Dian Fossey Hike – Volcanoes National Park: Rwanda Car Rental.

When planning for Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda , its better to learn more about the history in the conservation of the mountain gorillas in the magic Volcanoes National Park. Rwanda Car Rental has designed this page to ensure that you learn more about the facts in regard to the conservation and habituation of the mountain Gorillas in Rwanda which is different from the Eastern Lowland Gorillas in Kahuzi Biega Congo.

Many independent travelers visiting volcanoes national park on self drive road trips wouldn’t like to miss the chance of hiking the Dian fossey in the oldest national park. Road trips offered to Rwanda will reward you with the explore of the primate lover Dian Fossey. Planning for Rwanda safari vacation on self drive is the ideal way to travel on less budget and enjoy the exposure like luxury traveler, What makes gorilla trekking the great safari activity in Rwanda, Check out for gorilla Safaris in Volcanoes. Inspirational travelers have done a lot of publications about the gorilla trekking and Dian fossey visit while in the land of thousand hills.

History of Dian fossey- check out Gorilla fund,org

Dian Fossey (January 16, 1932 – c. December 27, 1985) was an American zoologist who undertook an extensive study of gorilla groups over a period of 18 years. She studied them daily in the mountain forests of Rwanda, initially encouraged to work there by famous anthropologist Louis Leakey. She was murdered in 1985; the case remains open.

Gorilla Tour RwandaShe set up a research center in the Virungas in the early sixties and began the well documented habituation of the gorillas there. She became well known internationally through the film “Gorillas in the Mist”. Although Fossey was killed in 1985, the Centre continued to operate in the forest with other researchers until 1992. During the ensuing civil war in Rwanda it was destroyed and although rebuilt in 1993, it was destroyed again. Since then it has not been rebuilt.

Karisoke scientific base was established by Dian Fossey in the saddle area between two volcanoes; Mt Visoke and Mt Karisimbi (from which the name Karisoke is derived). The camp site stands at an altitude of around 3000m (over 9000 ft) and was abandoned during the unrest of the 1990’s. All that remains today is the graveyard where several of Dian Fossey’s favorite gorillas were buried. Dian Fossey is also buried near the graves of her beloved gorillas.

The trek to the Karisoke research camp takes around 3 – 4 hours and takes you through some of the most beautiful stretches of Hagenia – Hypericum forest in the Volcanoes National Park.

The Park fee for this Karisoke Trek is currently USD$ 75 per person, which includes the fee for the guide. The trek starts at 07:00am from the Park Headquarters in Kinigi, from where visitors will have to drive / be driven to the start point for the trek, Rent a out a safari jeep from our fleets to adventure Volcanoes National Park.

Hiking Permits can be purchased on the day of the trek at the Park headquarters and porters can be hired from here.

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Self Drive in Rwanda

Opting for a self-drive in Rwanda? We can help you plan a perfect safari in Rwanda, the land of thousand hills. We can help you get all the details you need including gorilla permits, national park passes, and accommodation bookings via our reliable Safari Companies that we partner with