GORILLA NAMING CEREMONIES

Gorilla Naming Ceremony or “Kwita Izina Ceremony” in the local language, is the annual events aimed at giving names to new born baby gorillas as well as endorsing the preservation of Mountain Gorillas ecosystem, and boost eco-tourism as well.  The event is traced back in Rwandan culture and tradition whereby relatives and family members were invited to give a name to a new born, and after celebrating for the new born, each invited person should be responsible for caring and protecting the new born as a new family member.

Gorilla Naming Ceremonies was introduced by Rwanda Development board (RDB) in 2005 as part of a larger effort to monitor gorillas and raise awareness about the various factors that threaten these rare mountain creatures and their habitat. So far 354 baby gorillas have been monitored and named since the start of the naming ceremony in 2005.

Gorilla Naming Ceremonies often takes place in Kinigi, Northwest of Rwanda on the feet of Volcanoes National Park headquarters, apart from naming activity, they are other ceremonies activities participants have to enjoy which include; Rwandese traditional songs and dances, traditional food and drinks tasting, gorilla trekking, mountain hiking, golden monkey trekking, cycling and community tours among other activities done in the park.

Gorilla Naming Ceremonies 2023 is coming soon; 19 baby gorillas which have been born and one new formed family this year are getting names on September 1st, 2023. It will be a huge party as the Rwanda Development Board will be celebrating various achievements of conservation, especially the increase in mountain gorilla population in Volcanoes National park. The bamboo forest park boasts over 350 mountain gorillas, which make it a premier destination for gorilla trekking in the Virunga Conservation Area.

Gorilla naming ceremonies are open for all, but if you want to join this coming event, the best and easiest way is to contact the Unique Rwanda vacation experts team to arrange everything for you. Unique Rwanda Vacation Experts, is your professional travel partner with robust experience in planning and efficiently executing gorilla trekking safaris and wildlife tours to Rwanda, but also organizes adventurous safari tours to Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, DRC and Burundi.