Back to Park Headquarters this morning to meet your guide for the Dian Fossey Hike today. Starting your walk from the same place you did for the gorilla trekking you head back up the same mountain (again, very thankful for having a porter). you pass where we saw the gorillas yesterday and have a hopeful look around to see if they are still there, but they have moved on, when you reach the saddle between the volcanoes the trees get much bigger and you start walking through a swampy area, your feet sinking in up to the ankles. But the trees are spectacular! Huge and covered in ferns and moss this ancient forest is completely magical. Dian definitely found the most magnificent place for her base. When you have caught our breath… Guide will starts telling you the story of Dian Fossey, An American zoologist who established the Karisoke Research Foundation here in the 1960s and through her research inadvertently started the gorilla habituation process here. She studied them over two decades until she was found murdered here in 1985, presumably by poachers but no one was ever caught or prosecuted for her death.
Today the remains of Karisoke act as a monument to her. you will move on to visit her grave further up the mountain, she is next to her beloved gorillas who are also buried here. As guide will explains, Diane was not popular in Rwanda when she was working here because her work to protect the gorillas interfered with others’ more profitable intensions.
you will spend some more time in this beautiful forest looked over by the volcanoes before a reluctant walk down the mountain.On the way down my boot decided to fall spectacularly apart! you don’t think the sucking mud higher up had done it any favours. Guide and the porter will on it immediately and managed to create a temporary fix with a vine.
This afternoon you visit The Gorilla Doctors, their Executive Director will be waiting to give you a quick overview of what they are about. for the last 15 years and is one of first veterinarians to embrace the One Health concept for gorilla conservation. This approach recognizes that the health of domestic animals, wildlife and people are all linked together with the environment. The organisation is working to ensure the long-term health and survival of the mountain gorilla and the human and animal communities that share their habitat.
They also work to monitor the health of the gorillas and care for any injured or sick gorillas. About 73% of mountain gorillas in the Virunga Massif are habituated for tourism or research purposes and they monitor the effects this has on the population including the spread of diseases. Gorillas are very susceptible to human diseases. Our visit is cut short when he receives a phone call that he needs to travel across the border tonight to treat an injured gorilla!
Late this afternoon we head to our lodge for the night, Five Volcanoes., this will love at first sight. you will absolutely love this lodge, your boots are taken away to be cleaned and promise to have mine fixed in the village overnight. The fire is already lit in the main lounge area with coals on metal bowls outside on the patio to keep you warm while we enjoy the last on the sunset over the Park As the darkness settles will head back inside to the cosy lounge for a delicious dinner.
