Musanze offers a range of different highlights: in the Twin Lakes area, you can choose from water and land activities, while Red Rocks Rwanda brings together tourism, conservation and sustainable community development. The broader Northern Province destination offers a wider perspective on natural and cultural history. This gives you the option to focus on activities, social engagement or regional history. The Twin Lakes are located in Musanze and Burera districts; Red Rocks Rwanda is one of the main attractions in Musanze District. The Rwanda Liberation Museum, by contrast, is located in Gicumbi District in the Northern Province.

Activities in the Twin Lakes area

The Twin Lakes are located in Musanze and Burera districts. Activities offered in the lakes area include kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, boat trips, trekking and mountain biking. The options range from water activities to things to do on land; when choosing, you can first decide which focus best suits your interests.

You can rent kayaks and canoes at the Twin Lakes, and guided tours can also be arranged. When planning, it makes a difference whether you prefer a rental option or a guided tour. Check the availability of these options before your trip, especially if one of them is a fixed part of your plans.

Red Rocks Rwanda: Tourism and community development

Red Rocks Rwanda is a social enterprise that brings together tourism, conservation and sustainable community development; it is one of the main attractions in Musanze District. Its social enterprise focus makes it a different kind of highlight from the outdoor activities at the lakes. It may be of interest if you would also like to consider tourism’s social dimension.

Northern Province: Caves, history and culture

In the broader Northern Province destination, Musanze Cave is 2 km long and the most frequently visited cave. For many centuries, it served as a refuge during times of war; during the genocide, it was the site of a massacre.

The Northern Province has 52 caves with a total of 15.2 km of passages; most of the caves formed in Cenozoic volcanic rock.

The Rwanda Liberation Museum, also known as Umulindi w'Intwari, tells the story of the liberation struggle of the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF Inkotanyi) and is located in Gicumbi District in the Northern Province. Unlike Musanze Cave, whose history is shaped by refuge during times of war and the genocide, the museum focuses on the liberation struggle. This allows you to distinguish between different historical themes within the province.

On the first Walk to Stop Genocide in 2019, the 90 km route took four days, from Mulindi in the Northern Province to Kigali.

Discover more destinations: Ruhengeri, Kinigi, Nyakinama, Rulindo.

Back to the main travel overview: Northern Province.