Rwanda is a beautiful country, not for just its mountain gorillas and chimpanzees that most travelers know it for but also extraordinary natural features such as Caves. With over 52 Caves in the country’s Northern Province alone with about 15 kilometers of Cave passages, we can conclude that the Land of a thousand hills is also ideal for Caving tours.
Musanze Caves are one of the unmissable places during Rwanda safaris, especially if you wish to add Caving to your Gorilla trekking experience in Volcanoes National Park. These Caves were formed from Cenozoic Volcanic Rocks, lying within the volcanic region and date back to 65 million years whereby Lava flows led to the formation of the Albertine Rift Valley. The spectacular Musanze Caves are part of the Lava Basaltic layer from Mount Sabyinyo and Mount Bisoke.
Few Caves are as beautiful as Musanze Caves with its 31 entrances, most of which are roof collapses. Musanze’s main Cave has a huge entrance as a size of a Cathedral and is shelter to huge colonies of bats. The Cave’s roof collapses provide an incredible backdrop for photography in addition to creating a phenomenal array of colored rays of light that shine into the Cave. Underneath the Caves, the cover a distance of 2 kilometers and there are walkways and stairs to make it easier for visitors to walk, discover the room-like small Caves, sight bats and many others.
Musanze Cave is also a cultural and historical site, popular for offering shelter during Wars and conflicts including during the 1994 Rwandan Genocide and for this reason, the local people hold it dear to their hearts. Visitors exploring the site are always requested to be respectful during their Cave Tours. Musanze Caves are formally protected since 2010 and access to it is limited to guided tours that take from two and a half to three hours.
Besides Musanze Caves, other spectacular Caves to be explored during Rwanda safari include the 1-kilometer-long Busasamana Cave, and Mugongo Cave close to Imbabazi Orphanage (established by Rosamond Carr to shelter orphans from the 1994 Rwandan Genocide).
Cost of Musanze Cave tours
Musanze Cave Tours cost only $55 per person and these exclude accommodation, tips and transport to and from the site.
Best time for Musanze Cave tours
Musanze Caves are open for tours all year round because temperatures (cool) remain constant throughout the year. However, the ideal time for Musanze Cave tours is in December to February and June to September when the walkways are less slippery and entrances are less muddy. The months of March, April, May, October and November can be extremely cold but expect the walkways to be more slippery.
What to bring for Musanze Cave tours
Musanze Cave Tours require helmets, flashlights, sturdy and comfortable hiking boots with ankle support, gardening gloves, long-sleeved shirts, safari pants, coveralls/Caving suits, waterproof rain jacket because rains are unpredictable, warm clothing (sweater), a camera with extra batteries and memory cards, pair of binoculars, an insect repellant and many others.
Where to stay before/after Musanze Cave tours
Some of the best places to stay after/before your Musanze Cave tour are Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, Virunga Lodge, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Kinigi Guesthouse, Muhabura Hotel, Gorilla Volcanoes Hotel, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Garden Palace and so much more.
Other unmissable tourist activities within the Musanze district (Northern Province) are gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, Virunga Volcano (Sabyinyo, Gahinga, Bisoke, Muhabura and Karisimbi) climbing, Dian Fossey Gravesite Hike, visit to the Twin Lakes of Bulera and Ruhondo, visit to Gorilla Guardian’s Village, to mention but a few.