By Begumisa Wilber

Kigali, Rwanda.


Byishimo (happiness) and Impano (gift), the world’s only surviving twin mountain gorillas in Rwanda made 4 years whereas 20 baby gorillas are yet to be named on June 21.

These twin gorillas in Rwanda were born on May 20, 2004 to a beautiful mother Nyabyitondere of the Susa Family of gorillas in the Volcanoes national park of Rwanda. The Director General of Rwanda Tourism Board, Ms Rosette Rugamba, could not imagine seeing these twin brothers live up to the present day. She said, “not only is the birth of gorilla twins very rare, but even when it happens; their survival is extremely unusual.”

Thanks to the gorilla mother, Nyabyitondere for the care she has offered to the twin gorillas despite the cold environment of the Volcanoes national park. The president of Rwanda, Mr Paul Kagame and his wife, Mrs. Jeanette Kagame, baptized the young blessing to the world and Rwanda, Byishimo (happiness) and Impano (Gift) in a public gorilla naming ceremony in 2005.

The twin gorillas’ survival is a symbolic testimony of prosperity of mountain gorillas in Rwanda. Rwanda’s international advocacy for gorillas’ conservation was launched in 2005. In May 2005, 30 Rwanda gorillas were named; the following year 12 new ones were given names and in 2007 only 23 were offered names.

In April 2007, the event reffered to as Kwita Izina - the brand name for the event was launched. With the theme, “Working Together for our Wildlife,” this year’s event will be attended by over 100 key personalities in wildlife conservation and business sectors. Rwanda is home to about a 1/3 of the 750 mountain gorillas that still survive in the world. Last year tourism was the second highest ranked foreign currency earner for Rwanda.

Rwanda has over years excelled in gorilla tracking safaris. A gorilla safari to Rwanda is one any visitor to Rwanda would can afford to miss. Besides, gorilla tracking safaris, Rwanda’s Nyungwe forest offers excellent primate safaris, especially chimpanzee safaris in Rwanda.