Well last nights shower continued through the night and stopped at 0630 just as we were leaving to go to the park to sign in for the Dian Fossey walk.
4 were on the walk, two lasses from Belfast and us. The walk started from the same car park as yesterday below Mt Bisoke because Dian Fossey's research camp was between Mts Karisimbi and Bisoke - hence she called it Karisoke.
As usual we hired two porters, Innocent and Antel, who carried our bags and were there to help if we needed it. We had been told the hike was muddy but after a night of rain it was extra muddy. There was also the added danger of buffalo so we had an armed ranger front and rear just in case they needed to be be scared off. Enroute we knew they were around because there was lots of their poo on the path.
Besides gorillas in the park - during the walk we heard one and saw signs of others - there are also antelope - we saw footprints, hyena - we saw their poo yesterday and elephants.
When we got to Fossey's camp we saw the site of her first cabin and her second cabin where she lived and was later killed. The latter had a large waterhole - now dry - beside it to attract the forest wildlife. There were also workers quarters, a guest cabin and of course the grave yard where many of the gorillas she worked with are buried and she herself is buried there next to her favourite silverback Digit ( today's photo). The buildings etc were all destroyed by Congolese fighters so only the foundations remain.
Fossey had started her work in Congo but moved to Rwanda as a result of finding it difficult to work amidst conflict. Having got the necessary permissions she set up Karisoke and worked there for 18 years observing and logging the daily behaviour of the gorillas.
The reason the gorilla conservation and tourism is thriving in Rwanda today is all because of Dian's early work. Consequently you would think that the site and particularly the grave yard could be better preserved as it is a key part of Rwandan history.
We had a short break at top for a much needed energy boosting snack but the downside was we got very cold. I put my gloves and waistcoat on to help warm me up but was able to remove as we descended, although the gloves remained until we were out of the park.
Thanks to the mud and then further mud caused by the rain which started as we were walking it took about 2 hours to get to the site and 2 hours to get back to the car park. I can honestly say that it was the muddiest walk I have ever been on. If it wasn't for porters helping us we would still be slipping and sliding now. I only skidded on to my bottom once during a very steep downhill section. The two girls wished they had hired porters but Innocent and Antel ably got us all down safely - running between us and helping all four. We all made sure that they were richly rewarded for their work as they turned what could have been a nightmare walk into an enjoyable one.
Back at the hotel we handed in our very muddy boots for their free clean and handed back the gaiters we had hired - with those and over trousers I kept relatively speaking quite clean!
We then had a much needed hot shower to warm up and returned to the restaurant at 2 pm for a late lunch.
In the afternoon we relaxed, warmed up with a nice roaring fire and John started packing - I am doing mine tomorrow morning before we leave.