The Musanze Caves Of Rwanda: Facts, Things To Do & Entrance Fee
Musanze Caves
Musanze Caves are one of the most exciting places of Rwanda to visit, they are a recent addition to the many things to do in Volcanoes National park, the conservation area is a known home for primate species notably the Mountain gorilla species living deep within the forest area freely without being captivated together with the golden monkeys playfully swinging in the bamboo region of the park, it is a part of the great Virunga volcanic region hosting 5 of the volcanic mountains(Karisimbi, Gahinga, Sabinyo, Muhabura and Bisoke) some of these shared with Uganda and the Democratic republic of Congo. The park is found in the northern part of Rwanda in Musanze district and is the closest to Kigali, Rwanda’s Capital. The Musanze Caves were important during ancient times in the country. These were used by the local tribes as homes and places to crown their new kings.
A Visit to Musanze caves was first launched in 2014 and has since then been of great economic benefit to the country. The caves acted as a haven and hiding place for refugees from the 1994 Rwanda genocide and have become an important part of Rwanda, they are generally cold and silent with streams running down slowly from the sides of the rocks to water holes along the floor of the caves, they feature complex tunnels routings which are home to a large number of bats, these hang on the walls of the caves and have been darkened by smoke trapped in the cobwebs overtime.
Musanze Caves can be explored in 2 to 3 hours with uninterrupted views besides the sounds from human voices and the bats as well, the walk through the tunnel is led by an experienced guide, the walk involves walking through a 2-kilometer dark channel comprised of rocky walls, white sand floors and bats, a successful walk includes carrying a strong torch, helmet, waterproof walking shoes, head cap, hand gloves, and any other important items of personal nature. From the cave point of view, guests have a clear sight of the volcanic mountains within the Virunga National Park, while inside the caves, they have set up stairs and walkways to avoid accidents. In the past, the caves acted as homes to the traditional locals of Rwanda, while today they act as a tourist attraction; they were used as shelters for the people seeking refuge from the 1994 Rwanda genocide.
Trips to the ancient caves can be combined with several activities in the Volcanoes National Park, including gorilla trekking. Several gorilla families are living within the ecosystem without being captivated. They are characterized by their large fur bodies, living in families of up to 10 members led by a silverback. These are tracked beginning at 8:00 am with a briefing from the park rangers. It takes 2-3 hours, depending on how far the gorilla families have moved. Upon finding the primates, an hour is allowed with them, after which we return to meet our guide, besides the mountain gorillas.
Volcanoes is a great place to go hiking, the park is home to 5 volcanic mountains (Mountain Bisoke, Mount Karisimbi, Mount Gahinga, Mount Sabinyo, and Mountain Muhabura, some of which are shared with the neighboring countries of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and different peaks take different days to reach the summit. Hikes through the forest take you through angelic vegetation, expect to see various bird species en route as you aim higher.
Visit the Dian Fossey tombs, she is said to have died and been buried at the park headquarters. She lived and conducted research on the primates over time and also protected the gorillas, which were her primary research area. A walk to the tombs will expose you to the angelic state of the forest, from the birds to the flowers dotted en route.
Visit the local communities, for example, the Iby’wachu community, which showcases the culture of the people of Rwanda; they will teach you how the kings and queens lived in the days, perform traditional dances, to name a.
In conclusion, besides the activities in the Volcanoes National Park, trips can be combined with other conservation areas like Nyungwe Forest. Guests have the chance to do chimpanzee tracking, canopy walk, and track the black and white colobus monkeys. And the Congo trail along Rwanda’s border and the democratic republic of Congo.