Dian Fossey museum can also be called Karisoke Research Center. Dian Fossey museum is found inside volcanoes national park located in north western part of Rwanda. The museum is situated between Mountain Bisoke and Mountain Karisimbi and it’s from these two mountains that the word “Karisoke” was derived after a combination of these two names.

Karisoke Research Center is one of the living memories of Dian Fossey who was an American primatologist and a conservationist famous for undertaking studies and research about mountain gorillas. The center is one of the major attractions in volcanoes national park. Dian Fossey started her work from Virunga national park from where she crossed to volcanoes national park of Rwanda after escaping from prison in DR Congo by the help of prison guards.

Dian Fossey started the museum with only two tents which acted as headquarters for anti-poaching patrols in September 1976. Tourists compliment gorilla trekking in volcanoes national park with a visit to Dian Fossey museum tour. A visit to Dian Fossey museum / Karisoke Research Center is one of the best activities you can do in volcanoes national park. Dian Fossey Museum exhibits with more information about conservation, biology and videos about mountain gorillas.

Dian Fossey loved animals since her child hood and she was sent to Africa too specifically study a bout mountain gorillas. She started research about mountain gorillas in Virunga national park of DR Congo but she was later arrested with her assistants before escaping by the help of prison guards to volcanoes national park. She was worried mountain gorillas were about to get extinct so she did patrols around the park to chase away porters and she went ahead to burn their houses. On 26^th December 1985, Dian Fossey was found dead in her cabin and was buried near her beloved mountain gorilla Digit in the gorilla cemetery. Her work attracted so many conservation organizations and they started protecting these endangered mountain gorillas after her death and work is still on up to date. Karisoke research center habituated golden monkeys in volcanoes national park and works with the University of Rwanda too provide led research opportunities for research purposes.

Dian Fossey museum / Karisoke training center is now acting as training ground for the next conservationists and scientists of the coming generation in Rwanda. The place brings large numbers of university students each year for field work and training in conservation and scientific methods. Visitors to Dian Fossey museum can also take part in gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking, birding and mountain hiking.

Other things you can do in Rwanda is visit Nyungwe national park for chimpanzee trekking and a canopy walk, primate watching in Gishwati Mukura national park, and game viewing in Akagera national park to see the Big 5 African mammals.