By air
Kigali International Airport (KGL), ~2 h by road
Africa · Rwanda
Musanze, Rwanda
Gorilla treks below the Virunga volcanoes
Getting there
Best time to visit
June to September and December to February — the drier months for trekking
Don't miss
Volcanoes National Park
Musanze Caves
Lake Burera
Things to do
Mountain gorilla trekking
Golden monkey tracking
Volcano hikes
Canoeing on the twin lakes
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Esme Stewart · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Waterproof jacket, hiking boots, gardening gloves, long sleeves
A quieter corner
The steep hike to the crater lake on the summit of Mount Bisoke
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Musanze?
June to September and December to February — the drier months for trekking. What to pack: Waterproof jacket, hiking boots, gardening gloves, long sleeves.
How do I get to Musanze?
Fly into Kigali International Airport (KGL), ~2 h by road.
What is there to do in Musanze?
Mountain gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, volcano hikes, canoeing on the twin lakes. A quieter find: The steep hike to the crater lake on the summit of Mount Bisoke.
What should I eat in Musanze?
Roasted potatoes and maize from the volcanic soil, brochettes, beans and banana stews.
About Musanze
- Mountains
- Forest
Where it is
Musanze is a town in the north of Rwanda, at the foot of the Virunga volcanoes and the main base for Volcanoes National Park.
History
The Virunga volcanoes were protected in 1925 as part of Albert National Park, the first national park in Africa. The American scientist Dian Fossey began her long study of mountain gorillas at Karisoke on the slopes of these volcanoes in 1967. The town was long known as Ruhengeri before being renamed Musanze in the mid-2000s.
People
Musanze's people speak Kinyarwanda and many farm the rich volcanic soil, growing potatoes, beans and pyrethrum on terraced slopes, while traditional Intore dancing is performed for visitors in nearby villages.
Known for
- Mountain gorilla trekking
- Golden monkeys in bamboo forest
- The chain of Virunga volcanoes
- Dian Fossey's research legacy
Did you know?
Mount Karisimbi, the highest peak in Rwanda, is one of the volcanoes that rise inside Volcanoes National Park.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.