RDB PREPARING MUSANZE CAVE FOR TOURIST VISITS
The Rwanda Development Board’s Tourism and Conservation Department will within the space of the next few weeks official launch a new tourism site, a cave in Musanze District which is being readied for visitors by installing walkways, stairs and safety measures, according to information received from a source at RDB over the weekend. The main tourism activity in Musanze, previously known as Ruhengeri, is of course the tracking of mountain gorillas from the Volcano National Park headquarters near Kinigi but local hospitality businesses have long advocated for longer stays of tourists, to explore the wider area, perhaps track for the Golden Monkeys or just take extended hikes in the forests on the slopes of the volcanic mountains. ‘Tourists come for tracking and stay one or two nights only. Some even come from Kigali very early and return in the evening. If more attractions are offered visitors can perhaps stay a few more nights in Ruhengeri or the lodges around the park’ said the receptionist of one of the hotels this correspondent stayed at in the past.
Mrs. Rica Rwigamba, head of RDB’s Tourism and Conservation Department, late last week interacted with Rwanda’s tour and safari operators with the aim to introduce cave visits to them and have such visits included in regular safari itineraries. No fees have yet been set but are expected to be published in due course as the cave is getting ready for visits by tourists. Visit www.rwandatourism.com for more details on the country’s three national parks, community reserves and other tourism attractions.
