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The orphans were full of energy this morning, sprinting out of their shared stockades and down the path to the line of Keepers waiting with bottles held aloft. Ushindi, Kenderi, Ashanti and Busara drank so quickly that the milk dribbled out of their mouths — before running on to join their friends at the feeding trough full of range cubes. Having arrived early in the morning and waited in the shade of a tree, ex-orphan Laikipia strolled over to scoop up cubes from the trough. Rokka and Manda stared at the visiting bull for a time, impressed with his massive size, and then gathered up the courage to rub themselves quickly against his legs. Losoito was next to approach the visiting bull. She did so with the support of Godoma – but beat a hasty retreat when the mature bull stretched out his trunk to touch her.

As the sun rose in the sky, the herd headed out to browse around Msinga Hill, leaving Laikipia behind at the stockades. Close friends Manda and Rokka stood together a short distance away from the others, first on their own and then with Kilulu. Later in the afternoon of a cloudy day, the elephants padded down the slope to the baobab tree mud bath. They were reluctant to get wet, choosing instead to massage themselves against trees or roll around on the large mound of dry red soil. Keen to look after Rokka, matriarch Mbegu took the newbie away to paddle in a large puddle close by.

During the night, Kulalu, the baby zebra rescued last month, died. His death shocked the Keepers as he had not been ill and had eaten and behaved normally during the day. Kulalu just went to sleep and did not wake up.

Waking up in playful moods again, the orphans jogged down the path to the feeding area. As they stood around waiting for the Keepers to fill the feeding trough with range cubes, Ndotto sneaked away. Quietly, he walked through an open gate which led to the range cubes store. The clever bull stood at the closed door of the store, hoping to find a way in. But disappointment awaited him. The door was opened, but only by a Keeper inside, and Ndotto was pointed back down the path to the herd. The Keepers filled the trough and the orphans lined up to eat.

After filling his belly, Ngilai flopped down dramatically on a patch of dry soil and rolled around. Annoyed with his showing off, Murit picked up a long dry stick and held it in his mouth. By standing close and waving his head, Murit succeeded in knocking the stick against Ngilai’s back several times. The prone orphan stood up and his crafty friend dropped the stick.

As the herd was preparing to leave, Mweya’s and Edie’s herds of ex-orphans arrived. Murit and ex-orphan Ndii got stuck into a contest of strength and Ndotto wrestled with ex-orphan Panda on the terraces. Current and former orphans headed out together but soon went their separate ways, with one spreading out over Msinga Hill and the other setting off towards the Voi River.

Laikipia arrived at first light this morning, drinking water from the trough and standing strategically at the feeding trough. He was soon joined by many ex-orphans. Led by Mweya and Edie, Kenia, Ndii, Panda, Naipoki, Kihari, Ndoria, Arruba, Araba, Mudanda, Suswa, Mwitu (Mweya’s wild-born baby), Eden, Eco and Enzo (Edie’s wild-born babies) walked up the path to the feeding area. The Keepers filled the trough with range cubes and the orphans lined up belly to belly. In a repeat of two days ago, Rokka and Manda approached and then fed next to Laikipia. Wherever he moved, his two fans were not far behind. They felt safe and comfortable in the company of the older bull.

Mbegu’s herd soon set out to browse in an area to the north of the stockades while Laikipia chose to wander over the open grasslands. Today, Tamiyoi succeeded in persuading Manda to move away from Rokka and browse with her. Taking advantage of his absence, Godoma settled down to browse with Rokka. The two nannies fussed over the newbies and shepherded them down to the mud bath in the afternoon.

Mweya and Edie’s herds of ex-orphans visited the stockades again this morning. After a milk feed and some supplementary pellets and lucerne, the dependent elephants stood around or played happily in the compound with the visitors. Trumpeting with pleasure, Thamana rolled around on his sides and back on the mound of soil. Emoli interrupted his dust bath, strolling over and challenging him to play. Thamana climbed to his feet and the two friends began sparring.

The herd headed out to browse in the surrounding bush. Sheltering from the sun in the shade of a large boulder, Godoma massaged her body against the rough rock as Mbegu and Emoli ambled around, browsing so close together that they were almost touching. Not far away, Kenderi, Ashanti and Lemeki also browsed in a little huddle,

In the afternoon, Ndotto and Itinyi submerged their bodies in the mud bath, lying near the edge so they could rub their trunks against the walls at the same time. After cooling off, Ndotto scratched himself against the bark of a tree. Meanwhile, the pool was filling up with wallowing elephants and Tamiyoi was squatting on the edge, facing her friends like a village elder conducting a meeting. Sagala rolled around on the mound of red soil before catching up with the herd as they set out to browse some more on their way back to the stockades.

After a peaceful night’s rest, the orphans emerged from their shared stockades in groups of five or six. The milk-dependent babies arrived in the feeding area in groups, drank their milk and wandered on — except for Kenderi and Seri, who hung about licking up every drop of delicious spillage. Laikipia and also Mweya’s and Edie’s herds were visiting again, sharing range cubes and lucerne with the dependent orphans. The mature bull remained behind when the orphans set out for their daily bush walk.

At the foot of Msinga Hill, Godoma secured her scratching boulder, attracting the attention of both Ngilai and Pika Pika. Noticing that Godoma was not in any hurry to leave, Ngilai lay against her, resting his weight against her and the rock. The tactic worked. An uncomfortable Godoma walked away as Ngilai and Pika Pika took her place.

During the morning, the elephants browsed all the way to the summit of the hill before meandering back to the stockades for a drink, a milk feed and a wallow. Little Rokka stood underneath Sagala’s head close to her chest on the dust pile. Kilulu straddled a rock for a good scratch of his underside while Tamiyoi and Ushindi took it in turns to massage themselves against the favourite rock. The remainder of the day passed peacefully.

The sky was clear and the birds were singing this morning as the orphans padded down the path for their bottles of milk. Lasayen followed behind best friend Ndotto, gently poking him in the bottom with his growing tusks in an invitation to play. After several nudges, Ndotto turned around and the two bulls clashed heads. As they played, the ex-orphans (including Laikipia) arrived to scoop up cubes from the feeding trough.

When Rokka tried to play with ex-orphan Ndoria, Mbegu was quick to intervene. She strode over to shield little Rokka, who could not know of the visitor’s irritable temper. Not far away, Laikipia clasped Sagala in a tight trunk hug, possibly in an attempt to mate with her as Mwitu sensibly walked away.

After heading out to the field, the two herds went their separate ways. Today, little Busara was being possessive of favourite nanny Mbegu, browsing so close that they were touching for much of the day. No doubt she had noticed Mbegu’s soft spot for Rokka and was making the point that Mbegu was first and foremost her nanny!

The bottle-dependent orphans gulped down their milk and joined their older friends - Murit, Ndotto, Mbegu, Lasayen, Sagala and Ngilai - either at the feeding trough or in the lucerne area. Ngilai was in a mischievous mood today. First he interrupted Lasayen and Ndotto’s sparring match and then he strolled between Emoli and Thamana, preventing them from continuing their game. As they played, the resident orphans were joined by a large group of visitors and the two groups mingled on the terraces.

As the day became warmer, the herd set out for a busy day of browsing around Msinga Hill. Today, Mbegu was making a big fuss of little Rokka, trunk hugging her regularly and keeping her close. Feeling left out, Manda tried (unsuccessfully) to squeeze himself between Rokka and her adoring nanny and then tried to clasp Rokka in a trunk hug and pull her away. Noticing the situation, Tamiyoi scooped up the young boy, trunk hugging him as they walked away together. Meanwhile, Juni stood leaning against Tagwa, making it clear that she was not keen to share her nanny with Rokka or Manda.

The day was a peaceful one – the elephants spent time on Msinga Hill, visited the baobab tree mud bath in the afternoon for a drink and a dust bath, and then ambled back to the stockades for the night.

In the morning, the orphans browsed on the abundant greens around the summit of Msinga Hill. In the afternoon, the Keepers whistled to them to come down for a milk feed. Today, they were in no hurry, ambling slowly down the hill and on to the wallow.

On a scorchingly hot afternoon, the mud bath was soon full of elephants splashing in every direction and submerging their bodies. As Kenderi and Epiya sucked up water to drink, Pika Pika climbed into the water trough for a quick dip before heading for the wallow. Moments later, the ex-orphan herds led by Edie and Mweya arrived at the mud bath, padding quietly out of the bushes in groups. After drinking from the trough, Mweya and others plunged into the water. As they did so, the younger dependent orphans all climbed out, standing under the trees for a time before heading back out to browse. Epiya, Rokka and Manda stayed back with the ex-orphans for a short while and then rejoined the herd in response to the Keepers’ whistles. The current orphans walked back to the stockades and the former orphans went off in the direction of the Mzima-Mombasa water pipeline.

It was another wonderful morning at the stockades. Ex-orphans Mweya, Edie, Kenia, Ndii, Panda, Naipoki, Kihari, Ndoria, Arruba, Araba, Mudanda, Suswa, Mwitu (Mweya’s wild-born baby), Eden, Eco and Enzo (Edie’s wild-born babies) arrived soon after dawn. After preparing breakfast, the Keepers opened the gates of the stockades. Resident and visiting orphans squashed together at the feeding trough and played on the terraces before heading out from the stockades in different directions.

In the afternoon, the Keepers shepherded Mbegu’s herd back to the stockades rather than down to the mud bath as a pride of lions had been sighted at the wallow. After another milk feed, the elephants ate range cubes and played around the terraces. Juni, Lemeki and Mbegu rolled around on the mound of dry soil while Ngilai splashed in the mud wallow. Losoito joined the dust bathers for a time until Manda arrived and pushed her away. As the sun dipped in the sky, Pika Pika led the herd all the way up the hill in search of fresh vegetation.

In the early morning, the orphans gathered outside the stockades. Ndotto stretched his trunk over the fence to twist off branches from an acacia tree while Pika Pika fussed over adopted baby Busara, massaged herself against the twin trees, and rolled around on the pile of earth. Ushindi was digging into the ground with her tusks. Kilulu wiggled his backside against the bark of a tree and then padded over to see Mbegu. The matriarch trunk hugged him as Manda and Rokka browsed together on lucerne. Then Kilulu challenged Emoli to a sparring match while Manda and Rokka greeted Pika Pika and Busara. The newbies from Kaluku are settling in well and making many friends who include Sagala, Tamiyoi, Lasayen, Ngilai and Mbegu.

The orphans then left the stockades for their usual bush walk on the northern slopes of Msinga Hill. In the afternoon, the elephants had another milk feed and visited the mud wallow. Ndotto posed on the edge of the wallow and then rolled around with Tamiyoi, Tagwa and Lasayen. Kilulu ran around the muddy pool trumpeting in excitement. Emoli and Lasayen sparred on dry land while Murit and Godoma had a wrestling match in the water. As Pika Pika and Godoma continued to splash around, the herd meandered back out to the bush.

Outside the stockades this morning, Pika Pika was spending time with Manda, and Kilulu was with Thamana, as Akina scratched her backside on the rock near the entrance. Mbegu was looking after Seri and Dabida while they browsed on lucerne. Little Seri knelt on all four legs to crawl around the pile of lucerne in an unusual but effective browsing technique.

The herd headed out to Msinga Hill, spending the morning browsing all over the hill before visiting the baobab tree mud wallow in the afternoon. It was a hot day and many plunged into the cooling water. Losoito stood in the middle, squirting trunkfuls of muddy water in every direction. Tamiyoi soon followed her lead. As Godoma rolled around in the water, Ngilai and Murit decided to wallow on either side of her, preventing her from moving. Meanwhile, Hildana climbed on and off Lemeki as she was having a dust bath. After lengthy water and dust baths, the orphans meandered back to the stockades.

Early in the morning, the milk-dependent orphans gulped down their bottles and joined their friends either at the feeding trough or around the pile of supplementary lucerne. Kilulu browsed next to Ashanti for a few minutes before mischievously climbing onto her back. The young girl trumpeted loudly and pushed her off as Mbegu strode over to discipline Kilulu and check on Ashanti. Lasayen and Murit wrestled energetically on the terraces as others played pushing and chasing games around them.

The herd headed out in groups to the surrounding bush, spreading out on the plains around Msinga Hill. This morning, Lemeki was following and trunk touching Manda for a long time, focusing her nannying skills on the younger boy now that Thamana is growing up.

In the afternoon, many orphans went swimming in the mud bath. As others wallowed around them, Thamana and Emoli had a sparring game in the middle of the pool. Tamiyoi squatted on the edge, massaging her bottom and waving her trunk. When she climbed to her feet and walked away for a dust bath, little Losoito took her place and imitated her movements! The orphans headed back out for a bush walk in a straggly line.

This morning, Mbegu lined up at the feeding trough with Busara, Losoito, Dabida and Ashanti as the rest of the herd gathered around the lucerne. Nanny Tamiyoi and newbies Manda and Rokka browsed together on the slope behind the stockades. Mbegu and Sagala wandered over to the pile of red earth and lay down on their sides for an early morning dust bath. Pika Pika soon plonked her body down next to them and rolled around in the soil. Thamana and Kilulu were sparring noisily on the terraces, clashing heads and chasing each other around. Meanwhile, older bull Ngilai was twisting branches off acacia trees on the other side of the fence.

As usual, the orphans spent the day away from the stockades, wandering around Msinga Hill and returning later in the afternoon. Today, Ndotto did not come back with the herd. Instead, he chose to remain on the hill and spent the night with ex-orphan Mweya’s herd.

Ex-orphan Edie and her herd visited the stockades today, arriving at first light. The resident orphans emerged from their stockades and lined up at the feeding trough with the visitors. After breakfast, some browsed close to the stockades as others played and bonded on the terraces. Godoma was trunk hugging Enzo (one of Edie’s wild-born babies) while Murit sparred on the upper terrace with ex-orphan Araba. Brave Enzo then wrestled with feisty Hildana. The game came to an abrupt end when Hildana tried to mount Enzo and he ran back to his mother.

The herd headed out to browse, leaving the ex-orphans behind at the stockades. Gentle Lasayen chose to browse on his own at the bottom of Msinga Hill as Tamiyoi and Kilulu wandered around together, touching each other frequently as they filled their bellies. Pika Pika and Mbegu stood in the shade of a tree with Epiya, Kenderi, Ashanti, Dabida, Baraka, Busara and Hildana, sheltering from the scorching sun. Busara rested her trunk on a low-lying branch as Pika Pika draped her trunk along her little friend’s back. Murit ambled over to join Busara and Pika Pika, trunk hugging both of them. Hildana and Dabida were squabbling — naughty Hildana pulled Dabida’s leg and then bit his tail to push him away from the shade of the tree.

In the afternoon, the orphans padded down the hill for another milk feed and a wallow in the mud bath. Itinyi and Losoito played the pushing game, making enormous splashes as others lay in the water around them. When Itinyi climbed on top of Losoito, the game came to an end – the two friends paddled out of the wallow and caught up with the herd as they ambled back to the stockades.

Mweya, Edie, their herds of ex-orphans, and also Ndotto, arrived soon after dawn and clustered around the water trough. Mwitu and Enzo (Mweya and Edie’s babies) were running around in excitement as Ndii and Kihari stood quietly under a tree and Panda rested her head on the rock by the entrance. Soon, the Keepers brought out the range cubes and lucerne, the resident orphans emerged from their stockades and the two groups settled down to eat breakfast. After sleeping out for two nights, Ndotto was spending time with ex-orphan Naipoki while Godoma played the pushing game with Eden (Edie’s baby).

Former and current orphans left the stockades together and spread out to browse around Msinga Hill. Kilulu and Thamana wrestled against each other at the foot of the hill as Naipoki and Eden stretched out and rolled around on the ground together. Manda and Rokka ambled up to the top of the hill to browse while Naipoki massaged her backside against a boulder.

After the milk feed in the afternoon, Mbegu found a large puddle to lie down in while Ngilai, Ushindi, Pika Pika and Busara drank from the water trough. Some of the herd paddled in the mud bath before they all set out to browse some more.

The ex-orphans visited again this morning. Mweya, Edie and their herds ambled up the path soon after dawn to join the dependent elephants for breakfast. Lying on the ground, Godoma played sparring and pushing games with ex-orphans Araba and Ndoria while Busara and wild-born Enzo clashed heads in a gentle version of the game.

When the Keepers whistled, the resident herd headed out in the direction of Msinga Hill with the independent herds wandering along in their wake. Ex-orphans Suswa and Aruba climbed into an eroded gully for a dust massage. Busara rolled around on a patch of dry earth – she waved her trunk and trumpeted so much that Sagala came running over to check on her, concerned that she could not stand up. The little girl climbed to her feet and walked away with her nanny. Epiya scratched herself against a creamy peacock tree in between bouts of sparring with Thamana. When she walked away, Thamana took her place at the tree and then played with Itinyi. Godoma massaged her body against a tree stump as Rokka toddled along behind ex-orphan Suswa, touching her affectionately at every opportunity. As Baraka browsed side by side with Akina, the cheeky boy tried to pinch some greens out of his friend’s mouth. Rokka and Seri padded up Msinga Hill, sticking close together as they browsed.

A straggly line of ex-orphans led by Edie and Mweya arrived at first light again this morning. They waited patiently under the trees at the entrance while their younger friends had their usual morning milk feed. The two groups then lined up together at the feeding trough and around the supplementary lucerne. 

Ex-orphan Naipoki was bonding with sweet Busara while Thamana and Emoli enjoyed their daily wrestling match. Sagala, Pika Pika and Juni rolled around on the mound of red soil having an early morning dust bath. Tagwa soon joined them, striking a pose on top of the pile of soil, and Murit followed along behind her. Thamana played with Losoito until the game became rough and the little girl ran over to matriarch Mbegu.

As the sun rose in the sky, the dependent orphans set out for their usual browsing adventures, leaving the visitors behind at the stockades. Tamiyoi led the younger members of the herd, including Manda and Rokka, all the way to the summit of Msinga Hill. In the afternoon, the herd walked down the hill to visit the mud wallow and return to the stockades.

This morning, the orphans were full of energy. Several scrambled to get out of their shared bedrooms and then sprinted down the path to the feeding area. Ashanti, Kenderi and Ushindi got stuck in the doorway as they struggled over who should come out first as Losoito stood quietly behind them waiting her turn. The noisy three ran down for their milk with Losoito padding along behind them. The ex-orphans did not visit today and so the elephants had the area all to themselves and did not have to share their breakfast.

In the afternoon, the Keepers sent the orphans down in groups for another milk feed. They drank their milk and padded on to the mud wallow. The oldest elephants brought up the rear, walking in a straight line with Sagala in front and Mbegu at the end. Many paddled in the water on a hot afternoon. Emoli and Thamana insisted on having a wrestling match in the middle of the pool. The game ended when Emoli mounted Thamana. Tamiyoi and Sagala rolled around happily in the muddy water as Kilulu and friends enjoyed a dust bath on the mound of dry soil. Lasayen was left behind at the baobab tree when the rest of the herd headed back out to browse. After a quick scratch, he lumbered off to join the herd.

The orphans set out in the morning to wander around Msinga Hill, picking delicious green branches off acacia trees on their way out of the stockades. Tamiyoi was trunk touching Ushindi as they ambled along together while Busara browsed on her own for a short time while waiting for Mbegu and Losoito. Godoma was spending time with adopted baby Baraka. As many of the orphans clambered up the hill, Manda and Rokka stayed at the bottom with big sister Tamiyoi.

In the afternoon, Manda and Rokka led Busara, Ushindi, Baraka and Epiya down the slope to the line of Keepers waiting with bottles of milk. After gulping down their milk, the first group of six padded on down to the mud wallow and the second group took their places. The orphans drank from the water trough, had a quick paddle in the wallow and wandered through the bush on their way back to the stockades. Ex-orphan Laikipia visited later in the day after being away for several days.

The orphans walked down to the feeding area in the early morning to greet their friends and enjoy their breakfast. Pika Pika was trunk hugging Thamana at the feeding trough as Ngilai ambled over to the pile of lucerne (he is usually the first to leave the trough and head for the lucerne). Lemeki was being affectionate to Losoito and Mbegu was standing next to them, browsing on lucerne with Dabida, Busara, Hildana and Akina. Tamiyoi was hanging out with Manda and Rokka, and also Sagala, on the lower terrace.

As the sun rose in the sky, Lemeki led the herd out for their daily browsing adventures. Several climbed up Msinga Hill, searching for fresh acacia branches, while Ndotto, Lasayen, Itinyi, Hildana and Kilulu browsed over the grasslands at the bottom, twisting up clumps of delicious ipomea with their trunks. Following recent rainfall, the grasslands are covered with white ipomea flowers.

On another wonderful morning, current and former orphans gathered in the feeding area and also on the slope behind the stockades. Naipoki and several other ex-orphans browsed on lucerne as ex-orphan Ndoria rolled around on the mound of dry soil and Tamiyoi, Manda and Rokka pottered around the slope. Eden (Edie’s baby) and Godoma were having a noisy wrestling match. After trying to separate them twice, matriarch Mbegu gave up and walked away. As many stood in small groups on the terraces, Ngilai extended his trunk over the fence to pull branches off acacia trees. Today, Thamana was playing with Itinyi (rather than his normal partner Emoli) – they played for a long time and Thamana even allowed Itinyi to play-mount him.

The herd headed out in the direction of Msinga Hill as the ex-orphans walked away in the opposite direction. Tamiyoi and little Rokka stayed close together as did Godoma and Baraka. In the afternoon, the orphans came down the hill for a milk feed, a drink from the water trough, and a splash in the mud wallow. Only Ndotto went swimming today as the rest of the herd were keen to continue browsing.

The orphans settled around the pile of lucerne after drinking their milk this morning. Tagwa walked to the water trough with Dabida, draping her trunk over the younger elephant. When she met Juni on the way, Tagwa paused to trunk hug her and then carried on with Dabida. Murit and Godoma stood with trunks entwined on the terraces and Emoli was standing next to them. Ngilai enjoyed an early morning dust bath, splashing soil all over the place as he rolled on the mound of earth. When he jogged off to catch up with the herd as they headed out, Busara and Tamiyoi also had a quick roll around before setting out for Msinga Hill.

In the afternoon, the orphans ambled down the hill to the mud wallow as usual. The older orphans plunged into the wallow except for Ndotto and Ngilai who splashed around in a large puddle of rainwater. Ngilai soon joined his friends but Ndotto stayed as he prefers puddles to pools. Losoito paddled with Ndotto as Pika Pika, Lasayen and the others wallowed in the muddy pool. One by one, the elephants clambered out of the water, hosed themselves with red soil and wandered back out to the bush.

The dependent orphans were first to reach the feeding area this morning. As Mbegu browsed on lucerne with little Busara standing almost underneath her, Seri did elephant versions of yoga stretches. Edie led a large herd of ex-orphans up the path to the stockades. Current and former orphans greeted each other and mingled around the supplementary greens. Mbegu sparred with ex-orphan Tahri and Mbegu played a chasing game with ex-orphan Panda. Meanwhile, Itinyi and Pika Pika stood with trunks entwined on the terraces. Busara is becoming a little extrovert – today, she toddled up to ex-orphans Edie and Arruba to greet them. So is Enzo – today, he was interacting with older female Tamiyoi.

In the afternoon, the orphans had their usual milk feed and mud wallow. While many swam in the mud bath, Rokka and Mbegu posed on the edge and Sagala covered every part of her body with red soil. After cooling off, they meandered back to the safety of the stockades for the night.

The orphans had the stockades to themselves this morning as the ex-orphans were nowhere to be seen, possibly because there is plenty of green browse at present. They filled their bellies and spread out to play and roll around in the dust. Emoli and Kilulu were sparring on the upper terrace until Thamana, feeling left out, pushed his way between them and chased Kilulu away. Ngilai stood on the mound of red soil, hosing himself all over, while Murit rubbed his rump against the rocks along the fence and Ashanti rubbed hers against the famous rock.

The herd soon headed out to browse around Msinga Hill. As they ambled along, Sagala and Busara kept entwining trunks and the older female then draped her trunk along the little one’s back. After the orphans spread out all over the hill, Tamiyoi and Akina climbed to the summit together and Pika Pika massaged herself against some boulders. In the afternoon, the orphans visited the mud bath and then wandered quite far south before returning to the stockades as dusk approached.

This morning, the orphans headed out early. Soon after drinking their milk, they gathered in the walkway and began padding up the slope behind the stockades on the way to Msinga Hill, browsing as they went. Full of energy, Epiya, Kenderi and Lemeki swayed their trunks from side to side as they strolled along. Pausing for a snack, Ashanti used her foot as well as her trunk to pull up clumps of grass and pop them in her mouth. Kilulu was walking close to Losoito and draping his trunk along her back. Akina soon joined them. Murit stretched up tall to pull branches down from acacia trees as Busara toddled along behind him. As they ambled along, Sagala paused for a scratch against some rocks and Dabida rubbed his backside against a tree stump. Lively Kilulu soon took Dabida’s place, wriggling his torso against the stump.

In the afternoon, the orphans spent only a short time at the mud wallow before setting out to browse on carpets of delicious white ipomea flowers, one of their favourite things to eat.

The orphans headed out to feast on the abundance of green browse early in the morning. After plenty of rain, the bush is beautifully green and the orphans are enjoying the blossoming acacia trees, the grewia shrubs and the ipomea flowers. Kilulu performed poses as he waved his trunk, Sagala sat on her backside stretching, and Godoma had a dust bath in an eroded gully. 

The herd settled down to browse on the rocky side of Msinga Hill, ambling in the direction of the water hole. Little Rokka was spending the morning browsing alongside Sagala and Tamiyoi, while Manda was hanging out with young bulls Kenderi and Kilulu.In the afternoon, the orphans padded down the hill for another milk feed. After gulping down their milk, they spread out around the wallow, choosing to browse on the tasty ipomea creepers rather than paddle in the water. Needing no persuasion, the herd wandered out into the bush accompanied by their Keepers. Today, they walked far afield before returning to the stockades.

It was a cool morning and the orphans were hungry. They scooped up every range cube from the feeding trough and every piece of lucerne and then played wonderful soil dusting games. Ashanti, Epiya, Lemeki and Ushindi knelt to push their heads against the mound with their bottoms in the air and then rolled around together on the dry soil.

Tamiyoi and Sagala led the herd out at the beginning of a long day of browsing. Godoma stuck close to adopted baby Busara while Sagala, Tagwa and Tamiyoi looked out for the other younger orphans. A few orphans played pushing games today but most focused on filling their tummies.

After several hours of peaceful browsing, the elephants padded slowly down to the mud bath for a milk feed, a drink of water, and a wallow. As Tagwa, Baraka and Juni floated around in the water, Juni jealously pushed Baraka away from her favourite nanny. Tagwa resolved the situation by placing herself between the squabbling babies. Today, Mbegu chose to cover her back with damp soil rather than paddle in the muddy pool.

The orphans left the stockades immediately after their morning feed for their daily bush walk. As most spread out at the bottom of the hill, Tamiyoi, Sagala, Lasayen, Murit and Emoli clambered all the way to the summit of Msinga Hill. After browsing for a short while, Sagala and Tamiyoi wandered down to spend time with Mbegu and Pika Pika at the foot of the hill.

In the afternoon, the Keepers shepherded the orphans down to the mud wallow as usual. Lasayen, Godoma, Ngilai and Mbegu clustered around the water trough to drink. When Godoma sprayed trunkfuls of water onto the ground, little Baraka (who was staying close to his nanny) lay down and rolled around in the patch of mud. On a cloudy afternoon, the elephants were reluctant to get into the wallow, instead deciding to wander on through the bush. On their way back to the stockades, Mbegu and Ngilai paddled in a large puddle of rainwater.

All the orphans played happily outside the stockades this morning after the milk and supplement feeding. Emoli and Thamana butted heads at the start of their daily wrestling match. Today, Emoli was hitting his friend hard but the smaller Thamana bravely stood his ground and refused to back down. Serious contest over, the two bulls ambled out to browse together. The herd spent the morning on the northern rocky side of Msinga Hill, browsing slowly towards the mud wallow.

In the afternoon, the Keepers sent the orphans down in groups for a milk feed. They padded on to the mud bath where most gathered under the peacock tree or the baobab tree as a few paddled in the water. A female wild elephant calf walked away from her herd (who were standing under a nearby tree) and up to the orphans. She drank from the water trough, stood next to several orphans, had a quick sparring encounter with Mbegu, and walked back to her own family.

On a cloudy morning, the orphans left the stockades soon after the milk and range cubes feeding. Having not had a chance to play in the early morning, Emoli and Thamana began sparring as soon as they reached the western side of Msinga Hill. The rest of the herd spread out around them, twisting up green shoots of grass and white ipomea flowers. Manda and Lemeki browsed together today, standing quite close in regular trunk contact. Not far away, Rokka was sandwiched between matriarchs Mbegu and Godoma.

In the afternoon, the orphans visited the water hole as usual. Due to the cool weather, most elephants stood quietly under the trees or rolled around on the mound of wet soil. Only Mbegu, Itinyi and Pika Pika paddled in the muddy water. As the herd meandered back out to the bush, the three orphans climbed out of the wallow, scratched themselves on the acacia tree, and caught up their family. Light rain sprinkled the orphans later in the afternoon as Ngilai and Ndotto massaged their bodies against some large boulders.

After drinking milk, feeding on range cubes and lucerne, and playing on the terraces, the orphans assembled around the stockade water trough in preparation for setting out to the browsing grounds. As they waited, Emoli and Thamana began a sparring match that could have turned into a real fight if gentle Ndotto had not separated the two younger bulls. He pushed his way between them and they broke apart.

The Keepers led the herd out for their daily bush walk. Soon after they reached Msinga Hill, Lasayen and Godoma had a wonderful wrestling match while the herd browsed around them. After ambling over the hill for several hours, the herd walked down for another milk feed.

Arriving at the mud wallow, the elephants gathered in groups under trees or at the trough. To the Keepers’ surprise, a herd of wild elephants appeared from the bushes and walked up to the wallow. Bold Busara was the first to approach them, toddling over with trunk outstretched. She was followed by everyone else and wild and not-so-wild mingled peacefully. Manda and Rokka were excited to be among the big elephants and kept touching them. When it was time to leave, the Keepers whistled to their herd. Most came willingly although Manda and Rokka were initially reluctant to walk away from their new acquaintances!