Arsenal Players name Baby Gorillas in Rwanda

About 3 of the Arsenal players have participated in the 2020 gorilla naming ceremony also best known as the Kwita Izina, an event where newborn baby gorillas are given names/identities. The players included Captain Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, defender Hector Bellerin and goal keeper Bernd Leno.

This year’s gorilla naming was done online (virtual) compared to the previous ceremonies that were conducted in Volcanoes National Park and this has been impacted by covid-19 that has hit the world. During the virtual gorilla naming, about 24 baby mountain gorillas were given their identities.

The 3 of the Arsenal players named the baby gorillas in Kinyarwanda where Aubameyang named his as ‘Igitego’, denoting goal. This newborn was recorded on 5^th July 2019 from Mafunzo gorilla group. Hector Bellerin named his ‘Iriza’ denoting the first born. This baby gorilla was birthed on 11 October 2019 in Kwitonda gorilla group and Bend Leno named ‘Myugariro’ denoting defender and this was birthed by Kubaha in Amahoro gorilla group.

The total number of baby gorillas named were 24 and 2020 ceremony marked the 16^th Kwita Izina. Other participants who have ever engaged in the Kwita Izina ceremony included Tony Adams, Lauren, Alex Scott, Natalie Portman, Naomi Campbell, Sir David Attenborough and others.

Arsenal and visit Rwanda partnership

The involvement of the 3 of the Arsenal players during 2020 Kwita Izina was part of visit Rwanda partnership with Arsenal. This began about 2 year back and it is intended to promote Rwanda’s tourism sector with mountain gorilla trekking being the main priority since it is the iconic attraction and activity offered in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.

This year’s Kwita Izina event was conducted on the same day when World Gorilla Day was celebrated. It should be noted that tourism activities in 2020 have been greatly impacted by outbreak of covid-19 pandemic.

Where mountain gorillas are found

Rwanda is one of the 3 African states where mountain gorillas live and these can be tracked in the country’s Volcanoes National Park in the Northwest. The other 2 states include Uganda with 2 gorilla safari parks; Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is third gorilla destination where mountain gorillas exist and they can be trekked in the country’s Virunga National Park. Presently, fewer than 1063 mountain gorillas still live in the world.

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is only carried in Volcanoes National Park, Ruhengeri region in the Northwestern side of the country. You will be required to have a valid gorilla permit, each costing $1500 per visitor however, rates have been lowered due to covid-19 to $500 for foreign residents and this applies until December 2020.

Aside from Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda also comprises of other 3 beautiful parks; Nyungwe Forest National Park (popular for chimpanzee tracking, canopy walk, birding and other interesting activities), Gishwati-Mukura National Park (newly founded park in Rwanda) and Akagera National Park the only big game park in Rwanda.