The Dian Fossey Tomb Trail: Hiking to the Heart of Gorilla Conservation History
The Dian Fossey tomb trail Rwanda hike takes you to the Karisoke Research Centre on Mount Bisoke — the site where Dian Fossey spent 18 years studying mountain gorillas and where she was murdered in December 1985. The hike visits her grave alongside the graves of her beloved gorillas, including Digit.
Who Was Dian Fossey
The Woman Who Saved the Mountain Gorilla
Dian Fossey arrived in the Virungas in 1967 with no formal primatology training and an absolute determination to protect mountain gorillas from extinction. She established Karisoke Research Centre at 3,000 metres on Mount Bisoke. Her 18 years of field research produced the most comprehensive study of mountain gorilla behaviour ever conducted. Her anti-poaching campaigns and international advocacy directly prevented the mountain gorilla’s extinction.
Her Legacy Today
The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International continues operating from Rwanda and the United States. Gorilla numbers have grown from under 300 in Fossey’s era to over 1,000 today. Every mountain gorilla trek you take is possible because of the foundation she built. The trail to her grave is a direct encounter with this conservation legacy.
The Hike to Karisoke
Trail Details and Difficulty
The Dian Fossey trail starts from the Volcanoes National Park headquarters in Kinigi at 2,300 metres. The hike climbs through agricultural land and then into dense Virunga forest to the Karisoke site at approximately 3,000 metres. Return distance is around 10 kilometres with 700 metres of elevation gain. The hike takes three to four hours return and is rated moderately difficult.
What You See on the Trail
The trail passes through buffalo grass zones and Hagenia forest before reaching the research camp clearing. Buffalo, golden monkeys and numerous forest birds are frequently encountered en route. The Karisoke site itself is a small clearing with the research camp ruins, Fossey’s grave and the graves of gorillas who died from poaching. The setting is remote, atmospheric and deeply moving.
Practical Information for the Hike
Permits and Costs
The Dian Fossey trail permit costs $100 per person through Rwanda Development Board. All hikers must be accompanied by a park ranger guide. Groups are limited to eight visitors. African Wild Trekkers books this hike as a separate permit alongside or instead of gorilla trekking permits for visitors specifically interested in the conservation history.
What to Bring
Wear waterproof hiking boots — the forest trail is frequently muddy even in dry season. Bring a rain jacket, water, snacks and sun protection for the open alpine sections above the forest. Trekking poles ease the steep return descent significantly. A camera is essential for the grave site and forest scenery.
Combining the Fossey Trail With Gorilla Trekking
Two-Day Volcanoes Combination
Many visitors combine gorilla trekking on day one with the Dian Fossey trail on day two. The two experiences perfectly complement each other — encountering living gorillas on the first day and understanding the history of their conservation on the second. African Wild Trekkers builds this two-day combination as a standard option in all Volcanoes National Park itineraries.
Adding the Trail to a Rwanda Circuit
The Fossey trail pairs equally well with golden monkey trekking as an alternative to a second gorilla day. Visitors who wish to minimise permit costs can choose one gorilla trek plus the Fossey hike plus golden monkey trekking across three Volcanoes days — covering the park’s full range of experiences at significantly lower total permit cost.
Plan Your Uganda Safari
How to Start Your Booking
Contact Us With Your Travel Dates
Reach out to African Wild Trekkers with your preferred travel window and group size. We check gorilla permit availability first, then build the full itinerary around your confirmed permit date. Contact us as early as possible for peak season dates.
Tell Us Your Budget and Style
We build Uganda safaris at every budget level — from $150 to $2,000+ per person per day. Share your accommodation preferences, activity interests and any special requirements. We tailor every element to match exactly what you want.
What Every Package Includes
Permits, Fees and Activities
Your quoted price covers all activity permits, park entry fees and ranger guide charges throughout Uganda. There are no hidden costs at park gates or trailheads. What we quote is exactly what you pay.
Transport, Accommodation and Meals
Private 4×4 safari vehicle with driver-guide, all lodge accommodation, full-board meals, Entebbe airport transfers and 24/7 in-country support are included in every African Wild Trekkers package from arrival to departure.
Why Travel With African Wild Trekkers
Local Expertise That Makes a Difference
We are a Uganda-based team with direct knowledge of every national park, lodge and guide in our network. We trek these forests and drive these plains ourselves. Our recommendations come from personal experience, not online research.
Request Your Custom Safari Quote
Visit africanwildtrekkers.com/contact to send us your enquiry. We respond within 24 hours every day of the week and deliver your personalised itinerary within three working days.
