Located just a stone’s throw away from Volcanoes National Park at Kinigi, the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund museum stands as a powerful symbol of Rwanda’s commitment to the protection of the endangered Mountain Gorillas – one of Africa’s large primates.
From the moment you step in, you are immediately immersed in a breathtaking 3D video experience that transports you into the world of these magnificent animals. A self-guided tour allowed you to observe gorillas in their natural habitat, revealing their private behaviours and ongoing efforts to ensure their survival.
Seeing their emotions, eating habits, nesting rituals and social interactions on the large screens offers you a profound and intimate glimpse into their secret lives. This museum highlights the significant conservation work that is being done to protect these endangered creatures.
While there, you are confronted by two imposing exhibits that send a shiver down your spine. You will suck in a deep breath when you see “a human skeleton” beside a male mountain gorilla skeleton. Eerily juxtaposed, this stark display illuminates the unsettling closeness of the morphology of humans and the great apes.
As you scrutinize the skeletons, the profound physical differences between male and female mountain gorillas become all too clear. The room was further brought to life by detailed notes and grim displays on the walls.
A deep breath is inevitable – learning the haunting details and realities of these critically endangered creatures. How they reproduce, their life expectancy, and the grim statistics of infant mortality.
As a nature lover, a somber feeling will envelope you when you reach the Wall of Fame that contains the touching tributes of the individual mountain gorillas that have been killed by poachers over years.
Each of these gorillas is commemorated and celebrated with their name, along with the years of their life and death. This memorial is a somber reminder of the ongoing threats mountain gorillas face.
Some of the names on the wall include; Marchesa (1942-1980), Uncle Bert (1952-1978), Effie (1961-1994), Macho (1961-1971), Kweli (1975-1978), and Digit (1965-1977).
Next was the Dian Fossey Room where you will uncover a wealth of materials documenting her dedicated work in gorilla conservation, including field notes, photographs, book excerpts and newspaper clippings.
As you examine the small collection of personal belongings from her original research site, it will feel as if you are meeting her in spirit. Among these artefacts are a modest office table, chairs, a large traditional drum, and a small shelf—items that once filled her private cabin, offering a poignant glimpse into her everyday life.
The story of Fossey, the American primatologist who founded the Karisoke Research Center, is nothing short of extraordinary. Born in 1932 in San Francisco, Fossey developed a deep love for animals early on, mastering horse riding by age six and spending her childhood on a Montana ranch.
Her passion led her to study pre-veterinary science at the University of California before shifting to occupational therapy at San Jose State College, from where she graduated in 1954.
Fossey initially worked at Kosair Children’s Hospital. It is from the children’s hospital that she left to pursue her dream of studying wild mountain gorillas.
Inspired by a friend’s African tales and photographs, she took a bank loan to fund her initial trip. There, she met British hunter John Alexander and travelled to Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya, where she encountered archaeologists Louis and Mary Leakey. Encouraged by the Leakey’s, Fossey pursued her dream, following in the footsteps of Jane Goodall.
Fossey’s groundbreaking research significantly expanded knowledge of mountain gorilla behaviour and communication. After completing her doctorate at the University of Cambridge in 1974 with a dissertation titled “the Behavior of the Mountain Gorilla,” she returned to Rwanda with student volunteers. Motivated by the killing of her favoured gorilla, Digit, Fossey gained international attention as she fought against poachers.
In 1980, Fossey returned to the U.S. to teach at Cornell University and completed her book “Gorillas in the Mist” (1983), which was later adapted into a film.
Back in Rwanda, her anti-poaching campaign intensified, leading to her tragic murder on December 26, 1985. Though the assailant was never identified, it is widely believed that Fossey was killed by the poachers she had so vehemently opposed.
Today, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund is the world’s largest and longest-running organization that is dedicated to the conservation of the endangered mountain gorillas.
The museum that is dedicated to her name was constructed using volcanic stones from the local area. 2,400 people from the community were employed in its construction. The gorilla museum is open to visitors from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekdays.
The Fund’s efforts include daily protection and research of individual gorillas, as well as programs to train future African conservationists and improve the lives of local communities through initiatives in food and water security, livelihood, and education.
The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund concentrates its efforts on two main gorilla subspecies in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo: the rare mountain gorillas and the eastern lowland gorillas.
Thanks to Dian Fossey’s trail-blazing work, today mountain gorillas are thriving on the slopes of the Virunga Mountains, a range of extinct volcanoes that border the DR Congo, Rwanda and Uganda. In Uganda, mountains gorillas can be found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. In Rwanda, it is Volcanoes National Park and Virunga National Park in DR Congo.
Despite their small numbers, mountain gorillas are unique among large primates for their steadily increasing population. They are highly sought after for both research and tourism.
Deeper dive in Gorilla World Top of Form
The historical exhibits at the museum, which showcase the evolution of conservation technology from early still manual cameras to modern vision enhancers, are particularly captivating. Craft shops are offering unique souvenirs, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee provides a delightful respite.
For a deeper dive, consider booking a private guided tour with a senior staff member. These tours, which require at least 24 hours’ notice, provide a rich narrative of gorilla conservation and a rare behind-the-scenes look at ongoing research. Tours are available on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., priced at $40 per person.
Once critically endangered, mountain gorillas now represent a remarkable conservation success story, with their population rising from a low of 250 in the 1980s to over 1,100 today.
Visiting the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund Museum offers an inspiring glimpse into the ongoing efforts to protect these magnificent creatures and their habitat. This immersive space features a vast 3-dimensional visualization of mountain gorillas, incorporating data, satellite imagery, and photographic maps projected electronically onto a bed of sand.
