The Karisoke Research Center is a research institute in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, founded on September 24, 1967, by the late Dian Fossey, with the aim of studying the endangered mountain gorillas. Fossey located the research institute in Rwanda’s Virunga volcanic mountain ranges, between Mount Karisimbi and Mount Bisoke, combining the two names to create ‘’Karisoke’’.
Dian Fossey, the pioneer of the research center, was born in January 1932 in San Francisco, USA, and she spent her entire first life savings on her first trip to Africa. Although murdered in December 1985, the camp continued to operate under the auspices of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International. In 2012, Karisoke moved its headquarters to a more modern facility in Musanze.
The activities that are illegal create threats to the gorillas and their habitat, along with other species that live here. Research by the Gorilla Fund International shows that efforts to protect gorillas have contributed to an increase in their population.
The Research Institute, together with the Gorilla Fund International, provides protection to the remaining gorillas in the Virunga Mountains and conducts patrols to combat poaching and other illegal practices. The Gorilla Fund International also supports Ugandan, Congolese, and Rwandan authorities in joint patrols for the same cause.
Dian Fossey’s writings in her book titled “Gorillas in the Mist” note that she had little idea that by establishing two small tents in the wilderness of Virunga, she was laying the cornerstone for what would later become a renowned research center used by academics from various parts of the world.
Fossey is credited with starting the practice of gorilla habituation, tracking, and identification, which later led to gorilla safaris in Rwanda and the entire Virunga conservation area. Protection of the endangered mountain gorillas has contributed to an increase in their population; the research center continually patrols the Volcanoes National Park area to combat poaching and illegal activities that threaten gorillas and their habitat.
Visiting the Karisoke Research Center is a memorable experience; you can stand at the site where Dian Fossey was buried. The research center also houses a small museum showcasing insights into conservation as practiced by this gorilla heroine – Dian Fossey, including videos about mountain gorilla behavior, biology, and more.
The mountain gorilla population in the Virunga Massif numbers over 500, listed as endangered by the IUCN. However, due to local practices within the national park such as setting traps for ungulates, collecting firewood, tree cutting, land clearing, and numerous other illegal activities, mountain gorillas still face the threat of extinction.
The Karisoke Research Center has now embraced modern technology, partnering with local authorities and other conservation organizations. In 1993, the center developed a GPS research tool to monitor the movement of gorilla groups and employed hyperspectral remote sensing imagery to map gorilla habitats in Rwanda.
The research center is also responsible for habituating golden monkeys and collaborates with the University of Rwanda to provide field research opportunities. The center was later relocated to a multipurpose building in Musanze, which now serves as a new regional center for the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.
Touring the Karisoke Research Center is a must-do activity for anyone visiting Rwanda; visitors can also engage in gorilla trekking and wildlife watching in the country. The best time to visit Rwanda is during the dry season when roads are accessible and walking trails for gorilla trekking, golden monkey experiences, hiking, etc., are in good condition.
Located in Rwanda’s northwestern province in Musanze District, within Volcanoes National Park, one can reach the Karisoke Research Center within a 2-hour drive from Kigali International Airport.
