Ellen DeGeneres Campus in Rwanda
Ellen DeGeneres Campus in Rwanda is nested in the Kinigi district near the headquarters of the Volcanoes National Park. It is where the offices of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund are located. Ellen DeGeneres Campus was opened to the public in February 2022. It showcases permanent facilities with research laboratories, indoor and outdoor facilities, and many others. This facility sits on 12 acres of land. Additionally, it was established with a mission to establish and continue the work of protecting and conserving gorillas started by Dian Fossey.
The Ellen DeGeneres facility has transformed the old Karisoke Research Centre that was built way back in 1967. More so, the campus is an eco-friendly facility that is adjacent to Volcanoes National Park. Furthermore, it includes three buildings, namely, the Sandy and Harold Price Research Centre, Rob and Melani Walton Education Centre, and Cindy Broder Conservation Gallery. It has other facilities for visiting students and researchers.
Quite a lot of conservation work is done at the Ellen DeGeneres Campus. For example, collecting rainwater, green roofing, and restoration of former agricultural lands are all done here. This project has generated over 15 million USD to the Rwandan economy. More so, the facility has also given birth to many institutions and organizations that have helped in gorilla conservation works. These gorilla conservations help to fight and reduce human-wildlife conflicts.
What to do at Ellen DeGeneres Campus
While on a visit to the Ellen DeGeneres Campus in Rwanda, there are several activities that travelers can engage in and create everlasting memories. Some of these activities include;
Gorilla Trekking
Gorilla trekking is one of the primary activities that travelers to Rwanda usually engage in. They come here to see these large and powerful primates (mountain gorillas). Gorillas are believed to be the closest cousins of man, sharing up to 98% of their DNA with man. Gorilla trekking usually starts early in the morning at the park headquarters. It starts with a briefing about the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking. Tracking these gorillas is done in groups of 8 people, where each group visits one gorilla family per day. The tracked gorillas are usually first habituated. The gorilla habituation process takes about 2 years. Once a particular gorilla family gets used to human beings, it is named and declared open for trekking.
A gorilla trekking session takes 2 to 8 hours of the day. Upon meeting a gorilla family, tourists are allowed to spend 1 hour with the gorillas. This is one of the best moments you can have while visiting the Ellen DeGeneres Campus in Rwanda. To see these mountain gorillas, must have acquired a gorilla trekking permit. A gorilla trekking permit is a legal document that allows you to encounter the gorillas. These permits are issued by the Rwanda Development Board. Travelers are supposed to use licensed tour operators to engage and get the permit. A gorilla permit costs about 1500 USD for foreign residents, 500 USD for foreign residents, and 200 USD for East African residents. You are advised to book in time to ensure availability during the safari.
Golden monkey trekking
Golden Monkey trekking is another primate adventure done in the Volcanoes National Park. The golden monkeys in this park live with the gorillas in the forested area of the park. Like mountain gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking is done early in the morning. It also starts with a briefing at the park headquarters. This activity takes about 2 to 5 hours of the day upon where you meet the golden monkeys. Lastly, if you want to see golden monkeys in Rwanda, you must acquire a golden monkey permit. This permit costs 100 USD for foreign nonresidents and 60 USD for foreign residents.
Hiking of the Virunga mountains
While on a visit to the Ellen DeGeneres Campus in Rwanda, you can do volcano hikes to the Virunga ranges. These mountain ranges lie within the Volcanoes National Park. They include Mount Bisoke, Mount Karisimbi, Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhavura, and Mount Sabyinyo. All these Virunga ranges can be conquered in several days. You might need to be physically fit to engage in the activity. During hiking, you will get a chance to visit the Dian Fossey grave, which is near the Karisoke Research Centre.
Cultural tours
Cultural tours in Rwanda take you through the Gorilla Guardians Village near the Volcanoes National Park. This village showcases Rwandese culture. Some of the activities done here include cultural dances, banana brewing, tasting local cuisines, and many others.
Accommodation near the Ellen DeGeneres Campus in Rwanda
If you are wondering about the best places to stay near the Ellen DeGeneres Facility, worry not. Below are some of the accommodation facilities. Bisate Lodge, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, One & Only Gorilla Nest Lodge, Five Volcanoes Boutique Lodge, Sabyinyo Silver Back Lodge, Virunga Lodge, and many others.
