Musanze Caves
Musanze Caves: One of the outward manifestations of geological activity in the northern region of Rwanda are the 1.25-mile-long Musanze Caves, which are situated 90 minutes’ drive from Kigali or 2 kilometers from Kinigi (the headquarters of the Volcanoes National Park). The well-known park known as “Home of the Mountain Gorillas” has caves that are visited. They are situated at the base of the volcanoes national park.
The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) worked with the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and Reserve troops to improve the caves. The work was completed in 2013, and it included the construction of tourism pathways, trails, stairs, and other visitor safety features.
To purchase an entrance ticket, you must travel to the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) office located in Kinigi’s Volcanoes National Park. The guides provide you with a lamp before you enter the caverns due to their darkness, as well as knee and helmet protectors for safety in the event of an accident and nose and gum protectors for health concerns related to bacteria.
There are bats resident (bats habitat or bat colony) within the cave’s entrance side; the second section is named…, the third part is named…, and the fourth part is named INKOMANE.
For several decades during the Rwandan monarchy, the caves served as places of refuge during hostilities. Additionally, during the Tutsi Genocide of 1994, it served as a refuge for the Tutsis. Priests used the caves for their meditation sessions. Every tour is led by knowledgeable interpreters who can describe the history of the caves from their formation to the present. Security guards, who are armed soldiers, accompany the guides.
A thorough insight of the earth’s development over many centuries is provided by the Musanze caves. The caverns are also thought to be the remnants of a long-ago volcanic explosion that occurred in the area.
The locals began to profit from these caverns when a few local investors constructed hotels and lodges (such as the Musanze caverns Hotel and Musanze Caves Lodge) at the entrance and even the exit of the caves.
The most natural settings for an amazing photo session are found outside the caverns in the verdant areas with lush flora and a humid temperature.
In addition to seeing the caverns, tourists can also explore other nearby tourist destinations, such as the Twin Lakes of Rwanda (Bulera and Ruhondo), the Buhanga Eco-Park, which is well-known for hosting the crowning of former Rwandan kings, the Karisimbi Volcano Climb, the Bisoke Volcano Hike, and the Mountain Gorilla Trek.
The Explore Rwanda trip suggests that you visit this well-constructed Rwandan tourist destination. Your trip to Musanze will be fantastic because, once you have witnessed gorillas in Kinigi, you should definitely spend 2.5 hours exploring these underground caves, which are 2 km long and open year-round.