Musanze is the largest district in the northern province of Rwanda, and it is the capital of Ruhengeri, which is also known as Musanze. It plays an important role in the tourism industry in Rwanda and is where Volcanoes National Park is located. Click here to view mountain gorilla trekking safaris.

 

The most mountainous part of Rwanda is Musanze, with dense vegetation, and it’s most commonly known for the great mountain gorillas and the endemic golden monkeys. Musanze Caves are the most visited district in Rwanda, boosting an extraordinary holiday adventure. Click here to see our recommended mountain gorilla tour.

 

Musanze Caves also confine the biggest and most gigantic volcanoes in a national park that acts as home to five of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga chain of volcanoes. These include Gahinga, Muhabura, Sabyinyo, Karisimbi, and Bisoke, with amazing peak views that are so exciting.

 

The Musanze caves act as a geological treat, covering 2km with lush green vegetation and accommodating many bats in that region, which is good for adventurers to explore and also very nice for photography.

 

The afternoon is also good for canoeing down the river, where the apes play and rest in a tranquil environment with Rwanda's country side's exciting view that is breathtaking and has once-in-a lifetime opportunities to offer.

 

These caves result from volcanic activity where different lavas flew 65 million years ago to form the Albertine Rift Valley. These caves cover 2 kilometers of underground space.

 

The caves are quiet and cold, with streams of water flowing slowly out of the rock ceiling and down the rocky holes beneath the cave floors. Exploring this site usually takes one to two hours. While exploring these caves, one must walk for two kilometers through dark tunnels filled with hard rocks.

 

There is maximum silence inside the caves, which is only interrupted by flying bats, human echoes, and whispers. Visitors may need helmets, gloves, a strong torch, a boost, and head caps to maneuver through the various tunnels in the caves.

 

After the Musanze Caves visit, one can still enjoy a cultural experience with the local tribes staying near the Musanze Caves. While with the locals in their communal centers, tourists can learn how to make arrows and bows locally. Hunting tools, hand basket weaving, known as ‘’Agaseke iin Kinyarwanda, local beer making using bananas, harvesting, and honey production, among others.

 

Where can I sleep while at Musanze caves?

The Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel is just located near Ruhengeri Airport, which makes it easy to access both Musanze and Volcanoes national parks, offering amazing hospitality services.

 

 Jack Hannah’s Cottage: This cottage was built to focus on luxury travelers located in Musanze. It offers large self-contained rooms, among many others.

Rwanda’s safari is never complete without a nature tour to the Musanze Caves, located in the heart of Volcanoes National Park, perched in the northwestern province of Rwanda. The Musanze caves are worth visiting. Musanze caves became officially recognized as tourism products in 2013 in Rwanda, and ever since then, Musanze caves have become a must-visit destination in Rwanda for travelers’ safaris to be the complete package. Click here to view mountain gorilla trekking safaris.

 

Your Rwanda mountain gorilla trekking tour at Volcanoes national park can be combined with a visit to Musanze Caves, located just kilometers from Volcanoes National Park. Rwanda’s tour to Musanze caves diversifies Rwanda’s tourism products. Click here to see our recommended mountain gorilla trekking safari.

 

Musanze caves can be found north of Rwanda in Musanze District. Musanze Caves have undergone a major facelift with modern tourist walkways, stairs, and trails to ease movement that take travelers to the interior dark part of Musanze Caves, showing a picture of a house with many corridors and rooms.

 

Visit Rwanda’s volcanic region with over 5 chained volcanoes that belong to the Virunga chained mountains where you can sight the Musanze Caves, which were believed to be a volcanic eruption result a long time ago, offering an in-depth meaning of the geological and geographical history of the globe.

 

Musanze Cave can be discovered after mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park if there is time. Due to Musanze Caves location near Volcanoes National Park, travelers can easily participate in the Musanze Caves walk tour after their morning gorilla trekking safari.

 

Other spectacular tourist sites to be seen within Musanze areas include the Buhanga Eco-Park, which is famous for the coronation of former Rwandan kings; Rwanda's panoramic view of the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo; Mountain Karisimbi Volcano climbing; Mountain Bisoke Volcano climbing; a trek to Dian Fossey's grave; golden monkey trekking at Volcanoes National Park; and mountain gorilla trekking.

 

What can i do around Musanze caves?

Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park is a key attraction of Musanze, which involves searching for the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural environment. Rwanda’s mountain gorilla permit cost $1500 per person.

 

Volcanoes National Park is among the only four national parks where tourists can see mountain gorillas in the wild. Mountain gorilla trekking at Volcanoes National Park begins at 7:30 am with a short morning briefing from the park authorities. After tourists are allocated to one of the habituated gorilla families. Gorilla.

 

Visit the grave of Dian Fossey: Exploring the late Dian Fossey grave is a full day’s activity that requires the same level of fitness as that of tracking mountain gorillas. Dian Fossey was the greatest primatologist who conducted the first study about mountain gorillas in detail.

Lake Burera and Ruhondo: These lakes are near each other and are often termed the twin lakes of Rwanda. They are situated within the remarkable scenery, tranquility, and around the foothills of Musanze near the Virunga volcanoes.

 

Explore the Musanze Caves: The Musanze caves are more than 1 million years old. They were created near the volcanoes in the area. When thelava spewed out, flowed, cooled at the top, and left molten rock underneath. Musanze Caves offers a complex group of tunnels, with some stretching over 20 kilometers. These caves used to be the shelter that was used by the kings of Rwanda during war. 

 

Golden Monkey trekking is one of the most beautiful primates in Africa. Golden monkeys feed on tree shoots, insects, and leaves. Golden monkeys stay in groups that can contain up to 80 individuals. The playful golden primates are considered endangered like mountain gorillas and can only be spotted in three countries, namely Rwanda, Congo, and Uganda.

 

Hike one of the volcanoes: There are five different volcanoes that can be hiked while in Ruhengeri. These volcanoes include Mount Karisimbi, Mount Gahinga, Mount Bisoke, Mount Muhabura, and Mount Sabinyo. Hiking Mount Karisimbi takes two days, while Mount Muhabura, Mount Sabyinyo, and Mount Gahinga have starting points in Uganda.

 

Visit the Iby’iwacu Cultural Village: The Iby’iwacu Cultural Village (which was rebranded as the Gorilla Guardians Village) that is known for Rwandan culture, traditions, and customs is showcased. It was established to help former poachers gain from tourism as an alternative way of getting money but has become a leading cultural center in Rwanda.

Exploring the Musanze caves in Rwanda is among the latest adventure additions on the menu for many tourists going to Rwanda. Musanze Caves are best visited throughout the year and allow the local communities to showcase and sell their art and crafts and demonstrate their traditions, cultures, and rich history to tourists.

 

Musanze caves can be visited throughout the year, but the best time to tour is during the dry season of June to September or from December to March. Tourists require a reasonable level of fitness to participate in exploring Musanze caves.