RWANDA: Mountain Gorillas Most Popular Tourist Attraction For Rwanda

Rwanda’s beloved mountain gorillas are experiencing an exciting resurgence.

Though their numbers once dwindled as a result of poaching, war, and habitat loss, Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park has witnessed the gorilla population steadily rise, mostly because of Rwanda’s conservation efforts, just as the country’s tourism industry is buoyed by the mere existence of these creatures.

Though there is a lot to see and do in Rwanda, the country’s famous mountain gorillas bring in most of the country’s tourists.

Lodges are built around the very concept of gorilla-related travel, sparking an entire tourism industry.

From the growth of hotels around the country to the dozens of new tourism companies, restaurants, and boutiques that have sprung up, gorillas have undoubtedly contributed a lot to the international recognition of Rwanda.

Rwanda now halts gorilla habitat loss and deforestation.

There are approximately 880 mountain gorillas left in the world, with about half residing in the Virunga mountain range.

This range is shared by Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda.

One of the biggest threats to mountain gorillas is the loss of habitat, and Rwanda has made every effort to maintain the size of the park and make sure the gorilla population is appropriately protected.

Possibly as a result, over 60% of the gorillas in the Virunga mountain range reside in Rwanda.

After Dian Fossey’s gorilla conservation work, skirmishes in gorilla habitats deterred the population growth of these endangered primates.

After Rwanda experienced the harrowing genocide of 1994, the country endeavored to rebuild. Alongside the revival of cities, towns, and communities, the gorilla population also started to make a comeback.

Since 1994, Rwanda has experienced peace, political stability, and fewer human threats to the mountain gorillas.

Limited tourist interactions have kept the gorillas healthy and happy.Gorillas share 98% of their DNA with humans.

As a result, gorillas have notoriously frail immune systems when it comes to interacting with humans, and Rwanda does everything it can to prevent the spreading of disease, airborne viruses, and bacteria.

Tourists are not allowed to hike to the mountain gorillas if they have flu or a cold, and upon reaching the gorillas, cannot stand closer than 30 feet (10 meters).

In fact, to keep the gorillas content, tourists are only allowed to observe the gorillas for one hour before returning down the mountain.

Gorilla doctors are also on hand in case any of the gorillas fall ill.

The permit prices directly fund sustainable community development and further gorilla conservation.

In 2017, Rwanda increased gorilla trekking permits from US$750 to US$1500.

Although this decision was met with a lot of complaints, it was done to raise more funds for conservation efforts and surrounding communities.

Previously, communities were given US$37 per gorilla-trekking tourist for schools, hospitals, clean water sources, and business development.

With the price increase, Rwanda now gives surrounding communities US$150 per tourist.

Before these institutionalized funds, these communities were some of the gorilla’s biggest threats, as impoverished families would poach gorillas, take trees and food from their habitat, or accidentally kill them while in search of other animals.

Now, with tourism dollars directly impacting these same communities, the incentive to preserve is greater, and reformed poachers are now found in a range of roles such as park rangers, gorilla trackers, porters, and conservationists.

Rwanda’s famous mountain gorilla population is one of East Africa’s greatest tourist attractions as well as animal conservation success stories.

There are 880 mountain gorillas left in the world, and half of that population resides in the Virunga Mountain range spanning Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Seeing mountain gorillas in the wild is unforgettable, and planning a trip to Rwanda is easier than ever.

The group, a selection of tourists from all over the world, is spellbound. The sheer size of these humanlike creatures is astounding, and their misty forest home beyond serene.

A gorilla toddler shows off his newfound climbing skills by scaling a nearby eucalyptus, as the group joyfully watches on until the allotted hour is up.

Located in the scenic Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, the Umubano group is one out of ten habituated gorilla families that intrepid travellers are able to visit in the country.

The plight of the Rwandan mountain gorilla was initially made famous by celebrated environmentalist Dian Fossey, and since her passing, the Rwandan government has been committed to preserving these beautiful animals.

Even as mountain gorillas remain on the World Wildlife Fund’s critically endangered list, Rwanda’s conservation efforts have been globally renowned, with the country managing to increase the population by 25 percent in the last decade.

Part of these efforts are funded by gorilla trekking, rendering much tourism in Rwanda often environmentally friendly and economically supportive.

Trekking with mountain gorillas, while seemingly difficult, is actually quite easy to arrange.

June through September and December through February are the country’s dry seasons.

Avoid the muddy and difficult treks in the off-season, as there are no discounts for rainy days.

There aren’t yet any direct flights from the United States to Rwanda, but travellers can transit through Rwandair, Turkish Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Qatar Airways, Kenyan Airways, KLM, and Ethiopian Airlines.

Citizens of all nationalities can get thirty day tourism visas on arrival for $30 U.S.D.

Permit prices, unfortunately, are the most prohibitive part of this trip. Permits clock in at $1,500 U.S.D. per person, although a large percentage of the funds from the permits are put directly into Rwanda’s conservation work and local communities.

Permits can be reserved directly through the Rwandan Development Board via email, or through accredited tour guide companies.

Options for that include Thousand Hills, Volcanoes Safari, and Primate Safari.

Book this permit before booking anything else in order to guarantee availability, as there are only one hundred permits available daily.

Gorilla trekking is located in the Musanze district of Rwanda, just a two to three hour drive from the capital city of Kigali.

Most trekkers fly into Kigali before driving to Volcanoes National Park, and have many options when it comes to lodging.

Check out the Marriott or Serena Hotel for a high end experience, and the Mijo Hostel for a budget stay.

In Musanze, the new and luxurious Bisate Lodge has made headlines around the world for its innovative design, with the Virunga Lodge also known as one of Rwanda’s finest.

For more budget or mid-range travelers, check out La Locanda and Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel.

Rwanda’s famous mountain gorilla population is one of East Africa’s greatest tourist attractions as well as animal conservation success stories.

There are 880 mountain gorillas left in the world, and half of that population resides in the Virunga Mountain range spanning Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Seeing mountain gorillas in the wild is unforgettable, and planning a trip to Rwanda is easier than ever.

The sheer size of these humanlike creatures is astounding, and their misty forest home beyond serene.

A gorilla toddler shows off his newfound climbing skills by scaling a nearby eucalyptus, as the group joyfully watches on until the allotted hour is up.

Located in the scenic Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, the Umubano group is one out of ten habituated gorilla families that intrepid travellers are able to visit in the country.

The plight of the Rwandan mountain gorilla was initially made famous by celebrated environmentalist Dian Fossey, and since her passing, the Rwandan government has been committed to preserving these beautiful animals.

Even as mountain gorillas remain on the World Wildlife Fund’s critically endangered list, Rwanda’s conservation efforts have been globally renowned, with the country managing to increase the population by 25 percent in the last decade.

Part of these efforts are funded by gorilla trekking, rendering much tourism in Rwanda often environmentally friendly and economically supportive.

Trekking with mountain gorillas, while seemingly difficult, is actually quite easy to arrange.

June through September and December through February are the country’s dry seasons. Avoid the muddy and difficult treks in the off-season, as there are no discounts for rainy days.

Anticipate a difficult hike. Treks range from two to seven hours round trip, and regardless of the season, are often over rough and uphill terrain.

Anyone in moderate shape can do this, but expect a serious workout with some possible rain showers and mud up to your knees.

Although you’ll have to bring some serious rain and hiking gear, get ready for a trip of an experience of a lifetime.

Check in for the hikes takes place at the Volcanoes National Park offices in Kinigi at 8 am. There, trekkers are sorted into groups based on fitness level and greeted by their park rangers for the day.

Expect a really special performance from Intore dancers, a gorilla-oriented briefing, and complimentary tea, coffee, and bananas at the offices.

At around 9 am, trekkers pile back into their cars and drive an additional forty minutes to the trail head.

From there, porters are available for hire to carry backpacks and sometimes trekkers themselves up the steep mountain paths. Sturdy walking sticks are also handed out, and save a many a weary hiker.

Throughout the trek, the park rangers will be in constant communication with the rangers assigned to the respective gorilla families.

These rangers are always aware of the gorilla’s movements, and exist to deter poachers, monitor the gorilla’s health, and guide tourists.

Upon reaching the gorilla families, hikers will be asked to discard their bags and hiking sticks before officially entering the gorilla’s territory.

Groups are allowed to spend exactly one hour with the gorillas, and although tourists must keep themselves 10 meters away, these gorillas are laws unto themselves and can get as close as they want.

Thankfully, these majestic creatures are usually very friendly and safe. Get ready to see them play, eat, sleep, swing, and just do their general gorilla games.

These encounters feel entirely natural, and will undoubtedly be the capstone to an excellent trip in Rwanda.

It’s no secret that Rwanda is well on its way to becoming one of the most desirable tourist destinations in Africa.

Worldwide Rwanda has been lauded for the country’s clean city streets, lush volcanoes, playful gorillas, and, most recently, the new luxury lodging options.

As luxury tourism is undoubtedly on the rise, it begs the question, is Rwanda’s focus on luxury actually benefiting local Rwandans?

Mountain gorillas are Rwanda’s key draw, as there are approximately 880 mountain gorillas left in the world, earning them a spot on the World Wildlife Fund’s critically endangered list.

They are located only in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda specifically has done an unbelievable job at gorilla conservation.

Tourists are able to visit specific gorilla families daily, with a limited number of gorilla trekking permits in Volcanoes National Park available.

Until recently, these permits were $750 USD for foreign visitors, but have since been raised as of May 2017 to $1,500 USD for everyone.

Previously, Rwandan citizens were able to go gorilla trekking for approximately $35 USD. These price increases might be unremarkable, except for the fact that luxury lodging has also cropped up around the country.

With the recent openings of the Marriott, Radisson Blu, Bisate Lodge, and Nyungwe House, more and more international luxury tour operators are launching, and Rwanda is becoming known as a luxury-oriented destination.

The challenges faced in getting tourists since Rwanda’s shift to luxury tourism,is that it’s cheaper now for them to go to Uganda or Congo.

Several midrange Rwandan tour companies have already begun to operate in Uganda and DR Congo.

Gorilla trekking is much cheaper in Uganda and DR Congo, with permits available for $600 USD regularly and $450 USD during April, May, and November for rainy season.

The increase in gorilla permits has slowed down business in Rwanda.

This all being said, with rising tourism prices and Rwanda’s clean and anti-corruption reputation, the Rwandan government should be able to put more money into local communities, infrastructure, education, and countrywide development.

Though the influx of money helps Rwanda, people are nervous about Rwandan tourism businesses being left behind.

Rwandans themselves will also have much less of a chance than wealthy visiting tourists to see the mountain gorillas their own country is so famous for.

This because of the price increase did not account for Rwandan citizens.

Chances for Rwandans to actually participate in the tourism industry, both as domestic tourists and tour operators will continue to decrease as everything gets more expensive across the board.

International operators such as Wilderness Safaris, One&Only Resorts, Volcanoes Safaris, and Governor’s Camp become the primary operating tour companies in the country.

On the bright side, this change should lead to more of a focus on the rest of the country for budget and mid-range travelers.

Though gorilla trekking is now out of the question for many, non-luxury travelers in Rwanda can opt to visit Nyungwe National Forest, Akagera National Park, Gisenyi, and the volcanoes.

There is much to do and see in this beautiful country, regardless of the gorilla and luxury increases.

People will still visit. Whether Rwandan communities will indeed benefit from the upmarket tourism industry or not.


Tourism Observer

RWANDA: RwandAir To Commence Kigali To London Flights On 26th May 2017

RwandAir will launch the first non-stop flight from the UK to Rwanda, one of the fastest growing tourism destinations in Africa, on May 26th.

Operating three times a week from London Gatwick to the Rwandan capital Kigali, the service offers easy access for UK passengers.

The flights, on a new Airbus A330-200, will offer travellers Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins three times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

The flight time is eight hours 40 minutes.

Passengers travelling on the new RwandAir service in Business Class will be able to take advantage of fully-flat beds and convenient overnight flights.

British travellers are among the top five nationalities to visit Rwanda, which welcomed 1.3 million people last year.

They’re attracted by the incredible scenery, the opportunity for a unique experience visiting mountain gorillas and big game safari.

The recent arrival of black rhinos in the country means that Rwanda is now offering one of the best safari experiences in Africa.

Travellers can explore Rwanda’s diverse ecosystems in its three national parks.

Volcanoes National Park, along the Congo border, is famed for its mountain gorillas but also home to the endangered golden monkey.

RwandAir’s new Airbus 330 which will operate the London Gatwick to Kigali service

The chief tourism officer at the Rwanda Development Board, Belise Kariza, commented: “Rwanda has seen a transformation in recent years and is now becoming one of the most sought-after destinations for premium travellers.

With the new non-stop RwandAir flights to Kigali, and the opening of several premium lodges, Rwanda will be making a big impact as a must-visit country.” 


The newly opened Kigali Convention Centre is also driving the transformation of Kigali into a hub for Meetings, Incentive Conferences and Exhibitions.

Rwanda has been named the third best MICE destination in Africa and will also host the World Travel Awards Africa Gala Ceremony in October.

Meanwhile,the latest G650 has taken off from Savannah, Georgia, and headed to the Chinese coastal city of Tianjin to join the fleet of Deer Jet.

This G650 becomes the first private jet of its class registered in mainland China.

Frank Fang, vice president of Deer Jet, said: “We are very honoured to take over the management and operation of the very first G650 registered in China.

“To date, Deer Jet owns three licences to operate a fleet of 90 aircraft worldwide, with two thirds of the jets as managed fleet.

“This new addition demonstrates Deer Jet’s unparalleled 22-years of safety records and operational excellence, in recognition for the company’s global operations capabilities.

“Once again, Deer Jet built a milestone for China’s and the global business aviation industry.

“We created the first private jet company of China, operated the first G450 and G550 in China, and became the first company to operate ultra-long range BBJ and ACJ series in China.

“And most recently, we added to our managed fleet the world’s first BBJ 787.”

The addition of the new G650 marks the start of Deer Jet’s 2017 ambitious plan to further expand its managed fleet.

Already ten more G650/G650ER series are expected to join Deer Jet’s fleet in the near future.

RWANDA: Most Expensive Tourist Destination In East Africa Community, After Rwanda Doubles Gorilla Permit Fees

Rwanda Development Board announced an increase in Gorilla Permits from US$ 750 to US $1,500 for all visitors effective immediately.

A new exclusive package for tourists who wish to book an entire family of gorillas was also introduced at US$ 15,000, and will receive exclusive personalized tour guide services.

The price increase will not affect tourists who had already purchased their tickets at the time of this announcement.

Tourists who visit other national parks,Nyungwe and Akagera for a minimum of three days, in addition to gorilla trekking will receive a discount of 30%. Similarly, conference tourists, who stay pre or post conference dates to see gorillas will be eligible for a 15% discount.

According to Rwanda tourism strategy, the price increase aims to strengthen conservation efforts and contribute more to the development of communities living around the Volcanoes National Park.

Along with the new tariff, the tourism revenue sharing rate for communities adjacent to the park, will also increase from 5% to 10%, which will quadruple the absolute revenues received by communities.

More than 400 community projects have been completed including hospitals, schools, business development centers and water supply systems to facilitate access to clean water. The projects surely benefit the people living around the parks.

Ms. Clare Akamanzi, the Chief Executive Officer at Rwanda Development Board says Gorilla trekking is a highly unique experience. We have raised the price of permits in order to ensure sustainability of conservation initiatives and enhance visitors experience.

We also want to make sure that the communities living near the park area receive a bigger share of tourism revenues to fund development projects and empower them economically, he added.

New, high-end lodges are opening in Musanze and plans are underway to improve visitors’ experience at Kinigi, including renovation of the information center to equip it with modern offices and tourism services such as conservation education, children’s learning space as well as digital facilities.

Mountain gorillas are an endangered species with only around 880 remaining in the world. Of those in in the Virunga Massif, Rwanda accounts for 62% of the gorilla population.

Stringent conservation measures have significantly contributed to a rise in gorilla numbers. There are currently 20 families habituated for tourism and research in Rwanda, making more than 9 families in 2010.

Reactions from the tourism fraternity in Rwanda were swift and harsh, denouncing the doubling of the tariffs without notice as unacceptable and calling for a suspension of the measure.

Many tour operators around the world have published package prices based in the tracking permit costing 750 US Dollars,, the highest among the three gorilla countries of Rwanda, Uganda and Congo,asking RDB to respect contractual commitments and giving a decent notice of the tariff increase of up to one year and not making increases abruptly all the time.

Apart from the wisdom to double the permit fee is the no notice period a major cause for concern. This will put Rwanda in a bad light abroad that we cannot respect proper notice periods like all other regional wildlife management bodies do, says a Gorilla tour operator in Rwanda.

Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania all give as much as a year notice of planned fee revisions. What is the urgency now to do this without observing regional practice?.

That is madness, says a lady gorilla Tour Operator,this will kill our business. Rare animals or not, there is a limit to what the market can accept and sell and I see sales nosediving which will affect all of us who invested in cars and marketing expenses.

Uganda in contrast not only charges just US Dollars 600 for foreign tourists but also offers tariff reductions to US Dollars 450 for the months of April, May and November, something Rwanda has never done even though they too experience a low season and lower demand periods.

Yet another Gorilla Tour operator says Uganda is now going to benefit from more than 50% of Rwanda destined tourists, they will not go for the new fees, they can not just double permit fees like that, she Lamented.

With the doubling of Gorilla permit fees, rwanda definately becomes the most expensive tourist destination in East Africa Community.

RWANDA: One & Only To Manage Nyungwe Forest Lodge,Hilton To Manage Ubumwe Grand hotel

Global hotel chain Hilton is close to concluding a management agreement with Ubumwe Grand Hotel after a dispute between the developers and Zinc Hotels, saw the property trade under a traditional name.

Hilton will operate the hotel under its Doubletree brand. This will enable it to gain a foothold to compete against other global hotel brands such as Rezidor’s Radisson Blu and Park Inn and The Marriott, among others.

“Doubletree, which is one of the Hilton brands, is in advanced stages of taking over Ubumwe, but the deal is yet to be signed but it is close,” said a source close to the deal who asked for anonymity.

The $40 million property initially opened its doors as Zinc hotel and was jointly owned by CG Corp Global — a company belonging to Nepalese billionaire Binod Chaudhary — the Mukwano Group under Acacia Properties and Robert Bapfakurera — the only local partner.

Acacia Properties cancelled the management agreement it had with CG Corp’s Zinc Hotels. It is understood that this matter is still under arbitration.

Local stockholder Robert Bapfakurera, declined to comment until the deal is finalised.

“At this moment the hotel is still Ubumwe Grand Hotel, when the time comes and the company deems it a good time to share, we shall let you know,” he said.

A number of global hotel brands, like movenpick from Switzerland, Ascot Group, Protea and City Lodge are reportedly keen on venturing into the Rwandan market but have so far failed to find properties to manage.

The government said there is a need for more international hotel brands in the country as they attract more visitors.

Industry analysts say that although Ubumwe Grand Hotel has done a good job of building its profile, it will benefit from the international distribution channels and brand recognition that Hilton brings.

Meanwhile,One & Only Resorts, a global hospitality brand that mainly invests in beach resorts, residences and luxury hotels, has added Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest Lodge and Gorilla’s Nest to its portfolio.

The two properties, one located in the Nyungwe Forest and the other in the Volcanoes National Park in Kinigi, Northern Province have been rebranded as One & Only Nyungwe House and One & Only Gorilla’s Nest.

One & Only Nyungwe House, which was previously managed by Dubai World, opens its doors in July while the Gorilla’s Nest will open in 2018.

I am thrilled we are able to continue to evolve the One & Only experience, providing once-in-a-lifetime experiences for our guests, said Philippe Zuber, president and chief operating officer of One & Only Resorts.

Rwanda becomes the third African market for One & Only Resorts after South Africa and Mauritius where the global hotel brand runs beach resorts. It has other properties around the world.

The global hotel brand plans to capitalise on nature and adventure tourism with One & Only Nyungwe House and One & Only Gorilla’s Nest.

Frank Mustaff, the country director of Horwath HTL, a hospitality consulting group believes these new One & Only resorts could bring in new visitors and create tourism opportunities for the country.

They will market these new properties and raise awareness about Rwanda with their global clients, Mr Mustaff said.

The two properties will capitalise on the conservation activities in the two locations with guests to One & Only Nyungwe House getting to track primates and trekking the Kamiranzovu swamp among other experiences.

The property is located in Gisakura, a tea plantation at the edge of Nyungwe National park.

One & Only Gorilla’s Nest will offer the gorilla tracking experience and views of local hills in Northern Province and slopes of Volcanoes National Park among others.

Rwanda is an incredible destination that offers once-in-a-lifetime experiences. We look forward to enabling our guests to explore the country and its culture and provide them with the ultimate connection to nature, a statement from the group said.

The Nyungwe National Park received 11,000 visitors in 2016, up from 9,000 the previous year.

According to Mr Mustaff, mountain gorilla tourism can be marketed as luxury experience in the country.

On average, gorilla trekking can cost a couple $5,000, so I would consider this to be luxury tourism, he said.

But he added that more products are needed to diversify the country’s luxury tourism offering.

RWANDA: Rwanda’s Wilderness In The Heart Of The City

While most cities battle with urban sprawl and the lack of truly wild spaces, the city of Kigali in Rwanda is planning a major greening project in the heart of the city.

A new €2.7 million plan is being developed to create a large eco-tourism park just a short drive from the city’s main international airport. The wetlands park will be around 130 hectares in size, and will be developed over the next three years, according to the local government.

City planners are hoping it will become a paradise for bird lovers, with Rwanda already considered one of the best locations for birding in the world. Despite the country’s comparatively small size (about the size of Belgium) – it is home to more than 700 different bird species in its dense forests, mountains, and wetlands. The new plan will also see walking and cycling trails developed alongside bird hides and leisure fishing ponds.

The Nyandungu Wetland park as it will be known, will also feature picnic areas, a café, and a spot specially designated for wedding photos.

The area had slowly been encroached on by development, with cattle grazing in the wetlands, and also the illegal development of garages and other light industry. Under the new plan, the site will be protected in an attempt to return it to its former glory as a vibrant wildlife habitat. Rwanda has emerged from its violent recent past with tourism playing a key role in getting the country’s economy back on its feet.

Many travellers are attracted by the opportunity to see rare mountain gorillas in their natural habitat in the famous Virunga Mountains.

With the opening of the eco-tourism park in Kigali however, visitors can still get a taste of Rwanda’s wilderness without even leaving the city. For those heading into the country, there are three different national parks to visit: Akagera, the location for a lion reintroduction programme; the Nyungwe rainforest, home to thirteen different primate species, and Volcanoes National Park.

Protecting Animals From Extinction

Dr. Jean Felix Kinani and Elisabeth Nyirakaragire treating a wild mountain gorilla in the
Volcanoes National Park.
As a schoolboy, one of Jean Felix Kinani's favourite pastimes was visiting the zoo in Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where he grew up.

"My father always told me that 'you should become a vet'," says Kinani. "...and that's partly why, when I completed high school, I joined the veterinary school at the University of Lubumbashi."

But young Kinani's dreams of becoming a veterinary doctor were almost shattered when he was forced to drop out of university when the First Congo War broke out in 1996, eventually sending DRC's then president Mobutu Sese Seko packing.

Things moved from bad to worse when the war ended due to the resulting "friction" between Congolese and people of Rwandan origin. Kinani's only feasible option was to move to neighbouring Senegal, from where he completed his bachelor's degree in veterinary medicine in November 2003 at the Cheikh Anta Diop University.

"Because I was moving from Belgian to the French system, it took me many more years to complete my course as I was required to start all over again. In total it took me nine years to complete my bachelor's degree," he recalls.
Upon completion of his education, Kinani moved to his motherland in Rwanda, where his family had already relocated to. On arrival, he was requested to work with the Ministry of Agriculture's artificial insemination centre but Kinani declined because "I wanted to work with wild animals, especially mountain gorillas."

In 2004, Kinani got his preferred job at the Mountain Gorilla Veterinay Project, an organisation of vets that monitors the health of mountain gorillas in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park.

When he first set foot on the Volcanoes National Park, mountain gorillas in the Virunga massif were teetering on the brink of extinction, with their numbers standing at a paltry 380.

Like many other endangered wild animals in Africa, conventional wisdom held that a tidal wave of poaching constituted the biggest threat to the existence of Virunga's iconic mountain gorillas.

But this is also due to the fact that poaching is the most publicised problem because it produces grisly photographs of animals with severed heads and missing hands, attracting a lot of media attention. In fact, field observation showed Kinani that disease and injuries due to snare traps contributed even much more.

Poachers would often set snares in the park hoping to catch a small antelope for the pot. But because snares don't discriminate, a gorilla would end up catching its hand in the wire and suffering terrible lacerations as it struggled to free itself. The resultant wounds would often cause infections and sometimes lead to death.

"Before, when a young gorilla was trapped by a snare, the older ones would just forcefully pull it off, which exposed the infant to serious injuries and loss of blood," says Kinani.

The vet goes on: "Sometimes the trapped gorilla could spend days on the snare without anyone coming to its rescue. To solve this problem, we trained trackers who could rescue them as soon as they heard a gorilla screaming. They would then call us to work on those in need of lifesaving interventions, a move that saved the lives of many gorillas."

Over the years, Dr Kinani and his team were able to easily respond to several life-threatening situations, especially gorillas caught in snares intended to trap other animals in the forest or those that suffered from life-threatening respiratory diseases.

Dr Kinani and his colleagues worked hard to prevent transmission of respiratory diseases from humans and other domestic animals to gorillas. Between 2006 and 2010, Kinani ran a programme whose role was to immunise not only humans but also dogs and cats living near the Volcanoes National Park.

"Because humans share 98 per cent DNA with mountain gorillas, these animals can be affected by most of the diseases that affect us. Diseases like rabies, measles, pneumonia and TB affect both humans and gorillas," he offers.

To effectively monitor the health of mountain gorillas, Dr Kinani's Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project set up a mountain gorilla clinic to treat wounded and sick captive gorillas and chimpanzees.

"Most of the gorillas we treated at the clinic were confiscated from poachers," says Kinani, whose other roles at the Mountain Gorilla Veterinay Project included research and training trackers and young veterinarians.
Kinani shares most of his experiences in his book, "Respiratory disease among mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) in the Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda (2005- 2011)’’, which he wrote after completing his master's degree in Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Management.

Together with his team, Kinani's penchant for mountain gorilla conservation helped increase the endangered species' numbers from 380 in 2003 to 480 as indicated by the fourth mountain gorilla census that was carried out in 2010 -- a remarkable 24 per cent increase seven years later. Kinani himself was part of the team of field assessors who carried out the census.

According to a 2011 study, the increase in numbers of mountain gorillas owes much to Dr Kinani and his colleagues. After tracking numbers of mountain gorillas in the Virunga massif between 1967 and 2008, it was found that there was an annual population growth rate of 4.1 per cent for habituated gorillas and an annual decline of 0.7 per cent for the unhabituated ones.
"Veterinary interventions could account for up to 40 per cent of the difference in growth rates between habituated versus unhabituated gorillas, with the remaining difference likely arising from greater protection against poachers," the study concluded.

During his time in the Virunga, Dr Kinani also researched on the behaviour of mountain gorillas. For instance, in 2013, he documented tool use by wild mountain gorillas when he observed the species using tools to eat food. The vet went on in 2015 to publish a report titled Tool Use for Food Acquisition in a Wild Mountain Gorilla in the American Journal of Primatology.

In 2013, Kinani also made another astonishing discovery when he observed a mountain gorilla drinking water for the first time. It was an interesting finding by Dr Kinani, seeing that mountain gorillas were -- until then -- not known to drink water.

But Kinani's interest in mountain gorillas is not just because they are flashy, crowd-pleasers. According to him, "mountain gorillas are not only the pride of Rwanda but these wonderful creatures are also critical to our ecosystem."
Even then, "I also treat chimpanzees, lions, elephants and several other wild animals," he says, before quickly admitting that he is more interested in the more endangered great apes that reside in East and Central Africa: gorillas and chimpanzees.

In 2015, after 11 years saving mountain gorillas through daily veterinary care, Kinani left the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project and started his own conservation organisation, which he christened One Health Approach for Conservation (OHAC).

Now Kinani spends most of his time travelling to various countries in East and Central Africa advising others on setting up programmes similar to the ones he devised in the Virunga massif. Kinani also visits various universities in the Great Lakes Region to train the next generation of conservation scientists.

"My main focus is on One Health For better management of most diseases, vets and medics need to work together," he says.

For the uninitiated, the idea of "One Health" recognises that the health of humans, animals and ecosystems are interconnected. It involves applying a coordinated, collaborative, multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral approach to address potential or existing risks that originate at the animal-human-ecosystems interface.

Dr Kinani's organisation focuses on research, training, consultancy and creating One Health and Conservation awareness. His main goal is to link conservation, health, development and poverty alleviation.

RWANDA: 24 Baby Mountain Gorillas Named

Rwanda named two-dozen baby mountain gorillas in an annual ceremony Saturday that highlights the African country's efforts to protect the endangered animals, which attract large numbers of foreign tourists to the volcano-studded forests where they live.

The young gorillas, identified by trackers and researchers, were in their wild habitat nearby and not at the naming event Saturday in Kinigi, near the entrance to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. But Rwandan President Paul Kagame was among thousands of people who gathered there to celebrate the threatened population of mountain gorillas, whose image adorns numerous sculptures in Rwanda as well as a national currency banknote.

The Rwandan government hopes the naming ceremony, which began in 2005 and is based on a similar tradition among Rwandans, will highlight the importance of protecting mountain gorillas as well as promote the tourism industry, the country's top foreign currency earner. Researchers also refer to the names to identify gorillas and their families while conducting studies in the wild.

The names bestowed on the gorillas on Saturday included the words for "Power," ''Courage" and Conviviality" in the Rwandan language.

Rwanda's mountain gorillas live in the Virunga Massif, which spans Volcanoes National Park as well as parks in neighboring Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Another population of mountain gorillas lives in a separate area of Uganda.

The numbers of mountain gorillas dropped dramatically in the last century because of poaching, disease and human encroachment on their habitats. The total population of mountain gorillas is currently an estimated 900; conservationists say the population has been increasing in recent years.

About Kwita Izina
Naming a newly born baby has been part of Rwandan culture and tradition for centuries. Given the remarkable efforts by the Government of Rwanda, through the Rwanda Development Board, and in collaboration with various conservation partners and local communities , to actively protect the Mountai n Gorillas and their habitat, the old naming century’s tradition was modelled on these species to get the national brand known as “Kwita Izina”.

Names attributed to the gorillas play a significant role in the on-going programme of monitoring each individual gorilla in their families and habitat. Kwita Izina, a uniquely Rwandan event, was introduced in 2005 with the aim of creating awareness of conservation efforts for the endangered mountain gorilla.

For three decades prior to the first official gorilla naming ceremony, the naming of baby gorillas was carried out with little awareness amidst the public by the rangers and researchers that closely monitor these unique animals on a daily basis.

Kwita Izina has been attended by thousands of international, regional and local participants over the recent years. The Government of Rwanda and conservation partners have donated substantial resources to gorilla conservation and continue to do so. Each year new born gorilla babies are celebrated in an exciting event at the foothills of the Virunga Mountains .

Tourism that focuses on natural environments is a large and growing part of the tourism industry in Rwanda. While it can contribute in a positive manner to soci o-economic development and environmenta l protection, uncontrolled tourism growth can also cause environmental degradation, destruction of fragile ecosystems, and social and cultural conflict, undermining the basis of tourism. Therefore, considering that natural forests constitute 8.7% of the national territory, conservation continues to play a crucial role in the country’s development.

Eleventh Annual Kwita Izina 2015

On 5th September, 2015, the Rwanda Development Board hosted the eleventh Kwita Izina, naming 24 baby gorillas, the newest arrivals born after last year’s ceremony.

This year’s Kwita Izina will take place as we embark on carrying out another g eneral census of the gorilla population in the Virunga Massif following the one that was carried out in 2010. In 2010, the gorilla population registered a 26,3% growth in a period of 7 years from 2003.

The theme for Kwita Izina 2015 is conserving now and for the future

The private sector has explored expansive business opportunities around conservation efforts that have been harnessed into ongoing profitable and viable business ventures. As a result, the tourism sector has registered continued growth through attracting international hospitality brands and businesses .

Since 2007, tourism has been the leading sector in foreign exchange earnings for the country. The objective is to grow tourism revenues by 25% per annum as projected in the Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy 2.