Tour the Musanze caves.
Tour the Musanze caves.
Tour the Musanze caves in an enchanting adventure to witness these amazing geological formations on the foothills of the Volcanoes National Park (160 Km2), in northwestern Rwanda. Exploration of the Musanze caves will enhance your knowledge about their formation, wildlife (especially the bats), and history to satisfy your curiosity. For example, the Musanze caves are approximately 2 kilometers long, and for centuries, they served as cover and protection spots for fighters engaged in wars. Also, the Musanze caves were sites for crowning a new king.
At Musanze Caves, the guided tour takes around 2-2.5 hours. The Musanze caves have at least 31 entrance points and, on the floor, visitors can move on paved floors and stairways among others. The tranquil caves are quite dark with some light rays able to pass through; therefore, you will need to turn on your headlights for excellent views and photography. The atmosphere is quite cool and the bats can be heard squeaking and chirping to add some sense of mystery and otherworldliness.
A Musanze caves tour mostly starts at around 07:00 with your arrival at the park via Musanze. To enjoy this unique adventure, you must be at least 12 years old, and with a permit issued by the Rwanda Development Board. A permit costs as follows, foreign non-resident – US$ 50; foreign resident – US$ 30; East African foreign resident – US$ 30; Rwandan/East African Community citizen – RWF 4,000. Reserve your permit through a registered tour company like Safari Vacations & Travel Services, to avoid inconveniences, especially during peak seasons.
When to tour the Musanze caves
The Musanze caves are open for visitors all year round, however, it is better to tour these geological wonders when the sunshine is good enough to enhance visibility. The dry season offers adequate sunshine from the clear skies above. The dry season is experienced during the months of December to February and from June to August.
Traveling to tour the Musanze caves
You can reach the Musanze caves from Kigali city by road transportation. The distance from Kigali on the road is approximately 96.3 kilometers north-westwards. This is a 2 to 2.5-hour scenic drive that can be done using both public and private means. Private means are much more convenient, especially if booked with a registered tour operator like Safari Vacations & Travel Service With an extensive selection of comfortable vehicles for our clients, you may choose a 4X4 safari vehicle, saloon car, drone, minibus depending on your budget and desire.
Air transportation to Musanze airstrip is also available if you desire a faster means of traveling to tour the Musanze caves. From Kigali International Airport, a helicopter flight offered by Rwanda Air will take about 30 minutes to Musanze airstrip. With Safari Vacations & Travel Services, you will have a seamless reservation process and transportation to avoid the hassles of doing it with an inexperienced third party. We also have professional staff and driver guides who will meet you and offer ground transportation to and from the airport/airstrip or your accommodation.
Other activities to enjoy
Apart from the tour of the Musanze caves, Volcanoes National Park has plenty of other tour activities you may wish to experience. These include among many others,
Gorilla trekking
It is a guided hiking tour to locate critically endangered mountain gorillas and spend an hour with them in the dense forest of Volcanoes National Park. You have an opportunity to take numerous photos as you witness the behaviors of a habituated mountain gorilla family. You must be at least 15 years of age and in good physical shape if you wish to successfully participate in this thrilling trekking tour.
Golden monkey trekking
Is quite similar to a gorilla trek involves a guided tour to locate a group of habituated golden monkeys and spend an hour with them in their natural home. Also, you must be at least 12 years of age to participate in this exciting guided adventure in Volcanoes National Park. This tour provides opportunities for spotting numerous bird species and other primate and mammal species in their natural homes.
Mount Karisimbi hiking tour
Is an electrifying walking adventure to the highest peak of both Rwanda and the Virunga ranges. At the height of 4,507 meters above sea level, a guided hike on this dormant volcano will give you a different perspective of Volcanoes National Park and its vibrant scenery. You will also spot a variety of vibrant bird species, primates, wild animals, and flora.
Cultural encounters
That generally expose you to the diverse cultures of the Batwa Pygmies adjacent to the forest of Volcanoes National Park. These are the former inhabitants of the forests and they offer deep insight into their role in conserving the forest and the wildlife inside. You will also learn about their rituals, culinary delights, music, dance drama, and others during your intimate interactions with these beautiful people.
Hike to the Dian Fossey Tomb
which offers a perfect tour to witness the burial ground of Dian Fossey, a renowned American primatologist and conservationist who devoted nearly two decades of her life to studying and protecting the critically endangered mountain gorillas in the Virunga’s. As you pay your respects, you will learn about her extensive works on the primates and her tragic death.
What to pack to tour the Musanze caves
To tour the Musanze caves successfully, you need to pack the following essential items before you travel,
- Light clothes, preferably a long-sleeved shirt and trousers
- Warm sweater
- Light rain jacket
- Helmet to avoid collision with bats as well as getting injured by falling debris
- Torch
- Comfortable walking shoes with a firm grip to move on slippery surfaces
- Insect repellent
- Sunscreen
- Garden gloves to protect your hands in case you slip while navigating the caves
- Camera and extra batteries
- Basic first aid kit including personal medication
- Daypack
- Safety glasses
- Extra cash for tipping and buying souvenirs
- Travel document
