Did you know that the country of Rwanda has an official mountain gorilla naming ceremony called Kwita Izina? In the Kinyarwanda language, this ancient practice means “to give a name.” The practice was adopted as a means to drive global awareness for wildlife conservation and to better connect communities.
Each year at the foothills of Volcanoes National Park, official namers from the local community, national parks, conservation and scientific organizations, and government name each baby gorilla that is born. This unique identifier allows a team of professionals to better protect, track and monitor the baby gorilla’s family groups.
To date, over 400 mountain gorillas have been named since the Kwita Izina project commenced in 2005.
If you are interested in visiting Rwanda, the ceremony takes place annually every September which coincides with the best time of year to visit Kigali for warm-weather activities – mid-June to mid-September. Keep in mind however, that the weather in Volcanoes National Park is cool, wet, and misty year-round due to its high altitude with daytime temps ranging from 57°F to 66°F, dropping to 43°F to 46°F at night.
Most travelers arrive into Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. No visit to Rwanda would be complete without a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, which, through education and peace-building, honours the memory of the more than one million Rwandans killed in 1994. The three permanent exhibitions and burial gardens form part of a meaningful tribute to those who perished, and provide a powerful educational tool for visitors.
Next stop is typically Volcanoes National Park to trek with the gorillas. The drive takes approximately 2-3 hours by road. The journey covers about 65 miles and is best done in a 4×4 vehicle, especially during the rainy season due to rugged terrain. Trekking requires a permit which averages about $1500/person. Only a limited number of permits are available in each gorilla park. It is therefore essential to book well in advance.
While you are in Rwanda, if you are looking to also have a more traditional African Safari experience and see The Big 5 (lion, leopard, elephant, Cape buffalo, and rhinoceros), then plan a visit to Akagera National Park. Akagera National Park lies in north-eastern Rwanda, on the border with Tanzania. Surrounded by the cultivated hills so characteristic of Rwanda, it is the largest protected wetland in Africa — and one of the country’s most remarkable eco-systems.
Murakaza neza (Welcome to Rwanda)!
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