The 1.25 mile long Musanze caves are located just outside of the town they share a name with, and are only a 90-minute drive from Kigali.
With an enormous opening and an equally huge number of bats resident inside there. Though today they’re a tourist attraction, the caves were used as a shelter during wartime for many centuries leading right up into the modern era, and as such, it’s an important site to local people.
Thus, out of respect for the area’s residents, access is limited to guided visits. Expert guides lead every tour, and they can explain the history of the caves from their formation to present day.
The tours make an excellent add-on activity for the afternoon after you’ve seen the gorillas, take about 2.5 hours, and can be done at any time throughout the year.