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Volcanoes National Park Nyungwe National Park Akagera National Park Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Mgahinga Gorilla National ParkA half-day hike climbs through bamboo forest into afro-montane forest at roughly 3,000 metres to reach the site of the former Karisoke Research Centre, where primatologist Dian Fossey lived and worked for nearly two decades, and where she is buried alongside several of the gorillas she studied.
It’s a meaningful add-on for travellers interested in the conservation history behind mountain gorilla protection, and pairs naturally with a Behind the Scene Gorilla Package.
GOOD TO KNOW
WHAT TO BRING
Dian Fossey arrived in Rwanda in 1967 and established the Karisoke Research Centre — named for its position between Mount Karisimbi and Mount Bisoke — as a base for what became the longest continuous study of mountain gorillas ever undertaken. Over the following eighteen years, her work fundamentally changed how the world understood mountain gorillas, from largely misunderstood, feared animals to the socially complex, family-oriented species now recognised. Her advocacy against poaching, at real personal cost, is widely credited as a turning point in the conservation effort that has since grown Rwanda’s gorilla population rather than watched it decline, as happened to so many other great ape populations across Africa in the same period.
Fossey was murdered at Karisoke in 1985, a case that remains formally unsolved, and she was buried at the research centre in the gorilla graveyard she had established herself — alongside Digit, a silverback whose death at poachers’ hands years earlier had become a rallying point for her anti-poaching campaign. The research station buildings themselves were later destroyed during Rwanda’s civil conflict, so what remains at the site today is largely foundations, memorial markers, and the graveyard itself, set within the same forest clearing she chose for the original camp.
WHAT TO EXPECT
The clearing where Karisoke once stood is quiet and reflective rather than developed as a formal tourist site — park-maintained memorial markers identify Fossey’s grave and the surrounding gorilla graves, including Digit’s, and your ranger guide typically shares the history in detail once you arrive rather than during the climb itself. Because the hike itself passes through the same bamboo and afro-montane forest zones as gorilla trekking, it also functions as a genuine hiking experience in its own right, not simply a walk to a historical marker — golden monkeys and forest birdlife are commonly seen along the trail.
Most guests add the Dian Fossey Tomb Hike on a non-trekking day within a wider Volcanoes National Park itinerary, rather than as a standalone visit — it pairs naturally with golden monkey trekking or a rest day between gorilla treks, given its moderate half-day length. It also holds particular relevance for guests booked on the Behind the Scene Gorilla Package, whose multi-day conservation focus makes the historical context of Fossey’s work directly relevant to the anti-poaching and research briefings included in that package.
Is this hike as physically demanding as gorilla trekking?
It’s generally comparable to a moderate gorilla trek — roughly 2–3 hours of steady climbing
each way to around 3,000m, without the added uncertainty of how far the family has ranged, since the
destination is fixed.
Do we need a separate permit, like for gorilla
trekking?
No — the hike is booked as a standalone paid add-on at $75 per person rather than through the RDB
gorilla permit system, making it considerably simpler to arrange on short notice.
Is the site itself substantial, or just a
grave marker?
Since the original research station was destroyed during Rwanda’s civil conflict, what remains is
primarily foundations, memorial markers, and the gorilla graveyard — a meaningful, quiet site rather
than a developed visitor centre, best appreciated with the historical context your guide provides.
Can children do this hike?
The minimum age is 15, matching the age requirement for gorilla trekking itself, given the similar terrain
and altitude involved.
Should we read about Dian Fossey before the
hike?
It isn’t necessary — your guide provides detailed historical context on-site — but familiarity
with her book, “Gorillas in the Mist,” or the film adaptation adds meaningful depth for guests who want more
context beforehand.
How does this compare to visiting a gorilla
family directly?
It’s a different kind of experience entirely — reflective and historical rather than a live
wildlife encounter. Many guests find the two complement each other well: understanding the conservation
history behind the gorillas makes the trekking encounter itself feel more layered.
Is porter assistance available for this
hike?
Yes — porters can be hired at the trailhead exactly as for gorilla trekking, and are a sensible option
given the similar altitude and terrain involved.
The climb follows the same lower slopes used for gorilla trekking and the Bisoke crater hike, moving through dense bamboo forest before opening into afro-montane vegetation as the trail gains altitude. Underfoot conditions can be muddy and root-strewn regardless of season, and the roughly 2–3 hour ascent means a realistic half-day commitment once the return walk is included. Unlike gorilla trekking, where the walking time is unpredictable until a family is located, the fixed destination here makes timing easy to plan around the rest of your day.
WHY IT MATTERS
It is easy, on a standard gorilla trek, to experience the encounter itself without fully appreciating how close mountain gorillas came to disappearing entirely, or how directly one researcher’s work and sacrifice shaped the conservation model that now protects them. The Dian Fossey Tomb Hike closes that gap — standing at the site where she lived, worked, and is buried gives concrete shape to a history that can otherwise remain abstract, and for many guests it becomes the most emotionally resonant part of an otherwise wildlife-focused trip.
Because the hike takes a half-day and doesn’t require advance permit booking the way gorilla trekking does, it’s one of the easier additions to slot into an existing Rwanda itinerary — a natural fit for a rest day between treks, an extra day built around Volcanoes National Park before flying onward, or a first- or last-day activity that doesn’t compete with the physical demands of trekking. We typically recommend scheduling it on a day without a gorilla trek, given the cumulative fatigue of back-to-back climbs at altitude, though guests with strong fitness sometimes combine it with a lighter activity like golden monkey trekking on the same day. We can advise on the best placement within your specific itinerary once we know your full schedule, group size, and overall fitness level.
WHERE TO STAY
Tell us your dates and group size. We respond with a bespoke proposal within 48 hours.
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