Tomorrow — Friday September 4 2026 — the green slopes of the Virunga volcanoes in Musanze District will host one of Africa’s most extraordinary and most moving conservation events. The 21st Kwita Izina 2026 — Rwanda’s annual mountain gorilla naming ceremony — takes place at the foothills of Volcanoes National Park in Kinigi.
At Go Safaris Africa we are based in Kigali — two and a half hours from where this extraordinary ceremony takes place tomorrow. We have followed Kwita Izina for years and we can tell you with absolute certainty: if you have never witnessed a gorilla naming ceremony you do not yet fully understand what Rwanda’s conservation story means.
This is our complete guide to Kwita Izina 2026 — everything you need to know about tomorrow’s ceremony and how to attend future editions.
Kwita Izina 2026 — The Key Facts
Twenty-two mountain gorilla infants born over the past twelve months will be named at Kinigi in Musanze District on Friday 4 September.
| Event | Kwita Izina — 21st Edition |
| Date | Friday September 4 2026 |
| Location | Kinigi Musanze District — foothills of Volcanoes National Park |
| Theme | “Conservation is Life: Sustaining the Future” |
| Baby gorillas named | 22 |
| Total gorillas named since 2005 | 460 |
| Mountain gorilla population | Approximately 1,100 across Virunga and Bwindi |
What is Kwita Izina?
Kwita Izina means “to give a name” in Kinyarwanda — Rwanda’s national language. It takes its name from an old Rwandan tradition where families hold naming ceremonies for newborn babies — a moment for welcoming the child and formally introducing them to the community.
In 2005 the Rwandan government formalised this long-standing practice into Kwita Izina modelled after the traditional centuries-old Rwandan ceremony where families name a newborn child in the presence of their community. Today Kwita Izina serves as a global celebration of conservation community-led protection and eco-tourism success.
The ceremony gives individual names to each baby gorilla born in the past year — names chosen to reflect the infant’s character birth circumstances or the hopes of the conservation community for that animal’s future. Some names come from Kinyarwanda words tied to a gorilla’s appearance or the circumstances of its birth. Others honour community members or conservation figures or simply celebrate an idea — resilience hope renewal — that fits a population still recovering against long odds.
Why Kwita Izina Matters — The Conservation Impact
Kwita Izina is not simply a charming cultural ceremony. It is one of the most effective conservation communication tools ever created — and its impact on mountain gorilla survival has been profound.
The numbers tell the story:
Since becoming an official annual event in 2005 Kwita Izina has named 438 baby gorillas. Today close to 1,100 mountain gorillas live in the wild across the Virunga Massif shared by Rwanda Uganda and DR Congo.
When Dian Fossey began her research at Karisoke in 1967 the mountain gorilla population had declined to approximately 254 individuals. Today — thanks to the conservation framework that Kwita Izina both celebrates and funds — mountain gorillas are the only great ape subspecies whose population is increasing.
At $1,500 a permit and 96 permits a day the arithmetic of habituated gorilla groups is the reason the species survived. Kwita Izina brings global attention to that model every year — attracting the international media coverage conservation donors and political attention that keeps the funding flowing and the pressure on poaching maintained.
Kwita Izina has become a major conservation and tourism event highlighting Rwanda’s efforts to protect mountain gorillas while linking wildlife conservation to tourism community development and sustainable economic growth.
Kwita Izina 2026 — The 22 Baby Gorillas
This year’s ceremony names 22 mountain gorilla infants — each one a testament to the extraordinary success of Rwanda’s conservation programme.
As the mountain gorilla population in Volcanoes National Park continues to grow these infants represent the future of the subspecies.
Among the infants being named tomorrow are gorillas born to the Pablo group — one of Volcanoes National Park’s most famous and most studied gorilla families. Born on July 31 2025 in the Pablo group Isangano’s one-year-old infant is already full of energy and playfulness. Still dependent on his mother he is starting to explore and take steps away to play with other infants while his older sister Uwacu often stays close to both of them to supervise her brother’s activities. The infant is already showing quite an independent spirit.
Each of the 22 infants receives a name chosen by their namer — a person invited by the Rwanda Development Board to participate in the ceremony. Namers have included presidents conservationists celebrities researchers and community leaders — each bringing their own significance to the name they bestow on their gorilla.
Gorilla naming Ceremony — What Happens
The Kwita Izina ceremony is a full day of celebration at Kinigi — the same location where gorilla trekkers receive their morning briefing before heading into Volcanoes National Park.
The ceremony includes:
The naming itself — the centrepiece of the day. Each of the 22 baby gorillas is announced in turn. Their namer steps forward and declares their chosen name — explaining the meaning and significance. The name is recorded permanently in the Rwanda Development Board’s gorilla monitoring database.
Conservation presentations — leading conservationists researchers and policymakers present on the state of mountain gorilla conservation — the population data the threats the successes and the work still to be done.
Cultural performances — traditional Rwandan music and dance celebrating the country’s cultural heritage and the community’s relationship with the gorillas and the forest.
Community recognition — the rangers trackers and community members who protect the gorillas every day are publicly celebrated. The ceremony is an opportunity to thank the communities that live around Volcanoes National Park our research partners vets and the dedicated conservationists rangers and trackers who protect the gorillas.
Partner exhibitions — conservation organisations tourism companies and community enterprises present their work in a marketplace of conservation ideas.
Rwanda’s Conservation Achievement — The Kwita Izina Context
Rwanda’s tourism sector earned a record US$685 million in 2025 up from US$647 million the previous year on 1.49 million arrivals. Gorilla trekking is the anchor product.
This extraordinary economic success is inseparable from the conservation model that Kwita Izina celebrates. The community revenue sharing programme — which channels 10% of all gorilla permit revenue to villages surrounding Volcanoes National Park — has transformed local communities from potential threats to gorilla conservation into active partners in it.
Kwita Izina is also Rwanda’s most effective piece of soft power. It draws conservationists executives and celebrities to Musanze each year and puts Rwanda in front of an audience that no advertising budget would reach.
Read our complete Rwanda conservation success story for the full narrative of how Rwanda transformed its wildlife from the edge of extinction to one of the greatest conservation success stories in history.
Kwita Izina and Gorilla Trekking — The Connection
Every gorilla trekking permit you book in Rwanda is a direct contribution to the conservation success that Kwita Izina celebrates. The $1,500 Rwanda gorilla permit funds:
- ✅ Anti-poaching ranger patrols in Volcanoes National Park
- ✅ Gorilla health monitoring by the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund
- ✅ Veterinary care by Gorilla Doctors
- ✅ Community development programmes in park-edge villages
- ✅ Research that produces the population data announced at Kwita Izina
When you trek with Go Safaris Africa you are not just experiencing one of the world’s greatest wildlife encounters. You are funding the conservation system that made Kwita Izina possible — and that is making 22 new gorilla names possible tomorrow.
👉 Book your Rwanda gorilla permit
👉 Rwanda gorilla permit complete guide
👉 Gorilla trekking Rwanda vs Uganda — which is right for you?
How to Attend Kwita Izina in Future Years
Kwita Izina is held annually — always in September at the foothills of Volcanoes National Park in Kinigi. For travellers planning to attend a future ceremony here is everything you need to know:
When: Annual — always in September. The exact date is announced several months in advance. Watch the official Rwanda Development Board website and visitrwanda.com for the 2027 announcement.
Where: Kinigi Musanze District — 120 km northwest of Kigali — 2.5 hours by road.
How to attend: The ceremony is a public event — attendance is free though some viewing areas may be ticketed. Accommodation in Musanze and near Volcanoes National Park fills completely for the Kwita Izina weekend. Book 6–12 months in advance.
Best combined with: Gorilla trekking in the days immediately before or after the ceremony. September is peak dry season — the finest gorilla trekking conditions of the year with clear skies excellent trail conditions and extraordinary photography light.
Our recommendation: Spend 5–7 days in Rwanda around Kwita Izina — attending the ceremony then trekking gorillas seeing golden monkeys visiting the Dian Fossey museum and relaxing on Lake Kivu. The full Rwanda experience timed around Africa’s greatest conservation celebration.
Dian Fossey — The Foundation of Everything
It is impossible to talk about Kwita Izina without acknowledging the woman whose work made it possible.
The practice of naming gorillas is deeply rooted in the history of mountain gorilla conservation. During Dian Fossey’s time she named the individual gorillas they monitored to track their behaviours and family lineages.
Fossey named the gorillas she studied — Digit Peanuts Uncle Bert Macho — because she understood that named individuals generate more conservation concern than anonymous animals. The Kwita Izina ceremony is built on this profound insight and carries it to a global audience every September.
Her grave in Volcanoes National Park — accessible via the Dian Fossey tomb hike — sits among the graves of the gorillas she named and loved. Tomorrow’s 22 newly named gorilla infants are the living continuation of her work.
Read our complete Dian Fossey Rwanda guide for the full extraordinary story of the woman who saved the mountain gorillas.
Book Your Rwanda Safari Around Kwita Izina 2027
If you missed this year’s ceremony — plan to attend Kwita Izina 2027. September is Rwanda’s finest gorilla trekking month and the week of the ceremony is one of the most extraordinary times to be in the Musanze region.
Go Safaris Africa is your local Kigali-based safari specialist — we are 2.5 hours from Kinigi and we plan Rwanda gorilla safaris timed around Kwita Izina every year.
- 👉 Plan your Rwanda safari for September 2027
- 👉 View Rwanda safari packages
- 👉 Book your gorilla permit
- 👉 Rwanda conservation success story
- 👉 Dian Fossey Rwanda complete guide
- 👉 7-Day Rwanda Safari — the perfect Kwita Izina itinerary
📞 Call or WhatsApp: +250 788 365 595
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kwita Izina?
Kwita Izina is Rwanda’s annual mountain gorilla naming ceremony — held every September at the foothills of Volcanoes National Park in Kinigi. It takes its name from the Kinyarwanda phrase meaning “to give a name” and is modelled on the traditional Rwandan ceremony for naming newborn babies. Each year newly born gorilla infants are publicly named in a ceremony that celebrates Rwanda’s extraordinary conservation achievements.
When is Kwita Izina 2026?
The 21st Kwita Izina ceremony takes place on Friday September 4 2026 in Kinigi Musanze District at the foothills of Volcanoes National Park.
How many gorillas are being named at Kwita Izina 2026?
22 baby mountain gorillas are being named at Kwita Izina 2026 — bringing the total number of gorillas named since the ceremony began in 2005 to 460.
What is the theme of Kwita Izina 2026?
The theme of the 21st Kwita Izina is “Conservation is Life: Sustaining the Future” — reflecting Rwanda’s commitment to making conservation central to national development and community wellbeing.
How many mountain gorillas are there in 2026?
Approximately 1,100 mountain gorillas now live in the wild across the Virunga Massif (Rwanda Uganda and DRC) and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Uganda) — a remarkable recovery from fewer than 254 individuals when Dian Fossey began her research in 1967.
Can tourists attend Kwita Izina?
Yes — Kwita Izina is a public event and international visitors are warmly welcomed. Accommodation in Musanze fills well in advance for the ceremony week — book 6–12 months ahead. Contact Go Safaris Africa to plan a Rwanda safari timed around the ceremony.
How does gorilla trekking connect to Kwita Izina?
Every $1,500 Rwanda gorilla trekking permit contributes directly to the conservation system that Kwita Izina celebrates — funding ranger patrols gorilla health monitoring community development and the research that tracks the growing gorilla population. Read our gorilla trekking cost guide for the full breakdown.
Who started the Kwita Izina ceremony?
The Rwanda Development Board formalised Kwita Izina as an annual event in 2005 — building on the gorilla naming tradition established by Dian Fossey during her research at Karisoke from 1967. Read our Dian Fossey Rwanda complete guide.
Go Safaris Africa is a Kigali-based safari operator — 2.5 hours from Volcanoes National Park where Kwita Izina takes place tomorrow.
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📞 +250 788 365 595 | 🌐 www.gosafarisafrica.com
