Want her full story first? Read our guide to Dian Fossey's life, work and death.
For many visitors, the gorilla trek is about the animals; the Dian Fossey hike is about the people who saved them. It leads to the remains of the Karisoke Research Center and to the graves of Dian Fossey and the gorillas she loved, including Digit.
Who was Dian Fossey?
Dian Fossey was an American primatologist who came to the Virungas in the 1960s, encouraged by the paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey. In September 1967 she founded the Karisoke Research Center — the name combines Karisimbi and Visoke, the two volcanoes it sat between. For 18 years she studied the mountain gorillas, learning to approach them by imitating their behaviour, and fought relentlessly against poaching.
Her favourite gorilla, a young silverback named Digit, was killed by poachers in 1977. His death pushed Fossey into an even more confrontational campaign against poaching, and drew global attention to the gorillas' plight. In December 1985 she was murdered in her cabin at Karisoke; the crime has never been conclusively solved. Her book Gorillas in the Mist (1983) and the 1988 film starring Sigourney Weaver made her and the gorillas world-famous.
The research she started continues today through the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund — one of the longest-running studies of any wild animal — now based at the Ellen DeGeneres Campus near Kinigi.
Official Dian Fossey tomb permit fees
| Visitor category | Official RDB fee (adult) |
|---|---|
| Foreigner | $75 |
| East African foreign resident | $65 |
| Foreign resident in Rwanda | $60 |
| East African citizen | $55 |
| Rwandan citizen | RWF 4,000 |
Source: Rwanda Development Board official booking portal, checked 18 October 2026. Promotional rates (*) are not valid from June to October 2026. Foreign residents need at least four consecutive months of residency or a work permit.
The hike
The hike starts with the morning briefing at Kinigi, followed by a drive to the trailhead at the base of Bisoke. You walk first through farmland to the park wall, then climb steadily through bamboo and Hagenia forest — often muddy — to the saddle at about 3,000 metres.
At the top are the scattered remains of Karisoke's buildings and a small cemetery: Dian Fossey's grave, with the inscription "No one loved gorillas more", lies beside a row of graves of gorillas, including Digit. Your guide tells the story of the camp and the research there. It's a quiet, moving place.
| Permit | $75 per person (RDB) |
|---|---|
| Duration | About 3–5 hours return |
| Maximum altitude | Around 3,000 m |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Start | Morning briefing at Kinigi |
Tips
- Wear the same gear as for gorilla trekking — boots, gaiters, rain jacket, gloves. See the packing list.
- Read Gorillas in the Mist before you go, or watch the film. The hike means so much more.
- Combine with a visit to the Ellen DeGeneres Campus to see where the research continues today.
- Do it the day after your gorilla trek: having met the gorillas first makes the graves more poignant.
Dian Fossey hike questions
How long is the Dian Fossey tomb hike?
The tomb is about a 30-minute drive from the park headquarters, then two to three hours' hike through the forest each way — typically 3–5 hours on foot in total, depending on pace and conditions, climbing to about 3,000 metres.
How much does the Dian Fossey tomb hike cost?
The RDB permit is $75 per person. Transport and guide service are additional.
How hard is the Dian Fossey hike?
Moderate. It's a steady, often muddy climb through farmland and forest. Anyone who can manage a gorilla trek can do it.
Will I see gorillas on the Dian Fossey hike?
Not as part of the hike — this is not a gorilla visit. You may occasionally see signs of gorillas or other wildlife, and the forest is beautiful in its own right.
