trough. Along the way, when Naipoki tried to grab a tasty branch from Akina, Mbegu pushed her away. Epiya was rubbing herself against Murit as Thamana scratched his head on the acacia tree. Busara and Mbegu were browsing side by side.

After the milk feed, the orphans went down to the mud bath for a wallow and then resumed browsing in the woods. 

On a bright sunny morning, the dependent orphans ran down the path in anticipation of their breakfast routine. Losoito and Lemeki enjoyed an early morning dust bath while Ndotto, Lasayen, Naipoki and Mbegu stood side by side at the feeding trough. (Ex-orphans Naipoki and Rorogoi spent the night again.) Mbegu shepherded Kilulu, Dabida, Busara and Ashanti to the lucerne feeding area, leaving older bulls Ndotto and Lasayen at the trough, Mbegu and Dabida then browsed on a patch of grass next to the lucerne. Little Dabida stuck close to Mbegu and pushed Busara away when she tried to join them (not wanting to share Mbegu). She was more welcoming to Kilulu and the three orphans browsed together as Busara ambled over to spend time with Ushindi. Thamana was also enjoying the patch of grass.

Soon, the herd headed out to browse all over Msinga Hill. Godoma, Baraka and Busara settled in the open grasslands for the rest of the morning. In the afternoon, the elephants had their usual milk feed and visit to the mud wallow. After a quick swim, Godoma clambered out of the mud wallow to scratch herself on a tree. When the herd meandered back out to the bush, Mbegu and Dabida were left behind, trunk hugging each other under the baobab tree.

The dependent orphans were waiting anxiously in their shared stockades at first light as the milk was being prepared. Naipoki and Rorogoi were already feeding on the range cubes and lucerne brought out by the Keepers. Minutes later, their doors were open, and the elephants ran down the path in groups to join the two ex-orphans. After filling her belly, Godoma rested her head and trunk on the large rock while Emoli and Mbegu played a light-hearted pushing game. 

When the orphans headed out for their daily browsing adventures, Naipoki and Rorogoi ambled along in the midst of the herd and spent the whole day with them. Today, the orphans spread out over the grasslands at the foot of Msinga Hill overlooking the baobab tree water hole.

In the afternoon, the orphans stopped off at the trough to drink before proceeding on to the mud wallow. Seeing that the wallow was crowded, Ushindi tried to clamber into the water trough. Her efforts were not successful and so she joined the herd in the muddy pool. Refreshed after their dip, the orphans walked out to continue browsing. 

The orphans ate quickly this morning and set out to the browsing fields, ambling along in a line. Mbegu browsed with Seri and Tagwa with Busara at the foot of Msinga Hill. The rest of the herd spent the morning on the grasslands. As Godoma stood close to Baraka, trunk hugging her little friend, a jealous Epiya pushed the boy away and took his place. Her plan did not work as, a few minutes later, Baraka returned and persuaded Godoma to walk off with him, leaving Epiya on her own.

In the afternoon, Rokka led the first group as they sprinted down to the milk feeding area and on to the baobab tree water trough to quench their thirst. Ex-orphan Naipoki remain behind posing and resting her trunk on the trough when the rest of the herd plunged into the wallow. The orphans swam for a short time today, choosing instead to head back out to the bush. They walked up the hill, coming down later in the afternoon and returning to the stockades for the night.

On a wonderful sunny morning, the orphans spread out in front of the stockades. After eating lots of lucerne, Losoito stood waiting to head out to the bush. Thamana challenged Losoito to a sparring game and the two friends began pushing and chasing each other around. Not far away, the usually-reserved Rokka was playing with Busara – the youngest orphans in the herd competed happily to see who was the strongest.

As the orphans made their way out to Msinga Hill, Kilulu was play mounting Ushindi as Thamana walked along with old friend Lemeki. Murit was trunk hugging Dabida and then he entwined trunks with Kilulu. Ex-orphan Rorogoi stayed back at the stockades for an early morning dust bath and then jogged out to catch up with the herd.

On a peaceful morning, the dependent elephants gathered outside the stockades for breakfast. They enjoyed their meal while engaging in socializing games. Godoma scratched an itch against nearby rocks, while Kenderi, proud of her growing long tusks, challenged Kilulu to a sparring match. After besting Kilulu, Kenderi sought out Itinyi, who proved to be a formidable opponent. Their sparring session lasted longer than expected, ending only when Naipoki approached.

After their midday milk feeding, the orphan elephants enjoyed fun mud-bathing games. Ashanti showcased her skills by rolling on the red earth piles, inviting Manda to join in. The two eventually caught up with their friends for browsing. Ndotto sought out Naipoki for a sparring game. Naipoki (who we believe is pregnant and can be quite moody) responded with more force than was necessary, poking Ndotto with her sharp tusks. Ndotto ran over to his Keepers, who applied antiseptic spray to his wound. It was not too serious, but they would keep a close eye on it in case Ndotto needed further treatment.

After a busy day of browsing, the herd meandered back to the stockades for the night.

The stockade-dependent orphan elephants came out of the stockade for their daily morning milk feed. Seri and Akina couldn't stop bickering, suspecting each other of trying to grab the other's milk bottle as they stood close together. After their milk feeding, the orphans settled to enjoy some range cube supplements and later moved on to the lucerne grass. Under the leadership of Tagwa, Tamiyoi, and Juni, the orphan elephants proceeded out to the browsing grounds.

Rorogoi was being a little lazy and stood next to Godoma, grabbing the same browse whenever Godoma brought it to her mouth. Mbegu noticed this and decided to do the same, feasting on the browse from Tagwa's mouth. Busara, watching them keenly, considered this behaviour a little too oppressive for his liking, and bravely intervened, plucking grass with a lot of energy to teach Mbegu some browsing manners.

The rest of the browsing day was quiet and peaceful.

The morning was bright and the sun was shining, but a cool breeze still signalled the cold month of June. The orphans played in the compound area after feeding on milk, range cubes, and lucerne grass. Hildana and Kilulu enjoyed a game of climbing up and down the soil piles. 

Later, the orphans left for a busy day of browsing in the bush. After a brief mud bath in the afternoon, Mbegu, Baraka, Godoma, and Naipoki scrambled to soil bath in a small, shallow hole instead of the main piles of red soil. Mbegu, using her intelligence and due to her kind nature, sweetly stepped aside to create some space for her friends to play.

It was a busy day for the orphaned elephants as they followed their usual breakfast feeding routine. After their meal, they proceeded to browse to the north of the stockade compound. Ndotto’s wound from Naipoki’s tusk the other day was showing some signs of swelling, so we called the SWT/KWS veterinarian to come and consult the injured area.

Ndotto was immobilized and lay down for treatment while Mbegu led the curious orphan elephant herd, waiting nearby. The keepers had to work extra hard to keep Mbegu and her friends away from the treatment area. Once Ndotto rejoined them, they welcomed him with bellows and trumpets.

In the afternoon it started raining very lightly but the orphans still enjoyed partially playing in the mud wallow. Mbegu, Busara, and Itinyi lay down and rolled about, climbing and sliding against one another. 

The milk bottles were ready early this morning as usual, and the milk-dependent orphan elephants excitedly came out of their stockades, finishing their milk in seconds. After a brief time playing around, they all left the stockade compound and headed out to the browsing grounds.

After browsing for more than two hours, a big wild elephant bull suddenly joined the orphan elephants. The bull followed Mbegu, sniffing at her, but she kept avoiding him and running away. After a while the wild bull gave up and left. The orphan elephants then enjoyed a peaceful mud bath after their milk feed, and later, enjoyed the light rain than fell again today. Emoli took his best friend Thamana for a sparring match, while Itinyi did the same with his new best friend Kenderi.

After the usual morning feedings, Losoito left her friends in the lucerne feeding area and instead had a wonderful soil bath to herself on the red earth piles. The orphans then left the Voi compound for their day of browsing, choosing the rocky Msinga Hill to browse throughout the morning. Tagwa stuck close to Juni, and the two browsed side by side. 

On the western foothills of Msinga Hill, Mbegu approached Godoma, seemingly for a private conversation. At midday the milk-dependent orphan elephants sprinted towards their milk bottles, with Dabida, Ushindi, Seri, Epiya, Busara, and Losoito arriving first. Due to the cloudy and cold weather, the orphans snubbed the mud wallow today. Rorogoi approached Murit for a sparring game, but Murit ignored her, prioritizing browsing instead.

On the rocky eastern side of Msinga Hill, not far from the stockades, the orphaned elephants settled down to browse. Emoli and Thamana took a little break from browsing to shelter from the bright sunshine. Lasayen paused to scratch against a rock before rejoining the others.

The weather was chilly when the orphans arrived at the baobab tree water hole in the afternoon. They drank clean water from the water trough, but completely avoided the main water hole again. Kilulu posed for photos that the keepers were taking, while his friends started leaving for the second browsing session of the day. Ndotto's treated wound is responding well, drying up and healing quickly.

The dependent elephants emerged from their night stockades, eagerly anticipating their morning feed. Ashanti, Epiya, and Dabida were quick to finish their milk bottles and hurried to the water trough. After drinking, they enthusiastically splashed and washed their mouths before returning to wait for more milk, as if they hadn’t been fed at all! The Keepers stepped in to ensure the rest of the herd had a peaceful milk-feed, without the three mischievous characters disrupting proceedings! 

Emoli scratched himself against a rock next to the water trough before engaging Thamana in a sparring match. Ngilai soon replaced Emoli at the scratching rock as the sparring game between him and Thamana became more intense. In the big stockade, Tagwa was seen playfully interacting with Lasayen, lying on top of him, before they joined the others to feed on range cubes.

The afternoon weather was chilly, but Itinyi braved the cold and plunged into the mud bath, splashing water all over his body. Ngilai, meanwhile, enjoyed lying on the red earth piles and invited Busara to join him, before heading out with the others to continue their day of browsing. 

It was a beautiful morning as the dependent orphans enjoyed their breakfast before setting off on their daily adventures. Godoma, Mbegu, Kilulu, Ashanti, Baraka, Busara, and Dabida lined up at the feeding trough, munching on their range cubes. Meanwhile the rest of the herd, including Rokka, Manda, Itinyi, and Akina, were enjoying lucerne grass alongside the older orphans Ndotto, Ngilai, Lasayen, and Murit.

Lemeki is displaying her maternal instincts these days and spending more time with Losoito, nurturing and caring for her. This morning, they led the way out to the browsing fields, with the rest of the herd following behind.

The orphans returned to the stockade compound for their noon milk feed and spent some time playing before heading out to the bush again. Baraka scratched against Mbegu, who was lying on the red earth piles. Ushindi rolled around on the earth piles too before joining Kenderi. Ngilai enjoyed a solitary mud wallow before joining the others on the soil piles to dry off.

Godoma and Thamana took turns scratching on the favourite rock as the rest of the herd started to walk out to continue with their day out in the park. 

The stockade-dependent orphans lined up for their range cube supplement after the milk feed. Ngilai took a few scoops of the cubes and then proceeded to carry some in his trunk to snack on as he walked towards the lucerne grass feeding area. The rest of the orphans remained at the feeding trough, jostling and pushing each other as they scrambled over the range cubes. Moments later Ngilai returned, carrying a bunch of lucerne, probably saving it for later. However he met Ndotto, who sneaked over and pulled some from his mouth. Hildana was in a good mood today, playing around in the stockade compound. Ushindi stood on the terrace wall, and both Lemeki and Ashanti passed by to check on her and pat her with their trunks, as they ambled out of the gate and on down the road towards the browsing grounds. Lasayen and Ngilai were the last to leave the compound as they engaged one another in a wrestling match. Lemeki spent time with Dabida, patting him affectionately. 

In the afternoon, the orphans went for their usual midday milk feed and then proceeded further down the hill to the mud wallow. Ex-orphan Nguvu showed up and approached the orphans. He decided to hang out with them at the baobab tree area, and when it was time for the orphans to leave and continue browsing, he returned to his wild family herd who were waiting under a tree not far from the water hole. 

It was a sunny morning today. The stockade-dependent orphans were scattered all over the compound, having their breakfast, bonding, and playing before leaving for the bush. Busara clung to Mbegu at the feeding trough, accompanied by Ashanti, Dabida, and Epiya.

Kilulu tussled with Juni over the lucerne, while Hildana bullied Itinyi for no apparent reason. Losoito, Lemeki, Tamiyoi, and Thamana led the herd out to the bush and settled on the slopes of Msinga Hill, munching on the dry ipomea vegetation and acacia branches.

In the afternoon, the orphans went down to the baobab tree mud hole for their usual mud bath session. A wild elephant family, who had been waiting nearby, approached the water hole and interacted with the orphans for a while.

The orphans later embarked on a browsing adventure, going deep into the woods to forage. In the evening, Rokka led the herd back home for the night.

The sun was out, and so were the orphans! Ashanti was struggling at the feeding trough while having pellets, as due to her short trunk (maimed by a poachers snare before we rescued her) she has to bend low or even kneel to comfortably grab a whole bunch. Fortunately, she has Mbegu and other older female orphans like Tamiyoi always watching out for her, ensuring she isn’t bullied or knocked down while kneeling.

Godoma looked out for her adopted baby Baraka, while Juni scratched her bottom on the feeding trough wall. Ngilai and Lasayen had an early morning wrestling game in the stockade compound while Kilulu ran about in an excitable mood, happy to begin the day.

The orphans walked off for their daily bush walk and settled on the open grassy plains, munching their way towards the baobab tree water hole. A wild bull later joined the orphans, and they spent the mid-morning time together browsing.

In the end instead of going to their usual milk feeding area, the orphans returned to the stockade compound for their midday milk feed. Mbegu scratched on the rock next to the water trough while Seri scratched her bottom on the water trough, before all the orphans headed out again to continue browsing for the rest of the afternoon. 

It was a wonderful sunny morning which was made even brighter, as the Keepers and orphans awoke to the surprise of Pika Pika’s return! She had joined Kenia and Mweya’s herd in the wild last month and although the Keepers expected Pika Pika to perhaps return one day, they didn’t anticipate it to be so soon. There was no sign of the other ex-orphans or Sagala and we wondered where Pika Pika had left them. 

Pika Pika received a warm welcome from the herd with hugs and pats all over, and she joined the stockade-dependent group as they headed off to the browsing fields. In the afternoon, the orphans walked down to the mud wallow by the baobab tree after their milk feed. Mbegu stopped by the water trough and interacted with Pika Pika before they both proceeded to the mud hole.

Murit splashed around while posing on the edge of the mud wallow, while Emoli engaged Itinyi in a sparring game nearby. After a short stint at the mud bath, the orphans left to resume browsing and settled on the grassy plains. Pika Pika clearly remembers the routine and returned with the other dependent orphans to the compound this evening as usual – perhaps she is not ready for a life in the wild just yet!

The orphans were busy with their breakfast routine. Little Ashanti struggled but managed well at the feeding trough, using all the skills she could think of to scoop the range cubes with her short trunk.

Lemeki continued to impress as she spent the morning feeding on lucerne with her new adoptee, Losoito, and they seem to be bonding nicely. Kilulu and Kenderi wrestled and pushed one another as they slowly made their way out to the browsing fields.

The matriarch, Mbegu, was hanging out with Ndotto, hugging him with her trunk and reassuring him that his wound will heal, and everything will return to normal. Mbegu also kissed Juni and nudged her forward to follow the herd as they moved out to the bush.

In the afternoon, as the orphans were enjoying their time at the baobab tree mud wallow, a wild herd arrived and joined them, ousting them from the water trough. We even watched one wild bull try to fully climb into the trough! Ngilai pursued Godoma and tried to mount her, until the Keepers moved him away to stop bothering her.

When the wild herd started to walk away from the baobab tree, they tried to abscond with some of the orphans, but the Keepers acted quickly and called the orphans, who responded and turned back to rejoin the herd.  

The orphans came out of their night stockades and sauntered around the stockade compound, having their breakfast. Ngilai walked down from the terrace wall and joined Pika Pika, who was finishing up with the range cubes. The orphans then left the compound to browse out on the open plains at the foot of Msinga Hill, overlooking the baobab tree water hole.

Emoli and his friend and sparring mate, Thamana, were bonding and catching up while browsing. After the midday milk feed, the orphans headed to the water trough next to the baobab tree and had a great time in the mud wallow too. Little Manda sat on the edge of the mud wallow and struck delightful poses, much to the amusement of the Keepers. Tamiyoi and Murit scratched against the baobab tree before joining their friends who were gradually moving off to continue browsing on the plains.