The month began with a record-breaking sprint. As Mwana dashed to the milk feed and mud bath, she broke her own speed record. In celebration, the baby kicked the bottle that was waiting for Amali. When a Keeper gave her an empty bottle to play with, Mwana cheerfully punted it like a football.
Umani’s little princess Mwana remains a very spoiled baby with her many nannies around her who are taking great care of her. None of the orphans ever want to hear Mwana making any complaints. If she complains, both Enkesha and Kiasa run to see what is going on with the baby. Amali also follows very keenly and closely.
This time, Mwana screamed after milk was denied by Lima Lima, who did not want to let the baby nurse from her. Lima Lima is not her mother, but Mwana still believes that she has a right to nurse from her whenever she wants. Mwana was being very spoiled and screamed to broadcast this injustice to her nannies.
Mwana then stopped following Lima Lima and returned to where Zongoloni was with Amali and Mwashoti. Realising that their little friend was in a bad state, Enkesha and Kapei escorted her to where Murera was resting under a baobab tree. Murera knows that Mwana can be very spoiled and generally just allows the nannies to discipline her as needed.
Mwana today broke her own record for running. In celebration, she kicked the bottle that was waiting for Amali, then bent down and, using her little trunk, grabbed some milk that had spilled on the ground. When the Keeper played and gave her the bottle, she kicked the empty bottle down, knowing it was empty and the Keeper was just kidding her.
Eager to keep the game going, Mwana then charged at the Keeper. Kapei and Amali crossed her path to protect the Keeper from being pushed by Mwana, who was just playing. Kapei thought she was planning to kick and hit the Keeper down, but this was not Mwana’s intention at all.
Then, Mwana went to Enkesha, who was digging for minerals with her tusks. After admiring her nanny’s actions, Mwana tried to do the same, although she doesn’t have tusks to excavate with. Kiasa joined them, too. Amali then climbed to the top of the dust hill, rubbing her belly on the dust pile, while Murera and Mwashoti slept at the bottom.
Kiombo and Faraja began to fight over the scratching post space, which everyone was waiting to use. Kiombo took a long time and did not notice that Faraja was on standby, waiting for him to finish and give him space. Soon, Faraja lost patience. He pushed Kiombo aside, then went for the scratching post and finished all the itching he was feeling.
It was a long day for Kapei and Kiombo after Sonje and the other girls led them away from the dependent herd and into the Chyulu Hills. Later, Kapei lost direction while trying to rejoin the herd. When he realised it was time for the midday bottle feeding and he was thirsty, he moved back to Kiombo to see if Kiombo would bring him back to join the other milk-dependent orphans. Kiombo showed no interest in leaving the Chyulus, because he was enjoying lots of food on the hills and no longer cares so much about milk bottles.
Kiasa trumpeted for Amali and Enkesha to return Mwana to Murera, as Murera was searching for her baby. Mwana was busy rolling in a small pond and did not want to leave just because her mother was looking for her. Amali tried her best to convince the baby to leave, but in the end, she was forced to join Mwana in the small swimming pond.
Later, Kiombo and Kapei joined the orphan herd — only to find that the bottles they were returning for had been taken by Murera and Enkesha, because the two boys were not back on time. Kiombo and Kapei complained a lot but could do nothing. Instead, they both went with Sonje to the dust pile for dusting, before the whole herd moved to the bushes for shade. Seeing that little Mwana was uncomfortable in the strong sunlight, her nannies walked her to the trees.
This evening, a wild herd and many little babies arrived behind the stockades. When they found Sonje and the other nightclubbers enjoying the lucerne, the old female decided to chase away the residents. The place was taken over by wild elephants. Mwashoti wanted to leave, but Faraja tried to tell him not to run away. Faraja knew them. When Faraja walked back to acknowledge greetings from the wild herd, he was welcomed by the old female who had been chasing all the orphans out of sight. Faraja then rumbled for Mwashoti to come back. They both interacted well with the wild herd until they left for their night parties in the forest.
Maktao, who was already in bed, decided this was a party he wanted to be part of. He pushed and pulled at his stockade, threatening to the Keepers to let him out or he would break the wall. The Keepers tried to ignore him, but he kept clanging the metal gate. When the Keepers opened his gate, Maktao headed right into the forest. We saw Alamaya emerge from the darkness to receive him, and they walked away together.
Maktao and Kiombo now both feel that they have attained the age of being big babies, and they are ready to join the other nightclubbers. Mostly, they want to associate with Sonje and Mwashoti.
Kapei was misled by Kiombo and Maktao today. He didn't realise that when he moved away with Kiombo and Maktao — who are preparing to join the nightclubbers — they had other plans. Today, Kapei joined the older bulls, thinking he was on a training mission. When Mwashoti and Sonje joined them, Kapei started following Sonje. This was when he got separated from the dependent herd.
When it was time to come back home, Amali and Kiasa led all the milk dependents with Murera at the back. Everyone made their way into their bedrooms — everyone except Kapei, that is. He had followed Maktao, Kiombo, Mwashoti, and Sonje to the Chyulu Hills, and they didn't show up the whole night.
Very early the next morning, even before the pellets were delivered by the Keepers, Kapei was spotted waiting outside, standing beside his lovely friend, Sonje. Kapei has great confidence in Sonje and trusts whatever she advises him to do; that night, he just followed without a second thought.
Amali and Kiasa are becoming great friends because of taking care of Mwana. Mwana listens to the two so much that sometimes she takes a very long time before going back to nurse from her mother. Murera trusts the nannies with her baby and has no problems with them when walking away with Mwana.
Sonje and all the other nightclubbers didn't arrive on time today as they usually do. When the morning started, everyone hoped they would show up before the orphans finished their morning session at the pellets corner. Murera tried to hold everyone back, waiting to see if Sonje or Lima Lima would arrive, but no one appeared.
Mwana and Amali were ready to start their days, nightclubbers or not, and decided to move out. The Keepers called everyone and the orphans walked to the hills. Before the babies could reach their destination, we heard loud trumpeting from elephants behind them.
The Keepers knew that it must be the nightclubbers finally appearing, trumpeting loudly so they could be heard by the herd. Murera stopped and rumbled loudly to guide her friends towards them. When they saw Lima Lima and Zongoloni getting close, Amali and Kapei rushed over to welcome them into the herd. Loud rumbles filled the air as the orphans charged around the bushes in celebration of Sonje, Lima Lima, and the whole team, including Mwashoti and Alamaya, joining them.
Some wild bulls accompanied Sonje and friends to Umani Hills. These bulls were friendly and invited Quanza and Maktao to join them, showing them around. The Keepers stayed at the back, watching to ensure the visitors didn’t bother Murera. However, they were very friendly, even with the Keepers. It was clear their intention was simply to be good friends with the orphans.
The two huge bulls, with very long tusks, came to the waterhole, demanding to join the babies for a mud bath together. Kiombo walked closer to receive them with Mwashoti, but one bull did not want to see Kiombo. Mwashoti, however, was welcomed by the bulls. Kiombo joined Sonje, Murera, and Amali, and Murera led the way to a smaller waterhole where she would be comfortable without the wild bulls.
Kapei started wallowing in the small waterhole and the other orphans followed. However, because the space was small, Murera waited outside to give the other babies time and space. Later, when they were done with swimming, it was now turn for Murera and her baby only, plus Amali. Enkesha and Kiasa tried to join Murera, Mwana, and Amali inside the small waterhole, but they were denied entry by Murera, who stood firm so that Amali and Mwana could be given time to enjoy.
Enkesha and Quanza took off to the dust pile, which made Mwana and Amali get out of the mud bath and join them. In the afternoon, the herd headed to the Kenze Hills for browsing time. The two bulls did not follow them but walked away with Mwashoti.
Kapei got some discipline this morning for not playing nicely with Amali and Mwana. He was with the little girls as they were climbing to the top of the dust hill. Kapei rolled his trunk over Amali’s hind leg and pulled her back, preventing her from reaching the top. Then, when Mwana followed Amali, he pushed the baby, which was very wrong. Zongoloni and Lima Lima were not happy with his behaviour and meted out discipline. After being punished, Kapei tried to go off with anyone who might accept him, but all the head girls shunned him. Only Mwashoti showed sympathy, realising he had been chased away.
Later, as the day grew very hot, Murera and Sonje took over leadership and brought the babies to the waterhole. Mwana was the first to jump into the swimming pool, followed by Kiasa and Amali. Murera stopped by the side of the waterhole, waiting for the little ones to finish swimming before joining in, as she wanted her own space and didn’t want to mix with them. After a while, Murera lost patience and forced her way into the pool. As she pushed into the mud bath, the others quickly ran away, giving her the space she wanted.
Mwana returned, demanding to nurse from her mother, even though Murera was still busy wallowing. But Mwana didn’t care; she continued to complain loudly. Eventually, Murera got up and nursed Mwana to stop her loud complaints.
Later on, Faraja arrived with his adopted big brothers, who are wild friends. They all joined the mud bath together, seeking relief from the heat. After cooling off, Faraja brought his friends along with the herd, heading towards the Kibwezi Forest and up to the Umani Hills.
Today, all the elephants climbed the Kenzili Hills in search of food, leaving Murera at the bottom with her baby, along with Amali and Quanza, who stayed behind to help look after little Mwana. As midday approached, the Keepers began calling the orphans to assemble for their bottle feeding and mud bath. The day was hot, and the babies needed to cool off in the mud. However, despite the Keepers shouting out their names, none of the babies appeared. Kiasa and her team of little nannies didn’t show up either.
Eventually, the Keepers decided to head to the feeding area with only Murera, Amali, and Quanza, who had come when the names were called. By the time they arrived at the bottle feeding field, it was late. Only Amali, Quanza, and Murera were present for bottle feeding, and Murera happily celebrated the moment, as if it were her birthday. Since the others failed to show up, she was given all their milk bottles, much to her delight. Milk-dependent babies Kapei, Maktao, Kiasa, Enkesha, and Kiombo were nowhere to be found.
The Keepers went to the hills to try the orphans. No one responded to the calls until later in the afternoon, when Sonje led all the missing orphans to reunite with Murera and Mwana. Kapei, upset about missing his bottle, let out loud protests towards the Keepers when he realised Murera had been given his share.
Afterward, the Keepers gathered the elephants at the waterhole, where the babies enjoyed a swim. Kiasa and Enkesha, not wanting to stray far from Mwana, rolled together near her, ensuring they remained close throughout the fun.
Again, Sonje led the herd astray and made many of the orphans late for feeding time. Fortunately, Lima Lima and Zongoloni assisted the group in navigating around the Umani Hills. They rushed to the feeding point, hoping to catch the midday bottles they had missed. However, by the time they arrived, the car had already left to clean the bottles. Kapei and Kiombo became very insistent, demanding their bottles, and the Keepers eventually gave in, distributing more milk to keep the peace.
Meanwhile, Zongoloni noticed that Enkesha was missing from the herd. Knowing where to find her, Zongoloni went back to search, eventually discovering Enkesha with a group of wild elephants. Enkesha seemed reluctant to leave, as she had been courting a little wild boy to join her. However, when her plan was discovered by the boy’s older sister, Enkesha was blocked and ultimately left with Zongoloni.
By this time, the orphans were playing on the dust pile, with Mwashoti and Amali climbing to the top. Mwashoti pushed his long tusks to the side where Amali was rubbing her belly in the dust. Amali immediately felt something push her from behind and turned around to see Mwashoti poking her! Amali left and followed Mwana, who was already moving away with the other little nannies. They were taking her to the shade, as the dust had become too hot for a young baby.
Today, the orphans headed to the hills for their morning browse. Upon arriving, they discovered that a wild herd had already settled in the spot they thought would be exclusively for themselves. Little did they know, the hills are open to everyone, not just the orphans. With the lower areas drying out, both buffaloes and wild elephants have started moving to the top of the hills in search of more food.
Amali, along with her friends Kiasa and Enkesha, teamed up for an adventure. They came across Kiombo and Mwashoti fighting over a small patch of space. Kiombo, despite being the smaller boy, refused to back down. He stood his ground, determined to prove himself, but eventually, Mwashoti’s strength overpowered him.
The wild herd that had been browsing near the orphans started to move off once they realised the Keepers were present. One bull stopped under an acacia tree, attempting to pull down some branches. When the branch wouldn’t come down as quickly as he wanted, he pushed the entire tree down. Once the tree fell, the orphans eagerly swarmed around it, waiting for their opportunity to feast. Amali and Mwana were spotted beneath the larger elephants, scrambling to grab what little bits they could manage.
As the day grew hotter, the Keepers called the orphans to head back to the waterhole. The younger babies were already feeling the heat. Kiasa and Sonje led the way down. While the orphans had their bottles, Mwana jumped inside the pool. Sonje found her happily kicking the water and enjoying her swim. Soon after, Amali and Kapei joined in, and the entire herd celebrated together, relishing the cool water.
Today, the orphans started off playing around the stockades. Kiombo and Maktao began their usual pushing games, heading towards the Umani Springs. Mwashoti, noticing the rough play, stopped what he was doing and rushed over to intervene. Known for being a good peacemaker, Mwashoti’s presence was enough to make both Kiombo and Maktao stop and run away. They took some time before returning, and in the meantime, Quanza and Faraja slowly followed behind, curious to see if Mwashoti had been fighting the boys. However, by the time they arrived, Kiombo and Maktao were already on their way back, and Mwashoti had successfully brokered peace between the two.
After the situation calmed down, the orphans continued their journey into the Kibwezi Forest for the morning browsing session. Zongoloni and her team of head girls led Kiasa and Enkesha to Mwana. Upon spotting Zongoloni, Mwana excitedly ran up to her and raised her little trunk, signalling her desire to feed. Zongoloni, as usual, accepted her and allowed Mwana to nurse. Once the spoiled baby had her fill, Zongoloni moved her front leg to gently stop her.
During their browsing, the Keepers and orphans came across several buffaloes grazing on the lucerne that had been left out for all wildlife to share. The forest is drying out, as it always does during the dry season, so buffaloes, baboons, and bushbucks have all gathered to share the food. The orphans — especially Mwana and Amali — became jealous and wondered why the buffaloes and baboons were eating what they considered to be their food. Mwana even blew her little trumpet to try and scare the baboons away, but her efforts were in vain, as none of the animals budged. Eventually, everyone coexisted peacefully, and the orphans only left when it was time to return to the stockades.
A large wild herd arrived today and took over the usual spot where the orphans go to enjoy their evening lucerne. When the orphans returned home, Sonje and her group made their way towards the lucerne area, with Mwashoti walking ahead of them. As they neared the spot, Sonje and the others heard rustling from the bushes. Mwashoti, sensing danger, quickly took cover in the nearby shrubs. Moments later, they spotted wild calves running ahead, followed by their mothers. This prompted Sonje and her group to retreat, unwilling to risk an encounter with the larger, wild herd.
Mwashoti, however, bravely returned to the area and was initially welcomed back. But things took a turn when one of the young wild elephants unknowingly moved under Mwashoti, and by accident, Mwashoti's hind leg touched the calf. The startled youngster let out a loud scream, drawing the immediate attention of the mothers and nannies. Mwashoti found himself in a difficult situation, unable to explain the innocent mistake before being pushed away by the protective herd.
Once the wild elephants left, it was nearly too late for the orphans to return to the lucerne spot. Buffaloes, hoping to find some leftovers, arrived shortly after but were disappointed to find nothing remaining. In response, the Keepers brought out some more lucerne from the stores to ensure the buffaloes could enjoy a share too. The buffaloes, familiar with the Umani area and its reliable supply of food, knew they wouldn’t leave without something to eat.
Some big wild bulls were spotted by the Keepers today as they tried to follow Murera closely. This made the Keepers wonder if the bulls planned to meet Murera again in secret, similar to the time when she first got pregnant a few years back. When Murera noticed them, she quickly moved away, doing everything possible to avoid them. Her baby and Amali watched curiously, wondering why Murera was in such a hurry.
Murera moved towards the Keepers, who were standing on a big rock observing what the wild bulls intended to do. But their plans failed when Murera reached the Keepers. The bulls, hearing the Keepers talking close to Murera, changed direction and tried to hide. Soon after, they disappeared into the forest, leaving the orphans alone with the Keepers.
Amali, along with her little sister Mwana, were in a playful mood on top of an anthill. Mwana rolled down, expecting Amali to stop her midway, but Amali missed the memo and wasn’t there to catch her. Mwana ended up rolling all the way downhill. Kiasa rushed to help her get up, seeing that Mwana was struggling. Enkesha and Lima Lima also hurried to where Kiasa and the baby were to offer more support. Lima Lima was just enough — she pulled Mwana up using her trunk, and within a few seconds, Mwana was back on her feet. She then ran to breastfeed from Lima Lima, who nursed her and made her happy after her little struggle.
Kiombo and his friend Maktao began their day in a fighting mood. As soon as Kiombo emerged from his room, he found Maktao waiting by the gate. Maktao aimed a push at Kiombo — but Kiombo, seeing Maktao’s stance, dodged quickly. The failed attempt prompted Mwashoti to rush over to calm things down.
At the pellets corner, Sonje rumbled, and Lima Lima replied from where she was busy picking up more pellets. Sonje rumbled again, causing all the head girls to leave what they were doing and hurry over to her. Zongoloni and Enkesha reached Sonje but found nothing was wrong. Sonje had just been rumbling to get the herd moving towards the Umani Springs.
Meanwhile, Amali and Kapei found themselves in a pushing contest after Amali became impatient with Kapei’s slow pace. She then realised that Kapei was hesitant to move forward because Alamaya was ahead, and he didn’t dare push the much bigger bull.
Quanza found a stick and carried it with her trunk, using her strength to prevent other girls, who admired the stick, from taking it away. She wanted it for scratching her chest; she had tried scratching against a rock but didn’t find it adequate, so the stick served her purpose.
A small fight broke out between Lima Lima and Zongoloni over who got to babysit little Mwana. Mwana was happy to be with either nanny. However, both Lima Lima and Zongoloni greedily didn’t want to share the baby. Sonje stopped the fight by standing between the girls, allowing Mwana to suckle from Lima Lima first and then Zongoloni.
Today, most of the ex-orphans made an appearance, with only Ziwa missing from the usual group of Umani elephants. Sonje, Lima Lima, Quanza, Zongoloni, Alamaya, Mwashoti, Jasiri, and Faraja were present. The Keepers noticed two wild bulls trailing Alamaya, but when they turned around to get a better look, the bulls disappeared into the bushes. They later joined the orphans as they made their way to the Kenzili area for the morning browsing session.
Amali and Kiasa took charge, leading the entire herd to the Kenzili hills, where they browsed peacefully. When Lima Lima spotted little Mwana, she allowed her to nurse as they walked. However, the calm was interrupted when some bushbucks wandered through, followed by buffaloes, who startled Quanza and Kiombo. The two orphans quickly retreated to where Murera and Sonje were. Upon seeing the buffaloes, Murera backed off and ran to what she considered a safer spot, taking Mwana and the other babies with her.
As the day grew hotter, it became too uncomfortable for the orphans to continue browsing, so they headed to the waterhole to cool off. Amali and Faraja were the first to arrive, running ahead and rolling in the waterhole. All the babies, led by Mwana, followed, except for Murera, who waited on the sidelines. She preferred to wait until the crowd had cleared before enjoying the waterhole on her own. Murera doesn’t like to share the pool with other elephants, except for her baby and sometimes Amali.
The orphans came rushing down the Umani Hills at midday, eager for their bottle feed. Then, they made their way to the waterhole for a much-needed swim in the heat. Zongoloni led the elephants who no longer drink milk straight to the waterhole. Mwana was the first to be given the opportunity to enter the water, followed by Zongoloni and Kiasa. Once the rest of the babies had their bottles, the group engaged in a full-blown swimming session, while Murera waited behind for her own time.
Murera, as usual, preferred to swim when the crowd thinned out. After the others finished, she slowly made her way into the mud bath, splashing water on her belly before heading to the dust pile where her friends had already begun a dust bath. Faraja and Mwashoti napped on the dust pile, which prevented Kiasa and Amali from climbing up. However, when the dust started to become too hot for comfort, the girls decided it was time to leave.
Mwana seemed uninterested in the dust bath and wandered off towards the shrubs. Amali noticed her departure and decided to follow, concerned about the little one walking unsupervised. The other nannies quickly realised the situation and shifted their attention to Mwana. When Sonje saw the young nannies gathering around Mwana, she joined them as they all made their way to the shade after enjoying their mud baths.
Today, Zongoloni, Lima Lima, and Sonje kept to themselves. The pregnant girls were in a moody state and did not feel like associating with the other orphans. They ignored Mwashoti, pushed Kapei away, and even showed no interest in socialising with their Keepers. But then, Quanza moved over to Sonje and all became well. The girls hugged, everyone’s moods lifted, and the herd headed to the Chyulu Hills.
Murera rumbled for Mwana to come nurse, but Mwana was playing with Kiasa and Enkesha. After Murera rumbled a second time, the little nannies escorted Mwana to her mother. Afterward, she walked back to Amali, who took her to the open dust fields to play. While Amali entertained the baby, Murera enjoyed a relaxing browsing session.
Later, the nightclubbers heard movement in the forest, which we thought might be wild elephants coming down from the Chyulu Hills. All of the sudden, Lima Lima came running over to the Keepers. Her message was clear — she was telling them to move. They stepped aside just before several buffalos passed through, running and fighting amongst themselves.
The keepers were very thankful for Lima Lima’s quick action. Without her warning, they could have been caught in the middle of the chaos. The Keepers invited her home and gave her a treat of pellets as a way of thanking her for rescuing them from the buffaloes.
As the babies were ready to start their day, some baboons mistakenly wandered into the area where Amali and Kapei were picking up pellets. Upon seeing the monkeys, Amali aggressively chased them away. United with Kapei, the youngsters pursued the baboons into the bushes, clearing the area so the orphans could enjoy their morning treats in peace. Sonje, Lima Lima, and Murera rumbled their support for Amali and Kapei’s actions.
Mwashoti, Kiombo, and Maktao ran to join the herd in the shrubs. Some crane birds flew over the acacia trees and waited for the elephants to move aside, but the Keepers couldn't understand why the birds were hanging around. Lima Lima soon discovered the reason: The cranes had laid eggs nearby, and they were hesitant to fly down to their nest for fear of drawing attention. Lima Lima spotted the eggs and signalled to the Keepers, who then moved the babies away to avoid anyone accidentally stepping on the eggs. Once the elephants had left the area, the cranes flew down from the tree and returned to their nest.
When it was time for the mud bath, the babies arrived happily at the big swimming pool, joined by the nightclubbers. The little nannies walked Mwana to the water trough while Murera came in her own time. The baby was then escorted back to the herd, where all the orphans enjoyed swimming together. Murera waited for them to finish before entering the waterhole to swim alone. After the swim, the orphans walked away to rest in the shade.
Swimming stopped immediately when somebody stepped over Mwana. She screamed loudly, which made the other babies rush from all corners where they had been enjoying their swim. Kiasa hurried, but she was overtaken by Quanza and Lima Lima, who arrived first.
But it was matriarchs Sonje and Murera who sorted the drama. They pulled Mwana out of the water and walked her to the dust pile. It turned out that Mwana was not really in danger; she had exaggerated with her loud screams, causing the nannies to think she was in big trouble.
Amali followed Mwana to the top of the dust hill. She always claims her spot as the Umani queen of the hill; she enjoys playing around at the top and watching her friends below. But then, Kiasa became jealous of Amali’s position and pushed her out of the way. Amali changed her plans and took Mwana to rest in the shade.
Meanwhile, Faraja was being chased by the young boys, Kiombo and Maktao. Their playful fight became quite aggressive, forcing Mwashoti, the peacemaker, to step in and separate them. Faraja had been training the young boys on fighting tactics for when they encounter wild friends in the bushes, but he didn’t expect them to turn against him and fight back. Mwashoti’s intervention kept the peace; he didn’t want the junior boys to develop bad habits of fighting with their older brothers, who only have good intentions towards them.
The playground was level, and every elephant was seizing the opportunity to challenge their rivals. Kiombo took on Faraja, trying to push him out of the elephants' playing grounds. The peacemaker, Mwashoti, didn’t hesitate when he saw Kiombo pushing Faraja, but Faraja allowed Kiombo to keep going, pretending to give him hope of winning. However, things soon turned upside down for Kiombo. Mwashoti whispered to Faraja, encouraging him to react against Kiombo because he thought it was wrong for Kiombo to push and think he wouldn’t be pushed back.
Just as Kiombo began celebrating his supposed victory, Faraja suddenly stopped holding back and chased him off. Kiombo was shocked and had to run fast to escape the strong tusks of Faraja. Murera watched nervously as Faraja pushed young Kiombo towards the bushes. Not wanting to be involved, she moved away with Mwana and the nannies. They left the boys to settle their disagreements on their own, as it wasn’t a matter for the girls.
Amali covered herself with dust before picking up a stick, which Kiasa soon demanded from her. Amali, respecting the older girl’s seniority, didn’t argue and handed over the stick to Kiasa. Amali was left with nothing, but she didn’t seem to mind.
Later, two bulls with massive tusks approached the herd. They seemed friendly with Sonje, but they did not want to fully integrate with the orphans because they caught the scent of the Keepers nearby. Eventually, Mwashoti led the visitors off into the Chyulu Hills, leaving the orphans in peace.
Faraja arrived today without any of his fellow night-clubbers, making a solo appearance at the pellet feeding area in the morning. Kiombo and Maktao eagerly went to welcome him, while Murera and the other girls kept their distance. As the milk-dependent orphans were preparing to head out to the bush along Umani Springs, Sonje and Mwashoti followed them, and Amali with Mwana rushed over to join Sonje. This worked out well for Murera, who appreciated the opportunity to have some time away from her baby after a night of nursing.
A few hours later, the Keepers heard trumpeting coming from the hills. It seemed some elephants were attempting to communicate with the orphans, but none of the orphans responded. The loud trumpeting persisted until the source of the sound — a group consisting of Lima Lima and Zongoloni — arrived at the orphans' location. They had been calling out, trying to find their way to the herd. The orphans warmly greeted the girls. Little Amali and her sister Mwana were especially excited to see them. Mwana, who had been playing, immediately ran to Lima Lima and Zongoloni for some affectionate attention. Both welcomed her.
At the main waterhole, Faraja led the group in showing off their swimming skills. Amali and Mwana joined in, and soon the rest of the orphans were in the water, too. It was wonderful to see how Mwana was rolling and diving with style. She went underwater, with only her tiny little tail waving above the water. Then, everyone went to the dust bath together.
As the orphans were getting ready for the early morning bottle feeds, wild elephants waited outside the fence to meet with the orphans. The visitors had many babies, much younger than Mwana. It was very interesting to see them moving around their mothers, meaning everybody knew who his or her mother was, even amongst all the elephants present.
When the orphans got outside, Muera and her baby went right to ‘Murera’s corner,’ where she and Mwana eat their pellets privately and in peace. Mwana did not mix with the wild-borns. Meanwhile, Sonje and Quanza were trying to pull down a big branch that the little babies wanted to taste. However, the branch was too high and strong for them to break. Accepting disappointment, they both left the branch. When it was time for the orphans to leave, Lima Lima moved to Kiasa and Amali and informed them to fetch Mwana.
A herd of wild elephants approached the Umani Hills and found Mwashoti and Kiombo playing pushing games. Kiombo wanted to play with the young wild-born boys, but a wild mother blocked him from joining the herd. Kiombo then made his way back to Mwashoti, who led him back to Sonje and Quanza, so he did not get lost. If Kiombo had taken off with the little boys he wanted to play with, he could have been carried away by the wild herd into the Chyulu Hills. On Kiombo’s arrival back to the orphans, Maktao, his great friend, also welcomed him back with a fun pushing game.
As the young baby Mwana continues to grow — she is now 17 months old — she has become a no-nonsense entertainer. When one of the older elephants mistakenly touches her, she never lets them go free; she has to push them in discipline.
Kapei, who is one of Mwana’s honorary older brothers, picked up a stick in front of her. Unfortunately, she was also planning to take the same stick. When Kapei claimed it, she showed her anger by pushing Kapei from the side. But the older boy Kapei did not react; he knows that she is just a baby and that she has the full protection of the nannies. Proudly, Mwana moved to her mother, Murera, who was just a few metres away.
Enkesha and Kiasa scooped up Amali and Mwana and led them to the Kenzili area. The orphans were likely tired of the same place where they had browsed for a long time, and now they needed a fresh place with plenty of food. On the way, Amali and Kiasa stopped at a nearby acacia tree. Quanza, who was nearby, pulled down a tall branch for the little elephants, who could not reach it.
Peace was disrupted when a bushbuck crossed into the middle of the herd and divided them into two groups, causing Sonje and Mwashoti to run away. Murera took Mwana towards the Keepers, who were keenly watching every step they made. But then Lima Lima came out and gathered those who had run away, bringing them back into the herd and calming them down.
When it was time to go home, the matriarch led the babies to a nearby waterhole for a short drink and wallow before returning to the stockades.
Mwana tried to put up a very strong defence today to stop baboons from joining the orphans at the table this morning. When the orphans were ready at the pellets corner, many baboons trooped into the herd to try to steal some pellets for themselves — but baby girl Mwana was already prepared for them and warned them not to try. One of the baboons ignored Mwana’s stern warning and, too late, realised that she meant business: She chased the baboon all the way into the bushes, and in the meantime, all the other baboons vanished, not wishing to get the same treatment. Mwana returned to find no baboons around, which made her very happy and satisfied. Then, all the orphans got to enjoy their pellets in peace.
When the day started to become warmer, Quanza moved with the babies beneath the big trees. She knew the little ones were hot and wanted shade, but it was not yet time for the mud bath. When the heat became too much, the head girls moved Mwana and Amali to the nearby waterhole and forced the older elephants to follow them. They found Faraja and some wild bulls already at the waterhole. Amali, Mwana, and Quanza led everyone into the waterhole, and they all swam together with the wild bulls.
Maktao and Kiombo are becoming very adventurous, more than ever before. Today, Mwashoti and a wild bull teamed up with the young boys and took them to the Chyulu area, leaving the other orphans and friends behind. Maktao and Kiombo were having so much fun that they even skipped their midday bottle feeding.
Quanza started the day with the boys, but when she heard Mwana yell, she ran back to the dependent herd to check on her. Quanza arrived in a hurry, only to find Mwana busy nursing from Murera. She patiently waited until the baby was done and then escorted her into the bushes for more browsing with the other nannies.
Sonje tried to intervene after seeing Zongoloni and Quanza moving Mwana towards the bushes. She was not ready to go, but she also did not want to be left behind. She recruited her deputy, Lima Lima, to help. Lima Lima gathered everyone, including Kiombo and Maktao, while Mwashoti and Faraja ignored her request and disappeared into the forest.
When it was time to return back home with the Keepers, Mwashoti disappeared again — this time, taking Kapei and Enkesha with him. When the orphans arrived in their rooms, Kapei was missing. When the Keepers checked again, they found that Enkesha's room was also empty. After the others had turned back from the long day, the two had taken off with Mwashoti, who introduced them to some of his wild friends. When Kapei and Enkesha got thirsty for their milk around six o'clock in the evening — about an hour after the other orphans had returned home — Mwashoti escorted them back to the stockades. His babysitting mission complete, he then walked back into the forest to join Sonje and her team.
This morning, instead of looking after Mwana as she usually does, Enkesha walked to the springs with Kiombo and Maktao. The Keepers wondered why Enkesha decided to leave Mwana with Kiasa and Amali, as she rarely leaves the baby’s side. However, the reason soon became clear: Just before, Enkesha had a disagreement with Kiasa, after Kiasa blocked her from crossing the road and reaching Mwana and Amali. This upset Enkesha, which is why she moved away with the junior boys to the springs.
Mwashoti walked slowly with the juniors, trying to monitor their plan, as they seemed to be taking Enkesha far away. When Mwashoti saw that Kiombo was heading in the wrong direction, he stopped them and turned them back to go where the other orphans were browsing. On the way, they came across some marabou storks. When the birds flew up, their wings flapping and making noise, Kiombo got scared and ran towards Mwashoti for help. Mwashoti, however, was unfazed and guided the small group back to the orphans, who were resting under the shade. Murera was also there with Amali and her friends.
At the waterhole, the elephants went straight in. It was a wonderful sight as Mwana stepped into the waterhole, with the other nannies escorting her, while Amali stayed close to ensure Mwana was safe. Murera remained calm, waiting for the other babies to finish their mud bath before she joined on a separate side of the waterhole. Afterward, they all moved to the dust pile.
This morning, the orphans had their morning feed before embarking for the hills. Kiombo came across some baboons, and this was the perfect opportunity for the monkeys to learn how strong he was. Kiombo kept an older baboon on his toes, chasing it into the shrubs and then hitting him with his trunk. Then, Kiombo grabbed his tail and tossed him into the bushes. The baboon was unharmed, but it certainly got rid of the noisy creatures for the morning. Maktao joined in, but by that time, all the baboons had cleared the area.
A herd of wild elephants visited, bringing some babies much younger than Mwana. Enkesha and Kiasa became confused about who Mwana was. Enkesha picked one baby and walked with him to the bushes, but he was a boy. Before Enkesha realised her mistake, she was among the wild herd, which was now leaving for Chyulu. Meanwhile, Kiasa returned to where Amali and the baby were, without signalling Enkesha to come back — perhaps enjoying the opportunity to nanny Mwana by herself.
Back at the stockades, the Keepers saw that Kapei and Enkesha were missing. They felt sure that the pair would be back, so set aside their milk bottles. Sure enough, before long, faithful Mwashoti brought Enkesha and Kapei home. They both got their bottles before going to bed.
Sonje teamed up with the other girls and rushed to where the other babies were having their morning treat of pellets. Behind her were two wild female elephants with their young babies, who were also trying to approach the pellet corner. However, when they sensed the smell of humans and heard people talking close to the orphan herd, they turned back and disappeared into the bushes towards the Chyulu Hills.
After a few minutes, we saw the same herd circling the orphans, trying to reach the stockade water troughs. They found no way through because the Keepers were still nearby, which blocked their path again. They eventually left for the Umani Springs. Faraja, seeing them walking towards the springs, decided to follow, as it seemed they were friends of his who had come to visit him at their home. However, when they found the Keepers present, the wild herd didn’t meet with Faraja and continued walking away. Mwashoti joined Faraja, and then Kiombo also followed, hoping either Faraja or Mwashoti would introduce him to this herd so he could also become friends with them.
But before Faraja could introduce him, one of the young wild babies spotted Kiombo and chased him off, telling him to stop following them to the springs. Kiombo ran back to his friend Maktao, and both returned to where Sonje and Zongoloni were waiting. Faraja eventually abandoned the wild herd and came back to rejoin his orphan herd.
Murera woke up in a grumpy mood. Rumbling, she warned Kiasa and Kapei to keep their distance from her, Mwana, and Amali. Murera always gives only one warning — and if the orphans don’t listen, they face their matriarch’s wrath. Today, the only one she showed respect to was Faraja. However, even he was warned to stay away.
The elephants moved to the top of the Kenzili Hills for more browsing. Today, they took a very long route with Lima Lima and Zongoloni at the lead. The girls knew that the area had plenty of food, having roamed around a lot during the night.
While the elephants were browsing and walking slowly by the road, Lima Lima came back with some information she wanted to share with her Keepers. When the Keepers saw her returning, we stopped and said, "Lima Lima must be coming back with a warning." True enough, Lima Lima was returning to inform her Keepers about a hyena she had spotted in the bushes, and she wanted us to be alert. We spotted the hyena hiding, trying to stalk a dik-dik. The hyena’s plan was not successful after Lima Lima raised the alarm, saving both her Keepers and the dik-dik.