Dian Fossey tours in Rwanda centre on two distinct experiences: a guided hike to the original Karisoke Research Center camp and Fossey’s grave inside Volcanoes National Park, costing USD 75 per person, and a visit to the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund in Musanze, which opened in 2022 as the research center’s permanent base and public education facility. Both can be combined with a gorilla trekking permit (USD 1,500 per person) on the same trip to Volcanoes National Park in northwestern Rwanda. Dian Fossey established Karisoke on 24 September 1967 between Mount Karisimbi and Mount Bisoke; she was murdered at the camp in 1985 and is buried alongside the gorillas she spent her life protecting.
Planning your trip? Start with our complete Volcanoes National Park Rwanda travel guide.
USD 75 per person
Inside Volcanoes National Park, guided, 3 to 5 hours round trip
Minimal donation or fee depending on activity type
Musanze town, 20 minutes from park headquarters
USD 1,500 per person per trek
Most visitors combine both activities on the same trip
USD 10 per porter
Recommended for the steep volcanic trail
The Dian Fossey Grave Hike to Karisoke in Volcanoes National Park
The Dian Fossey grave hike takes visitors into Volcanoes National Park to the site of the original Karisoke Research Center, located between Mount Karisimbi and Mount Bisoke at approximately 3,000 metres above sea level. The hike begins with a 30-minute drive from Kinigi headquarters to the trailhead, followed by approximately 45 minutes to 1.5 hours of uphill walking through forest and bamboo depending on pace and conditions. The site itself consists of the ruins of Fossey’s research camp buildings, now overgrown and moss-covered, marked with signs identifying where individual structures once stood. Fossey is buried in the camp’s gorilla graveyard alongside Digit, Macho, and other gorillas she named and studied, in a plot she prepared herself before her death.
The hike costs USD 75 per person and includes a licensed guide from the park. A porter can be hired separately for USD 10. The permit is available through the Rwanda Development Board or through a licensed tour operator and should be booked in advance, particularly for peak season visits. The experience runs approximately 3 to 5 hours round trip including transit to the trailhead. It is a physically moderate hike at altitude and should be approached with the same footwear (waterproof hiking boots) as a gorilla trek. The site is operational throughout the year, though wet-season conditions make the volcanic approach trail slippery.
What Remains at the Original Karisoke Research Center Site
The original Karisoke Research Center camp no longer has standing structures. The buildings were destroyed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and subsequent years of civil instability that repeatedly forced the research staff to evacuate. What remains are the foundations and sign markers identifying individual tent and cabin positions, Fossey’s grave surrounded by the graves of named gorillas, and the surrounding ancient forest that she chose for its proximity to multiple gorilla families. The atmosphere of the abandoned camp, set in dense vegetation at high altitude with silence broken only by birds and the occasional movement of golden monkeys, is consistently described by visitors as one of the most affecting places accessible in Volcanoes National Park.
Visitors who also stop at the Ellen DeGeneres Campus in Musanze before or after the hike find a replica of Fossey’s original cabin there, reconstructed in full for context and education. The campus provides the biographical and scientific background that the Karisoke site itself no longer physically displays, making the two visits complementary rather than redundant. The recommended sequence is: visit the campus first for context, then hike to Karisoke for the site experience.
The Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund
The Ellen DeGeneres Campus opened in Musanze in 2022 and now serves as the permanent home of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund’s Rwanda headquarters, the Karisoke Research Center’s administrative and scientific operations, and a public education facility. The 10-acre campus includes a Conservation Gallery with interactive displays, quizzes, and a 360-degree theatre covering mountain gorilla biology, behaviour, and conservation history; a replica of Dian Fossey’s original research cabin; gorilla, biodiversity, and wetlands nature trails on the campus grounds; and research and training facilities for Rwandan scientists. The campus is located in Musanze town, approximately 20 minutes by road from Kinigi park headquarters.
Self-guided and guided tour options are available. Entry and tour fees vary by activity type; guided tours include expert narration from Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund staff with current knowledge of the gorilla families being monitored. The campus gift shop sells books, crafts, and conservation-themed items, with proceeds supporting the fund’s research operations. Many visitors incorporate a campus visit into their arrival day in Musanze, using the afternoon before the following morning’s gorilla trek to build context for what they are about to experience.
Dian Fossey’s Legacy and the Conservation Impact of Karisoke
Dian Fossey was an American primatologist who established the Karisoke Research Center in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park on 24 September 1967, at the invitation of Louis Leakey. She spent 18 years in the Virunga Mountains, developing the first long-term field study of mountain gorillas and pioneering the anti-poaching campaigns that challenged the poaching networks operating in the region during the 1970s and early 1980s. Her book Gorillas in the Mist, published in 1983, brought mountain gorilla conservation to international public attention. She was found murdered in her cabin at Karisoke in December 1985; her death was never officially solved.
When Fossey began her research in 1967, the mountain gorilla population in the Virunga Massif was estimated at fewer than 250 individuals. The population now exceeds 600 in the Virunga range and over 1,063 globally, a recovery that conservation scientists attribute to the foundation she laid: structured habituation of gorilla families to human presence, systematic population monitoring, and the political and media campaign that convinced Rwanda, Uganda, and DRC to prioritise gorilla protection. The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund today employs hundreds of rangers, scientists, and community liaisons across the Virunga region and is the primary long-term research body for mountain gorilla population science.
Planning a Dian Fossey Tour in Rwanda
Most visitors arrange a Dian Fossey tour as a second day activity after their gorilla trek, using the post-trek afternoon or the following morning before returning to Kigali. The Karisoke hike departs from the Volcanoes National Park headquarters in Kinigi and requires the same early logistics as a gorilla trek: a full breakfast before departure, waterproof hiking boots, a rain jacket, water, and a packed lunch for longer days. The hike is not as physically demanding as the longer gorilla treks but is still uphill at altitude with volcanic terrain. Book the USD 75 permit through the RDB or your tour operator at the same time as the gorilla trekking permit to confirm your preferred date.
The Ellen DeGeneres Campus visit requires no advance booking for self-guided tours and can be arranged directly on arrival in Musanze. Guided tours benefit from prior coordination through the campus or through a licensed tour operator to confirm guide availability. The campus is best visited with at least two hours allocated. A combined Dian Fossey itinerary covering both the campus and the Karisoke hike over two days in the Musanze area gives the most complete context for anyone with a serious interest in gorilla conservation history.
How much does the Dian Fossey hike to Karisoke cost in Rwanda?
The Karisoke hike permit costs USD 75 per person, issued by the Rwanda Development Board. A porter can be hired for USD 10. The hike is separate from the gorilla trekking permit (USD 1,500) and can be done on a different day. Total cost for both activities is USD 1,575 per person in permits, plus accommodation, transport, and other incidentals.
Can I visit Dian Fossey’s grave in Rwanda?
Yes. Fossey’s grave is at the Karisoke Research Center camp site inside Volcanoes National Park, accessible via the USD 75 guided hike. She is buried in the camp’s gorilla graveyard alongside the named gorillas she studied, including Digit. The grave is clearly marked and is the primary reason most visitors take this hike. The site is peaceful and well-maintained by the Rwanda Development Board and the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.
What is the difference between the Karisoke hike and the Ellen DeGeneres Campus?
The Karisoke hike (USD 75) takes you inside Volcanoes National Park to the original research camp ruins and Fossey’s grave: a physical, historical site in the forest. The Ellen DeGeneres Campus in Musanze is the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund’s modern headquarters, featuring a Conservation Gallery, interactive exhibits, trails, and a replica cabin: an educational and research facility. Both are worth visiting. The campus provides context; the Karisoke site provides the emotional weight of place.
Is the Dian Fossey hike harder than gorilla trekking in Rwanda?
The Karisoke hike is typically shorter and slightly less demanding than a full gorilla trek, as the destination is at a fixed point rather than wherever a gorilla family has moved overnight. The trail is still uphill, volcanic, and muddy in wet conditions, requiring the same footwear as a gorilla trek. Total round-trip time is approximately 3 to 5 hours including the transit drive to the trailhead. Most visitors in moderate fitness complete it without difficulty.
Can children do the Dian Fossey hike in Rwanda?
The Karisoke hike has no specific age restriction, unlike gorilla trekking which requires a minimum age of 15. Children who can handle a moderately steep uphill hike of 1 to 2 hours at altitude can participate. The Ellen DeGeneres Campus is fully accessible to all ages and is a better introduction to Dian Fossey’s story for younger visitors before attempting the hike.