If caving is one of your favorite activities, this is a perfect opportunity, in case you are noticing this for the first time then you may need to try out something new in Rwanda. Musanze caves have become a popular tourism spot in northern Rwanda for most tourists that visit the country throughout the year from different parts of the world with caving having been first launched there recently in 2014. The caves are located in the most visited region “Musanze Region” as it has most of the popular tourism activities situated near the premier Volcanoes National Park.
The cave has a length of 2km with total of 31 entrances, lying in the Virunga Volcanic Region which dates back to 65 million years. The main entrance for the caves is considered to be as large as a Cathedral spanning to ten kilometers wide. Musanze caves have interesting history attached to them as they were used as a shelter during wartimes since ages, inclusive of Rwanda genocide where they became a site for massacres. Being an expansive cave, survivors from genocide also used it as a hideout after they ran for their lives. The caves were also used by local tribes in the ancient times as a venue for crowning new kings which makes Musanze cave a cultural heritage and of much respect before the local people.
Musanze caves are a perfect destination providing a scenic view as they are covered with scrubby beautiful green vegetation that welcomes visitors at the cave entrance. The cave is a perfect place for photography with the appearance of the caves which provides tourists a daring adventure as they navigate through this 2km long cave.
Usually, exploring the cave takes tourists between one and two hours. The cave is cold and quiet generally, unlike the echoes of human voices that come from a distance. The floor of this cave is all covered with rocks with the cave ceiling having streams letting water flow in slowly. The cave has thousands of bats with many of them hanging on the cave walls and others flying through the numerous tunnels and passages. While in the cave, tourists have an impressive view of entire Virunga Ranges with nearby volcanoes including Gahinga, Karisimbi and Muhabura.
When visiting Musanze caves, you need to carry with you a touch with strong light since the cave is dark inside. A helmet is also important for your safety, boots to walk through the rocks, gloves, knee caps, flash lights and a head cap are all necessary.
There’s no fitness requirement in trailing through the cave, so an average reasonable fitness is enough for you and shouldn’t be stopped by anything like fitness but it’s necessary to move with drinking water. Due to the darkness inside the cave, it’s not easy to take good photos but the top of the cave provides a green beautiful scenery perfect for photography.
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