An entertainment session at Kwita Izina at the headquarters of Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Each year, a gorilla naming ceremony is held for newly born baby gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park headquarters at Kinigi in Rwanda.
Scenic Luxury Vacation is honored to witness the 19th edition ceremony as see the naming of 23 baby mountain gorillas born in the last 12 months and it will take place on the foothills of the Virunga Mountains in Kinigi, Musanze on 1st September 2023. This year’s names, who will be unveiled closer to the day, include notable partners, conservationists, international and local personalities, dignitaries and friends of Rwanda.
The Kwita Izina ceremony which is known as ‘gorilla naming ceremony’ will begin in the morning at around 8:00 am with entertainment from the famous singers and performers. These range from traditional drummers playing and local dancing as way of entertaining our beloved guests such as local people, Rwandan and international officials, and conservationists, business leaders, sports personalities, musicians and among others as you feel this powerful moment of dressing in traditional way of Kinyarwanda. And then later, the long-waited ceremony breaks off naming the newborn gorillas, the process begins with getting a photo list of little gorillas born for this year for easier identification in their respective families.
There will be dashes for names, and you can entertain yourself by making them up, where the different babies’ names are chosen based on each baby gorilla’s birth location, story, and the circumstances. However, the real thing is done from the stage, by the beloved guests who have come to the gorilla naming ceremony.
On Friday in the fast weeks of September every year- dealing on conservation-related activities such includes activities educating and sensitizing programs, conversation on conserving the environment, workshop and exhibiting the tourism product and souvenirs.
Some of the guests attending Kwita Izina at the headquarters of Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Kwita Izina. Closely modelled on a tradition that has been part of Rwandan culture for centuries, the ceremony is a reminder of our close relation to these great apes who share 99% of our DNA. It was adopted in 2005 to create awareness of conservation efforts for the endangered mountain gorilla- the ceremony is getting much more popular every year and much attention is given to the world which reminds us of our close relation to these great apes.
Gorilla naming ceremony is the first ever in the world continent of naming gorillas in public that brings together thousands of people in their dignity on this day which is much more than naming the newly born gorilla. Gorilla naming ceremony is one of the wonderful ways of networking with ranger guide and getting more information about the gorillas and among its major aim is to ease the monitoring of each mountain gorilla in the Volcano National Park, and also creating awareness of conservation efforts at National and International level as way of protecting the endangered mountain gorilla in Rwanda as an outstanding destination. Promoting gorilla trekking in Rwanda is among the major reason for gorilla naming ceremony as to attract more tourists to the Kwita Izina ceremonies and in Rwanda at large
The naming of newborn gorillas’ ceremony is a special honor to all guests and those chosen to name a baby gorilla, the number of newborn baby gorillas depends on the birth of gorillas which are always increasing every year. Volcano National Park is home of over 483 mountain gorillas with about 12 gorilla families which include Sabyinyo, Karisimbi, Bwenge, Amahoro, Agashya, Titus, Umubano, Susa, Kwitonda, and Hirwa gorilla Family which amazing to see.
Gorilla Permit cost in Rwanda
A gorilla permit is a national document that allows you to spend 1 hour with a mountain gorilla in their natural habitat. One to see these rare mountain gorillas in their natural home has to obtain a gorilla permit. Rwanda gorilla permit cost $ 1500.00 per person per trek and it is done all year around meaning that you can trek gorillas from January to December.