How to Get Out of Musanze Caves with Photos You’ll Treasure

Article from the series: Attractions of Rwanda, western Uganda and eastern DR Congo

It’s always nice to be surprised, to come across something unexpected. A field of wildflowers on your game drive, perhaps. Or a cave system when you think you are in Musanze merely to hike the Virungas and see gorillas? It’s a nice way to spend 2.5 hours with an expert local guide, and you don’t even have to leave town.

Two kilometres long Musanze Caves have been used for shelter during conflict for centuries, though not always successfully; a massacre took place here during Rwanda’s 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. The cave system is home to countless bats, and although it won’t rate highly on any global list of spectacular caves it is worth a visit if you have a few hours to spare — and won’t be discouraged by the price of USD 50 for foreign visitors/USD 30 for foreign residents. It warrants your attention due to its historical significance, as well as the change of scenery it undoubtedly provides.

But have to exit the caves with something better than a blurry shot? Photographing in caves is tricky, though constantly improving technology is making it easier. Caves are, by and large, dark places, which means a tripod is a must unless there are lights everywhere.

If you are only equipped with a phone camera, the best idea is to take your shots close to one of the several entrances (the cave system has a number of separate segments), and you can experiment with the light behind behind or ahead of you. Your gadget’s modest flash will not be your friend, turn it off.

If you want to do it more professionally, come with a tripod. It will increase your ability to use a lower ISO (= higher quality photo) and smaller aperture (= more of the image will be in focus), and that’s always handy regardless of lighting. A flash is rarely a good idea for landscape images as it will cast shadows.

Work with as wide a lens as possible, as this will let you include more of the surroundings in the image and helps create the feeling of being inside the cave. Cave openings can make for interesting subjects, though the huge disparity in light often requires some playing around.