Annually, Rwanda celebrates Gorilla naming ceremony on September and 2023 is all set already in the and of thousand Hills.
The 2023 ceremony will mark the 19th edition since Rwanda started promineting in conservation event of Kweta Izina. The ceremony is a long-waited day because it has become the highlight on African Tourism calender.
The ceremony takes place at the foot hill of volcano national park at kinigi village in Musanze district which known as Ruhengeri.
Besides the Kwita Izina ceremony, Rwanda hosts a long week of activities that aim at at creating awareness as well as generating funds for conservation projects.
By giving names to mountain gorillas, the communities given the chance deserves it and the names given to these close relatives are always in kiyarwanda names which are based on culture and ancient customs
During the ceremony, local communities, researchers, park rangers, as well as park trackers are thanked for the work done towards the park. The event only only attracted foreigners but also the students who are said to be future custodians of the environment and natural resources.
African Tourism calender highlight Kwita Izina.
Kwita izina is in kiyarwanda which means “naming”. Just like other cultures names babies at birth so is Rwandan culture naming baby gorillas who said to be close relative of humans due to 98.8% DNA according to the researchers. The great Apes are only spotted in Virunga conservation area and Bwindi impenetrable national park that is Uganda, Rwanda and Congo.
Kwita Izina ceremony started in 2005 aiming at creating awareness as well as generating funds for the conservation events. Rwanda Development Boad has already selected namers of these baby gorillas this year.
Although Kwita Izina ceremony is a free event, it is operated on registration for proper planning and organization. For people interested to take part are registered from all over the world by contacting Rwanda Development Board.
Kwita Izina ceremony had gained global recognition over the years and during 18th edition, a massive turn out of tendees was shocking including thousands of internationals, regional and local people.in last year’s chief namer of the Gorillas was Prince Charles who is now a king of England.
During the week of evert Kwita Izina ceremony, visitors not noly visit volcano national park but also other attractions like Akagera national park which is the best destination for game drive, Giswati mukuru national park, Nyugwe national park which is the best destination for chimpanzees tracking, Rwanda genocide memorial, and many more.
A local Tour Operator Vincent Ngarambe emphasizes that that Kwita Izina ceremony is a significant event that deserves promotion.
Success of the conservation.
During the United Nations Biodiversity Conference held in Montreal, Canada in December 2022, Rwanda was recognized among the four top countries in Africa for preserving endangered species
Population census of mountain gorillas in Virunga conservation area are over 604 gorillas whereas in Uganda gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable national park are 456 individuals thus adding to a total of 1063 individuals in the whole world. The rise of gorilla population is cause by the efforts put by national conservation authorities, supportive local communities staying around the park and international communities for the support.
Rwanda Development board’s top propriety is to conserve and safeguards wildlife from extinction. In doing so, Rwanda initiated a project to expand volcanoes National park by 37.4sqkm, aiming to provide better homes for the endangered mountain gorillas. This expansion project costing a projected US $ 255 million, intends to increase the park’s size by 25%. Rwanda as a nation has spearheaded gorilla conservation efforts and she warmly welcomes visitors from all around the world to join 19th edition of Kwita Izina. Due to the Kiwta Izina ceremony marks that mountain gorillas are growing in number.
In addition to the above, make your September a travel holiday on your calendar to Rwanda for gorilla naming ceremony which is called Kwita Izina in kiryarwanda.
