Dian Fossey Grave Hiking
Dian Fossey grave hiking- Dian Fossey is one of the greatest American primatologists of the twentieth century. She was known for loving and caring about mountain gorillas from 1967 till her death in 1985. Dain Fossey was born in January 1932 in San Francisco, California, United States, and developed her love for animals most especially mountain gorillas at a young age.
Dian Fossey spent most of her life learning about mountain gorillas in their mountain gorillas and her journey started in Virunga national park of DR Congo but was unfortunately arrested but when she escaped prison, she moved to volcanoes national park where she continued with the same work of studying about mountain gorillas in their natural habitats.
She built the Karisoke research center between mount Bisoke and Mount Karisimbi in volcanoes national park where she invited so many local people around the park and taught them about mountain gorillas and their importance to the community and the country. She made people love mountain gorillas and advocated for their protection against poaching. Because of her efforts towards mountain gorilla protection, the population of mountain gorillas is now increasing, unlike in the past. There is no more poaching of mountain gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda, and DR Congo.
Hiking Dian Fossey grave in Rwanda
Hiking Dian Fossey’s grave is one of the activities you need to engage in case you want to learn more about her and her love for mountain gorillas. Her grave is sitted near the former Karisoke center which was in between Virunga volcanoes Karisimbi and Bisoke. So many people visit volcanoes national park to mainly trek mountain gorillas but hiking to the grave of Dain Fossey is another fascinating activity that can be done before or after mountain gorilla trekking.
Hiking to the grave of Dian Fossey is a great way to pay homage to one of the greatest American primatologists and the visit will help you to learn about her work towards mountain gorilla conservation. Hiking Dian Fossey’s grave is not difficult but it requires you to be physically fit because there are times when the trekking trails are muddy and slippery like in times of rain.
Hiking to the grave of Dian Fossey is done in the morning or after lunch and the hike starts with a briefing from the wardens. The hikers to the grave are expected to be at the Kinigi park headquarters in the morning where4 they will join other hikers. When the briefing is done, the hikers do move to the starting point where they meet ranger guides to lead them through the hike.
The armed range guides do like you throughout the hike to protect you from dangerous wild animals, tell you information about the park, animals, and Dian Fossey. In case of heavy luggage, you can hire the porters at the starting point to help you on carrying extra luggage. If you are lucky, you might meet mountain gorillas but other animals you are likely to see are the buffaloes, elephants, duikers, go9ant forest hogs, several monkey species, and much more.
When you reach the Dian Fossey graveyard and the former Karisoke research center, you will have stunning views of the park, its surroundings, some of the Virunga mountains, and much more. Dian Fossey’s grave is next to her favorite gorilla called Digit which was a silverback and other mountain gorillas were buried there.
You will take a visit to her former house where she was murdered and you will be given all formation about her from the ranger guide. You will be allowed to take as many photos as you want. Later you will be served lunch which is prepared near her site and then starts on your journey out of the forest.
How much are the permits for the Dian Fossey hike?
To reach the Dian Fossey grave and know more about her, you need to have a valid permit allowing you to be part of the group to her grave. You can get the permits from the park offices at a fee of $75 foreign non-residents, $60 foreign residents, $55 east African citizens.
What is the best time to hike to Dian Fossey’s grave?
Tourists to volcanoes national park can hike to Dian Fossey grave at any time of the year but there are months that are better than the rest. The dry months are the best for any activity in Volcanoes national park Dian Fossey hike inclusive. Hiking to Dian Fossey grave in the dry season of June to September and December to February comes with little or no rainfall, the trekking trails to the grave are dry and the roads to the park are passable.
Tourists can as well hike to Dian Fossey grave in the rainy season which occurs in March to May and October to November but during these days there is too much rainfall that makes the trekking trails muddy and slippery, and the roads to the park are impassable. In the rainy season, the only advantage tourists can get is huge discounts on accommodation facilities and this favors budget travelers.
