Kwita Izina 2022: Gorilla Naming Ceremony in Rwanda
Prepare to witness one of the most significant celebrations of nature in the world and meet Rwanda’s brand-new baby gorillas! The 18th edition of Kwita Izina is here!
In a ceremony called Kwita Izina, Rwandans name the newly born baby gorillas in front of everyone attending the ceremony in accordance with a long-standing custom.
The 18th anniversary of Kwita Izina is scheduled for September 2 this year.
In the ceremony at the Volcanoes National Park‘s foothills, young gorillas born in Kinigi, Musanze, will receive their names.
We surely give these magnificent animals the value they merit by giving them names.
The ceremony is an occasion to honor the local community that surrounds Volcanoes National Park, the habitat of these young gorillas, collaborators in research, veterinarians, and the committed rangers and trackers who look out for the gorillas.
A total of 354 newborn gorillas have been named since the yearly flagship tourism event first began in 2005.
Over Rwf 7.9 billion has been spent on supporting 880 community-based projects in the initiative under the tourism income sharing program, according to the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), ahead of the 18th edition of Kwita Izina.
The government ensures that 10% of all park income is handed back to the communities as part of a strategy to encourage investment in the areas surrounding the nation’s national parks. The income sharing has climbed from 5% to 10% since the program’s start in 2005.
The start of this year’s events sees a contemporary craft market erected with money from tourism unveiled in the rural Cyarubare Cell, which is part of the Kabare sector of Kayonza District, in Eastern Province, on the outskirts of Akagera National Park.
Be aware that a number of programs, such as the tourism income sharing scheme, have been implemented to improve the quality of life for park residents.
According to RDB figures, the tourism industry made $168 million in income in the first half of this year.
With Rwanda having welcomed more than 512,000 foreign visitors in the previous year, inbound tourism revenue has climbed by 25% from $131 million in 2020 to $164 million in 2021 despite the challenges of COVID-19.
The African Wildlife Foundation and the Rwandan government are collaborating to find a solution to the rising number of endangered mountain gorillas and to increase the size of Volcanoes National Park, a $255 million project (approx. Rwf260 billion).
To improve the park’s habitat functioning, the project will increase the park’s area by 37.4 square kilometers (or 3,740 hectares), or around 23 percent.
Kwita Izina 2023: Quick information about Mountain Gorillas.
- There are more than 1,000 members of the mountain gorilla population.
- DR Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda are where their natural habitats are.
- They typically stand 1.8 meters tall and weigh 170 kilograms.
- Because they often eat rough fibers and consume a diet of around 30 kg per day, their bite force is 1300 psi.
- The average gorilla lives 35 to 45 years.
- These lovely animals and humans have 98% of the same genetic material.
Key ideas to keep in mind:
- According to the Rwanda Development Board, gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park brought in $11 million (or roughly Rwf11 billion) in the first half of 2022. (RDB).
- During that time, 6,200 gorilla permits were sold, generating the necessary funds. Each license might cost up to $1500.
- Due to lockdowns and other restrictions brought on by the Covid-19 outbreak, the park made $6 million in 2021 and $5.9 million in 2020. Since it was $21.9 million in 2019 before the epidemic, this represents a sharp decline in revenue.
Contact us to book your ride from Kigali Airport to the Kwita Izina ceremony now.
