Kwita Izina (Gorilla Naming) in Rwanda
Kwita Izina is one of the festivals in Rwanda that involves gorilla naming ceremonies in Volcanoes National Park. The festival is carried out every year and it started in 2005. In this ceremony, baby gorillas are given names for easy identification. Mountain gorillas are one of the endangered species living within the Volcanoes National Park in the Virunga region. This park is located in western Rwanda and is one of the best safari destinations in Rwanda.
Gorillas are one of the large and powerful primates that travelers on their Rwanda safaris can see during a safari. Gorilla conservation efforts started in this region at the Karisoke Research Center within the Volcanoes National Park. The works of conservation were led by Dian Fossey an American primatologist. While in this park, you will hike to the Dian Fossey grave with other graves of the conservationists including some gorillas.
The event is annual – You can participate now
Since 2005, over 370 babies have been named during this annual festival. At the Kwita Izina festival, there is also the showcasing of cultural performances from the local members of the communities. More so, the Kwita Izina festival is based on conservation and sustainable tourism which has been promoted by the Rwanda Development Board since 2005.
The naming of the gorillas is based on the traits and characters of the baby gorillas. In this activity, travelers will engage in conferences, workshops, and gorilla trekking during this period. In this festival, different celebrities, travelers, heads of state, and many others participate. Kwita Izina is a Rwandese word meaning “naming” in the Kinyarwanda language. Rwanda has generated over 3 billion dollars from this festival which has been used for the country’s development. Each year, the country invites prominent persons to participate in the activity which year. Sustainable and responsible tourism practices that Rwanda engages in, do not only focus on the gorillas but also other wildlife in the country.
Which prominent persons have participated in the Kwita Izina festival before?
Kwita Izina festival has attracted prominent people across the globe who come and participate in the festival and some of these include;
In 2016, the naturalist Sir David Attenborough created several documents about the gorilla trekking in Rwanda. He engaged in the naming of the gorillas where he chose Inshungu meaning ‘‘blessing’’. More so, in 2017, Doctor Stoinski was among the guest participants. He also chose Macibiri meaning “a woman who lives alone in the mountains’’. Furthermore, in 2018, a former player of Arsenal and sports analyst Laureano Bisan Etam Mayer. He also named the gorilla Ikipe meaning the “team”. Now over 397 mountain gorillas have been named and all are available within the Volcanoes National Park for tracking.
What are the activities that travelers engage in during the Kwita Izina festival?
While in the Kwita Izina festival, there are several activities in which travelers can engage and these include;
Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Gorilla trekking is one of the key activities that travelers and participants engage in during the festival. The gorilla trekking is carried out within the forest of the Volcanoes National Park. Tracked gorilla families are usually habituated for them to be familiar with human interference. It starts with the briefing at the park headquarters. During the briefing, travelers are highlighted about the do’s and don’ts of the gorilla trekking. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda lasts about 2 to 7 hours of the day upon which you will meet the gorillas. Travelers going to do the gorilla trekking are required to book in time to ensure availability during the festival since there is high competition and demand.
Golden monkey trekking
Golden monkey trekking is another activity in which travelers encounter small primates within the Volcanoes National Park. These primates live in the bamboo forested areas of the park. This activity lasts for 2 to 4 hours of the day within the Volcanoes National Park.
Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park
Chimp trekking is another encounter with the large primate called the chimpanzee. Chimpanzee in Rwanda lives in the forested areas of the Nyungwe Forest National Park. This activity takes travelers to find these primates and the activity lasts about 2 to 6 hours of the day travelers will have one hour to view these primates.
Game drives in Akagera National Park
Game drives or game viewing is one of the activities carried out in the Savannah park and Rwanda has only one savannah park Akagera National Park. A game drive is done in the morning, afternoon, evening, and night game drives. In the game drive in the Akagera National Park, the wildlife includes the big five animals like lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, and rhinos. The other wildlife includes hippos, giraffes, zebras, warthogs, and many others.
Boat cruise excursions
Boat cruise safaris are done on the different water bodies of Rwanda like Lake Ihema within the Akagera National Park and Lake Kivu. During the boat cruise, travelers will see different wildlife like hippos, bird species, and many others.
How much is a gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda?
In Rwanda, there are over 96 gorilla permits available for travelers to purchase during the time they want to see the mountain take. Travelers are advised to book in time to ensure the availability of the trekking space. Travelers during the booking of the gorilla trekking permits are advised to offer a copy of the document to identify the traveler. Gorilla permits cost about 1500 dollars for foreign nonresidents, 500 dollars for foreign residents, and 200 dollars for Rwandese and East African residents.
Where can I stay in Rwanda for the Kwita Izina Festival?
If you plan to attend the forthcoming Kwita Izina or gorilla naming festival in Rwanda, accommodation should be less of a worry. Rwanda has well-built accommodation facilities. From safari lodges in the parks to hotels in Kigali City, Rwanda remains a home away from home. All you need to do is book your lodge or hotel in advance to avoid last-minute disappointments. Lodges and hotels in Rwanda have nice rooms that fit every traveler’s budget. They also have additional amenities like internet connectivity during your stay. These accommodation facilities are categorized in budget, mid-range, and luxury. Here is a list of lodges in Rwanda.
