Visits to the Karisoke Research Center: Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund & Grave Hike
Visits to the Karisoke Research Center and hiking to the Dian Fossey tomb have become a more popular addition to Rwanda Gorilla Safari Packages. The Karisoke Research Center was founded by the legendary primatologist, Dian Fossey, who arrived in Rwanda in 1967. Dian Fossey was invited to Africa by the great paleoanthropologist Dr. Richard Leakey, who thought that by studying gorillas, which are our closest relatives, humans would be able to understand their origin even much better. During her research, Dian Fossey learnt more about the gorillas and became attached to them, her efforts went then went beyond studying them but also focused on their protection and conservation. In todays world, Dian Fossey is on eof the most celebrated primatologists of the 20th century as her research created more awareness about mountain gorillas and promoted their conservation.
Today, gorilla tourism is a popular safari activity in Africa; however, during the Dian Fossey time, she believed that gorillas needed to be left undisturbed in their natural habitat. She is remembered for using some most extreme methods of dealing with poachers; however, it is also important to know that whatever she did, she had the best interest of the gorillas at heart. She was considered an authority on all issues related to the endangered mountain gorillas from 1967 till her death in 1985. Dian Fossey was based at the Karisoke Research Center that is located between Mount Karisimbi and Mount Bisoke in Rwanda. It is here where she spent most of he life studying mountain gorillas extensively in their natural habitat.
Visiting the Karisoke Research Center and hiking to the Dian Fossey Grave is almost considered a conservation pilgrimage by most conservationists since a visit here not only introduces you to the works of one of the world’s best primatologists but also helps contribute to conservation through projects like the Gorilla Fund. Visits to the Karisoke Research Center and hiking to the Dian Fossey Tomb offer emotionally stirring and intellectually enriching experience for travelers, conservationists, and wildlife enthusiasts alike.
The works of Dian Fossey: Research, Conservation, & Legacy
Dian Fossey is remembered worldwide as someone who made the world know more about mountain gorillas through her advocacy for their protection against extensive poaching. Surely without her efforts, mountain gorillas would have been extinct or their numbers drastically reduced by the 21st century. Thanks to her work and the strong devotion to their well-being, mountain gorilla poaching was eliminated in Uganda, Rwanda, and DR Congo, which are the only three countries that inhabit mountain gorillas. One of her greatest discoveries is how to make gorillas comfortable around human presence. Despite the fact that gorillas had been fearful due to the large scale of poaching, Fossey discovered that it is possible to gain their trust through the process known as habituation.
Gorilla habituation is basically a way of introducing mountain gorillas to human presence. To gain gorilla trust, however, it takes time, and it may take around 2 to 5 years for gorillas to fully become comfortable around human presence. Thanks to her research, many gorilla families (gorilla groups) have been habituated in Uganda, Rwanda, & D.R Congo – the formerly fearful creatures are now comfortable around humans and visitors can view them up close during gorilla trekking safaris/Gorilla Tours.
Not everyone appreciated Fossey’s work, as her strong conviction to end gorilla poaching in the region is believed to have caused her murder in 1985. Dian Fossey was murdered in a remote house on top of the mountains in 1985, and her body was buried next to some of the gorillas she worked so hard to protect. The hike to the Dian Fossey tomb is popular on most Rwanda gorilla trekking tours – a must include in your Rwanda Gorilla trekking Package.
The Lasting Legacy of Dian Fossey: Visits to the Karisoke Research Center
Even with her death, the legacy and work of Dian Fossey remain, and her famous book Gorillas in the Mist was later made into a film depicting her personal life and work with the gorillas – A must-watch for any conservationist.
As of Today, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International (DFGF) continues to work towards the conservation of the mountain gorillas in Africa, spearheading different projects such as taking care of gorilla groups within East and Central Africa. Thanks to a combined efforts from different stakeholders, including governments and NGOs, the mountain gorilla population that was once believed to become extinct has grown significantly in all gorilla Parks in Africa. In fact, the 2018 gorilla census show that 1,063 individuals lived across the three countries of Rwanda, Uganda, and D.R Congo. About 459 gorillas were registered in Bwindi and about 604 across the Virunga Massif.
Hiking Dian Fossey’s grave (tomb): Paying homage to Dian Fossey
If You are planning to go for mountain gorilla trekking in Rwanda, it is easy and very possible to pay homage to Dian Fossey’s Tomb. Fossey’s final resting place is located near her former Karisoke Research Camp/center between mount Karisimbi and Mount Bisoke. Although Gorilla trekking is the main activity here, Hiking Dian Fossey’s grave (tomb)/ Visits to the Karisoke Research Center does not take a lot of time and can be done just after gorilla trekking or a day before mountain gorilla trekking.
There is no better way to pay homage to one of the best primatologists in appreciation of her conservation efforts than hiking to the Dian Fossey tom in Volcanoes National Park. The hike helps promote gorilla protection and conservation. You will learn about her work with the mountain gorillas in Rwanda and also contribute towards the very work that she started in 1967.
The Dian Fossey Grave hive not like any other ordinary hike, it this trek unlike all other hikes in Volcanoes National Park challenge you at a physical, emotional, and intellectual level. Who knows, you might even get inspired to contribute to conservation or anything relating to wildlife conservation. Beyond Dian Fossey’s work, visitors on this hike get a chance to witness the beauty of Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. Along the way you might also spot rare plants, birds, golden monkeys, forest elephants, buffaloes, antelope, and above all a gorilla family along the way.