24 baby gorillas were named in a virtual gorilla naming ceremony on 20th September 2020 in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. For the first time in fifteen years, Rwanda Development Board held a successful Virtual Kwita Izina ceremony amidst the covid19 pandemic. Rwanda closed all public gatherings in the country since March 2020 in a bid to contain and stop the further spread of the deadly corona virus. Initially, Kwita Izina has been one of Rwanda’s iconic ceremonies, which would attract thousands of travelers, celebrities and conservationists from all parts of the world. This time around, there was no physical crowd at Kinigi park headquarters. People watched and enjoyed this annual experience right from their sitting rooms. The celebration was live on Rwanda’s local television channels; radios and the youtube channel of the Rwanda Development Board. Over 500 people viewed the live video on that single day but the viewership has increased to over 1000 after one week. A few people including the park wardens, rangers, porters, trackers and gorilla doctors reported were present at the park headquarters.

Since the initiation of the Kwita Izina ceremony in 2005, over 300 mountain gorillas have been named at Kinigi head qauters of Volcanoes National Park. Different celebrities have often been invited to name individual baby gorillas. The name of the baby gorilla are in Kinyarwanda with a special meaning referring to what happened in the past, the current situation or future prediction.

Arsenal players name gorillas in a virtual ceremony
Despite it being virtual, some celebrities including players in arsenal football club named the bay gorillas. Among the arsenal players who named baby gorillas are Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, Bernd Leno and Hector Bellerin. Aubameyang, the striker named the bay gorilla Igitego (translated at a goal) from Mafunzo family. This was attributed to the conservation success story that Rwanda has achieved over time since the start of gorilla tourism in the country.

More so, defender Bellerin named the baby gorilla Iriza (First Born). Iriza baby girl is from Kwitonda gorilla family. Bernd, the goalkeeper of Arsenal football club named the bay gorilla Myugariro (Defender). Myugariro is born from Amahoro gorilla family. All players expressed their love for the gorillas and how they cannot wait to visit them in Volcanoes National Park.

Other people who took part in 2020 gorilla naming
Besides arsenal players, the other people who participated in the gorilla naming ceremony include Fidele Nizeyimana named the bay gorilla Amabwiriza born from Muhoza family . Amabwiriza translates as guidelines and Fidele is a tracker at Volcanoes National Park. Another bay gorilla was named Kororoka meaning Prolific attributed to its mother Ubufatanye who has given birth three times despite her young age. Kororoka from the Musilikale family was named by Honorine Uwiragyiye also a tracker in Volcanoes National Park. Umusanzu baby gorilla from the Igisha family was named by Maria Louise Mbabazi. Umusanzu translates as contribution in recognition of great roles of tourism in Rwanda such as the creation of employment opportunities and generating the country’s foreign exchange earnings hence increasing Gross Domestic Product. Another baby gorilla was named Umuganga meaning gorilla doctor. Umgang born to the Agashya gorilla family was named by Antoine Mudakikwa a retired veterinarian. The baby gorilla was named in honor of retiring veterinary doctors who have dedicated themselves to saving the lives of endangered gorillas

Rwanda’s partnership with Arsenal Football club
In 2018, Rwanda Development Board signed a 3 three partnership with the Arsenal football club. The deal was to promote Rwanda tourism to the outside world through the popular Arsenal. The “Visit Rwanda “ logo features on the sleeves of arsenal players and it’s a great marketing strategy for the Rwanda Tourism Board. Coming to two years of partnership, thousands of Arsenal football fans have to won about gorilla tourism in Rwanda and many have so far visited Rwanda to enjoy an encounter with the endangered gorillas.

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda
Gorilla tours to Volcanoes National Park are the leading tourist activity in the land of a thousand hills. The experience attracts over 80% of the total travelers who visit this small country. Rwanda is one of the three destinations where endangered gorillas live. The park is home to 10 habituated gorilla families, which guarantee 80 gorilla permits available every day. Despite the high cost of trekking gorillas in Rwanda at $1500, travelers have continued to visit Rwanda gorillas. Also, Volcanoes National Park is located roughly 2 hours from Kigali International Airport, which makes it the closest gorilla safari destination in Africa. Mots time travelers especially those doing a 1 Day gorilla trek find it suitable to trek gorillas in Rwanda compared to Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Conclusively, the one of its kind virtual gorilla naming in Rwanda was a success. We congratulate Rwanda Development Board upon this success.

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Uganda is one of the best tourist destinations in Africa and this is due to her amazing attractions including her rich wildlife diversity which is composed of a number of amazing species including those that are endemic and critically endangered.

Uganda exclusively hosts some of the world’s rarest species including birds, primates and mammals which have made Uganda safaris popular by attracting thousands of travelers from all over the world. The Pearl of Africa has got about 400 mammal species and over 1000 species of birds but lets point out the most outstanding out of this variety as far as attracting tourists is concerned.

Mountain gorillas

Uganda is one of the only 3 countries in the world with mountain gorillas, the other 2 being Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Until recently in 2018, mountain gorillas were regarded as critically endangered but thanks to the intensive conservation efforts from wildlife authorities that have led to the steady increase in their population over the past few decades. This increase prompted the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to remove mountain gorillas from the list of critically endangered species and recategorized them as endangered. Of the 3 countries, Uganda has the highest number of mountain gorillas estimated to be around 500 individuals out of the global population of 1,063 animals. Most of Uganda’s mountain gorillas live in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which has about 15 families of these endangered species and one family lives in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park which is Uganda’s second home of mountain gorillas. The unique character of mountain gorillas including their human-like behavior which is due to the fact that they share about 98% of the human DNA is one of the major reasons that make these gentle great apes very attractive to travelers. The conservation regulations limit travelers to spend only hour in the presence of gorillas but this time is described as ‘magical’ due to the breathtaking experience of the meeting these large primates face-to-face.

Chimpanzees

Uganda’s biggest home of chimpanzees, Kibale Forest National Park is referred to as the primates’ capital of the world due to a huge number of primate species in the park especially the chimpanzees. Uganda has an estimated number of over 5000 chimpanzees which live in several parks across the country. This is the main reason why Uganda still remains one of the best destinations on the continent for primates tracking. In addition to Kibale Forest National Park, Chimps in Uganda can also be found in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park and at Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary at Ngamba Island on Lake Victoria near Entebbe International Airport where they live in captivity. Like gorillas, chimpanzees also share about 98% of the human DNA and they are known as our closest relatives in the wild. The huge presence of chimps in large numbers which makes them readily available to be seen by tourists at any time they visit the parks is one of the major reasons that makes these breathtaking primates very attractive to travelers.

The “big five”

Uganda is one of the few countries on the continent with the famous Africa’s “big five” within her savannah parks. This exciting list of big game species which includes lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhinoceros makes Uganda one of the favorite destinations for big game lovers. Apart from the rhinoceros which are separately visited at Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary at Nakasongola along the Kampala-Gulu highway, the other 4 species can be seen in all the 3 Uganda’s biggest savannah parks which include Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kidepo Valley National Park. Most of these big game species especially buffaloes and elephants are readily seen in very large populations in these parks which is a big motivating factor for the visitors.

Tree-climbing lions

Uganda’s tree-climbing lions are found in Queen Elizabeth National Park in the famous Ishasha sector located in the southern part of the park. These breathtaking animals are commonly seen during afternoon game drives as they hang up in branches of the transparent acacia trees trying to spot their prey graze in the surrounding area. The tree-climbing lions became one of the travelers’ favorites who are always excited with the big opportunity to take great shots of these readily posing animals.

Rothschild giraffe

The world’s remaining population of the Rothschild giraffe is found only in Uganda and Kenya. In Uganda, these highly endangered animals can be seen in Murchison Falls National Park and Kidepo Valley National Park. in 2016 the population of the Rothschild giraffe was estimated to be about 1,669 individuals in the wild.

Small game variety

There is a variety of small game species that are commonly seen within Uganda’s national parks and these include antelopes like greater Kudu, Jackson’s hartebeest, waterbuck, the semi-aquatic sitatunga, Grant’s gazelle, the Uganda Kob, Oribi and Topi. Others include warthog, zebra, giraffe, hyena, edible rat, among others.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwest Uganda is home to more than half of the global population of mountain gorillas. The park protects several gorilla groups that have been habituated which means that they have been made used to the presence of humans. Subsequently, hundreds of travelers from across the globe visit Bwindi throughout the year to trek these endangered primates through the famous gorilla safaris.

Bwindi has got over 15 habituated gorilla families within its forests and because of this, there is almost 100% chance for every group of trekkers to meet their assigned gorilla group and interact with these gentle giants who also share about 98% of the human DNA.

Today let’s explore some key facts about some of the gorilla families living in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park including their the group name, how they were named and some history of the groups.

1 Nkuringo group

The group was named after a small round hill called Nkuringo. The name is in Rufumbira language from the Bafumbira tribe who live near the park. “Nkuringo” literally means a round top of a mountain.

2 Mishaya group

This group separated from another gorilla group known as Nshongi and it was named after the leading silverback Mishaya who led the group after its breakaway. The silverback had long jaws which locally known as “Emishaya” hence from where he got his name.

3 Christmas group

The group separated from Nkuringo group and got its name from leading silverback Christmas. He was born 25 December 1999 in Nyamabuye village hence the name Christmas.

4 Bitukura group

Bitukura group got its name from the stream down Ruhija, one of the four gorilla trekking sectors in Bwindi. The stream is called Biizibitukura which means red water. The stream has red water which would change the color of posho when used for cooking by rangers on overnight patrols. This is where the group was first located hence being named after this stream.

5 Oruzoogo group

Oruzoogo group got its name from the area where it was first located by the first day of habituation. The place is called Mukazoogo and the word Ekizoogo is one of the shrubs that dominate the area.

6 Muyambi group

The group separated from one of the gorilla groups in Ruhija. The name Muyambi means helper. The group came when it was most needed to reduce the congestion in gorilla permits bookings. This group solved the problem of overbooking since there were few groups hence the name Muyambi.

These and more are some of the habituated gorilla groups in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park that are visited by travelers on a daily basis for the incredible gorilla trekking experience. Gorilla trekking has been described as one of the best wildlife experiences in the world by some of the past trekkers who have come face to face with these breathtaking great apes.

Currently, there are about 1,063 mountain gorillas in the wild with the other population living in the 3 protected parks of the Virunga Massif which straddle the borders of 3 neighboring countries. These include Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Virunga National Park in DR Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda.

Unlike majority of other gorilla subspecies, mountain gorillas have been increasing in number steadily since 1960s when American primatologist Dian Fossey kicked off their conservation work in the Montane forests of Rwanda. Her great conservation efforts to protect gorillas have carried on even after her death in 1985 thanks to stakeholders like governments and conservation organizations like the Dian Fossey Fund in Rwanda and DR Congo.

The enhanced conservation efforts have seen gorillas rise to become a major component in the tourism sectors of the 3 countries with gorilla trekking becoming the biggest contributor of tourism revenue in all the 3 countries.

However, despite the big step forward taken in protecting gorillas, they still face life-threatening challenges which keep undermining their welfare in their natural habitats. These include poaching where gorillas are killed for meat and trophies while some get caught and injured by snares laid by poachers to catch small animals like antelopes. Others include habitat loss to human activities like encroachment, farming, land degradation, and forest destruction.

Governments through wildlife agencies and conservation organizations are trying to protect gorillas to ensure that they keep thriving in their natural habitat through programs like patrols and sensitization the above challenges are yet to be eliminated completely.

Africa Adventure Safaris is your trusted gorilla safari guide to visit gorilla families in Uganda

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In a bid to combat the diverse effects of Covid-19 on the economy and to continue promoting tourism, Rwanda has already announced reopening of her airport for foreign tourists starting with charter flights while general passenger planes will be allowed in from 1 August.

However, there are several guidelines that have been put in place to be followed by foreign tourists coming for safaris in Rwanda in order to control the spread of Covid-19. The measures include steps that foreign tourists have to go through before departing, at arrival, during and after their Rwanda safaris.

Here are the answers to the frequently asked questions about Rwanda’s Covid-19 guidelines for foreign tourists

What should I do before traveling to Rwanda

Before traveling to Rwanda, travelers need to have negative Covid-19 test results, use e-payment and while at the airport, they are encouraged to wear face masks, maintain social distance, hand sanitizing. Visitors are also required to use only authorized transportation from the airport to their designated hotel. They are also required to fill a Public Health Passenger Locator Form from the Rwanda’s Ministry of Health before arriving in Rwanda.

How long prior to arrival should the Covid-19 test be taken?

All visitors arriving at Kigali International Airport including transit passengers are required to present a negative Covid-19 PCR test result from a certified laboratory and this test should be taken 72 hours before departure from their home countries.

Do I need to take a second test on arrival in Rwanda, if yes, how much does it cost and how long will I have to wait for the results?

Visitors will take a second PCR test once they arrive at their designated hotels. This test costs $50 plus $10 medical service fee. Visitors who come for tourism purposes will wait for 8 hours for the results while the rest of the visitors will wait for 24 hours. Visitors will be in isolation while waiting for the results at their designated hotels.

Which Covid-19 test is required by health authorities in Rwanda?

The Covid-19 test required by the Ministry of Health in Rwanda in order to visit the country is known as a Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (TR-PCR) Covid-19 test.

How will I reach my designated hotel in Rwanda?

Visitors will be taken to their pre-booked designated hotel by authorized transport upon arrival in Rwanda. For tourists, the tour operators for their safari will be in charge of their transportation. The rest of the visitors will either be transported by their designated hotels or by authorized taxis.

Is it possible to book a hotel of my choice for the 24-hour waiting time?

Visitors can choose to book from one of the 17 designated hotels to stay as they wait for their Covid-19 test results. The listed hotel rate is on full board basis, excluding alcohol while additional orders are paid for by the guest.

What should I expect at the designated hotel?

Guests will be tested for Covid-19 upon arrival at the designated hotel. After the test, they will wait for the results which will be sent directly to the guest via SMS or email by the Rwanda Biometrical Center. If the test result is result is negative, the guest will be invited to check out. If the guest tests positive for Covid-19, they will be taken to a medical facility for specialized care or evacuated in line with medical evacuation protocols.

Are there any contacts to refer to for Covid-19 related health issues?

For any Covid-19 related health issues, you can contact Rwanda Biometrical Center via he toll-free number 114 or the medical team on duty at Kigali International Airport on +250 781 415 724, available 24/7. Those with medical, logistical, and administrative issues at designated hotels can contact the site manager at the hotel.

Is there need to take another Covid-19 test before I depart from Rwanda after spending less than 72 hours in the country?

The Rwanda Biometrical Center staff will conduct an assessment and authorize departure accordingly for those spending less than 72 hours in Rwanda.

In case of a long itinerary which may include visiting 3 national parks and other places with some visits falling after 48 hours of test results, will I have to test again before visiting a national park?

Tourists will not have to test again before visiting a national park, however, tourists with primate related activities are advised to schedule them at the beginning of their itinerary. Visitors will take a final Covid-19 test before departing Rwanda.

If I test positive for Covid-19 in Rwanda, who covers my treatment costs and can I be evacuated to my country?

After testing positive for Covid-19 in Rwanda, visitors can either be evacuated in line with medical evacuation protocols or seek treatment at a designated treatment center in Rwanda at their own cost.

Can I be visited by friends while waiting for my Covid-19 test results at a designated hotel?

Guests waiting for their results will not be allowed to receive visitors since they will be in isolation at their designated hotels. While they are free to use electronic devices at the hotel, they must respect the privacy of other guests at all times.

Is it okay to book one hotel room in Rwanda for the 24-hour waiting period if we are coming as a family?

Yes. A family travelling together can book can book one hotel room suitable to accommodate them.

In case my Covid-19 test results are delayed, who pays for the additional waiting time and what happens to my tour booking?

The site manager at a designated hotel will advise on the results within the allotted time. The Rwanda Development Board reservations team can facilitate the rescheduling of booked permits in case of any Covid-19 related issues in line with the revised booking policy

It is very sad news for the tourism community especially the lovers of gorilla safaris after Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) reported that silverback Rafiki, the leader of the famous Nkuringo group in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was killed by poachers.

According to UWA, Rafiki was reported missing on 1 June before the team from the authority found his body the following day in Hakato area inside the park.

A press release from UWA indicates that investigations carried out by the Police reveal that Rafiki was stabbed by a sharp object penetrated its left upper part of the abdomen up the internal organs.

Given that evidence, the police launched an operation in order to find those who may be responsible for Rafiki’s death. Subsequently, four poachers were arrested including Felix Byamukama, Valence Museveni, Yonas Mubangisi, and Bampabenda Everest.

The police arrested Byamukama, one of the poachers from his residence in Kisoro district after finding him in possession of bush pig meat and several hunting devices including a spear, rope snares and a dog hunting bell.

Byamukama confessed that he killed the gorilla in self-defense. He says they had gone hunting with Bampabenda where they came into contact with the gorilla group. When the silverback charged at them, he speared it, according to the press release from UWA.

According to UWA, the possible charges the suspects could face include being in possession of wildlife specimens, illegal entry into a protected area and killing an endangered species. If found guilty, the suspects could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment or paying a fine of $5.4m according to the new Wildlife Act.

Effect of Covid-19 lockdown

It had been about 9 years since the last time a gorilla was killed by a spear according to the International Gorilla Conservation Programme. The recent increase in poaching in gorilla parks has been attributed to the fall in tourism due to the coronavirus pandemic that forced the closure of all national parks. Gorilla safaris were a source of income to some of the residence living around gorilla parks through providing several services like porters, local guides, entertainment and selling local items to tourists. The limited checkups on gorillas by rangers due to fear of spreading the virus to the apes has also left the animals exposed to poachers.

Who was silverback Rafiki?

Rafiki was the leading silverback of the famous Nkuringo gorilla family which has been popular so popular with tourists for decades. The group was also the first to be habituated in Uganda in 1997. He was leading a family of 17 members including 1 silverback, 3 blackbacks, 8 females, 2 juveniles and 3 infants.

About Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a montane forest park sprawling over 80,000 acres in southwest Uganda on the edge of the Rift Valley. The park is a home to a stunning array of wildlife including mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, baboons, elephants, and antelopes. It was created in 1991 and three years later in 1994, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Since its establishment, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has become a critical refugee for the endangered mountain gorillas, which were on the brink of extinction a few decades ago.

According to the most recent gorilla census in 2018, there are about 1,063 mountain gorillas remained in the wild and about 459 of them live in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The remaining population of mountain gorillas live in the Virunga Mountain range of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda.

Other threats to mountain gorillas

Although direct poaching targeting mountain gorillas is rare, poaching in general in gorilla habitats exposes these great apes to threats like snares used to trap antelopes, attacks from hunting dogs, and injuries from spears. Mountain gorillas are also threatened habitat loss due to human encroachment and forest degradation as well as political instability in civil conflict areas like eastern DR Congo. Human diseases like flu, pneumonia, and Ebola are also a great threat to the lives of mountain gorillas.

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