LiLife of Dian Fossey and Mountain gorillas in Rwanda.

Dian Fossey was a known American zoologist at the same time as a conservationist, she gave her life to study the protection of the mountain gorillas in Rwanda. Dian Fossey was born on 16th January 1932, in San Francisco, California, Fossey developed a passion for animals at an early age. In 1966, Fossey decided to travel to Africa, and she met Dr. Leakey, a famous paleoanthropologist, Leakey was Fossey’s mentor and thus encouraged her to complete her dream of studying mountain gorillas in Rwanda.

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In 1967, Fossey constructed Karisoke Research Center in the Virunga Mountains, Rwanda, where she spent the next 18 years studying and protecting mountain gorillas. She did research and tireless conservation efforts that helps to raise international awareness about mountain gorillas and the importance of protecting their habitats. Fossey’s work also removed many fictions about mountain gorillas, making them to be intelligent, social and gentle creatures. In Diani Fossey’s research, she understood about mountain gorilla behavior, social structure. Diani Fossey also worked closely with the local communities and other government bodies to develop conservation strategies and protect the gorillas from various threats like poaching, habitat loss, and other human threats.

Unfortunately, Fossey she was murdered on December 26^th, 1985, at her Karisimbi research center in Rwanda. Her death was hurting, though her legacy lives on the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, which supports the conservation and protect mountain gorillas in Rwanda. Currently, mountain gorillas in Rwanda are many in numbers, due to Fossey’s work that she did on the mountain gorillas and the ongoing conservation of her organization. Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is a famous safari destination where Fossey did her research, Volcanoes National Park is home to over 600 mountain gorillas, and tourism revenue generated from gorilla trekking helps to support conservation.

The relationship between Dian Fossey and the mountain gorillas in Rwanda.

The relationship between Dian Fossey and the mountain gorillas in Rwanda, it was established over years of, observation and passion. Fossey’s arrival in Rwanda in 1967 marked the beginning of exceptional journey, as she established the Karisoke Research Center in the Virunga Mountains and started studying of the mountain gorillas. Dian Fossey used to spend more time with the mountain gorillas, and thus she developed a perfect bond with them. Dian Fossey loved the mountain gorillas, in that she reached the existent of knowing each gorilla as an individual, their characteristics, and she admired their intelligence, social depth and capacity for love and compassion of the mountain gorillas. Fossey’s relationship with the gorillas was built on trust, respect, and the empathy as she spent hours observing them, learning their behavior and communicating with them in their own language. She was very friendly to a group of gorillas led by a dominant silverback that was called digit, whom she had known since he was a baby, and with whom she shared a special bond that was closer. Through her impressive relationship with the mountain gorillas, Fossey was able to gain knowledge into the world especially about the mountain gorillas.

Dian Fossey’s Death.

Dian Fossey died on 26^th December 1985, this was a destructive event that shocked the conservation community in Rwanda and the world at large. Dian Fossey’s was murdered, but it is widely believed that her tireless anti-poaching efforts and her strong rebuke of the Rwandan government’s lack of action to protect the mountain gorillas and their habitats led to her death. Fossey was receiving death threats and warnings from the poachers and other individuals who were disagreed to her conservation work, and she has also been experiencing increasing threats from the Rwandan authorities, who were reportedly annoyed by her love of the mountain gorillas of their handling of conservation issues.

It was one night when she was murdered, she was found dead in her cabin at the Karisoke Research Centre, harshly murdered with a heavy knife. The investigation into her death was incomplete, and no one was ever formally charged or punished of her murder. However, many of Fossey’s supporters believe that her murder was caused by the poachers and they then corrupted government officials.  Fossey’s death was a loss for the conservation community. Fossey’s legacy is still existing, and which inspires various generations of conservationists, scientists to continue her work and fight for the protection of the mountain gorillas and their habitats thus for future generations.

The Karisoke Research Centre.

Karisoke Research Centre, is a renowned research facility located in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Dian Fossey in 1967, the centre is dedicated to the study and conservation of mountain gorillas. The research centre was founded by Dian Fossey, Karisoke has been at the lead of research on mountain gorillas, providing unique information into their behavior, ecology and conservation. Karisoke has taught many researchers, scientists, and conservationists from around the world to the center providing a unique stage for integrated and capacity building, Karisoke research center plays an important role in improving our understanding of mountain gorillas and their habitat, and in promoting effective conservation plans to protect these incredible animals and their habitats for the future generations. The Karisimbi Research Centre is a true definition to Dian Fossey’s dedication to gorilla conservation and serves as the powerful reminder of the importance of protecting our planet’s cherished biodiversity.

Karisimbi Research Centre also provides opportunities for students, researchers and conservationists to participate in field research and gain hands-on experience in gorilla conservation.

Volcanoes National Park.

Volcanoes National Park is popular and famous safari destination on Rwanda safari with the largest numbers of the gorillas, the park is situated in the northwestern part of Rwanda, and the park is ecologically diverse being known as protected area that is home to a wide range of flora and fauna, including the famous mountain gorillas. The park is located in the Virunga Mountains, a chain of the volcanic peaks that stretches across the borders of Rwanda, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo, the park covers an area of approximately 160 square kilometers and is characterized by a romantic landscape of volcanic mountains, forests and lakes.

The park’s unique geography and geology have created a variety of habitats that support an incredible variety of biodiversity including over 200 species of birds, numerous small mammals, and a wide range of plant species, many of which are endemic to the Virunga Mountains. The park is very attractive because of its population of mountain gorillas, which are found in the higher part of the park.  Visitors to the park can do gorilla trekking safari, where the tourists get the briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during gorilla trekking by the park guides and park trackers, after the briefing you move in the forest and look for the gorilla this takes like a period of 30 minutes to 6 hours regarding the location of the gorillas.

Along the way looking for the gorillas you can be impressed with sighting of various biodiversity in the park that is animal species, plant species and bird species, and once the gorillas are found the gorilla trekkers are given one hour to be in the presence of the gorillas that is when you will watch the gorillas, feed, female gorillas grooming the young gorillas, taking pictures of the gorillas and recording their videos through with the less flash cameras, because the flash disrupts the gorillas.

Volcanoes National Park is easily accessible that is the park can be accessed from the close by town Musanze, which located about 15 kilometers from park’s entrance, and is approximately a two-hour drive from Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda, with its unique combination of the natural beauty, biodiversity, and cultural significance makes Volcanoes National Park is a truly special safari destination for every tourist to have unforgettable safari experience and a chance to connect with the natural world in a meaningful and lasting way with the attractive mountain gorillas.

The Best time to see gorillas in Volcanoes National Park.

The best time to see the gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda is the wonderful time that every tourist should know before thinking about gorilla trekking in Rwanda. The park can be visited all year round, but the best time to visit depends on many factors, that is, gorilla behavior and the tourist season. The dry season happens from June to September and December to February, is known as the best time to see gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. During the dry period, that’s when the weather is generally mild, with the less rainfall, making it very easy to trek through the forest and spot the gorillas. The dry season also coincides with the gorillas’ annual migration to the lower slopes of the Virunga Mountains, where they can be found feeding on the abundant vegetation.

This makes it easier for the tourists to track and observe them. On the other hand the wet season, is also perfect for gorilla trekking to certain travelers that takes place from March to May and October to November, making gorilla trekking more challenging due to the heavy rainfall and muddy. Although the wet season also has its advantages, liked the reduced prices for accommodation thus favoring budget tight travelers to do gorilla trekking. Additionally, the wet season is considered the low season for tourism, which means that tourists may have a more exclusive experience with the gorillas. The best time to see the gorillas in Volcanoes National Park depends on individual preferences and what one is looking for in a gorilla trekking experience. Whether it’s the dry season or the wet season the park’s experienced guides and the trackers will ensure that the tourists have a safe and unforgettable safari experience with these incredible animals.

In conclusion, the life of Dian Fossey and her groundbreaking work with the mountain gorillas in Rwanda is a statement to the transformative power of passion, dedication and conservation. Fossey raised international awareness about the mountain gorillas and the importance of protecting their habitats for future generations. Her great research work provided unique information into their behavior, social structures, and habitat requirements thus increasing the level of gorilla protection. Fossey’s love to the mountain gorillas was seen in her every action, from her observations and recordings to her courageous support against poaching and habitat destruction.  

Today, the mountain gorillas of Volcanoes National Park, Fossey’s pioneering work and the ongoing conservation efforts of her organization, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International. Volcanoes National Park’s gorilla population has increased since Fossey’s time and the Rwandan government has made significant bounds in protecting the park’s habitats and combating poaching. Dian Fossey’s story is a powerful one to the human spirit and reminder that even in the face of adversity and danger, one person can make a difference and leave a lasting impact on the world.

Contact us at Encounter Africa Safaris, we shall plan, prepare and organize for you a wonderful safari to attractive safari destinations and unique experiences; you will witness various destinations that is to Karisimbi Research Centre that’s where you will witness the works  Dian Fossey like Gorilla behavior and social, habitat use and conservation of the gorillas, human-gorilla conflict mitigation, disease ecology and health monitoring of the mountain gorillas, conservation biology and management of the mountain gorillas and among many others.

And after visiting the Karisoke Research Center, you will also experience Dian Fossey hike grave which is popular activity for visitors who visit Volcanoes National Park. You will as well do gorilla trekking safari experience and Golden monkey trekking inside Volcanoes National Park, this is where you will explore the forests in park and look for the mountain gorillas and golden monkeys, and once you spot them you will be given a period of one hour to be in the presence of these wonderful creatures. Another safari activity that you can experience is visiting the Musanza caves, that’s where you will experience the stunning rock formations, sighting other wildlife especially the bats and among many others, and learning about the caves’ historical and cultural importance to the local community and among others.

Contact our team for more information.