October was a month of blessings for our Voi herd, as we welcomed two wild-born babies into the world.
On a wonderful morning at the Voi stockades, the dependent orphans padded out of their shared enclosures, drank their milk, and lined up at the range cubes feeding trough. Ndotto carefully pushed some pellets into a pile just for himself and then intercepted any trunk stretched in his direction. Ngilai was first to move on to the lucerne area before wandering to the water trough balancing a stash of lucerne on his head. Kenderi and Kilulu enjoyed an early morning wrestling match on the terraces.
After breakfast, the orphans gathered in preparation for their daily bush adventure. They headed out in a long line with Ashanti bringing up the rear (as she had stopped off for a quick dust bath) and spread out over Msinga Hill to browse. Epiya, Juni and Losoito browsed together on smaller shrubs while Lasayen stretched up high to pluck down acacia branches.
Many of our ex-orphans visited the stockades today, after being away for many weeks! A pregnant Mweya, her baby Mwitu, Panda, Mbirikani, Mudanda (who is also pregnant), Arruba, Kihari, Ndii and Sagala walked in to visit their old home soon after the herd set out to browse. They finished up every piece of leftover lucerne, drank deeply from the water trough, and spent the rest of the day hanging around the stockade mud wallow.
In the afternoon, our current orphans came down the hill to their usual spot as they waited for the milk truck to arrive. Ashanti, Rokka, Busara, Losoito and Manda were the first group to sprint down for another milk feed and on to the mud wallow. Kenderi and Seri paddled in the wallow and then climbed out to pose on the edge. Hildana gave Seri a push on his way into the water while Ndotto and Godoma played a water sparring game. After cooling off, the herd browsed deep in the woods overlooking the plains.
The ex-orphans were back again this morning, returning to the stockades at a time when the landscape is dry and green browse is scarce. Former and current orphans mingled in the early morning outside the stockades. Ex-orphan Mweya and little Mwitu stood apart from the herd while Akina lay on her belly, waggling her trunk in excitement. Hildana play mounted his friend Ushindi until an irritated Thamana shoved him away, whereupon Hildana went straight over to Itinyi who was lying on the ground and challenged him to a sparring match.
Later, ex-orphans Mweya and Arruba browsed surrounded by dependent elephants. Pika Pika, one of Arruba’s favourite babies, approached Arruba but walked away when she was nudged by Mudanda. After filling their bellies, Kilulu and Kenderi played sparring and pushing games – when Ushindi leant against Kenderi as she lay on the ground, Kilulu did his (unsuccessful) best to mount Ushindi. Full of excitement, several orphans were showing off to the visitors this morning!
When the dependent herd ambled out to browse over Msinga Hill, the independent herd remained behind at the stockades. Noticing Mweya and Mwitu staring at an empty feeding trough, we brought out another sack of range cubes for the visitors. Later in the morning, the ex-orphans wandered out to join our orphans on the hill.
This morning, the ex-orphans arrived for breakfast before our herd had emerged from their shared stockades. We shepherded them to the lucerne area so the younger elephants could enjoy their milk feed without interruptions. Crafty Panda sneaked over to the trough full of pellets and, by the time the orphans had finished their bottles, all the visitors were at the trough except for Mweya and baby Mwitu.
After emptying the trough, the elephants gathered around the pile of lucerne, playing and bonding. Panda was babysitting Mwitu while Mweya stood on her own a few metres away. Little Baraka then walked slowly up to Mwitu, stretching out his trunk in introduction and touching her along the back. Encountering no opposition from the baby or her mother, Baraka stayed close to Mwitu. Meanwhile, Murit and Hildana sparred on the terraces until Panda broke up the game by striding between them. The resident orphans soon set out on their usual browsing adventures with the visitors meandering along in their wake.
This morning, we ushered the ex-orphans over to the lucerne and then stood around our dependent herd at the feeding trough so that they could eat without being pushed away by the visitors. After enjoying their pellets, the younger elephants joined the older ones around the pile of lucerne. Ex-orphan Ndii knelt on her front legs to pick up pieces of lucerne with her short trunk (which we believe was caught in a snare, although it doesn’t seem to hold her back) while Ngilai walked a short distance from the others balancing some lucerne on his head. After eating his private stash, he browsed on branches from an acacia tree along the fence.
Before setting out to the bush, many orphans gathered on the mound of dry soil for a dust bath. Lemeki and Thamana rolled around, rubbing their bodies against each other. Epiya trunk hugged Ashanti while she was covering herself in soil and, minutes later, Hildana clambered on top of Ashanti and then Epiya climbed onto Hildana. Losoito and Juni joined the pile up of elephants!
The orphans spent the morning browsing over the open fields below Msinga Hill. In the afternoon, they had their usual milk feed, wallowed in the mud bath, and browsed all the way to the peak of the hill.
On a wonderful sunny morning, the orphans spread out on the terraces and around the lucerne. Today, the ex-orphans did not visit and so they did not have to share their breakfast. Soon, the herd headed out to browse around Msinga Hill. Ngilai ambled along with some lucerne balanced on his back and Hildana stopped off to scratch herself on the famous rock.
They spent the morning browsing peacefully while walking in the direction of the baobab tree mud wallow. Itinyi and Manda sparred in an open area while Thamana and Losoito played in the erosion gulley, climbing down and rolling around in the dusty crevice. Mbegu stood in the shade of a tree with Busara, Ashanti and Juni clustered around her. Tagwa, Baraka and Lemeki gathered not far away under the canopy of another tree.
In the afternoon, the elephants paddled in the mud wallow and browsed up the hill until dusk when they returned to the safety of the stockades for the night.
The ex-orphans were back this morning. Mweya, baby Mwitu, Panda, Mbirikani, Mudanda, Arruba, Kihari, Ndii and Sagala strolled up the path just after dawn. Half an hour later, Naipoki — who has joined a wild herd based around the Voi River circuit and is pregnant — also arrived at the stockades! The elephants rumbled in greeting and settled down to enjoy fresh lucerne with our current herd.
After filling their bellies, they either stood around the stockade mud wallow or on the mound of dry soil. As Mbegu lay down on the soil, Hildana tried to play mount Ashanti while Ngilai and Lasayen tested each other’s strength, pushing heads and clashing tusks.
Rokka was the first to make her way out to the bush. She walked out from the stockades followed by Manda, Losoito and Lemeki. The rest of the herd ambled along in small groups while the visitors stayed at the stockades. Sagala – who began her independent wild life earlier this year – chose to join her old family, the dependent orphans, on the northern side of Msinga Hill when her new herd walked off in the direction of Voi River.
Later in the morning, a wild herd approached the orphans as they browsed in the open grass fields. The two groups spent some time together before we shepherded the orphans down to the mud wallow in the afternoon.
This morning, the orphans sprinted down the path in small groups, gulped down their milk (except for Mbegu, Ndotto, Lasayen, Murit, Ngilai, Emoli, Tamiyoi, Tagwa and Godoma who have been weaned) and settled down at the feeding trough or around the lucerne. An increasingly feisty Ashanti drank her milk quickly and then tried unsuccessfully to grab Losoito’s! The ex-orphans did not visit today.
Ngilai padded into the small mud wallow for a morning paddle where he was soon joined by Emoli, Juni and Thamana. The big bull climbed out for a head-to-head sparring match with Lasayen on the muddy edge of the pool. Rokka then led the herd out to browse over the rocky Msinga Hill.
Later in the morning, we spotted a wild herd browsing at the foot of the hill. When Tamiyoi saw a baby in their midst, she rushed down the hill to greet the wild baby with Mbegu following along behind. Predictably, the mother chased away Tamiyoi, trumpeting as she charged towards her. Tamiyoi and Mbegu turned about and returned to their own herd. Mbegu stood close to little Busara while Itinyi and Thamana played chasing and mounting games. The orphans later came down the hill for another milk feed and a visit to the mud wallow.
Current and former orphans mingled quietly outside the stockades this morning. Pika Pika approached Arruba again — when the ex-orphan did not give her an adequate welcome, Pika Pika walked away to join Busara in the lucerne area. Best buddies Lemeki, Losoito and Thamana rolled around on the mound of red soil, enjoying an early morning dust bath, while Rokka stood in the walkway, waiting for our signal to head out to the bush. Moments later, she and Manda led the herd out for their daily browsing adventure.
The orphans spent the morning browsing on the slopes of Msinga Hill. Some settled in the open grass fields, walking in the direction of the baobab wallow.
On a hot afternoon, many orphans plunged into the mud wallow. Seri scratched herself on rocks in the water while Ngilai rolled around, Tamiyoi submerged her body, and Kilulu showed off by splashing with trunk waving. Godoma soon nudged little Seri away from the scratching rock and Lasayen challenged Ngilai to a sparring match. When the herd headed back out to browse, Lasayen remained behind in the muddy water.
As breakfast was being prepared, Manda could not keep calm and wait patiently like the rest of the herd. He kept banging on the door of his stockade until Kenderi shoved him away. Minutes later, the first group comprising Ashanti, Kenderi, Losoito and Ushindi ran out of their shared stockade and down to the feeding area. A fast drinker, Ashanti finished her bottle first and ran on to the trough. She knelt down so she could scoop the range cubes comfortably with her half trunk. Ushindi and Kenderi soon joined her.
Tagwa and Losoito picked up their share of the lucerne and moved a short distance away from the others so they could feed comfortably without being pushed around. Mbegu strolled away from the lucerne area for a morning mud bath. She enjoyed time alone in the water, splashing and wallowing. Losoito climbed into the mud for a swim and then Mbegu and Losoito had a dust bath together.
After a morning of browsing over Msinga Hill, the herd wandered down to the baobab tree wallow in the afternoon. All the orphans swam in the muddy water. Akina and Juni pushed heads and then wrestled in the mud. When Juni shoved her hard, Akina paddled away and began digging with her tusks on the edge of the wallow. Meanwhile, Ndotto was scratching on the rocks, Tagwa was posing in the water and Godoma was swimming. Pika Pika clambered on top of Godoma in the water while Kilulu mounted Ushindi as she squatted on the edge. When Tamiyoi shoved Kilulu away from Ushindi. Kilulu rolled around on the muddy ground down and Tamiyoi challenged Tagwa to a sparring match. Mbegu joined Godoma in the water and the two friends waved their trunks in excitement while Murit enjoyed a solo dust bath.
When the orphans woke up early in the morning, the ex-orphans had already arrived and were waiting around the mud wallow. The younger elephants lined up at the feeding trough and the older ones in the lucerne area – except for Panda who sneaked back to the trough and pushed her way in to eat range cubes next to Ashanti who was kneeling down as usual to scoop up cubes. Mbegu and Manda were trunk hugging next to the pile of lucerne and then Mbegu walked over to see ex-orphan Sagala. (We are hoping that Sagala might be pregnant as she mated with Laikipia a few months ago.) When Mbegu walked on to check on her Voi babies, Murit came over to greet Sagala in her place. The old friends rumbled as they draped trunks along backs.
In the afternoon, we received a call about an orphaned eland found on a ranch near Maungu. Our team immediately drove to the location, rescued the two-month-old eland, and brought him to the Voi stockades, from where he was airlifted to Kaluku.
The Voi herd enjoyed their breakfast routine before they set off to the bush. Busara had an early morning dust bath with age mates Losoito, Kilulu and Epiya; older orphans Lemeki, Thamana and Tamiyoi then joined the party. Juni and Tagwa played the pushing game on the lower terrace while Emoli and Murit played on the upper terrace and Kilulu did his best to clamber onto Dabida at the mud hole.
The orphans spent the morning browsing all over Msinga Hill and, in the afternoon, they returned to the stockades for a milk feed and a wallow instead of going to the baobab pool. Heading back out to the bush, the herd linked up with the ex-orphans and the two herds spent the afternoon together browsing the southern circuit of the hill. In the evening, as we shepherded the orphans back to the stockades, ex-orphan Ndii tried (unsuccessfully) to sneak back with us: The large ex-orphan stuck out amidst all the much smaller bodies!
In the morning, ex-orphan Mweya’s herd scrambled for good positions at the range cubes feeding trough while the resident orphans were having their milk feed. The two groups settled down either at the trough or around the lucerne. Ex-orphan Mudanda was enjoying a dust bath, splashing on the mound of red soil with Itinyi, Losoito and Hildana. Ndotto and Panda sparred against each other on the terraces, just like old times. The two elephants have a strong bond of friendship and used to spar almost every day. A pregnant Naipoki was not involving herself in any games, opting instead to browse on her morning lucerne treat.
Current orphans headed out in one direction and former ones in a different direction – except for ex-orphan Ndii who again chose to browse with our herd.
After the afternoon milk feed, the orphans padded on down to the mud bath. Busara, Mbegu and Seri stopped off at the water trough to drink while the other orphans plunged into the water to cool off from the hot sun. After their swim, Tamiyoi, Tagwa and Epiya massaged their backsides against the tree while Lasayen scratched himself on the rock in the wallow and Hildana rolled around on the ground. When the orphans ambled back out to browse, Pika Pika sneaked away to be with Mweya’s herd and did not return that night.
The ex-orphans were late this morning, arriving when our orphans were already at the feeding trough. Pika Pika was not with them. Mudanda, Panda and Mbirikani pushed some of the younger elephants away from the trough as they were hungry for range cubes. Near the pile of lucerne, Ndotto took on Kihari in a sparring match while Manda and Itinyi played a wrestling game. When Kenderi joined Manda and Itinyi’s game, Itinyi ended up mounting him. As the herd headed out to browse with their Keepers, the visitors walked off in another direction.
Following the afternoon milk feed, the orphans visited the baobab tree mud wallow as usual. After cooling down in the water, Godoma rolled around on the ground, dusting and showing off. Lemeki and Tamiyoi were scratching themselves on the peacock tree while Thamana was massaging his body against the baobab. Ndotto and Lasayen then took his place under the baobab, taking it in turns to massage their backsides. Meanwhile, Itinyi and Murit were still splashing in the wallow. Godoma had another swim as Murit enjoyed a dust bath on the mound of red soil.
The head set out for a final browse on their way back to the stockades. As they ambled along, Mbegu was trunk hugging Tamiyoi while Thamana walked beside them. Ngilai - one of the oldest bulls in the herd - sneaked away from the herd. He spent the rest of the afternoon browsing alone, returning to the stockades later in the evening.
On another wonderful morning at the Voi stockades, the orphans enjoyed their breakfast as usual. Ex-orphan Mweya, baby Mwitu, and her herd arrived at dawn (without Pika Pika) and mingled with the resident orphans when they emerged from their shared stockades. Mbegu carried a bunch of lucerne away from the crowd to enjoy with her favourite baby Busara. When Mbegu moved over to the feeding trough, ex-orphan Ndii gave Busara an unwarranted shove and the matriarch rushed back to protect her baby.
When we whistled, the orphans gathered in the walkway and meandered out to the bush, led by Juni and Kenderi. They spent the morning relaxing under the shade of trees on the slopes of Msinga Hill.
In the afternoon, the orphans drank their milk in groups of three or four before padding on down the slope to the mud wallow. Many plunged into the muddy water on a hot afternoon. Lasayen dug down into the ground with his massive tusks while Tamiyoi rolled out of the mud hole. Later in the day, the orphans browsed deep into the woods.
Early in the morning, Mweya and her herd arrived to join the dependent herd for breakfast. Mweya and Mwitu settled next to the lucerne while Panda pushed and shoved our orphans at the feeding trough. When our herd headed out to the browsing fields around Msinga Hill, the ex-orphans remained at the stockades. As they finished up every scrap of lucerne, Pika Pika and Rorogoi ambled up the path to join them. We were delighted to see our errant girl and her friend! The two girls settled down next to Ndii and Sagala.
After the milk feed in the afternoon, the orphans jogged down to the mud wallow as usual. Losoito and Lemeki stopped off at the water trough as the rest headed straight for the wallow on a hot day. Seri scratched herself on the rocks in the water while Ushindi splashed around, waving her trunk in excitement, and Godoma lay sprawled along the edge before crawled out of the wallow. After their dip, Kenderi and Busara rolled around on the mound of red soil before both running over to be with Mbegu. The herd soon headed back out to the bush, leaving Ndotto behind – the older bull wanted some time on his own.
Today was a wonderful day at the Voi stockades – ex-orphan Mudanda has given birth to a beautiful baby girl who has been named Miale! As we were filling the trough with range cubes this morning, we saw evidence of birth up the path. Indeed, Mudanda had given birth next to the stockades and was bringing her baby to introduce her! Mudanda walked slowly with her tiny newborn and also with Panda, Naipoki, Kihari, Mbirikani, Arruba, Mweya and baby Mwitu. Her entourage of nannies, in particular Panda and Naipoki, were being very protective of the baby. We celebrated Mudanda’s special gift to us!
Our dependent herd set out as usual to the browsing fields but Mudanda and her herd spent the whole day outside the stockades. Mudanda, her baby and her nannies left the stockades at dusk, walking very slowly down the path.
Following the birth of Miale yesterday, the orphans were still in excited moods today – even though Mudanda and her newborn did not visit. They sprinted down the path in the early morning and jostled from side to side at the feeding trough. After breakfast, they sauntered out from the stockades and settled in the open savanna browsing towards the baobab tree mud wallow. Several played pushing games while others trunk hugged under the shade of trees.
In the afternoon, the orphans padded down for another milk feed and a visit to the wallow. Lasayen and Murit were so busy playing sparring games that they were left behind and caught up with the herd half an hour later. It was a hot day and many elephants cooled off in the wallow. Mbegu made large splashes along the edge while Ndotto, Godoma and friends rolled around in the middle. Emoli massaged his bottoms on the boulders in the water while Godoma clambered out for a scratch against the peacock tree. Ndotto took Godoma’s place next to the scratching tree and Lasayen took Emoli’s on the scratching rock while Kilulu enjoyed a massage against the water trough. Murit was left behind when the herd ambled out to the bush.
On a wonderful sunny day, Mudanda and Miale arrived in the early morning! As the dependent herd clustered around the lucerne, ex-orphan Mudanda, newborn Miale, and a bevy of nannies including Panda, Naipoki, Rorogoi, Kihari, Mweya and little Mwitu wandered in to the area in front of the stockades. Miale was surrounded at all times by her security-conscious nannies but this did not stop Mbegu and Tamiyoi in particular trying to get close to the baby. Tamiyoi did her best to find a way but was rebuffed at every turn.
The herd soon left the visitors and headed out to browse over Msinga Hill. Ndotto strolled all the way to the top while Mbegu, Busara, Tagwa and Juni stood together in the shade of a tree.
In the afternoon, the orphans wandered down to the mud wallow. Ngilai and Hildana stood on the edge, kicking the water with their feet, while Ndotto and Kilulu enjoyed a rock massage and Godoma a tree massage. Rokka and Busara played pushing games on dry land and Itinyi clambered on and off Kenderi inside the pool. Tagwa led the orphans out for a final browse of the day with Godoma meandering along at the end of the line.
Former and current orphans mingled in front of the stockades again this morning. While browsing on lucerne, Mudanda nursed baby Miale. Panda and Naipoki stood guard on either side. Epiya lay down relaxing and Losoito rolled around with legs in the air next to the pile of lucerne while Mbegu and Busara browsed together with the younger orphan leaning against her big sister. When a jealous Juni tried to push Busara away, Mbegu gently shielded her. Hildana massaged his backside against the famous rock and Ngilai stretched up tall to pull branches off the acacia tree over the fence. Ashanti and Epiya played a light-hearted sparring game on the terraces while Lasayen and Murit greeted Juni at the water trough.
Rokka led the herd out to the browsing fields followed by Manda, Losoito, Lemeki and Tamiyoi. Godoma settled down to browse on dry shrubs on the lower slopes of the Msinga Hill but Emoli, Thamana and Lasayen climbed up to the top in search of green browse.
On a hot afternoon, the orphans cooled off in the mud wallow. Mbegu and Losoito paused at the trough to drink as the rest of the herd plunged into the water. Some paddled as others wallowed and Ngilai scratched himself against the boulder in the pool. After his swim, Ndotto hosed himself down with dry soil.
Ex-orphan Mudanda and newborn baby Miale did not visit the stockades today, instead staying in the bush with Naipoki, Kihari, Rorogoi and Panda. Mweya, baby Mwitu, Arruba and Mbirikani did arrive soon after dawn to enjoy lucerne with our resident orphans.
The orphans were keen to head out this morning, spending only a short time with the visitors. Mbegu and Tamiyoi led the herd out to the bush. Rather than waiting for everyone, the two females walked ahead, probably hoping (in vain) to meet Mudanda and Miale along the way.
Later in the day at the mud bath, Tagwa stood guard over Juni as she lay down with legs and trunk waving. Kenderi, Epiya and Ushindi clambered on and off each other in the muddy water while Emoli and Manda rolled around on the dry soil. We shepherded the elephants back to the stockades afterwards without catching sight of any ex-orphans.
As the orphans spread out in front of the stockades this morning, Mudanda, newborn Miale, and many more ex-orphans ambled up the path to join them at the feeding trough and around the lucerne. Keen to greet the baby but wary of her mother’s reaction, Epiya stretched out her trunk from a distance, touching Miale quickly and moving back in case of a reaction from Mudanda. The visitors remained at the stockades when Rokka, Losoito and Tamiyoi led the herd out to the browsing fields.
In the afternoon, the orphans visited the baobab tree mud wallow as usual. Losoito and Lemeki stopped off to drink from the trough before joining their friends in the wallow. Some splashed as others lay down along the edges or in the middle. When Hildana did his best to mount Epiya, Godoma intercepted the naughty bull and pushed him away. Mbegu wallowed in the water while allowing favourite baby Busara to roll on top of her. Meanwhile, Murit rolled in the dust around the pool while Losoito stood on the mound of soil, hosing herself with red dust. Emoli scratched himself on a nearby tree, making space for Busara when she walked over to join him.
When a mature wild bull appeared out of the bushes, the orphans walked away from the wallow back to the safety of the Keepers who were standing in the feeding area.
Mweya, little Mwitu, Mudanda, baby Miale, and their herd of ex-orphans wandered into the stockade area at dawn this morning. When the resident orphans came out of their rooms for a milk feed, the visitors were already at the feeding trough. A confident Ashanti was in such a rush that she ran over Rokka on her way down the path, gulped her milk and sprinted for the trough. The little girl could not find a space as the area was crowded with ex-orphans and so had to make do with some lucerne instead, bumping into Epiya as she headed for the pile of greens. Ashanti ate some lucerne and rolled around playfully on the sand pile.
Today, Mudanda and Miale mingled with the dependent orphans but Mweya and Mwitu kept their distance from the herd. Mbegu and Busara entwined trunks while standing close, Lasayen trunk hugged Losoito, and Kilulu rested one back foot on the other as he picked up pieces of lucerne.
In the afternoon, the orphans visited the wallow for a drink from the trough and a dip in the cooling mud. Murit stood splashing on the edge while Lasayen, Kilulu and Seri massaged their rumps against the boulders in the wallow. Emoli and Ngilai stood under the shade of the baobab tree while best friends Lemeki and Thamana played a sparring game. When the herd headed back out to browse, Ndotto was the last to leave.
Our ex-orphans arrived at first light again this morning. Baby Miale was being playful at the feeding trough while Mama Mudanda stood very close. The newborn waggled her little trunk and flapped her ears. To our great surprise, big bull Nguvu then strolled in to join the herd – we have not seen him for a long time. He went straight to the pile of lucerne where he greeted old friends Lasayen, Tamiyoi and Ngilai. Nguvu and Tamiyoi entwined trunks and hugged each other as she reassured the rather shy visitor that all was well and he could mingle with the herd.
Ex-orphan Panda stood by the famous rock telling the former orphans that it was time to head back to the bush. Mweya’s herd wandered to the water trough on Msinga Hill and then on to the Voi River circuit, returning to the stockades later in the evening. Our current orphans spent the day all over Msinga Hill, visiting the baobab mud wallow and browsing some more on their way back to the stockades.
As the ex-orphans did not visit the stockades this morning, our elephants enjoyed their breakfast without scuffles and scrambles and then set out on their daily browsing adventure. They spent the morning browsing on the northern circuit of Msinga Hill, clustering under the canopy of a tree to shelter from the hot sun towards noon.
In the afternoon, the stockade dependents went for their usual milk feed and mud wallow. As the younger orphans drank their milk and the older orphans walked to the water trough, Murit and Lasayen remained behind on the hill. Ignoring the Keepers, they carried on playing pushing games as the rest of the herd jogged down to the wallow. The older bulls sometimes do this when they are planning to sneak away from the herd. We know all their tricks and kept an eye on them until they joined the herd of their own accord.
Ndotto greeted Murit and Lasayen as they sauntered into the water trough. While Ngilai stood splashing on the edge and rolled on the mound of red earth, Ndotto climbed into the water and submerged himself in the middle. Losoito rubbed up against the big bull in the water while Lemeki kept watch, just in case gentle Ndotto pushed her away. Dabida clambered out of the pool to massage herself against the baobab tree and then against little Busara as she rolled in the dust next to Godoma who was doing impressive elephant stretches.
For the second day in a row, the ex-orphans did not visit the stockades and the dependent orphans enjoyed a peaceful breakfast with no one being pushed around by the visitors. As others hung out on the terraces, Tagwa and Losoito had an early morning dust bath, rolling around on the pile of red soil together. Rokka led the herd out from the stockades and the orphans spread out to browse on the slopes of Msinga Hill.
In the afternoon the orphans ran down to cool off at the baobab water hole. Lemeki splashed water in the trough with her trunk as the rest of the herd went straight into the pool. The mud bath was crowded. As Godoma and many others wallowed, Tamiyoi rolled out and lay relaxing on the edge while Lemeki took on Itinyi in a wrestling game. Minutes later Tamiyoi rolled back into the mud hole! Emoli nudged Tamiyoi into standing up and the two friends began sparring. An excited Kilulu ran around in the water, showboating and trumpeting, while Ngilai and Murit played the pushing game under the baobab tree. It was a very busy mud bathing session!
This morning, the ex-orphans arrived before it was light. As we prepared milk and lucerne, they stood quietly in the far corner in a cluster. Pushing the wheelbarrow of lucerne towards the elephants, a Keeper noticed a tiny baby! Mweya – whom we knew was pregnant and who had not visited us for two days - had given birth in the night and had arrived especially early to show us her beautiful baby girl! We had been wondering if her baby had arrived because Mweya had not visited her old family.
There was a frenzy of excitement as everyone came to celebrate Mweya’s blessing. The orphans rushed out of the stockades - Mbegu and Pika Pika forgot about lucerne and pellets as they welcomed Mweya’s newborn baby. Ex-orphans Panda, Naipoki and Mbirikani then took over, introducing the baby to everyone, including baby Miale. While the attention was focused on the new newborn, wannabee nanny Dabida sidled up to Miale.
Eventually our herd headed out to browse and the ex-orphans — and also Pika Pika — wandered off in the opposite direction. Soon after reaching Msinga Hill, Ndotto turned back, kicking up clouds of dust as he sprinted after the ex-orphans. Back on the hill, Itinyi and Kenderi sparred, Kenderi and Losoito trunk hugged and pushed heads, and Tamiyoi stretched her trunk up high to pull down branches from a tree. Ndotto and Pika Pika did not return to the stockades in the evening.
The orphans were in excited moods this morning, playing a game of hide and seek around the terraces. Rokka and Manda then led the herd out for a morning of browsing over the dry rocky Msinga Hill.
After the afternoon milk feed and a wonderful mud bath, the orphans played on the dust pile. Manda play mounted Thamana as he lay on his side. Standing up, Thamana then had a sparring match with Hildana.
The herd meandered out to browse in the bush on their way back to the stockades. Busara and Akina walked along together while Itinyi feasted on bark stripped from acacia trees. Godoma, Baraka, Lemeki and Losoito clambered up to the top of the hill while Rokka, Manda, Ashanti, Seri, and Hildana remained at the bottom. Cheeky Tagwa nudged Busara away from Mbegu while her back was turned, much to the mini matriarch’s annoyance.
Today, the ex-orphans did not visit the stockades but were seen drinking from the water trough on Msinga Hill and wandering along the Voi River circuit where there are large trees to shelter babies from the scorching sun. Pika Pika and Mwitu were staying close to Mweya’s baby. Only Ndii visited us today, arriving for an afternoon lucerne treat.
In the early morning, the Voi orphans lined up in groups, gulping their bottles of delicious milk before leaving for the field at the beginning of a busy browsing day. The elephants went up Msinga Hill as the lower slopes were almost empty of browse. Ashanti struggled to climb up a slippery, rocky area so changed course for a safer route. Kenderi spent time browsing close to Emoli on the hill.
Three hours later, Ndii, Mudanda, baby Miale, Naipoki, Rorogoi and Ndotto (who has stayed out with the ex-orphans for two nights) arrived at the stockades and were given range cubes and lucerne grass. Little Miale looked well and happy. The herd hung around for more than four hours feeding and quenching their thirst at the water trough.
The dependent herd visited the baobab water hole in the afternoon as usual. When a herd of wild elephants arrived and gathered around the water trough, our herd left the area and ambled back to the stockades. On the way back, Lasayen and Murit enjoyed a sparring match and then the orphans met up with Mudanda’s herd. Ndotto left the ex-orphans and returned to the stockades for the night with his friends.
In the morning, the orphans sprinted out of their stockades and down the path for a milk feed. When naughty Hildana tried to push away Epiya from her bottle, we intervened to protect Epiya. The orphans lined up at the range cubes feeding trough and then moved on the pile of lucerne. They picked up every piece, knowing that there would be no fresh green browse out in the field as it is the dry season. Ex-orphan Ndii wandered in to join our herd – her damaged trunk means that browsing is harder when the bush is dry with no green shoots.
Out in the bush, the orphans climbed the hill again in search of tasty greens with Godoma and Ngilai using their height to pluck branches down from the trees. In the afternoon, they came down the hill for more milk and a wallow in the baobab water hole.
Most orphans congregated around the fresh lucerne grass this morning while some played pushing games on the terraces. After filling his belly, Itinyi lay down, inviting his friends to play with him - they were not interested as they were busy feeding.
After the dependent orphans left for the field, Ndii padded up to the stockades on her own. She timed her arrival so she could have the leftovers of lucerne all to herself.
In the afternoon, our herd came back to the stockades for a mud bath. After having fun in the water, Tamiyoi enjoyed scratching against the twin trees. When she moved on, Rokka took her place while Ashanti massaged her rump against the small rock close to the water hole.
In the evening, Mudanda, baby Miale, Naipoki and Rorogoi visited after our current orphans were inside their shared stockades. They joined up with Ndii, drank from the water trough and spent the night under the trees outside the stockades.
In the early morning, the dependent elephants joined Mudanda, Miale, Naipoki, Ndii and Rorogoi who had spent the night outside the stockades. As our orphans were having a milk feed, Mudanda and baby Miale sprinted to the feeding trough. Ignoring the Keepers waiting with bottles held high, Epiya and Ushindi also ran to the trough for range cubes. Tiny Miale played under her mother’s feet as Mudanda scooped up pellets. Wannabee nanny Dabida stood close to Miale.
Rokka led the herd out for their daily browsing adventure on the slopes of Msinga Hill. The ex-orphans stayed at the stockades for some time before heading out in a different direction to browse over the open grass fields, but Ndii stayed behind.
In the afternoon, the orphans went down to the mud wallow after the milk feed, Lemeki and Losoito stopped off at the water trough as the rest of the herd plunged into the pool to cool down. The elephants rolled around on the mound of dry soil before ambling back to the stockades for the night.