It's cold in the mountains: a fire crackles in the hearth at Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge in the foothills of the Virunga volcanoes, as we sip ginger tea and honey and discuss Kwita Izina, Rwanda's annual gorilla naming ceremony.
In Episode 35 of the award-winning East Africa Travel Podcast, I join thousands of people for Kwita Izina, where the latest newborn mountain gorillas are given their names. Recorded live among the traditional Intore dancers, the episode brings you drumbeats, the cheers of the crowd and entertaining moments with the VIP namers. You'll also hear from three guests with a long history in gorilla conservation and tourism in Rwanda. Together, we discuss:
Who names the gorillas? And what do the names mean?
Ian Redmond OBE first came to Rwanda to work with Dr Dian Fossey, and was part of the famous documentary of Sir David Attenborough with the gorillas. The young gorillas Ian met in 1976 have all died, mostly of old age. Why does he call that "a conservation success"?
How do children in a Rwandan family give a newborn its names, and how did Dr Dian Fossey and Rosette Rugamba embrace that tradition for naming gorillas? Emmanuel Bugingo of Partners for Conservation explains.
How do visitors help protect gorillas?
Why is Rwanda expanding Volcanoes National Park, the mountain gorilla habitat, when many national parks face pressure to give up land for development?
Interested in tracking gorillas? I explain how a trip to Rwanda can get you a free invitation to Kwita Izina, and how to contact me, Charlotte, if you'd like help planning a trip to track gorillas in Rwanda or Uganda.
What's the connection between gorillas and international footballers? Rwanda tourism specialist David Toovey explains.
Welcome to my world!
Join me as we learn how a family naming tradition became a global celebration, and meet a few of the people who named Rwanda's newest gorillas.