Visit Ellen DeGeneres Campus
The Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund was inaugurated in 2022 and is situated adjacent to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, the habitat of the mountain gorillas. This signifies the realization of our two-decade aspiration to establish a premier research and education center that perpetuates Dian Fossey’s legacy and enhances our efforts to prevent gorilla extinction.
The Ellen Campus is accessible to the public daily. Visitors may engage with cutting-edge exhibits that narrate over 55 years of gorilla conservation, peruse our gift shop showcasing locally crafted items, savor coffee or meals at the Gorilla Café, traverse verdant nature trails, and interact with Fossey Fund personnel committed to gorilla preservation. For additional information regarding campus visits,
Ellen DeGeneres Campus History
The project’s mission has consistently aimed to establish a platform for engaging many stakeholders in conservation—students, scientists, tourists, conservation partners, and community members—to further our shared objective of preserving gorillas and, more generally, the world. We aspire for visitors to the Ellen DeGeneres Campus to depart motivated to effect change, akin to Dian Fossey’s legacy. Dr. Tara Stoinski, President, CEO, and Chief Scientific Officer of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund
The prestigious Ellen Campus, conceived and constructed by the renowned MASS Design Group, has been recognized as one of Africa’s ten most-anticipated architectural endeavors. It has been showcased on CBS’s “60 Minutes” and in Architectural Digest.
The expansive, environmentally sustainable site neighboring Volcanoes National Park comprises three primary structures: the Sandy and Harold Price Research Center, the Rob and Melani Walton Education Center, and the Cindy Broder Conservation Gallery, in addition to accommodations for visiting students and researchers.
The facility, constructed with locally produced materials and supplies, generated 2,400 construction jobs for the neighborhood and contributed over $13.5 million to the Rwandan economy. In alignment with the Fossey Fund’s aim to mitigate environmental impact, it integrates rainwater harvesting, green roofing, reforestation of previously cultivated land, and a created wetland for wastewater treatment and biodiversity enhancement. These activities have produced favorable outcomes, as the campus now teems with wildlife and serves as a living laboratory for researchers and students.
The Ellen Campus functions as a portal to conservation for local residents, tourists, researchers, and students globally, and is the inaugural building specifically designed for the Fossey Fund’s initiatives. The campus construction was facilitated by a principal donation from Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, along with contributions from global benefactors. Alongside the public exhibitions, it contains laboratories, classrooms, student housing, and more facilities that promote conservation and scientific endeavors, establishing it as a center for research and discovery in the region.
Dian Fossey has consistently been an inspiration to me, and it has been a profound honor to contribute to this effort. Seeing my name beside hers on the walls of this exquisite campus, and knowing I am contributing to the preservation of endangered gorillas while perpetuating Dian’s legacy, is quite remarkable.