At least that's according to a report in Kenya's Star newspaper, which describes the animals as going on "annual leave" between July and December. It quotes local official William Moile as saying donkeys in about eight localities "just refuse to listen to their masters and go to the plains to eat and make merry" before returning during the dry spell. "I grew up here and for the last 40 years nobody has questioned their habits. To us it is normal for the beasts of burden to rest," he adds.