Musanze Caves – Musanze Caves are located at the foothills of Volcanoes National Park. They lie near the foothills of Innes University and in the volcanic regions dating back over 65 million years.
Musanze Caves are the most visited among all other caves. The 2-kilometer-long cave has over 31 entrances, most of which are roof collapses that provide an incredible array of colored shafts of light into the cave.
It is as big as a cathedral and harbors sizeable bats. The caves are found in the Musanze district in Ruhengeri and are part of Rwanda’s tourism sites.
The caves are a 90-minute drive from Kigali city and are 2 km away from Volcanoes National Park. All tourists who come to tour can visit the caves.
Formation
The Musanze caves were formed as a result of volcanic activities that took place around the Virunga Volcanoes.
These caves are part of lava basaltic layers from the Bisoke and Sabyinyo volcanoes.
The caves cover a distance of 1.25 miles underground and were formed by lava basaltic layers from both Bisoke and Sabyinyo volcanoes.
History
The Musanze caves were used during ancient times by the local Kinyarwanda tribes as the venue for crowning their new kings.
Additionally, the caves are also known for housing many people during wartime over the centuries and were a site of massacre during the extreme Rwanda Genocide of 1994, which claimed many lives.
They continue to hold great memories for the people of Rwanda, making them limited to only guided tours as a formally protected area. Tourists are requested to observe much respect while visiting due to this reason.
Price
- Foreigner (adult): $50
- Foreigner resident in Rwanda: $30
- Rwandan citizens: RWF 4000
Time to Visit
The caves can be visited at any time of the year. Visits start at 7 am from the park headquarters in Musanze.
Visiting the entire cave can take about 2.5 hours, providing a great experience.
Accommodation
Visitors can stay at Musanze Caves Hotel after booking.
Consequently, Musanze Caves offer a great experience and are fun to tour.
