Dian Fossey Hike Volcanoes National Park 1 Day Tour

Our 1-day Dian Fossey hike from Kigali includes a 0400-hour pickup for a 2.5-hour drive to Volcanoes National Park. After a 0700 Hours briefing, you will hike for 1–1.5 hours to the Karisoke Research Center ruins and Dian Fossey’s grave.

The day includes scenic views, potential wildlife sightings, and return transport to Kigali by evening.

Itinerary: 1-Day Dian Fossey Hike from Kigali

0400 Hours – 0430 Hours: Pick up from your hotel/residence in Kigali by your driver-guide
0430 Hours – 0700 Hours: Drive to Musanze (Kinigi), the headquarters of Volcanoes National Park
0700 Hours – 0800 Hours: Registration and briefing by park rangers regarding the hike and the life of Dian Fossey
0800 Hours – 1200 Hours: Transfer to the trailhead and begin the hiking trek (approx. 1 to 1.5 hours up) to the Karisoke research center
12:00 Hours – 1300 Hours: Visit the grave of Dian Fossey, adjacent to her favorite gorilla friend, Digit, and other gorillas
1300 Hours – 1430 Hours: Hike back down to the park headquarters
1430 Hours – 1600 Hours: Enjoy a late lunch in Musanze
1600 Hours – 1900 Hours: Drive back to Kigali for drop-off at your hotel or the airport

Important information

Requirements: A hiking permit is required
Age Limit: Participants must be at least 15 years old
Pack: Hiking boots, long pants, rain gear, water, and snacks
Physical Fitness: The hike is moderate but steep in some areas
Total Duration: Full day (approx. 0400 Hours to  1800 Hours)
Driving Time: 2.5–3 hours each way from Kigali to Musanze/Kinigi
Hike Duration: 3–4 hours round trip (moderate, through bamboo forest)
Start Time: Early morning, usually 0700 Hours, at the park headquarters for briefing
Best Time: June to September and December to February are best, as the trails are less muddy
Difficulty: The hike is steep in some areas, situated between Mount Karisimbi and Mount Bisoke
Alternative: If hiking is too strenuous, you can visit the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund’s Ellen DeGeneres Campus
Inclusions: Trip includes transport, guide fees, and sometimes lunch, though it is recommended to bring a packed breakfast and lunch

Dian Fossey Hike Volcanoes National Park 1 Day Tour begins from Kigali and ends in Kigali, Rwanda. The actual trek is a half-day adventure and takes about  2.5 hours to climb up, 1 hour at the site, and just over 1.5 hours coming down during the wet season (in the dry season, you could do it faster).

The 5 km hike up the mountain includes the possibility of seeing forest elephants, forest buffaloes, and lots of birds as you pass through various vegetation zones. In 1967, Dian Fossey arrived in Rwanda to study and protect her beloved Mountain Gorillas from poachers in the Virunga Mountains, now known as Volcanoes National Park.

Dian Fossey’s 1 Day Hike is about Dian Fossey, remembered in Rwandan history for founding the Karisoke Research Center, which served as her residence until her violent death in 1985.

The campsite stands at an altitude of around 3000 meters (over 9000 feet) and was abandoned during the unrest of the 1990s. Karisoke’s scientific base is located in the saddle area between two volcanoes: Mt Visoke and Mt Karisimbi (from which the name Karisoke is derived).

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. Dian Fossey was an American naturalist who earned recognition as the foremost authority on the mountain gorilla, which is already well known.

Shortly before her violent murder in 1985, she published her own account of her 13 years of work with the gorillas in Rwanda. She has already been the subject of several biographical studies, and she was portrayed by Sigourney Weaver in the highly fictionalized 1988 movie ”Gorillas in the Mist.’‘

0430 Hours: Dian Fossey Hike Volcanoes National Park 1 Day Tour begins with a pick up from your hotel in Kigali, followed by a 3-hour road transfer to Volcanoes National Park, Musanze province (where Mountain Gorilla tracking begins).

0730 Hours: Once at Kinigi park headquarters, we meet with the other hikers and our park ranger guide. The rangers brief the hikers about the park and the 5 Virunga volcanoes on the Rwanda side, and also offer insight into what to expect during the hike.

All the rangers work for the park authorities and are seasoned guides, and boast a wealth of knowledge. Many of the rangers are natives of the Kinigi area and have been working with the park since they were young.

0800 Hours: The trek involves a 30-minute drive from the park headquarters to the trailhead, then a 10-minute walk to the park boundary at the Karisoke research camp. The hike starts at about 6000 feet, and the sign at the campsite said the elevation was 2967 meters (9734 feet).

The walk from the park boundary to the research center, where Dian’s grave is, takes about 1 to 2.5 hours and affords good views of forest hogs, forest elephants, a variety of primates, and bird species. The hike takes almost two hours one way, with stops for water along the way. 

As the hike involves moving through forests and hiking up slopes, it requires some fitness and patience. The terrain, especially during the rainy season, is very muddy. You need to take care where you step to avoid falling or losing a shoe. The walking sticks help a lot with this.

The trek includes an armed escort, and the guides will give you loads of information about Dian Fossey, her research centre, and the surrounding vegetation. If you’re lucky, you might also see elephants, buffalo, and a variety of birds.

1100 Hours: At the site, you will find the house from where Dian Fossey was mysteriously murdered in 1985, but the more peaceful place is where she was buried, just next to her favorite gorilla friend, Digit, and about 20 other mountain gorillas either killed by poachers or suffered death for other reasons.

After visiting all the different ruins of the research centre, you’ll stop for lunch before heading back down the mountain.

1430 Hours: Head to the nearby restaurant to get your shoes and socks cleaned.

Dian Fossey Hike Volcanoes National Park 1-Day Tour Prices include:

✓ Lunch
✓ Drinking water
✓ Park Ranger Fees
✓ Relevant Government Taxes
✓ English speaking driver/ guide
✓ Tourist Permit Fee of 75 US Dollars per person
✓ Return ground Transportation by a 4×4 safari vehicle from Kigali

Notes

* Pack some light snacks and two bottles of water
* Wear shoes that have a grip, and you won’t mind getting muddy
* Bring your gaiters to avoid the red ants or hire a pair at the Headquarters
* Cover up. The park is full of stinging nettles, wear long pants and a shirt to be on the safe side

Dian Fossey Hike Volcanoes National Park 1-Day Tour Prices Exclude:

* Visa and visa fees
* International Air tickets
*  Items of a  personal nature
* Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
* Tips/ Gratuity for your porters, driver, and guides

* Bottle water
* Sunscreen is essential
* A decent rain jacket that’s made of breathable material
* A daypack that can fit snacks, a water bottle, a camera, and warm clothes
* Long hiking pants and long socks (You should tuck your pants inside your socks top protect yourself from ants!)
* A non flash camera, although there’s no need to bring a zoom lens on this trek (you’ll always be within several meters of the gorillas!)
* Hiking boots that are comfortable and water-resistant. You may choose some you have worn before. This way, you will know these boots will not hurt you

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