The 27th December 2015 will mark thirty years since the mysterious death of famed zoologist Dian Fossey who dedicated over thirty years of her life to researching and protecting endangered mountain gorillas in Africa. In support of her achievements and to ensure her values are carried forward to future generations, eco-luxe lodge company Volcanoes Safaris continues to make tracking gorillas accessible to tourists in Rwanda and also organises excursions to visit Fossey's research centre, which is also the site of her grave.
Fossey's Footsteps
Fossey's belief that the mountain gorillas would become extinct by the end of the 20th century spurred her to open the Karisoke Research Foundation in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park in 1967. The centre is currently the world's best hope for the survival of these creatures and thanks to its conservation program, the mountain gorillas of the Virungas are the only great ape species to have increased in number in recent decades. Guests staying at Volcanoes Safaris' Virunga Lodge, situated at the edge of the park, can hike into the wilderness to visit the research centre and pay homage to this esteemed primatologist at her final resting place.
