Rwanda Gorilla naming Ceremony Kwita Izina

Rwanda Gorilla naming Ceremony

Rwanda Gorilla naming Ceremony Kwita Izina 2025

What transpired at the Rwanda gorilla naming ceremony – Gorilla naming, Gorilla trekking – Rwanda – Kwita Izina

Kwita Izina 2022. Kwita Izina is a gorilla naming ceremony held in Rwanda once every year, hosted in Kinigi, Musanze District, in the Northern Province of Rwanda. The ceremony has been held in its current incarnation since 2005, derived from the centuries-old Rwandan tradition of naming one’s children in the presence of family and friends.

For each ceremony held every year, a line of prominent individuals from across the world are given invitations to give names to newborn baby gorillas at every year’s Kwita Izina ceremony. For this year, the gorilla naming ceremony took place on 2nd of September 2022. The list of prominent people invited for the gorilla naming ceremony was topped by Prince Charles, Duke of Wales. Other prominent people on the list included Didier Drogba, former Chelsea striker, Louise Mushikiwabo, the Secretary General of the Organization Internationale de la Francophonie, Kaddu Sebunya, CEO of the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), Kenyan music band Sauti Sol, Gilberto Silva, former Arsenal midfielder, and Salma Rhadia Mukansanga, Rwandan International Football Referee, among many other prominent individuals.

The ceremony is inspired by and modelled on an old tradition from many centuries ago in which Rwandans gave their newborn children names in a celebration graced by friends and family. The population of the remaining mountain gorillas in the world is only slightly above 1000. Therefore, the birth of any new baby gorilla comes with lots of excitement as it promises a better future for the conservation of these gentle giants. Over the last 17 years, 354 mountain gorillas have been given names in this Rwanda gorilla naming ceremony called Kwita Izina.Kwita Izina 2025

The event is first intended to add a higher value to these mountain gorillas in the eyes of Humans by giving these gentle giants names that the general public can relate to to further gorilla conservation initiatives. Second, the event is also an opportunity to thank the communities that live around Volcanoes National Park, research partners, veterinarians, conservationists, rangers, trackers, and the general public who, with great effort, protect these mountain gorillas.

Mountain gorillas remain a critically endangered species, and despite efforts to protect them, they are still hunted down for their meat or just to be turned into trophies. The Africa Wildlife Foundation (AWF) estimates that only about 1,000 of these great apes remain in the wild globally.

Mountain gorillas are one of two subspecies of the eastern gorilla and one of the world’s largest living primates. They have muscular arms, a massive chest, and broad hands and feet, and they have longer hair and shorter arms than their lowland cousins.

In the whole of Africa, these gentle giants can only be trekked in Uganda, Rwanda, and the democratic republic of Congo.

Many conservation efforts have been started in recent years, intended at protecting the mountain gorillas and as well increase their number. Rwanda intends to play a pivotal role in creating a very safe space for mountain gorillas, and that’s the spirit from which the gorilla nnamingceremony K,wita Izina, comes.

Contact us with any inquiries about attending the next gorilla naming ceremony or trekking mountain gorillas in Rwanda.

Cost of a 10 days best of Uganda Safari to Uganda

Cost of a 10 days Safari to Uganda

Cost of a 10-day Safari to Uganda

Uganda Budget Safaris – Luxury Safaris through Uganda

10 days Uganda Safari cost. Taking a Safari through Uganda is one of the best decisions anyone interested in experiencing the country should take. It allows one to have a true African experience from a single destination, Uganda. The Safari involves trekking the Mountain Gorillas in either Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Gorilla trekking is a must-do and one of the most exciting activities while on a safari through Uganda. It involves a hike and trekking through the thick impenetrable vegetation of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park until you have the opportunity to look directly into the eyes of the mountain gorillas.

For this exciting safari activity, we encourage visitors to carry their cameras and at times be on standby to take lifetime moments with the mountain gorillas with the Guidance of the game rangers.

What is the cost of a 10-day trip to Uganda?

A 110-day safari through Uganda can cost anything between 5500 dollars to 3200 dollars per person. This is, however, dependent on several factors. Cost of a 10 days Safari to Uganda

The price of safari packages through Uganda differs depending on several factors that significantly impact the overall safari cost. These factors are the basis of how safaris are divided into the categories of budget, Mid-Range, and Luxury.

Private tours are often more expensive than shared ones. Some travelers might wish to think about a fly-in safari on a 10-day journey, although fly-in safaris are relatively more costly than road safaris. Visitors should also note that low-season costs can also be advantageous, and even if it may rain more during this time, the countryside is most beautiful.

Highlights of a 10-day Safari through Uganda.

Discover the famous Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks, home to more than half of the remaining population of Mountain gorillas.

Primates Trekking. Look into the eyes of a mountain gorilla, Trek the Ugandan jungles to see chimpanzees, black-and-white colobus, golden monkeys, and many other primates.

Wildlife safaris to Uganda’s Savanah National Parks, including Lake Mburo National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Murchison Falls National Park.

Rhino tracking at Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary

A visit to Murchison Falls National Park.

Private tour guide in English and other languages

Transport in a travel Van Customized for safaris.

Accommodation selected to fit your expectations.

An All-inclusive safari including lodging, entrance fees, meals, and transport

Guided walks with professional and knowledgeable guides

Unique accommodation, including safari lodges and tented camps in various parks.

Cultural encounters with some of Uganda’s unique societies

What is included in the Cost of a 10-day trip through Uganda

The Cost of your 10-day Safari Includes Gorilla permits, Chimpanzee Permits, an Experienced English-speaking guide, Park entrance fees, Cultural Encounters, Luxury lodge accommodation, Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and bottled water, and Government taxes.

Tour exclusions

Visa fees, laundry services & alcoholic drinks, International/domestic flights, and Tips to the driver guides, waiters, and porters.

Must do tourist activity on a 10-day safari through Uganda | 10 days Uganda Safari cost 

Gorilla trekking is the most popular activity for a 10-day Uganda safari. Gorilla trekking takes place in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Game. Bwindi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the best place in Uganda to track mountain gorillas. The park protects 40% of the world’s mountain gorilla population and has an incredible 350 species of birds.

Accommodation offered on a 10-day Uganda safari?

After a long day surveying the incredible landscape and Uganda wildlife, guests can look forward to the best safari accommodation Uganda offers. The accommodation here is excellent, with numerous options from tented camps and luxury lodges to camping grounds.

From camping in the bush with amenities to mid-range and luxury lodges, there’s something for everyone here. There are various accommodation options in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, including Gorilla Heights Lodge.

Most luxury lodges also offer a seating area with a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with bathrobes, slippers, and a shower. There is also a kitchen in some of the units equipped with a microwave, an oven, and a stovetop.

Chameleon Hill Lodge in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a luxury lodge built overlooking Lake Mutanda. The lodge has a beautiful compound with great views of the three volcanoes and a superb spot for those who have come for gorilla trekking, bird watching, golden monkey tracking, or canoeing on Lake Mutanda.

What is the best time to go on a 10-day safari to Uganda?

The best time to go on a 10-day gorilla trek in Uganda is during its two dry seasons: between December and February, and between June and August, when conditions are particularly good for trekking to see mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, and other wildlife animals.

Cultural experience en route your gorilla tracking safari.

Cultural experience en route your gorilla tracking safari.

Cultural experience en route your gorilla tracking safari.

Uganda supports more than 500 mountain gorillas living in Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. When one arrives in Uganda, it is about people as much as gorillas. If it weren’t humans, gorillas and other creatures wouldn’t exist in the real sense. Small as Great Britain is, Uganda has a population of thirty million or more and is split into more than 55 ethnic groupings.

Though in this article we will take you through the many ethnic groups you are likely to meet on your drive from Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable national Park or Mgahinga National Park for your gorilla tracking safari, you may not really appreciate how all these 55 ethnic groups behave.

In the center you will discover the Baganda who fervently believe in their Kabaka (King), the Banyankole and the Hima who adore their Cows, the Bakiga who are in love with sorghurm and Irish potatoes, of course the Batwa and Bafumbira.

The Baganda people of Central Uganda.

Said to be at the core of Uganda’s culture, the baganda are well-known for their reverence and monarchy they show their king, Kabaka of Buganda. One individual remarked that you cannot control the Baganda without their Kabaka; in fact, the present President restored them to maintain peace with the Baganda after Obote destroyed the kingdoms in 1966.

The amicable Baganda people like ground nuts and Matooke as well as Oluwombo, or chicken made from banana leaves. If you would like to observe this, make sure you visit Uganda at any given weekend to attend one of their introduction ceremonies; they enjoy dancing Bakisiba and Maganda where girls shake their waist as if it has no bones.

Cultural experience en route your gorilla tracking safari.

Originally farmers, their major diet is matooke. The Baganda have turned to trade to make a livelihood as urbanization has left insufficient area for banana farms. The Baganda people have kept a cultural path in Buganda wherein one may visit several locations to study their history and royalty as well as their culture. You could visit Lubiri, Mengo, Kasubi tombs, Buddo’s coronation site.

The Banyankole of Mbarara, Kiruhura, adjacent districts

People’s behavior will start changing after you have crossed the Equator and reached Lyantonde. More animals than plantations will start to show you. This suggests that, as it is often known, you have arrived in the land of honey and milk. Ankole has a mix of growers and livestock keepers. Now having a more fixed existence, the bahima who used to migrate from one area to another graze both Friesian and the well-known Ankole Long horned cattle.

They specialize on creating cow gee and other milk products and enjoy milk goods. To them, the cow is everything and they respect it more than others. Make a date to stop over at Igongo Cultural Center, where their history is well recorded, if you want more knowledge about their culture. Typical farmers, the Bairu subsist on tilling the ground and their main meal is millet; they have just begun cultivating additional crops such bananas, cassava and so much more.

The Ankole kingdom was opposed when kingdoms under the present administration came under rule as it was seen to have generated more issues in the past than fostering peace. This results in the deteriorated state of many Ankole cultural sites and lack of visibility. Although the Baganda seem the same, the Bahima and the Bairu of Ankole differ obviously. Whereas the bairu have flat nose and small features, the Bahima are distinguished by long faces and nose.

Kigezi’s Bakiga, bafumbira and Batwa from Kisoro

These cover much of Southwested Uganda in areas like Kabala, Kisoro, and Kanungu. The circumstances the Bakiga live in make them tough and powerful individuals. Unlike the Baganda, the Bakiga had a dispersed form of government and lacked a strong ruler but chiefs. Their great traditional dances are well-known, and visiting the House of Edirisa in Kabale towm helps one understand much of their culture.

Of late, they have also begun cultivating apples; they like raising sorghum and Irish potatoes. Conversely, the rufumbira language of Kisoro on the other hand is more Rwandan than Uganda, so the bafumbira there are more like those of Banyarwanda.

Mostly grown as farmers, they reside in the Boarder of Rwanda, Congo While the Batwa were left homeless after gazzatting most forests as national parks and forest reserves, their culture is now alive and can be appreciated if you take on the Batwa experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or the Garama Cave trail in Mgahinga National Park. The Batwa are a minority group who used to occupy forested areas in south western Uganda.

Combining your trip to the gorillas with cultural encounters will make it even more fulfilling. More to see than the gorillas exists here.