Hiking Musanze Caves
A safari in Rwanda is unequivocally incomplete without a visit to the Musanze caves. Located in the center of Volcanoes National Park in northwestern Rwanda, the Musanze Caves are undoubtedly worth a visit. The Musanze caverns were officially designated as tourism attractions in Rwanda in 2013 and have since become essential to a comprehensive safari experience. During your gorilla trip at Volcanoes National Park, allocate some time to explore the two-kilometer-long Musanze Caves. In 2013, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) launched trips to the Musanze caverns to broaden the tourism offerings in this region known as the country of a thousand hills. Speleology in Rwanda Rwandan Development The caves are located in the Musanze District, north of the country. The site has undergone significant renovations, featuring the construction of tourist pathways, trails, and staircases that lead into the dark interior of the caves, which depict a structure with multiple chambers and corridors. The floor is tiled, and there are stairs to facilitate movement.
Explore the volcanic region of Rwanda to observe the caves, which are said to have formed from volcanic eruptions decades ago, providing profound insights into the geological and geographical historical evolution of the Earth. The Musanze cave can be visited following gorilla tracking at Volcanoes National Park, provided time permits. It is situated on the slopes of Volcanoes National Park, allowing for convenient access following an evening gorilla tracking.
Explore other remarkable sites and vistas in the vicinity, including the Buhanga Eco-park, renowned for the coronation of Rwandan monarchs, the sweeping panorama of the twin lakes Burera and Ruhondo, ascents of Karisimbi and Bisoke Volcanoes, a trek to Dian Fossey’s grave, golden monkey trekking, and the renowned mountain gorilla trekking.
Every traveler planning to embark on a gorilla trekking expedition in Volcanoes National Park should contemplate visiting the Musanze Cave, located merely 2 kilometers from the park, as it serves as an excellent supplementary activity following the encounter with the mountain gorillas before concluding the day. The cave is located in the foothills of Volcanoes National Park, allowing visitors direct access immediately following the gorilla safari before returning to the accommodation. A visit to the caverns is an ideal complement to the extraordinary experience of Gorilla Tracking in Rwanda.
How to get to Musanze Caves
The Musanze caverns are accessible from Kigali city via road travel. The distance from Kigali by road is roughly 96.3 kilometers to the northwest. It’s a picturesque trip lasting 2 to 2.5 hours, accessible by both public and private transportation. Private methods of transportation are far more convenient, particularly when arranged through a licensed tour operator such as Gorilla Trekking in Africa. We offer a diverse range of comfortable vehicles for our clients, including 4X4 safari vehicles, saloon cars, drones, and minibuses, tailored to your budget and preferences.
Air travel to Musanze airfield is accessible for anyone seeking a more expedient method to visit the Musanze caverns. A helicopter ride from Kigali International Airport, provided by Rwanda Air, will take around 30 minutes to reach Musanze airstrip. Gorilla Trekking in Africa ensures a streamlined reservation procedure and transportation, eliminating the inconveniences associated with engaging an untrained third party. Our skilled personnel and driving guides will provide ground transportation to and from the airport/airstrip or your lodging.
Things to do besides Hiking Musanze Caves
In addition to the Musanze Caves tour, Volcanoes National Park offers numerous more activities for exploration. These encompass, among other things,
Trekking gorillas
This is a guided hiking expedition to find critically endangered mountain gorillas and engage with them for one hour in the deep jungle of Volcanoes National Park. You have the opportunity to capture countless photographs while observing the activities of a habituated family of mountain gorillas. Participants must be a minimum of 15 years old and in decent physical condition to properly engage in this exhilarating hiking experience.
Trekking golden monkeys
It closely resembles a gorilla trip, entailing a guided expedition to find a group of habituated golden monkeys and spend an hour in their natural habitat. Participation in this exhilarating guided excursion in Volcanoes National Park requires a minimum age of 12 years. This excursion offers possibilities to observe several bird species as well as other primate and mammal species in their native habitats.
Hiking expedition to Mount Karisimbi
It is an exhilarating trek to the highest summit in both Rwanda and the Virunga mountain range. A guided climb at an elevation of 4,507 meters above sea level offers a unique vantage point of Volcanoes National Park and its vivid landscape. A diverse array of lively avian species, primates, wildlife, and plant life will also be observed.
Cultural interactions
This typically exposes you to the varied cultures of the Batwa Pygmies near Volcanoes National Park. The previous inhabitants of the forests provide profound understanding of their contribution to forest conservation and the preservation of species therein. During your close contact with these remarkable individuals, you will also discover their traditions, culinary specialties, music, dance, drama, and more.
Hike Dian Fossey Tomb,
Hike to the Dian Fossey Tomb, which provides an excellent opportunity to observe the burial site of Dian Fossey, a distinguished American primatologist and conservationist who dedicated over twenty years to the study and preservation of the critically endangered mountain gorillas in the Virungas. While paying your respects, you will discover her comprehensive research on primates and the circumstances behind her untimely demise.