Kwita Izina Gorilla Naming Ceremony
An annual ceremony at Kinigi where the year's baby mountain gorillas are formally named, adapted from a human naming rite.
Updated 2 September 2026
Rwandan families name a new baby at a gathering where relatives and neighbours propose names, and since 2005 the same ceremony has been applied to the mountain gorillas born in Volcanoes National Park each year. Namers include trackers, conservationists and invited figures, and each infant gets a name with a meaning. It is held at Kinigi with an amphitheatre built for it, and it doubles as the country's main conservation event, with dance, music and the year's gorilla census reported.
What's there
- The naming - each of the year's infants given a name with a stated meaning.
- The trackers - the park staff who monitor the families, honoured at the event.
- The dance and music - performances filling the programme around the naming.
- The amphitheatre - the venue at Kinigi built for the ceremony.
When to go
The ceremony is usually held in September and the date is announced some months ahead. Accommodation in Musanze fills for it. There is nothing to see at the venue outside the event.
Things to know
It happens on one day a year and the date moves; checking well in advance is essential. Attendance requires registration and the ceremony is long. Gorilla permits are separate and are not part of the event.
Nearby
Volcanoes National Park is above Kinigi, and Musanze is southeast.
What to pack for Kwita Izina Gorilla Naming Ceremony
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