As November began, we looked skyward, eagerly anticipating the arrival of the rains.
Ex-orphan Mudanda, her newborn baby Miale, Naipoki, Ndii and Rorogoi spent the night outside the stockades. In the morning, our dependent orphans padded down the path and mingled with the visitors in front of their shared rooms. Epiya watched with great interest as Miale rubbed her head against Mudanda’s hind leg. In a gesture of greeting, the tiny elephant then touched many members of our herd with her little trunk. Amid a drizzle of rain, current and former orphans gathered around the pile of fresh lucerne.
After filling their bellies, the elephants woke up fully. Some lay down and rolled playfully on the dust hill, with Ndii taking centre stage in the games. Ngilai massaged his backside against the twin trees while Lemeki opted for the famous rock and Thamana for the boulder at the entrance.
Led by Lemeki, the dependent herd headed out towards Msinga Hill. Mudanda’s herd remained behind for a short time before walking out in a different direction. After a peaceful morning of browsing, the orphans visited the baobab tree mud wallow in the afternoon. Soon after they left the wallow, a herd of wild elephants took their place.
When Mbegu and her herd padded out of their stockades and down the path in the early morning, ex-orphan Mudanda and baby Miale were not there. The resident orphans emptied their bottles of milk and lined up at the range cubes feeding trough with their friends.
The herd headed out to the browsing fields, hoping to meet little Miale along the way but she was nowhere to be seen. As the lower slopes were almost empty of edible browse, the elephants climbed up to the top of Msinga Hill.
In the afternoon, we gathered the orphans and sent them down in groups for their afternoon milk feed. Manda, Rokka, Busara, Baraka and Dabida sprinted down in the first group. Their friends joined them in the baobab tree water hole for mud bathing games. Waving his trunk, Kilulu clambered on top of Lemeki and swayed from side to side while Hildana climbed onto Thamana.
As many wallowed in the water, Tamiyoi scratched herself against the peacock tree, Itinyi squatted in the trough for a water massage, and Losoito squashed her body into a small depression in the ground. After cooling off and playing, the herd wandered back to the safety of the stockades for the night.
In the morning, the dependent orphans were happy to join Mudanda, baby Miale, Naipoki and Rorogoi outside the stockades. The four visitors arrived after dark on the previous evening, feeding on lucerne and sleeping close to the large stockade. (Mweya, her newborn Mwangaza, and the other ex-orphans have not yet visited the stockades this month.) The elephants gathered in the lucerne area before heading out to the field.
Mudanda and little Miale left the stockades first, walking along a well-used elephant path with best friends Murit and Lasayen in close pursuit. The two bulls were determined to follow the new mother and her baby into the bush. Meanwhile, the rest of the resident herd meandered out in the direction of Msinga Hill as usual.
In the afternoon, the herd visited the baobab water hole for a milk feed and a mud bath. As the orphans headed back to the stockades later in the day, they came across Murit and Lasayen waiting for them along the way.
At first light, the orphans emerged from their stockades to drink milk and eat range cubes. When Ndii wandered up the path, the ex-orphan with the damaged trunk was welcomed by many friends. She – and others – are frequent visitors at present due to the lack of green browse in the park. Dabida, Seri, Ushindi, Juni and Tagwa rumbled as they clustered around the older elephant. With the sun shining bright, some orphans moved on to the water hole for an early morning mud bath while Lemeki, Kenderi, Busara and Losoito rolled around playfully on the mound of dry soil.
Manda and Rokka led the herd out for their daily browsing adventure. Remaining behind, Ndii spent the day wandering between the lucerne area and the water trough.
Later in the afternoon, ex-orphan Mweya, baby Mwangaza, Mwitu, Pika Pika, Sagala, Kihari, Mbirikani and Panda arrived at the stockades before our orphans returned. They joined Ndii in the lucerne area. After dark, when the resident orphans were in their shared stockades, Mudanda, Miale, Naipoki and Rorogoi also arrived at the stockades, spending the night resting and browsing on lucerne.
This morning, we had a total of 38 elephants outside the stockades! We spread bales of lucerne in the feeding area for our massive herd of current and former orphans as they mingled at first light. They browsed peacefully, occasionally rumbling or trunk touching each other. Newborns Miale and Mwangaza (ex-orphans Mudanda’s and Mweya’s babies) lay on the lucerne grass as if on a mattress playing and waving tiny trunks under tight security from their many nannies. Busara, Losoito, Baraka and Rokka – who were not getting as much attention as usual because Miale and Mwangaza moved away in the direction of the stockade water trough.
Our dependent herd soon headed out to browse around Msinga Hill while Mweya led her herd towards the Voi River circuit and Mudanda and her small herd walked off in another direction.
Later in the afternoon, the orphans visited the baobab mud bath. Tagwa, Juni and Manda submerged their bodies in the middle while Godoma twirled her trunk as she squatted on the edge with her hind legs in the muddy water.
On a wonderful morning at the Voi stockades, ex-orphans Mweya, with her wild-born babies Mwitu and Mwangaza, Panda, Mbirikani, Sagala, Pika Pika, Arruba, and Kihari walked up to the stockades soon after dawn. Moments later, Mudanda, little Miale, Rorogoi and Naipoki also arrived. Mweya waited patiently next to the feeding trough for the range cubes to be served as baby Mwangaza played around her feet while Mudanda and her mini herd browsed on lucerne. In high spirits, Miale danced around the pile of grass with nannies Naipoki and Panda looking on. Mwangaza soon moved away from her mother to play on the rock near the lucerne feeding area.
When the dependent orphans ambled out to browse over a dry Msinga Hill, the visitors remained behind, finishing up every scrap of supplementary greens before heading back to the bush.
In the early afternoon, herds of wild elephants and buffalo visited the mud wallow to drink from the water trough, leaving before our orphans arrived. After their milk feed, the orphans cooled off in the wallow and then resumed browsing over the crest of the hill.
On a chilly morning at the stockades, ex-orphans Mweya and Mudanda and their herds joined our herd of dependent orphans at the feeding trough and around the lucerne. Mweya enjoyed an early morning dust bath with babies Mwitu and Mwangaza on the pile of red earth while Panda scooped up every pellet she could find on the terraces. Mweya then joined Mudanda, Arruba, Naipoki, Sagala and Pika Pika in the lucerne area.
Today, the ex-orphans left the stockades first. Dabida did her best to follow Mudanda and Miale but we intercepted her and brought her back as she is still milk dependent. Dabida has appointed herself Miale’s chief nanny and is found close to the baby at every opportunity
Meanwhile, Kenderi, Thamana and Ashanti were rolling around on the dry soil, rubbing against each other while hosing their bodies with soil. Standing up, Kenderi entwined trunks with Itinyi and then Emoli trunk hugged Itinyi before walking away to join Rokka who was making her way to the bush. Itinyi and Godoma balanced on a large boulder to pluck down branches from a tree and then caught up with the herd.
In the afternoon, the orphans enjoyed a busy wallowing session, playing and rolling in the mud hole. Ousting little Busara, Kilulu spent time with Mbegu under the shade of the baobab while Busara climbed into the water and rubbed up against older bull Murit.
As the sun rose in the sky, the elephants scooped up range cubes and pieces of lucerne outside the stockades. This morning, they had the area to themselves as the ex-orphans were nowhere to be seen. Francolin birds darted around picking up leftover range cubes. As Ngilai clambered down from the upper to lower terrace, Thamana massaged himself against the twin trees. Kenderi tried to mount Itinyi as he wallowed in the mud bath while Kilulu struck impressive poses as he drank from the trough. Emoli stretched up tall to browse on the shepherd tree and then extended his trunk to challenge Kilulu to a sparring game. Kilulu turned him down while Dabida and Seri continued their sparring match on the lower terrace and Godoma posed on the upper terrace. Lasayen, Lemeki, Thamana, Juni and Losoito rolled around together on the pile of red soil.
The orphans spent the morning browsing in the open fields overlooking Msinga Hill. In the afternoon, they wallowed in the baobab water hole, playing in the water and on the mound of soil. Kilulu mounted Kenderi in the mud hole while Busara scratched herself against the boulder along the edge and Tamiyoi, Thamana, Rokka and Ashanti enjoyed a dust bath.
A little later a huge wild bull with massive tusks arrived at the baobab water hole and interacted with the orphans. Both Ngilai and Lasayen kept their distance, choosing to browse close to the Keepers. A curious Tamiyoi took several steps towards the bull before changing her mind and turning away. After a drink and a wallow, the wild elephant left and the orphans resumed browsing through the trees on the hill.
On another wonderful morning, the dependent orphans enjoyed their usual breakfast before heading out to the bush. Dabida was not happy that ex-orphan Mudanda and baby Miale were not there. The wannabe nanny wandered back and forth between the lucerne and the range cubes without really feeding.
Led by Tagwa, Dabida, Epiya and Ushindi, the herd walked out from the stockades. They padded along at a faster pace than normal in the hope of finding Mudanda and Miale. Rokka, who often leads the way in the morning, tried unsuccessfully to catch up with the four orphans. The elephants spent the morning browsing in the open fields towards the baobab water hole.
In the afternoon after the milk feed, they proceeded down to the mud wallow. Tamiyoi, Juni, Losoito and Lemeki stopped over at the trough to drink before joining the herd in the water. Busara and Seri massaged their rumps against the boulders along the edge and then Busara splashed around with Itinyi in the wallow. Ashanti thought about mounting Itinyi but rubbed her face against the wall instead.
Outside the wallow, Kenderi scratched her bottom from side to side on the water trough while Thamana and Ashanti rubbed their backsides against the baobab tree. As Lasayen posed elegantly on the pile of red earth, Hildana and Ashanti ambled over to roll around with him. At last, the herd meandered back to the stockades for the night.
Current and former orphans were together again this morning in front of the stockades. Baby Mwangaza played and rolled around under her mother’s feet as ex-orphan Mweya scooped up range cubes with Naipoki, Kihari, Mbirikani and Sagala. Rorogoi, Dabida, Mudanda and baby Miale stood close as they browsed on lucerne, with Mudanda choosing to keep her distance from Mweya. Next to them, Kilulu and Mbegu entwined trunks and the younger elephant draped hers affectionately along the mini matriarch’s back.
As the herd headed out to browse, we received a call that a buffalo was stuck in the baobab tree water trough and rushed there to rescue the buffalo. The orphans spent the morning browsing on the northern side of Msinga Hill overlooking the baobab wallow.
In the afternoon, the orphans had a busy mud bathing session after the milk feed. Lasayen stopped off at the trough to drink before joining the herd while Seri performed elephant stretches on the edge. Watched by Ndotto, Epiya rolled out of the mud on one side and Kilulu crawled out on his belly on the other side while Emoli and Thamana enjoyed a sparring match in the middle of the wallow and Busara and Ushindi played the pushing game just outside. Rokka, Manda, Hildana, Lemeki, Losoito and friends hosed themselves with dust. Manda ran back to the water trough as Murit clambered out of the wallow to join the dust bathers, leaving Mbegu lying in the mud with Busara and Kilulu. Emoli and Murit began a sparring match while Kenderi popped back into the water to play mount Mbegu.
Today, the ex-orphans arrived for breakfast before our orphans had emerged from their stockades. Mudanda stood waiting patiently with her herd and, not far away, Mweya also waited with her herd. Orphans who used to live at the stockades are here almost every day because the land is dry and they are struggling to find enough to eat. Today, we had almost 40 elephants in front of the stockades. The visitors left first, heading in the direction of the Voi River circuit, and then our herd ambled out towards Msinga Hill.
In the afternoon, the elephants padded down the hill in groups for a milk feed and to visit the mud wallow. As they approached the wallow, large groups of buffalo and zebras walked away to stand in the shade of some nearby trees. Akina play mounted Dabida in the muddy water while Itinyi sat on the edge showing off and then clambered into the drinking trough for his own private bath. We chased the bull out of the clean water and he returned to the herd with trunk twirling. After the mud bath, Ndotto and Lasayen strolled away in a different direction from the herd, asserting their independence for a few hours before returning to the safety of the stockades for the night.
Mweya, Mudanda, their babies, Rorogoi, Ndii and other ex-orphans arrived a few minutes past midnight and spent the rest of the night in the lucerne area. The tiny babies slept lying down surrounded by older females. In the morning, we noticed that the ex-orphans had come with a wild bull of around 15 years.
The wild bull, the visitors and our elephants squashed up at the range cubes trough together. The hungry bull scooped up large mouthfuls of cubes as quickly as he could. After browsing on lucerne, the ex-orphans returned to the bush, leaving their wild friend behind. He ate some more and then jogged off after the visitors. The dependent elephants later left for their usual browsing fields and settled on the slopes of Msinga Hill, before wandering deep into the woods to the south of the baobab mud wallow.
In the afternoon, the orphans paddled or wallowed in the mud hole and then resumed browsing on the rocky side of the hill. In a repeat of yesterday, Ndotto and Lasayen sneaked away from the herd as they browsed on the hill. Today, however, they did not come back to the stockades until late in the night.
On another wonderful morning, the ex-orphans led by Mweya arrived early with their wild friend and settled down for breakfast outside the stockades. After finishing the lucerne, they ambled back to the bush. The wild bull remained behind with the dependent orphans for a time but soon ran off to join the herd. Our orphans played on the terraces and then headed out in the direction of Msinga Hill led by Rokka.
In the afternoon, the orphans had a busy mud wallowing session after their usual milk feed, swimming and splashing in the water. Ngilai rubbed his rump against the boulders along the edge while Kenderi did her best to clamber on top of Itinyi. Ngilai then struggled to pull himself out of the wallow while Murit climbed out easily and headed for the baobab scratching tree. After cooling off in the water, Ndotto wandered away from the herd, looking for Mweya’s herd – the older bull is showing signs of wanting his independence. The other orphans walked to the top of Msinga Hill, spending the afternoon browsing amid a welcome drizzle of rain.
The sun was shining and the air was fresh following the rain as the elephants filled their bellies with range cubes and lucerne. The ex-orphans did not visit and so the orphans enjoyed their morning meal without being pushed around. Full of energy, Rokka and Busara stood trumpeting and shaking their heads as, led by Tagwa and Juni, the rest of the herd walked off to browse on Msinga Hill. Most of the elephants climbed up to the top while Mbegu lay down for a nap at the bottom. The elephants spent the morning browsing in the direction of the baobab water hole.
In the afternoon, the orphans had their usual milk feed and visit to the mud wallow. When a wild bull strode in and pushed the orphans away from the water trough, Ndotto tried (unsuccessfully) to see him off, flaring his ears as he approached the visitor. The wild bull ignored him and so the herd walked away from the wallow, leaving the bull at the trough.
As usual, the elephants emerged from their shared stockades soon after dawn and padded down the path for a milk feed, range cubes and lucerne. This morning, ex-orphan Mudanda, baby Miale and Rorogoi joined the resident orphans. Lasayen was trunk hugging Thamana in the lucerne area while Losoito dodged away from nanny Lemeki to hang out with Tamiyoi and best friends Emoli and Thamana enjoyed a sparring contest.
When Mudanda, Miale and Rorogoi left the stockades, Dabida and Epiya tried to follow along behind them – as the wannabee nannies love little Miale. We called the girls back. Minutes later, the herd headed out to browse led by Dabida, Epiya and Ushindi – who were still hoping to catch up with Mudanda and Miale!
In the afternoon, the orphans visited the baobab tree mud hole for a drink and a wallow before wandering back to the safety of the stockades for the night.
At first light, Manda, Ashanti and Kenderi were pushing at the gate of their stockade - each one wanted to be first out. Minutes later, we opened the gate and the three friends sprinted down the path. Ashanti finished her bottle first, ran to the feeding trough, and darted back in the hope of getting a bonus bottle and fooling the Keepers.
The herd soon headed out to browse on Msinga Hill. Ex-orphan Ndii joined the dependent orphans as they clambered over the rocky hill in the direction of the baobab tree wallow. Manda, Hildana and Juni climbed all the way to the top in search of green browse.
In the afternoon, the herd visited the mud wallow but did not go near the water because of the presence of a herd of buffaloes. Instead, they drank from the trough and meandered out to browse over the hill. Ndotto and Lasayen snuck away from the herd, walking deep into the woods in search of the ex-orphans. The two mature bulls spent the night out.
During the night, there was a welcome downpour of rain and, in the morning, the orphans were in especially good spirits. Lasayen and Ndotto arrived for breakfast after spending the night out but the ex-orphans did not visit. Kilulu, Godoma, Busara and Baraka gathered around the pile of lucerne while Lemeki and Losoito scooped up range cubes together and Hildana rubbed his rump against the wall of the terrace. When the herd headed out to browse, Ngilai laid his trunk along Losoito’s back as they walked along the path. The orphans spent several hours browsing over Msinga Hill with ex-orphan Ndii joining them mid-morning.
In the afternoon, the orphans visited the mud wallow – except for Ndotto, Lasayen and Ngilai who chose to continue browsing on the hill. Most of the herd paddled and splashed in the wallow while Losoito and Emoli lay down in a small pool of rainwater. Juni, Tagwa and Tamiyoi joined the two friends, rolling around together in the large puddle. When the orphans walked back out to the bush, Ndotto, Lasayen and Ngilai ambled down the hill to join their herd.
Ex-orphan Mudanda, baby Miale, Rorogoi and Naipoki spent the night outside the stockades and joined the dependent orphans at the feeding trough in the early morning. Ngilai padded first to the lucerne area, picked up a stash of greens, and walked back to the trough with lucerne balanced on his head. Little Miale stood close to nanny Rorogoi before linking up with Mudanda, Naipoki, Dabida, Juni, Epiya and Ushindi when they moved on to the lucerne. Mbegu trunk hugged favourite baby Busara while Kenderi and Itinyi sparred against each other. Then Kenderi began trying to mount Kilulu while Itinyi clambered on top of Thamana.
The ex-orphans headed out first to browse, with our herd following along in their wake before veering off in the direction of Msinga Hill. Epiya climbed onto the boulders at the top of the hill, balancing carefully for a few minutes, as most of the herd browsed near the bottom.
In the afternoon, the orphans visited the mud bath as usual. They drank their milk and cooled off briefly in the water - where Manda played with Ngilai – before wandering back to the stockades.
Ex-orphans Rorogoi, Mudanda and little Miale joined the dependent orphans in front of the stockades at first light. Rorogoi was being a responsible nanny, standing protectively close to Miale. The orphans filled their bellies and played peacefully – Miale lay down on the lucerne grass and rolled around surrounded by several nannies. The two herds headed out from the stockades together, with Mudanda, Miale and Rorogoi walking towards the middle water hole as their friends moved towards the northern side of Msinga Hill.
After a brief afternoon mud bath, Emoli began soil bathing in a small dip in the ground. He was joined by Tamiyoi and the two friends lay down together. Kilulu arrived next. Because there was no space for him, he sat on top of Tamiyoi, resting his large bottom and all his weight on her. Poor Tamiyoi pushed him off, struggled to her feet and moved away.
On the way back to the stockades in the evening, Mudanda, Miale and Rorogoi joined the herd while Ngilai and Murit snuck away and spent the night out. When Godoma tried to shepherd Miale up the path to her stockade, we intervened, making sure that the little girl remained outside with her mother. The visitors browsed on lucerne and then walked off to join Ngilai and Murit on Msinga Hill.
The herd emerged from their stockades in the early morning and spread out either at the feeding trough or the pile of lucerne. Ushindi was showing off this morning, twirling her trunk between mouthfuls of lucerne. Ex-orphans Mudanda and baby Miale, Rorogoi and Ndii arrived for breakfast with Ngilai and Murit after spending the night on the hill.
The dependent orphans soon left the stockades on their usual browsing adventure, leaving Mudanda, Miale, Rorogoi and Ndii behind to finish up every piece of lucerne. The elephants spent the morning on Msinga Hill browsing on fresh green grass and acacia leaves following several showers of rain over the past week.
In the afternoon, the orphans waited at the milk feeding area because the truck was late. As they stood around, Hildana trunk hugged Lemeki while Itinyi did the same to Epiya. Bottles emptied, the orphans rushed down to the water hole. After cooling off in the water, they browsed on the hill until dusk when they returned to the safety of the stockades for the night.
Ex-orphan Laikipia — a mature bull of 25 years who fathered Miale — arrived in the middle of last night. In the morning, he joined our dependent orphans, ex-orphan Mudanda and little Miale in front of the stockades. Losoito and Tagwa browsed on a tree branch while Laikipia and Tamiyoi spent time together in the lucerne area. The herd set out to the bush, clambering all over the rocky slopes of Msinga Hill. Laikipia ambled along behind them for a bit but then branched off to the water trough on the side of the hill.
In the afternoon, Mudanda, Miale and Rorogoi joined the orphans at the baobab water hole. After clambering out of the wallow, Mbegu scratched herself against the baobab while Itinyi and Thamana enjoyed a wrestling match. Mudanda and Miale stood under the shade of the tree surrounded by several adoring nannies. Epiya sidled up to Miale and stood close with trunk draped along her back.
The three visitors headed out in one direction and the herd returned to the hill to browse some more. Hildana and Juni rolled in the erosion trench as Itinyi and Thamana played another pushing game.
On a cloudy morning, our orphans – with ex-orphans Mudanda, Miale, Ndii and Rorogoi - lined up at the range cubes feeding trough and then ambled over to the lucerne area, except for Itinyi and Kenderi who were busy sparring. Ashanti was clinging on to matriarch Mbegu this morning, trunk kissing and rubbing against her as they walked out from the stockades. Catching up with them, Busara also rubbed against Mbegu. Today, the two younger orphans managed to share their adopted mama without any jealousy. After ignoring Tagwa when she approached her, Ndii walked along behind the herd as they headed out to the bush.
Today, the orphans played in the erosion gully, rolling and splashing in the dust. Tagwa, Lemeki, Busara and Rokka jostled in the gully while Hildana and Emoli had a wrestling match and then Rokka challenged Busara to a sparring game. Afterwards, Busara walked away to find Mbegu and the two elephants spent the rest of the morning browsing over the open grass fields.
In the afternoon after the milk feed, rather than visiting the mud bath, the orphans went back to browsing on the new shoots carpeting the open plains.
This morning, following the recent rains, the orphans set out earlier than usual, knowing that a world of lush green grass and shoots was waiting for them. They gathered in the walkway before we had the chance to whistle and, led by Rokka, jogged out to the bush. Tamiyoi, Godoma, Lemeki and Thamana led the herd up the hill. Full of cheer, Busara rolled down the slopes, posing and showboating along the way.
In the afternoon, the orphans enjoyed their usual milk feed and carried on to the mud wallow. Today, they chose to roll around and splash in small pools of rainwater rather than the muddy wallow. Losoito, Akina, Ushindi, Busara, Dabida and Kilulu took it in turns, frolicking one after the other in one pool. Later on, the orphans strolled off in a line to browse on their way back to the stockades.
On a wonderful sunny morning, ex-orphans Laikipia, Mudanda, Rorogoi and baby Miale were waiting at the feeding area when the resident orphans emerged from their stockades. The two groups mingled over breakfast and then Laikipia headed out to browse on his own. Godoma stretched up high up to pull down branches from a tall tree. Lasayen and Emoli played a light wrestling game while Kenderi and Kilulu had a real sparring fight. Afterwards, Kilulu ran up and down the lower terrace and posed with his foot on the wall.
Rokka led the herd out to the browsing fields around Msinga Hill. Mudanda and Miale joined the herd on the slopes of the hill. In the afternoon, Rokka also led the first group of close friends Manda, Busara and Losoito (rumbling as she ran) down the hill for a milk feed. The herd stood around the mud bath for a short time before strolling back out to browse.
The orphans headed out early again this morning to browse on tasty green acacia shoots on Msinga Hill. They climbed the hill to pull down branches and twist up clumps of grass. Mbegu, Busara, Ashanti and Dabida were the first group to come down the hill with Tagwa and Juni following after them. Kenderi and Itinyi started a wrestling game on the hill which continued all the way down to the open fields.
Ndotto, Murit, Ngilai and Lasayen forged their own path today. They walked away in the morning and did not return, spending the night out with Mudanda, Miale, Rorogoi and Ndii. They like to spend time with this mini herd of ex-orphans as they do not wander far from the stockades, usually only going as far as the hill.
After the milk feed in the afternoon, Emoli, Itinyi and Busara were the first to splash in the small pools of rainwater. Hildana and Manda followed along in their wake. They hosed themselves with water and then covered their bodies with dust from the mound of dry soil. The herd spent the rest of the afternoon browsing all over the hill.
Ndotto returned to the stockades this morning but not Murit, Ngilai and Lasayen. As he settled down with his friends at the feeding trough, ex-orphan Laikipia wandered up the path to join the herd. The orphans were in high spirits, playing and sparring before leaving for their daily browsing adventure. Itinyi play mounted Kenderi while Emoli and Thamana enjoyed an early morning wrestling game. Kenderi then rolled around on the mound of red soil while Thamana switched sparring partners to Itinyi. Feeling left out, Emoli tried to muscle his way between his two friends. Kenderi invited Kilulu (who is always up for a challenge) to a wrestling game.
The herd spent the morning browsing over the grasslands before visiting the baobab mud wallow in the afternoon. As the orphans paddled in the water or dusted themselves with dry soil, ex-orphans Mudanda, Miale and Rorogoi showed up with potential new recruits Ngilai, Lasayen and Murit! Mudanda introduced her baby to the mud wallow and the little girl had fun rolling around and splashing water with her tiny trunk. When the herd walked out to browse, the four big bulls stayed behind with Mudanda, Miale and Rorogoi.
On a beautiful sunny morning, the dependent orphans spread out over the area in front of the stockades, sharing the space with ex-orphans Laikipia, Mudanda, baby Miale, and Rorogoi. Ndotto, Lasayen, Murit and Ngilai returned this morning with the mini herd of former orphans. Nanny Godoma fussed over little Miale while her mama kept watch. Manda and Itinyi played a wrestling match while big boys Lasayen and Murit pushed heads and clashed tusks in a contest of strength. Kilulu ran up and down the terraces, showing off, and posed with his front foot on the wall. Kenderi and Kilulu then began a sparring match. Little Miale is growing in confidence – this morning, she was also darting around, running between the bigger elephants before returning to the safety of Mudanda’s side.
Current and former orphans spent the rest of the morning browsing together on the slopes of Msinga Hill, enjoying the delicious green vegetation.
Ex-orphan Mudanda, baby Miale, Rorogoi and Ndii arrived before dawn and began eating range cubes as soon as the trough had been filled up. Aware of their presence, Manda banged his head against the gate of his stockade – he was not happy that they were eating his cubes! As soon as we opened his gate, he sprinted straight to the trough, bypassing his bottles, and returning only when we pretended to give his milk to Rokka and Busara.
The herd spent the morning, as always, browsing in the area around the stockades. In contrast to most days, they were moving fast today, not staying in one place to browse, and we were running to keep up with them!
In the afternoon, the orphans cooled off in the mud wallow. Juni and Ashanti paddled along the edge while Losoito rubbed her face against the wall and Godoma and Tagwa rolled around in the middle of the pool. Older bulls Ndotto, Lasayen, Murit and Lasayen stood together under the shade of the baobab.
What an exciting morning! As our herd was having breakfast, ex-orphan Mweya, babies Mwitu and Mwangaza, and her herd of Panda, Naipoki, Kihari, Mbirikani, Pika Pika and Sagala arrived at the stockade with over ten wild elephants! We recognised the wild elephants from their visits to the baobab water point. The stockade compound was full to capacity and our orphans were uncomfortable with so much commotion. They could not get close to the feeding trough or the pile of lucerne.
Rokka made the first move while Mbegu skilfully shepherded the Voi kids away from the crowd. Our orphans walked out in a cluster from the stockades to the browsing fields. We made sure that the wild elephants and ex-orphans headed out in a different direction today – as we did not want to run any risk of impulsive elephants like Ushindi and Epiya being kidnapped. Big boys Ndotto, Lasayen and Murit remained with the ex-orphans while Ngilai spent the day with our herd but disappeared later in the afternoon.
Mudanda’s mini herd of ex-orphans and Mweya’s larger herd were outside the stockades at dawn. Little Miale leant against mama Mudanda while Mweya pushed orphans away from the feeding trough to make space for her babies, Mwitu and Mwangaza. While waiting for the range cubes, Mweya walked restlessly up and down and then stood on the rock staring at the pellet store. Ngilai was with the visitors but not Murit, Lasayen and Ndotto.
Our herd headed out to browse around Msinga Hill, leaving the ex-orphans at the stockades. Godoma, Akina, Kenderi and Ushindi climbed up the hill and then joined the herd at the water hole in the afternoon.
After a milk feed and a mud bath, Akina, Ushindi, Busara, Ashanti and Godoma stood around the mound of soil, hosing themselves with red dust. The herd ambled away from the wallow to continue browsing on the delicious greens covering the hill. Our four big bulls – Murit, Ndotto, Lasayen and Ngilai – spent the last night of the month with Mudanda’s mini herd on the hill.