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| The Kwita Izina baby gorilla naming ceremony took place on September 2 at Volcanoes National Park. This year’s event was especially poignant, as it was the first in-person ceremony since 2019 and came just months after the opening of the new Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. At this year’s ceremony, the people invited to officially name the baby gorillas included His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, Chelsea legend Didier Drogba and celebrity veterinarian Dr. Evan Antin, and over 50,000 people were in attendance to watch this special event. This annual event is just another example of how Rwanda has truly positioned itself as a world leader in wildlife conservation. See below for exciting news and updates from the Land of a Thousand Hills.
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Worth Knowing About |
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| Visit Rwanda Launches GorillaGram |
| Visit Rwanda launched a new innovative use of technology to protect gorillas and promote sustainable wildlife tourism in the country. With GorillaGram, visitors to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park will not just get to spend time with the country’s famed mountain gorillas but they can also utilize Instagram to help play an active role in gorilla conservation by sharing their own experiences and photos through the platform. The Rwandan gorilla families now have a presence on Instagram through this project. GorillaGram makes them the first population of wild animals in the world to have an active social media presence that helps with vital research, management and protection. |
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| Visit Rwanda attended Virtuoso Travel Week’s in-person event in Las Vegas |
| In August, Visit Rwanda attended Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas to talk about Rwanda's latest and greatest. It was a wonderful week of building relationships with advisors, consultants, travel specialists and other industry peers within the Virtuoso network. Visit Rwanda looks forward to participating in more Virtuoso events and programs down the road to further disseminate important information about the destination, gorilla trekking and more. |
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| Ironman Triathlon Held in Rwanda on August 14 |
| In August, Rwanda’s Rubavu District hosted an Ironman 70.3 competition, which involved a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1-mile run. Ilya Slepov from Russia won overall, and Team M9 won the teams section. The competition brought together 150 athletes from 37 countries, including 28 Rwandan athletes. Ironman confirmed that Rwanda would host two more competitions in 2023 and 2024. |
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| Rwanda Removes Most Restrictions Related to COVID-19 for International Visitors |
| Rwanda has removed most restrictions related to COVID-19 so that international visitors can have as hassle-free of a trip as possible. To enter the country, neither pre-arrival testing nor filling out a passenger locator form is required moving forward. Additionally, no test is required by the Rwandan government for international travelers exiting the country. However, testing for COVID-19 is still required before visiting any of Rwanda's primates (gorillas, chimpanzees, golden monkeys, etc.) on a trek. A negative PCR certificate from a test taken 72 hours or less before the trek must be presented. Finally, even though masks are no longer required in most settings, they must be worn when near primates on a trek. |
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Product Highlights |
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| Kigali Cultural Village |
| Kigali Cultural Village is a great stop for those spending time in Kigali. This traditional market space brings together artisans and food vendors who display their goods for locals and tourists alike. Furthermore, Kigali Cultural Village also hosts events, festivals and live music performances, all of which offer a wonderful glimpse into Rwandan culture and art. |
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| Nocturnal tours at Nyungwe National Park |
| Have you ever considered taking in Nyungwe National Park’s lush, mystical environment after the sun goes down? Visitors have the option to sign up for a nocturnal tour, during which a park ranger takes tourists on a trail so they can take in the stunning nighttime scenery and potentially see creatures such as bush babies, tree hyrax and flying squirrels, among other animals that tend to hide during the day and make themselves visible at night. |
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| Mt. Bisoke, standing at 12,175 feet tall, is one of the most popular mountains to hike among those visiting Rwanda. With about an 8,000-foot elevation gain, the hike entails a six-hour ascent and a two-hour descent, well worth it given the extraordinary views found at the top. There are so many hiking options found throughout the entire country, whether someone is looking for an intense trek or a leisurely nature stroll. |
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What to know before you go:
Rwanda Travel Updates |
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Before you travel, make sure you have all the information you'll need! Visit Rwanda Reopens and our Travel FAQ for the latest news.
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For more information on booking travel with Visit Rwanda, click here.
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