As hatchlings, Bam and Boozle really took a shine to Chamboi the rhino. We joked that they were his tiny satellites, orbiting around him all day long. Back then, they barely reached Chamboi’s shoulder — but today, they tower above him!

These days, the ostriches and Chamboi follow their own paths, but we recently witnessed a reunion between the old friends. Chamboi seemed rather dismayed to find himself dwarfed by his once-diminutive acolytes and made a hasty exit!

The orphaned elephants:

The ostriches are ruffling other feathers, besides Chamboi’s. Mwinzi wins the award for the coolest young elephant in our care — he is relaxed, unassailable, and imperturbable. While he loves hanging out with Natibu, Toto, and Korbessa, he is equally happy to do his own thing. We often find him shoulder-deep in a tasty shrub, lost in his own little world as he enjoys a private feast.

One day, Bam and Boozle invited themselves to Mwinzi’s private feast. It turned into an eating competition, as the pair followed the stout elephant from branch to branch. Mwinzi tried to play it cool, strolling speedily to another bush — only to find a big bird drafting in his wake! Eventually, he got fed up and found a Keeper for reinforcements.

As we shared last month, we rescued three neonate orphaned elephants within the span of just a few weeks. At this fragile stage, we are taking things day by day as they navigate teething and the many complexities that come with infant orphans. We are happy to report that all three are doing well so far, and we hope to introduce them in the not-too-distant future.

The newbies have brought out a nurturing side to little Korbessa. While she still very much marches to the beat of her own drum, she has become very interested in the trio’s whereabouts and often tries to sneak over to visit them.

One of the babies is stabled next to Korbessa. As he took an afternoon nap, we found her loitering outside his room. The message was clear: “Let me in!” Who were we to refuse? We opened the door, Korbessa trundled inside… and promptly flopped down, displacing the baby, claiming most of the space for herself, and completely ruining his naptime. Her heart is in the right place, but she’s still the centre of her own universe!

Hose wars continue to be our Kaluku herd’s most treasured pastime. The orphans may change, but the competition remains the same: everyone wants to be in possession of the hose and its fresh, cold water! As the largest and most dominant bull in the herd, Mwinzi is usually the de facto winner, but Natibu has the fire and determination to claim an occasional victory. He is as fiery as Mwinzi is cool — it doesn’t take much to get him riled up, and sometimes, he invents drama just to get worked up for no reason at all!

Meanwhile, Toto, our amicable little bull, prefers to stay out of the fray. He occasionally tosses his trunk into the ring for hose wars but usually surrenders before things get too heated. Toto appreciates peace and harmony above all else! He’s happy to go with the flow and doesn’t generally cause a fuss.

One place where Toto stands his ground is the mud bath — he hates it! Even on the hottest days, he will only submerge his body with the greatest reluctance. Usually, he remains resolutely on terra firma as his Keepers cover him with shovelfuls of wet earth. Toto gets the same protective benefits from the mud, without having to wallow.

Chamboi the orphaned rhino:

Rhinos often get a reputation for being simple. While it’s true that they are less complex than elephants — a species that sets the bar very high for emotional depth — they are still fascinating, multi-faceted creatures.

We are reminded of this every day as we watch little Chamboi grow up. Now 14 months old, his personality is really starting to take shape. He is astute, obstinate (he is a rhino, after all), and exacting. He loves his rituals and his favourite Keepers — nothing and no one else will do!

One of his favourite rituals is racing along the dirt road leading up to Kaluku. It’s still quite hot in Tsavo, so these sprints take place either at dawn or at dusk. Chamboi never wants to run alone; he insists that his Keepers run alongside him. For a creature that looks so solid and stout, he can run remarkably fast — it often looks like all four feet are levitating off the ground! His Keepers are turning into fitness buffs thanks to their little rhino coach.

Twiggy the orphaned giraffe: 

We often say that Twiggy is the Mother Goose figure of our Kaluku herd. She exudes kindness and calm, and all the other orphans pick up on that. We can usually find her surrounded by an assortment of animals, big and small.

A special moment this month gave her nickname even deeper meaning. As the Keepers checked Twiggy’s stockade one evening, they were surprised to find that she had guests: a dik-dik and her brand-new baby! Seeking a safe place to give birth, the tiny antelope knew exactly where to go and took up residence in Twiggy’s room. 

The new mother sheltered her baby in Twiggy’s stockade for two days before bringing him out into the wider world. A newborn dik-dik is incredibly fragile — it only weighs about 1.5 pounds — and we marvel at how graciously Twiggy accommodated the baby’s presence. During their stay, the mother often left her baby in the giraffe’s care as she ventured outside for food. We can’t imagine a better nursery for the little dik-dik.

Apollo the orphaned rhino:

Finally, the rainy season arrived in Rhino Base and the wider Tsavo ecosystem this month. Rain always sends Apollo into high spirits — he welcomes the cooler temperatures, sparkling puddles, and fresh mud slicks to wallow in. As a result, November was a jubilant month for our big rhino.

After a few good storms, Rhino Base transformed into a leafy jungle. Apollo spends his days browsing contentedly, stopping for midday naps in the shade and indulging in his favourite mud baths. He continues to enjoy good-natured skirmishes with the wild zebras who have also taken up residence in his boma.

It won’t be long before we start bringing Apollo out for excursions into the wider park. But everything with rhinos must be done slowly and carefully, and we never want to rush the process. When the time is right, Apollo will embark on this next phase.

Apollo is now at Rhino Base, in Tsavo East National Park