Kwita Izina is a gorilla naming ceremony that takes place in Kinigi, Rwanda, at the Volcanoes National Park headquarters, where mountain gorillas can be trekked. The ceremony celebrates and names baby mountain gorillas while also raising awareness about the importance of protecting them.
The ceremony is named after the traditional naming of newborn babies in Rwanda, with the aim of monitoring newborns and protecting them in their natural environment. Applied to gorillas, the ceremony has contributed to conservation efforts both locally and internationally.
How Baby Gorillas Are Named
Baby mountain gorillas are named after ongoing observation and monitoring of each gorilla within its family in their natural habitat. Since the ceremony was established, over 200 mountain gorillas have been named. It began years ago when trekkers, guides, researchers, and veterinarians gathered annually to celebrate and name baby gorillas born that year, with the event formally introduced in 2005.
Those chosen to name the baby gorillas are carefully selected, and gorillas are typically named according to their social behaviors or the environment in which they were born. Namers have included local and international conservationists, diplomats, and philanthropists. In 2018, 23 mountain gorillas were named under the theme “Conservation is Conservation,” marking the thirteenth edition of the ceremony.
Other Activities at the Kwita Izina
Various local traditional dancing groups are invited to perform at the Kwita Izina gorilla naming ceremony, giving visitors a chance to enjoy Rwandan traditional dances. There’s also a section where you can learn basket weaving and try making Rwandan local food.
Many local people benefit from the event by bringing handmade crafts and other goods for sale, giving visitors a chance to pick up souvenirs to take home for remembrance or as gifts for loved ones.
Combining Kwita Izina With Gorilla Trekking
Gorilla trekking is the most common tourist activity in Rwanda, and you can trek mountain gorillas either before or after the ceremony. Gorilla trekking offers a rewarding chance to get close to these relatives of humans, with an hour given for observation. Permits in Rwanda cost $1,500 and should be booked in advance before arriving in the country. Many visitors combine this with our Rwanda tours to build a full itinerary around the ceremony.
Volcano Climbing Near Kwita Izina
Rwanda is home to five of the eight Virunga volcanoes, which straddle Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo. Climbing to the top of the mountain gorilla habitat is well worth doing when visiting Volcanoes National Park. The mountain slopes are home not only to mountain gorillas but also to other primates and a wide range of birds, along with wide views of the land of a thousand hills from the peaks.
